Instructions for Curling Hair With a Curling Iron

With so many hairstyles, there are countless styling tools that can be used to create them. The curling iron is a tool for creating either loose waves or tight curls. It is easy to curl your hair with a curling iron, once you know how to use it.

Preparing Your Hair

The first step, after plugging in your curling iron, is to choose a heat setting. If you have thick hair, choose a higher temperature, and if you have thinner hair, pick a low temperature.

Prep your hair by using a product meant to protect your hair from heat. This will ensure your hair won't be damaged by the curling iron. Dry your hair before curling it, and don't touch the metal barrel with your hand or scalp.

Using the Curling Iron

Gather a 1-inch section of hair from the front of your head. Open the barrel of the curling iron by squeezing the handle. Place the hair between the open plates and clamp down. Slide the barrel down to the end of the hair, without the iron letting go of the hair. Curl the iron under and continue to wrap the hair around the iron until you are near the root. Hold there for 30 seconds and then release.

Although you are curling upward toward your head, it is important to not let the barrel touch your scalp or neck. The high temperature is capable of burning and scarring your skin. Repeat this motion on each of the remaining sections of your hair.

Techniques

To create spiral curls, angle the curling iron until it is almost vertical. You can have flipped hair by curling upward instead of under. For tight curls, spray your hair with hairspray while it is still wrapped around the curling iron. For looser curls, finger wave your hair before using hair spray.

You can also vary the shape of your curls by switching to a curling iron with a larger or smaller barrel. Large barrels create large waves, and small barrels create small curls.

References

• Nexxus