How to Use a Curling Iron

Sure, most of us are probably familiar with what a curling iron is, but if you’ve never used one, then this guide is for you.

Curling irons are a great hairstyling aid that can add curl, body and bend to the hair when used properly. There are even special curling irons that can add spirals and zig zags to your hair. The curling iron’s barrel comes in several sizes, small for tight curls and large for bouncy curls.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Curling Iron

1. When you use a curling iron, the most important thing to remember is your hair must be dry. Using your curling iron on wet hair will result in fried-limp hair. If you’re worried about burning your hair even slightly, there are thermal protection products that can help prevent burnt hair.

2. If you have short hair, the best way to curl hair is to start at the crown. If you have medium to long hair, it’s better to start at the back of the head.

3. To begin, separate hair into 1” to 2” sections and start from the tip of the hair and roll the iron until it is about an inch from the scalp. If you’re worried about burning yourself, slide a comb in between the curling iron and your scalp.

4. Hold the iron in the hair for about 10 seconds and then carefully open the curling iron and release the curl. Continue to repeat this for the remaining sections of hair that you wish to curl. If you’re hair is long, you may want to pin the curl with a bobby pin against the head before doing the rest of your hair.

5. Once the curls have cooled, you can use a holding spray to set the look and then unpin and style the curls using your fingers.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchasing a curling iron with a temperature control on it will help prevent split ends.
• Curling Iron Holders are great for keeping track of your curling iron and convenient when traveling since you can pack your iron in the holder without having to wait for it to completely cool.
• If you find yourself using a curling iron on a regular basis, make sure that you add extra conditioning to your hair to prevent heat damage.
• If you’re not planning to curl the ends of your hair such spiral curling, you should avoid using the curling iron clamp. Using the clamp can result in dead ends and tons of frizz. Instead, wrap each section of hair around the barrel of the iron and hold for 10 seconds and then carefully release the curl.
• Finally, if you’re going for soft curls, you might want to opt for hot rollers instead. Hot Rollers offer a variety of sizes and can be used to create longer lasting curls, with less frizz and damage compared to a curling iron. No matter if you use hot rollers or a curling iron, both can give you a brand new look in a matter of moments and create a glamorous look for that special evening. Enjoy your curling iron and your new beautiful curls.

Resources

• CareFair.com

[popbomb]

on 10/4/2009 Thank You, wonderful article!

[Gottaloveit]

on 5/5/2009 Nice going - I always end up with goofy looking curls but will use your tips to hopefully avoid that orphan annie look. Thanks.

[LostAngel28]

on 9/5/2007 Thank you ... this article was very helpful :-)

[Shama]

on 5/1/2007 Great article! I have naturally curly hair, but for touch ups when it gets messy, I like to wrap curls around the iron like you suggested in your tips. Just have to be careful of your fingertips when you're holding the curl.

You should write an article about flat irons for curly-heads like me who want to go sleek. :)

[revisitingnixon]

on 4/28/2007 Awesome. This is a featured How To article on the homepage!