Table Of Content

To get full curls using a flat iron, you'll use pretty much the same technique as the beach waves tutorial with a few small adjustments. To curl your hair, clamp the iron halfway down a section of hair and turn the iron 180 degrees backward. For more pronounced curls, turn your iron 360 degrees as you guide it down your hair. Another type of curl you can get with a flat iron is a soft wave. Secure the strand between the plates and slide down, rotating the iron half a turn all the time. Move slowly and maintain tension to get the desired texture.
Braid Out Curls
Once the hair is separated, you're ready to start using the flat iron on individual sections. "Again if you have straight, fine hair use smaller sections; if your hair holds curl well, use larger sections of hair," Thompson says. A good starting point might be to work in one-inch sections of hair. Ready to learn how to use this hair styling tool like a pro? Here's how to use a straightener to create three stunning types of curls and waves.
Form those S-shaped curls.
All the preparatory steps we mentioned earlier were not just for show. Prepping your hair not only ensures that your curls come out beautifully, but that they’ll hold their shape well. We’re saying that you need to set it high enough to create smooth, slick, defined curls.
Technique 3: Wrap Waves
It’s essential to find a happy medium between a temperature that’s too low and a temperature that’s too high. But, on average, flat iron curls tend to last anywhere from a day to a few days. Instead of using a 1-inch flat iron, opt for one that’s a half-inch or even smaller if your hair is shorter than a couple of inches.

Ways to Quickly Curl Your Hair with a Straightener

Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive hair care tips and tricks from the experts at All Things Hair. Starting with the bottom parting, further section off the hair into smaller sections, Two to three sections usually work best, but it depends on how tight you want your curls to be. Start with dry hair and brush out all tangles and knots with a paddle brush. Practice new techniques with the iron turned off first to eliminate the risk of burns while perfecting your craft. Don’t get us wrong; we’re not asking you to set the flat iron temp as high as possible.
How to Keep Your Straightener Curls from Dropping
When it comes to curling your hair with a flat iron, there isn’t just one method. Here, learn how to curl your hair for two methods depending on how tight or loose you want your curls to appear. Haygood recommends using a one-inch flat iron that has a smooth, rounded edge so the hair does not have any dents when curling and waving the hair. Also, he looks for ceramic plated flat irons because they distribute heat more evenly and protect the hair.
The right tool to use will come down to your skillset, the amount of patience you have, whether you can afford curling tools, and more. Just like you can create flat iron curls on long and medium-length hair, you can also curl short hair. But before you do so, ensure that your flat iron plates are narrow enough to do the job.
Tips for Curling Hair With a Flat Iron
For a natural look, try making the curls go in opposite directions from section to section, twisting one section away from the face and the next toward it. “If you stop mid-shaft, you will get a bump from the edges of the iron,” Sears warns. Santiago recommends pulling the sections of hair even more firmly and rocking your iron more rapidly to create the highest number of bends possible.
How to Get Tighter Curls With a Flat Iron:
The 19 Best Curling Irons of 2024, Tested and Expert-Approved - PEOPLE
The 19 Best Curling Irons of 2024, Tested and Expert-Approved.
Posted: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter. A "smart" microchip monitors heat levels to keep them even while you're styling. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
This added layer of protection will prevent hair from singeing on hot spots on the iron. For thick hair, section and spray to absolutely ensure all strands have an even coating. Similar to the previous curling instructions, pick a starting point for your beach waves on your natural hair. Clamp the iron at the part of the hair where you want the curls to start.
That way, as you glide the tool through your hair, you’ll get even heat and smooth results. The highest heat setting you’ll get with this flat iron is 410 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the main determinants of how long your flat iron curls last is how hot the tool was when you created the curls.
For the most part, you’ll want to follow the same steps from the previous sections when using a flat iron to curl long hair. However, you may need to create smaller sections for your hair or turn up the heat to guarantee all parts of your long hair get ironed. Make sure you use a heat protectant like the ones previously mentioned to shield your hair from heat damage, along with creating texture in the hair to hold the curl better. If you do not have any hot tools and you do sometimes straighten your hair, investing in a good flat iron for straightening and curling your hair would be a great idea. If curling is part of your regular styling routine, do investigate the best curling irons and wands, which are designed for curling hair in the first place. Before you begin, you will need to gather some style inspiration.
13 Best Hair Straighteners and Flat Irons - POPSUGAR
13 Best Hair Straighteners and Flat Irons.
Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Secure the strand between the plates, rotate a full turn, and slide the straightener down as long as you can. Then, release the strand and secure the next part of the section between the plates to repeat the same process. In case you weren’t aware, you can curl your hair with your flat iron. And depending on how you hold and turn the flat iron, you can create several curl types. Using heat styling tools on hair with leftover products can also lead to heat damage.
"The pass is the amount of time heat is applied to an area and the compression is the amount of pressure with which the heat is applied."
Keep reading if you find yourself without a curling wand and need to learn how to curl your hair with a flat iron. Grab your straightener — and a heat protectant — and follow along for beautiful flat iron curls. Lucky for you, Kenra Professional doesn’t just make salon-quality products. We also have a ton of educational resources so that you can empower yourself with the confidence and knowledge of a professional hairstylist. So, whether you are an at-home beauty guru or a professional stylist, we’ve got your back with a plethora of resources to take your hair care routine to the next level. Today, we’ll walk you through every step of curling your hair with a flat iron.