Utah Curls: 4 Bouncy Volume Styles That Own the Mountain West
The salon-grade curl technique that took over from Salt Lake to St. George — and why it works on practically everyone.
Skip the beach wave tutorials. Utah curls are a different animal entirely — think Old Hollywood bounce meets modern volume, with a salon-polished finish that looks expensive even when you did it yourself with a $30 iron. The technique came out of the Mountain West salon scene, where stylists figured out that wrapping hair around a barrel in alternating directions — then brushing it out aggressively — creates a uniform, voluminous curl pattern that holds for days. Not crunchy, not frizzy, not the limp waves you get from a wand. Actual, structured, bouncy curls that move. Here are four variations to try.
1. Classic Utah Curl
The Classic Utah Curl is what you picture when someone says the words. Big, uniform barrel curls — usually done with a 1.25-inch iron — wrapped in alternating directions, then brushed through with a wide-tooth comb or paddle brush. The brushing is the secret. Most people curl their hair and leave the ringlets intact, which looks costume-y. Brushing breaks the curl into a cohesive wave pattern that reads as volume rather than spiral. This version works on medium to long hair, and it’s the one that holds the longest — three days minimum if you use a heat protectant and dry shampoo on day two.
2. Half-Up Utah Curl
This is the Utah curl for people who want the volume but don’t want hair in their face all night. Take the top section — from temple to temple, about ear-height — twist or loosely backcomb it, and pin it at the crown. The remaining curls frame your face and cascade down your back. The trick is not to pull the top section too tight. You want volume at the crown, not a slicked-down bump. Tease the roots of the top section lightly before pinning, and pull out a few face-framing pieces. This style works especially well for people with fine hair who want the illusion of thickness — the half-up section adds height while the curls below create fullness.
3. Voluminous Low Ponytail Utah Curl
Here’s the move: curl your entire head with the Utah technique, brush it out, then pull it into a low ponytail at the nape. But here’s what separates this from a regular pony — you leave the curls loose and voluminous in the tail. Don’t smooth them down. The contrast between the sleek, pulled-back top and the explosion of curls in the ponytail is what makes this work. Wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it, and pull out a couple of pieces around your ears. This is the hairstyle for days when your roots are questionable but your ends still look great. It also works beautifully for workouts, errands, or any situation where you want your hair up but not boring.
4. Loose Utah Wave
If the classic Utah curl is the polished version, the loose wave is the Saturday morning version. Same technique — wrap, alternate directions, brush out — but with two key differences. First, use a larger barrel (1.5 inch or bigger). Second, brush more aggressively. The goal is to break the curl pattern down into a soft, voluminous wave that looks like you have naturally thick, wavy hair. This version works on shorter hair too — even shoulder-length — because the loose wave doesn’t need length to show its shape. Finish with a texturizing spray and scrunch with your hands. It’s the Utah curl for people who want the volume without the ‘I just left the salon’ energy.
Tools & Products
| Item | Purpose | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25-inch curling iron or wand | The barrel size that creates the classic Utah curl — big enough for bounce, small enough for hold | hot_tools |
| Heat protectant spray | Non-negotiable. Curls this polished require heat, and heat requires protection | hair_care |
| Wide-tooth comb or paddle brush | Brushing out the curls is what transforms ringlets into the Utah wave pattern | tools |
| Texturizing spray | Adds grit and hold without crunchiness — the finishing touch that makes curls last | styling |
| Dry shampoo | Extends the style to day 2-3 by absorbing oil at the roots | hair_care |
Related Guides
Princess curls — a similar bouncy style with a more structured approach — If you like the polished bounce of Utah curls, princess curls take it further with a more sculpted, vintage-inspired shape.
How to get Utah curls at home — step-by-step tutorial — Complete guide to getting the Utah curl technique right, from sectioning to the final brush-out.
Utah curls work because they solve the two biggest complaints people have about curling their hair: ringlets that look costume-y, and waves that fall out in an hour. The alternating wrap direction creates a cohesive pattern instead of spiral curls, and the aggressive brush-out converts that pattern into volume that lasts. Once you learn the technique, you’ll stop buying every new curling iron on the market. The barrel size barely matters — it’s the wrap direction and the brush-out that make it work.
Grab your iron. Section your hair. Alternate the wrap. Brush it out. That’s the whole secret.
