How to Use a Hair Curling Sponge to Define Curls on Short Hair

Golden Rootz
by Golden Rootz
3 Materials
$6
5 Minutes
Easy

This tutorial is for those of you with short hair. Specifically, I’m going to show you how to get really cute curls into short hair. This is a very quick hairstyle that you can do in about 5 minutes without using any heat, and then be ready to go out. Ready? Let’s start!

Tools and materials:

  • Comb or hair pick
  • Hydrating hair spritz
  • Hair sponge
Combing hair with a comb or pick

1. Comb hair

Wash your hair and then use a comb or pick to make sure your short hair is fully combed through.

Spraying DIY hair spritz

2. Spray hair spritz

Have a spray pump container of hair spritz handy to keep your hair damp and soft. See my previous tutorial for the full recipe for my DIY hydrating hair spritz.

Hair curling sponge

3. How to use a hair curling sponge

You are also going to want to work with a hair sponge like the one in the image above. Hair sponges are generally two-sided: one side has a wavy pattern for making twists, and the other size has holes for making curls. You can buy hair sponges with various sized holes, depending on how tight or loose you want your curls. 

How to use a hair curling sponge

To use the hair sponge, rub the side with the holes in a circular motion across your head. Don’t apply too much pressure and concentrate on the ends of your hair. Make sure you always move the hair sponge in the same circular direction.

Rubbing the sponge over hair

As you continue rubbing the sponge brush over your hair, you will notice the definition of the curls starting to come out.

Curling super short hair

Keep spritzing so your hair remains damp.

How to use a curl sponge

And don’t forget to sponge brush the back of your head!


Keep spritzing and sponging until your curls are just the way you want them.

How to use a hair curling sponge

How to use a hair curling sponge

Here are my beautiful curls, and I’m ready to go! I hope you give this no-heat hair curling sponge technique for short hair a try. If you do, leave a comment to let me know how you liked it!

Suggested materials:
  • Comb or hair pick
  • Hydrating hair spritz
  • Hair sponge

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Comments
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 2 comments
  • Thank you. I am white and have been wondering how a hair sponge is used since seeing one in a store a couple weeks ago. When I asked a few black friends, it was weird. One never heard of it, one merely said “to set curls”, one told me to ask an Ulta worker. Then I stopped asking. Is it a new DIY tool that used to be only at a salon?

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