Updated January 7, 2020.

If there’s one universal truth we all know, it’s that figuring out how to curl you hair is hard. And curling short hair? Even harder.

It’s annoying and your arms ache and you burn your fingerprints off, all for C+ curls that go limp far too quickly. But when you get it right, it’s worth it because a perfectly imperfect, textured head of curls/waves is universally accepted as ‘cool girl hair’.

On Monday, arguably some of the coolest women in Hollywood walked the 2020 Golden Globes red carpet wearing this enduring hair trend. Think: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Margot Robbie, Michelle Williams, Rachel Bilson, Lucy Boynton, Naomi Watts Kate McKinnon, and Rachel Brosnahan.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan looks as marvelous as always. Image: Getty.

Naomi Watts' short hair is a classic bend. Image: Getty.

Lucy Boynton's hair is how we'd like ours to look when we wake up each morning. Image: Getty.

Rachel Bilson is a pioneer of 'cool girl hair'. Image: Getty.

The woman of the night (and always), Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Image: Getty.

This Margot Robbie style is the epitome of Aussie beach hair. Image: Getty.

More great short curly hair inspo from Michelle Williams. Image: Getty.

We love these tousled yet structured curls on Kate McKinnon. Image: Getty.

But still, the question remains... how to curl short hair. Literally. How do you physically do it?

Allow us to direct you to this brilliant guide we prepared earlier below. You're welcome.

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One woman who knows the struggle of curling short hair is Mia Freedman. So much so, theMamamiaco-founder asked her Instagram followers for help with curling her short hair.

They delivered.

Thankfully, celebs like Bec Judd, Phoebe Burgess and Antonia Kidman*, as well as beauty editors and regular folks, came with the best tips for mastering a textured, wavy lob. From which curling wand is best to the nifty tricks that make a difference, here's what you need to know.

*Technically, Antonia Kidman offered "no advice, only sympathy." Thank you, Antonia.

Curling wands vs. curling with a hair straightener.

The debate around whether it's better to curl your hair with a straightener or a curling wand will wage on long after we're all gone. It comes down to personal preference (it was a 50/50 split in the comments on Mia's post) and the style of curl you want (straightener for beachy waves, wand for more classic waves), but both require practice. No one wakes up one day and masters the perfect chic wave on the first go. No, you work at it.

Something Bec Judd, Phoebe Burgess and formerCosmopolitanbeauty director Alexis Teasdale all pointed out is the size of your curling wand matters when you have short hair, so opt for a thinner barrel or wand you can actually wrap your hair around a few times.

Oh, and if you're using a curling wand, for God's sake please use a heat protecting glove. Most tools come with one. Don't be a martyr.

Best curling wands for short hair.

Keen to try a curling wand? Here are five great curling wands for short hair.

Remington Keratin and Argan Oil Nourish Curler, $39.99.

Image: Priceline.

BabylissPRO Ceramic Black Conical Wand - 25-13mm, $84.95.

Image: Hairhouse Warehouse.

HALO The Marilyn Curl Stick, $139.95.

Image: Hairhouse Warehouse.

MUK Curl Stick V2.0, $159.95.

Image: Hairhouse Warehouse.

ghd Curve 2.0 Creative Curl Wand, $245.

Image: ghd.

Other hair curling tools.

You can also try some other curling tools, however each has their own pros and cons. For example, tools like the ghd Oracle, Dyson AirWrap and Rusk MiraCurl Salon Professional Automatic Curler do all the hard work for you by using air or a motor to curl the hair, but it takes practice to master how to use them.

Then, there's a tool like the Mermade Hair Waver, which is affordable and can create Kim K-style mermaid waves, but you're limited to that one style.

Best hair products for curling hair.

If you thought all you needed to curl your hair was a... curling wand, you're mistaken.

No, you need a multitude of hair styling products. You actually only need two - one to prep the hairbefore you curland one to help set itafter.

Prepping your hair with a texturising product like the Oribe Dry Texturising Spray, KEVIN.MURPHY Full.Again Thickening Lotion, Redken No. 5 Dry Shampoo Paste, KLORANE Gentle Dry Shampoo, Schwarzkopf Extra Care Push Up Volume Powder or Kristen Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray will give your hair the grit it needs to hold a curl. Work this into your roots and through the lengths, and spray each section of hair before curling.

After you've finished with your curls (more on that in a bit), lock them in with a nice spritz of a product that will hold your waves without making them crunchy, like the L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Normal Strength Hairspray, KEVIN.MURPHY Anti.Gravity.Spray or ELEVE