Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career Money
    • Health Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes amp; Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • NYFW
    • Life In Plastic
    • Cari Champion
    • New Books
    • Postpartum Psychosis
    1. Beauty
    2. Hairstyles, Haircuts, and Hair Colors

    How I Got Carrie Bradshaw Curls in GIFS

    C-c-c-curly.

    By Lauren Valenti
    Published 3 April 2014 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Curly hair
    (Image credit: Marie Claire)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Like most young twentysomethings, I've idolized Carrie Bradshaw since my first brush with Sex and the City (I'd secretly watch it through the crack of the door to my parents' bedroom every Sunday night). I was enamored with everything about her — her style, her friends, her wit, her apartment, but most of all, her blonde, curly hair. At the time, I had a tangly, golden mane of my own — I resented it since birth having grown up with sisters and friends who had effortless, pin-straight hair. But Bradshaw brought me solace. Perhaps, I too, was The Way We Were's Katie with a mess of complicated c-c-c-curls.

    Since then, both Bradsaw and I have undergone major hair transformations (and many a Keratin treatment) and essentially left our kinkiest tresses behind. Recently, however, I've been longing to go back to my wild, childhood coiffure. I have yet to master a curling iron, I visited hairstylist Halli Bivona at the John Barrett Salon armed with two things: a video clip of Season 2 Bradshaw and my 3rd grade school photo, seeking an easy technique for getting those big, unbridled curls.

    Step 1: On dry hair, make a large section from hairline to behind your ear and pin the rest of your hair back.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Step 2: Take small sections and curl hair around the barrel of a 1 inch curling iron from root to mid-shaft.

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Curly Hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Step 3: As you're loosening the curl from the barrel, continue to twist the hair.

    You may like
    • ocean water background with two girls with beach waves on top next to hair styling products for fine hair Think Beach Waves Won't Last On Fine Hair? I Found the Fool-Proof Routine
    • floral collage with three brides layered on top with a range of wedding hairstyles like a bubble ponytail and bun with jewels I'm a Picky 2026 Bride—Here's My Wedding Hairstyle Mood Board
    • three women including nicole kidman, zoe kravitz, and kylie jenner each wearing a different ponytail hairstyle Your Ponytail Could Be Doing So Much More

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Step 4:While curls cool, spray a wet texture hair spray, like John Barrett's hold hairspray, liberally all over.

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Step 5: Once curls have cooled, tilt your head back and rake fingers through curls and shake them up. Don't be afraid to fluff the curls, with this look the messier it is the better!

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)

    Step 6: C-c-c-curls!

    Curly hair GIF

    (Image credit: Kathryn Wirsing)
    Lauren Valenti
    Social Links Navigation
    Beauty Editor

    Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.

    Read more
    ocean water background with two girls with beach waves on top next to hair styling products for fine hair
    Hair Think Beach Waves Won't Last On Fine Hair? I Found the Fool-Proof Routine Wearing this look through September.
    By Samantha Holender
    Rosalía styled a newspaper dress from Desigual with heeled ballet flats
    Celebrity Style Rosalía's Newspaper Dress Would Make Carrie Bradshaw Proud
    By Meguire Hennes
     
     
    A woman with curly hair in the middle of a collage that features pictures of various women getting ready.
    Hair Tracee Ellis Ross’s ‘70s “Porn Hair” Is Made Possible by This Very Specific Hot Tool Nothing is off the table.
    By Ariel Wilson
    two women with blow buns and low ponytails on a liquid golden background
    Hair The Reign of the Slick Back Bun Is Over Low, loose, and undone is the vibe for fall.
    By Hannah Baxter
     
     
    Latest in Hairstyles, Haircuts, and Hair Colors
    two women with blow buns and low ponytails on a liquid golden background
    Hair The Reign of the Slick Back Bun Is Over
    Nicole Kidman attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
    Hair Nicole Kidman’s Emmys Hair Has Me Ready to Retire the Slicked-Back Bun
     
     
    Lukita Maxwell at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
    Hair Lukita Maxwell Just Made the Baby Bob Fall’s Most Tempting Haircut
    Zendaya at the 2026 Emmys looking over her shoulder and posing.
    Hair Zendaya's Pixie Cut Is the Star of the 2026 Emmys Red Carpet
     
     
    Latest in News
    A split image of Zizi Strallen in costume as Mary Poppins and Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte with their heads together at the Commonwealth Games
    Royals Princess Charlotte Had a Special Backstage Experience Orchestrated by Mom Kate
    collage of New York Fashion Week guests and celebrities wearing the statement skirt trend
    Fall fashion New York Fashion Week's Easiest Outfit Formula Starts With a Statement Skirt
     
     
    Prince Harry looks at Prince William on the Buckingham Palace balcony as both wear military uniforms
    Royals Prince William's Stance on Prince Harry Has Changed to a "Cold War"
    collage of the best celebrity looks at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival
    Celebrity Style TIFF 2026's Best-Dressed Stars Are Bringing Their Fashion A-Game to Toronto
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.