How to Curl Your Hair With a Skinny Flat Iron

Create well-defined curls with a skinny flat iron

If you've used your hair straightener for nothing more than eliminating the frizz in your tresses, you might be thrilled to discover that there's so much more you can do with a flat iron. For one, you can add curls to straight or barely wavy hair with this thermal styling tool. A skinny flat iron in particular can give you tighter and more defined curls than a mid-sized one. If you already have a skinny flat iron on hand, don't buy a curling iron before trying the techniques listed here; you may discover that you are perfectly satisfied with the curls that result from your hair straightening tool.

Things You'll Need

• Comb
• Thermal styling protectant
• Hairspray

Instructions

1. Switch your skinny flat iron on and wait for it to heat up.

2. Eliminate any tangles or snarls by combing your hair. This will help your curls look flawless and keep them from appearing matted. Spray a thermal styling protectant all over your hair, ensuring the ends are coated with product to shield them from breaking and splitting.

3. Section off a thin lock of hair, about 1/8 inch thick, which is finer than the 1/4-inch that a mid-size hair straightener can handle. The section of hair should not be any wider than your skinny flat iron for most effective curling.

4. Clamp down close to the root or where you want the curl to begin on the section of hair. Twist your wrist inward toward your head and hold this position as you glide the flat iron all the way down the lock of hair. For very defined curls, keep twisting the flat iron as you slide it down the lock of hair. Do this slowly for a tighter curl; slide the flat iron a little more quickly down the section of hair for a looser, wavier effect (see Resources for a video).

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until your entire head of hair is curly. Style the resulting curls with your fingers. Do not use your comb or brush as either of these will break down your curls. Lightly mist hairspray over your finished hairstyle to help the curls retain their shape for the day.

Tips & Warnings

• Minimize hair damage by investing in a ceramic or tourmaline skinny flat iron instead of a metal or copper-plated one, which can seriously damage hair if used frequently.

Resources

• Video on curling hair with a small or skinny flat iron