Curling irons can be used to create tight formal curls, big thick waves, thin spirals, or thick tube curls. To curl your hair using a curling iron, try one of the following methods. Here's a wikiHow guide to curling your hair using a curling iron.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Basic Curls
Step 1. Heat the curling iron
Turn on the iron and heat it up to 160 degrees Celsius for thin hair and 220 degrees Celsius for thick hair. Experiment to find the right temperature for you. It's best to start with the lowest temperature you can use for this process. This method will do less damage to your hair.
Step 2. Brush your hair thoroughly
Make sure there are no tangles or your curls won't form properly. Your hair must be completely dry before you curl it. Dry with a hairdryer on any wet areas.
Step 3. Apply heat protectant to your hair
This product is usually sprayed on dry hair. This heat shield forms a kind of protective layer between the hair and the iron to add shine to the hair and prevent breakage due to high temperatures.
Step 4. Part your hair into sections
The sections should be about 5-8 cm wide and there should be about three to four sections of hair from the bottom to the top of your head. Separate the sections using bobby pins so that the only hair that is not clipped is the curled hair or the section of hair that will be curled next.
Step 5. Working in sections, curl your hair
Using only the curling wand (and not the clips at the bottom of the wand that "hold" the hair as the curls are curled), wrap a section of your hair along the heating wand. Make sure your hair doesn't overlap, as this will reduce the heat and cause the section to droop. Use your fingers to hold the ends of the sections of hair close to the heating wand without burning your hair. Doing this instead of using tweezers will prevent the tweezers from imprinting on your perfect curls.
Be sure to alternate the curling direction clockwise and counterclockwise for a more natural effect
Step 6. After the section of hair is finished curling, immediately pin the section of hair
By grabbing the bottom of the curly hair, tighten the curls to create the perfect curl. Use a bobby pin or similar bobby pin to pin the curls to your head.
Step 7. Continue until all of your hair has been pinned
Then wait until the curls are no longer hot before you remove the pins.
Step 8. Once the hair has cooled down, remove all the bobby pins
Shake your curls and fix untidy curls
Step 9. Style your curly hair, if you wish
Unless you want to leave it as it is for now, for a more formal arrangement, shuffle with your fingers or poke a little. Tossing big curls is a great way to create waves in your hair.
Step 10. Spray some styling spray to make your curls last longer
Don't spray too much, as this will make your hair stiff and/or heavy.
Method 2 of 3: Curling from Top to Bottom (Spiral Curl)
Step 1. Take a strand of hair to curl
For curly curls, take a smaller section.
Step 2. Squeeze the curling iron open and place it close over the section of hair
Keep squeezing the iron to keep it open for now.
Step 3. Manually wrap the entire section of hair along the iron rod
Step 4. Pinch the section of hair in the iron for about 10 seconds
The time you need may vary depending on your ironing tool and your heat setting, so if you need to experiment, do it on the lower side of the hair first.
Step 5. Loosen your hair and repeat for the next section of hair
It will be easier to close and open the clamps as you loosen them, but be careful not to touch the metal parts in this process.
Method 3 of 3: Bottom-Up Curling (Tube Curling)
Step 1. Take a section of hair to curl
For tighter curls, take a smaller section of hair and for less dense curls take a larger section of hair.
Step 2. Squeeze the curling iron open and place it under the hair
It's easier to loosen the pins when you roll your hair up and then remove the iron down. Slightly tilting the iron will make it easier to curl your hair and prevent the curls from getting too far from the side of your head.
Step 3. Pinch the iron shut and twist the iron so that the hair spirals around it
The flatter your hair spread under the curler, the hotter each strand of your hair will get. For full curls all the way through your hair, twist the iron close to your scalp, being very careful not to touch the heating iron on the scalp. Curl your hair in a direction away from your face, not toward your face.
Step 4. Hold the hair in the iron for about 10 seconds
The time you need may vary depending on your curling iron and your heat setting, so if you need to experiment, start on the low side first.
Step 5. Loosen your hair and repeat for the next section of hair
It will be easier to close and open the iron clamps when you loosen them, but be careful not to touch the heating iron to your skin in the process.
Step 6. Done
Tips
- Letting your hair fall after the bobby pin is removed (by not brushing it afterwards) and ruffling it with your fingers will create the most natural results. Rummaging your hair throughout the day can prevent small curls from combining into big curls.
- Curl your hair away from your face for more natural-looking curls.
- Use styling spray afterward to keep the curls longer if you don't have curling cream on hand.
- You can get tighter curls using a curling iron that has a smaller heating iron, and looser, wavy curls if you use a larger curling iron.
- Before you use styling spray, use a special curling spray that will make your curls last longer.
- Use a ceramic curling iron that won't damage your hair too much.
- A curling cream applied after a shower will help curls last longer; however, do not use styling foam, which will make the curls too heavy.
- If you don't feel very confident when using a curling iron, always wear gloves to protect yourself from burns.
- If you spray styling spray on the outside of your curls during the curling process to make your hair last longer, make sure you don't spray it too close or the spray (depending on the brand) will make the curling iron stick.
Warning
- Do not turn on the curling iron near water: it may fall and electrocute a person.
- Be sure to always unplug the curling iron when you're done.
- Gently pull the iron away from your head as you curl your hair to protect your scalp and add volume.
- The curling iron is hot. Don't place it too close to your scalp or block it with your free hand.
- If you curl a section of hair for too long, you will cause damage to your hair from the heat, and possibly even hair loss.
- This process can create two end results: getting curly hair that looks natural and very nice, or causing your hair to curl into balls. If your hair tends to be frizzy, use an anti-frizz serum.
- Read the safety instructions before using a curling iron. This will also let you know how long it will take to curl each section of hair.
- Don't spray styling spray before you use the curling iron, styling spray is highly flammable and will burn your hair!
