Soft Curls By Hair Length: The Barrel Size Guide For Brides

Soft curls are sophisticated and needs to be precise and in harmony with hair length and facial structure. Soft curls on a five inch bob need a completely different barrel than soft curls on hair down to your waist, and if you use the wrong one you will be pinning fallen pieces back by cocktail hour. I have sat through more bridal hair trials than I can count over the years, and the brides who walked away happiest were always the ones who knew exactly what barrel size and hold time matched their hair before they ever sat in the chair. Here is soft curls broken down by hair length and type, with the barrel size and realistic wear time for each one, so you know exactly what to ask for.

Soft Curls For Short Hair

If your hair sits at your chin or just below, reach for a 3/4 inch barrel like the Bio Ionic GoldPro Wand. Anything bigger and the curl will not have enough hair to grip onto, so it just falls straight by the time you say your vows. Hold each small section for about 10 to 15 seconds, then pin the curl flat against your head while it cools completely before you touch it. Prepped this way, soft curls on short hair realistically hold for 4 to 6 hours, which is plenty for a ceremony and the first half of your reception. Spritz a texture spray like Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray at the root before you start so the curl has something to grab onto.

Soft Curls For A Lob Or Medium Length Hair

Medium length hair, roughly shoulder to collarbone, is the easiest length to work with and a 1 inch barrel is your best friend here. Wrap loosely and leave the last two inches of each section out of the iron entirely so the ends look soft instead of curled tight and crispy. This length and barrel combo tends to hold beautifully for 6 to 8 hours, which covers you from getting ready photos straight through dinner. One thing I always tell brides at this length: curl away from your face on the front pieces only, and let the back pieces fall however they naturally want to. It reads so much more effortless in photos than perfectly matched curls all the way around.

Soft Curls For Long Hair

This is where you size up. Long hair past the shoulder blades needs a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch barrel or the weight of your hair will pull the curl out before you even leave the house. I got married lakeside in Wisconsin back in 2008 and my stylist used a 1 1/4 inch iron on my hair, which was nearly to my waist. Even with the lake humidity, those curls held through the entire reception, about 9 hours from ceremony to sendoff. The trick was pinning each curl up while it cooled and not brushing it out until 20 minutes before I walked down the aisle. Patience matters more than product here.

Soft Curls For Fine Hair

Fine hair is the trickiest texture because it looks pretty going in and falls flat within a few hours if you skip the prep. Stick to a 3/4 or 1 inch barrel and curl the section tighter than you think you need to, since fine hair naturally relaxes into a softer wave as the day goes on. Apply a texture spray like Kenra Dry Texture Spray before curling, not after, so the curl actually has grip. Hold each section for the full 15 seconds and let it cool pinned. Done right, fine hair curls will loosen into a gorgeous soft wave by hour three and hold that shape for another 4 to 5 hours after that.

Soft Curls For Thick Hair

Thick hair is actually the easiest texture to get long lasting curls with, but it takes the most time in the chair so plan for it. A 1 1/2 inch barrel works well since thick hair has enough weight to relax a tight curl into something soft without any help. Expect your stylist to work in smaller sections than they would for fine or medium hair, so budget closer to 75 minutes for the full style instead of 45. One bride I worked with had extremely thick hair and her curls were still bouncing at midnight with zero touch ups, so if this is you, trust that your hair type is doing a lot of the work for you already.

Soft Curls With A Straightener Instead Of A Wand

If a wand is not sitting in your bathroom cabinet, your flat iron can absolutely do this job. Clamp a small section near the root, then twist the iron a full turn away from your face and pull it down slowly in an S motion. It takes a little more practice than a wand but the payoff is a looser, more undone curl that reads as natural instead of styled. This method works best on medium to long hair and holds for about 5 to 6 hours. It is also the fastest way to touch up curls that have started falling by the time photos wrap, so keep a flat iron in your getting ready bag even if a wand did the original style.

Soft Curls In A Half Up Half Down Style

This is the style I get asked about the most because it photographs well from every angle and works for almost any dress neckline. Curl the entire head first with a 1 to 1 1/4 inch barrel, let everything cool, then pull the crown section back and pin it with a few soft twists framing your face. The pinned section actually helps the whole style last longer since it takes weight off the curls hanging loose in back. Add a few loose face framing pieces last so it does not read too polished. This combination holds for a solid 7 to 8 hours with almost no touch ups needed.

Soft Curls Under A Veil

Here is something none of the inspiration boards tell you: a veil attached too high on the crown will flatten your curls right where everyone can see them in photos. Always curl your hair completely first, let it cool and set, and then have your stylist attach the veil comb low, right at the crest where your head curves, not straight up on top. This keeps the pressure off your curled sections. When you take the veil off for the reception, gently shake the roots with your fingers rather than brushing, since brushing will pull the curl straight out entirely. Done this way, your curls should look just as good at the reveal as they did at the ceremony.

Soft Curls For Bridesmaids Or The Morning After

Not every soft curl moment needs a professional stylist and an hour in the chair. For bridesmaids getting ready alongside you, or for your own hair at the rehearsal dinner or day after brunch, a basic 1 inch wand and 10 minutes is honestly all it takes. Curl in large sections, skip the pins entirely, and run your fingers through once it cools for that lived in look. It will not last 8 hours the way your wedding day curls need to, more like 3 to 4, but for a shorter event that is more than enough and it saves real money on styling fees for anyone in the bridal party who wants to do their own hair.

Bring this list to your hair trial and tell your stylist exactly which barrel size and hold time you are hoping for. It takes the guesswork out of the appointment and it means the curls in your photos will be the same ones you are wearing when you walk back down the aisle as newlyweds.