No, we haven’t succumbed to lockdown-induced hysteria. You really can curl your hair using socks.
If, like us, you’ve been spending a lot of your free time lately watching TikTok videos, you might’ve seen the latest hair craze sweeping the platform – curling your hair using nothing but some socks.
One of many at-home beauty hacks doing the rounds since quarantine, this tool-free trend gives soft, beachy curls with minimal effort and zero heat.
Hairstylist and beauty expert Justine Marjan recently took to Instagram and TikTok to demonstrate the technique, saying: ‘I slept with socks in my hair and the result was 90’s supermodel curls’.
@justinemarjan / Instagram
In the clip, Justine clips long socks to her damp hair before separating into sections and twisting around the sock. She then secures with a scrunchie, removes the clips and sleeps with the ‘sock plaits’ overnight. In the morning, she unravels her hair to reveal beautiful natural waves – all thanks to a couple of pairs of socks!
Justine also adds that stockings or bathrobe ties would also work, and that a wave mist or hairspray can help to secure the style.
“The sock technique is age-old and has been around for centuries,” Justine told Allure. “It was very common in the 1950s and ’60s with foam rollers, fabric, or strips of an old T-shirt. I love seeing the sock curl trend on TikTok as an easy and accessible way for young girls to style their hair without heat at home.”
Justine also adds that sock curls can be achieved on any hair textures and length (the longer your hair, the longer sock you’ll need, obv), and that thick socks will achieve large, bouncy waves, whereas thinner socks or stockings will create a thinner, more ’90s-style curls.
Just make sure your hair is damp prior to sock application, as you want it to dry in uniform waves. Or, if you have curly hair, apply your favourite leave-in conditioner or curl cream.