How to Do Upright Styling on Wavy Hair in 5 Simple Steps

Curly Tay
by Curly Tay
8 Materials
30 Minutes
Easy

Here’s a tutorial that shows you how to style your wavy and curly hair upright in the quickest and easiest way possible. This upright styling routine is great for those who have a sensitive back or those who don't like upside-down styling.

Tools and materials:

Using a restoring rinse on hair

1. Use a restoring rinse in your hair

Apply a curl renew and restore cleansing rinse to your hair. This will gently hydrate your hair. First apply the rinse on your hands and then massage it through your hair.

Rinsing the product out of hair

Then rinse it out of your hair.

Conditioning and detangling hair

2. Condition and detangle your hair

Massage some leave-in conditioner to your hair.

Brushing leave-in conditioner through hair

Brush through your hair, starting at the ends and working your way up.

Rinsing some of the conditioner out

Then you can either leave most of the leave-in conditioner in your hair, or rinse it all out, whichever you prefer.

Pinning up hair

Now pin up your hair leaving as much water in as possible and you can get out of the shower.

Keeping hair wet while styling

3. Keep your hair wet

When you are ready to begin styling, let your hair down and then just pin up the top section.

Misting hair to keep it wet

Separate the rest of your hair into 2 sections, one on either side of your neck, and mist your hair to keep it wet.

Applying styling cream to hair

4. Use styling cream

Rub a little hydrating hair cream that is especially for curls between your hands and use your fingers to rake it through one side of your hair. Start at the ends of your hair and work your way up.

Repeat on the other side of your hair.

How to style wavy hair

Unclip the top section of your hair and bring it to the front of your head. Spray it to make sure it’s nice and wet and then apply the styling cream to that section as well.

Wavy and curly hair techniques

Now flip that top section back up and to the side.

Scrunching with gel for definition

5. Add gel and scrunch

Rub a little hair gel between your hands and apply it to the ends of your hair by just gently squeezing it in.

Scrunching wavy hair

Start scrunching your hair by gathering it in handfuls from the bottom to the top and squeezing gently.

Squishing the hair

Then pulse your fists in your hair near your scalp. If you hear a squishing sound as you are pulsing then you’re doing it correctly!

Flipping and scrunching to the other side

 Flip all of your to the other side and repeat the scrunching and pumping.

Using a towel to scrunch out water

Use a towel to scrunch out all the excess water from your hair, flipping your hair over to both sides.

Pinning the center top section of hair

6. Dry your hair

Pin up the center top section of your hair again. This will keep the hair out of your face as it dries and add some volume to the top of your hair.


At this point, it’s totally your choice whether to let your hair air dry or diffuse dry it.

Upright styling on wavy hair

Upright styling on wavy hair tutorial

I let my hair air dry outside because it was a gorgeous day, and here is the result. It’s super soft and voluminous without looking like my hair is full of product. I hope you try this upright styling for long wavy hair yourself, and then leave me a comment to let me know how you liked this styling technique.

Suggested materials:
  • Curl renew and restore cleanser
  • Leave-in conditioner
  • Hydrating hair cream
See all materials

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Comments
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 2 comments
  • Jody Price Jody Price on Aug 23, 2022

    I’m too lazy to do all if this. Your hair looks great! I squeeze towel dry my hair and put it on top of my head with scrunchies and go to bed. Next morning…it’s dry and wavy.

  • Sami Wong Sami Wong on Aug 24, 2022

    I just wash, condition and let it dry... comes out natural wavy / curly and no fuss involved... I guess I am just lucky I still have any hair at my age :)

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