Curling Irons… How Do I Get My Curls to Do That?

There are so many types of curling irons to choose from, it can be really overwhelming! You should start by purchasing one that has temperature settings instead of just low/med/high – that way you can control how hot it gets for you. Another thing you will be looking for is the barrel size. Depending on the length of your hair and the type of curls you want to do, this should have a big impact on which curling iron you choose. The other thing I would look for is auto shut-off. That way, if you forget to turn it off it will shut off for you (a total life saver for me!).

There are a lot of different looks you can get using the same curling iron. From perfect, crisp curls to messy waves. It all depends on how you use it. To start with, you are going to want to prep your hair. When curling hair, I always start out with product when the hair is damp that encourages curls and/or volume. It lengthens the life of the curls and helps them look more shiny and healthy. Make sure your hair is 100% dry, because if there is any moisture left in the hair when you curl it, the curl will turn out limp.

For those crisp, ribbon-looking curls, take a 1” square section and comb it so the hairs are all perfectly straight. Insert the curling iron at the ends and roll up in a spiral toward the roots. Give the hair a little spritz of hairspray once the curl is complete and don’t touch it or brush through it. For a messier look, take a less defined section of hair and wrap around the curling iron in a spiral. Slide the curling iron down and out as you wrap the hair around to stretch out the curl. For volume, roll the curling iron horizontal to the scalp and slide the curling iron out the side. Let the curl cool next to the scalp and spray with hairspray.

Note: If you don’t want a perfect row of spirals, alternate the direction of the curls and also switch up the way you remove the curling iron. For one curl, release the hair as it is in a spiral, for the next, slide it out. If your curls are too large, separate them with your fingers instead of a brush or comb. Brushing them out makes them fluffy.

After you are done curling all the hair, mess it up by shaking it out or keep them all in place. You can get tons of different looks just by using just one curling iron! It’s a lot of fun and not that difficult once you get used to it.