A curling iron can create smooth waves for subtle glamour or fun flips for flirty looks. Of course, if you don’t know how to use one, you might create a mess instead! Knowing how to use them is good to know for last minute decisions for a night out.
Lets be honest! Curls are down right voluptuous! Marilyn Monroe wore them with style! Whether you want romantic waves or sexy spiral curls, you can easily learn how to curl your hair like a pro. It’s not that hard to do and only takes about a half hour for longer styles and less time for shorter styles.
Curls are definitely in this year! Marilyn sure knew the value of curly hair!
She wore her hair short but usually with lots of lush curls.
Whether your hair is short of long, curls never go out of style!
The nice thing about irons is that they heat up in a snap! Whether your hair is blunt cut, layered or fringed, a bit of added bounce is always fitting. Another reason to curl your hair, is that men absolutely love it! Men clamor around women who have beautiful curls. (think about Jessica Simpson!) If you find your boyfriends eyes wandering, curls can really turn him onto you again!
Find top brand name curling irons and hot rollers on this page.
Things You'll Need
Curling Iron
Flexible Hair Spray
Blow Dryer
Hair Accessories
Hairbrush Or Comb
Hair Clips
Mirror
Mousse, gel, or styling spray
Tips before you Curl
Buy a ceramic curling iron if you curl your hair a lot. Ceramic curling irons generate negative ions that help protect your hair from damage. If you like spiral curls, try Revlon Pro Ceramic Spiral Iron. Ceramic irons are top rated for performance! Turn irons on and wait for a few minutes until they're fully heated before using them.
How to Use a Curling Iron
Step One Begin by applying a styling gel, mousse or styling spray to clean, damp hair and blow dry until completely dry. Your curls will form better and last longer with the aid of good quality hair products.
Step Two Clip your hair back in multiple sections. Release one section and brush or comb it to remove any knots or tangles. Spray lightly with a soft-hold hairspray if your hair is very fine and doesn't hold curls well.
Step Three Open the curling iron by holding your four fingers around the handle while pushing your thumb down on the clampClip the top of your hair out of the way and begin curling the bottom section of your hair, working your way up to the top. Slightly twist a small section of your hair with your hands for spiral curls, or take a flat, larger section for loose curls.
Step Four Take a small section and place the iron near the roots. Close the iron and slide it down the length of the hair all the way to the ends. Open the clamp and insert the end of your hair. Close the curling iron barrel on the ends and make sure that all of the stragglers of that section are completely in the barrel.
Step Five Roll the iron down to the scalp taking care not to touch. Most hairdressers use a comb between the iron and the scalp, so the scalp never gets burned. Hold hair in the iron for a count between five and ten seconds. Don’t touch your hair until it cools down all the way.
Step Six Unroll the iron and open the curling iron to release the curl. Proceed with other sections until all areas have been curled.
Step Seven Flip your head and shake out the curls, then style your hair using only your fingers. (or a pick)
Step Eight Spray with a light hold hair spray to keep your curls in place. For humid climates use a humidity resistant hair spray.
Styling Tips
There are a few things to look for when selecting your curling iron. The width of the barrel always determines the size of the curl. Use a small barrel for tight or spiral curls, and a big barrel for larger, loose curls.
Misikko has a great selection of irons at affordable prices. They also have some very helpful articles on using their hair tools, like how to use a curling iron.
If you want spiral curls, roll your hair up vertically. If you want to create waves or flips, roll your hair up (or under) horizontally.
Keep hot irons away from your scalp and hairline to avoid burns. Using an iron with a temperature control can eliminate burning your hair and help avoid split ends.
For home, use irons with a spring clamp handle.
Make sure to turn off hair appliances when you're through using them.
Clean hot irons regularly, especially if you use a lot of hair products in your hair. Hair product build up can be a big problem later, so keep 'em clean. Always refer to manufacturer instructions for the best cleaning methods.
Use a good root lifter if you don't like your hair to sit flat against your scalp.
When you buy a new iron, experiment with it and try different things you haven't tried before. You never know when you'll stumble onto a great look for you and your hair!