Using a curling iron is a great way to create curly, luscious hair in no time, but if not used properly it can be difficult and damaging to your hair. Here are a few suggestions to help you pick the right curling iron for you and how to use it to get the most out of your purchase:
Curling Iron Sizes
If you want small, springy curls, go for a smaller barrel size such as a 3/4". We recommend this for short or fine hair to give the illusion of volume.
If you want basic, natural curls, go for a 1" curling iron.
If you're going for the voluminous, cascading waves, we recommend a large barrel such as the 1 1/2" - 2".
Curling Iron Materials:
There are various kinds of irons: metal plated, ceramic, and tourmaline ceramic.
Metal plated curling irons are our least favorite. They essentially cook your hair, which will cause heat damage over the long run and could leave you with brittle, split, unmanageable hair.
Ceramic and tourmaline ceramic curling irons produce greater, more controlled heat. This is because of the ceramic, which is able to produce radiant rather than direct heat. It's also because these materials, when heated, generate negative ions.
Positive ions cause the cuticle covering of the hair shaft to open, causing frizz and dullness and making hair susceptible to humidity. Negative ions actually seal the hair shaft, trapping moisture, which protects hair from the heat of the iron.
Temperature Control
Choose a curling iron with different heat settings. There are several reason why this is a good choice.
Hair that's coarse or thick needs to be curled at a high temperature to hold those curls.
Normal hair can be curled at the mid range of curling iron temperatures. We recommend you try lower temps first and only adjust up if your curls don't hold up.
Thin, fine hair or hair that is permed, colored or damaged should be curled at lower heat settings.
Best of all with a curling iron with different heat settings, you can experiment with the different settings.
Finally, Curling!
If you have medium or long hair, you'll find it easier if you start curling at the back of your head. For shorter hair, it's easier to start at the crown.
The most important thing is to curl only a little hair at a time, in small sections of about 1-2". Separate hair and start rolling from the tip of the section.
With hair secured by the iron clamp, roll up to about an inch from your scalp. Hold it there for 10 seconds.
Release the curl by opening the curling iron and sliding it carefully out. If you have long hair, you can pin the curl in place with a bobby pin to preserve its shape while you keep moving.
IF there are sections of the hair that you don't want curled at the tips, just wrap the hair around the barrel of the iron as described above without using the clamp, hold for 10 seconds and release.
Setting your Curls!
Once your have created the look you want, use a holding spray to set it in place.
You can remove the bobby pins, and complete styling of your curls with your fingers.
