How To Know Which Curling Iron You Actually Need
Photo: Levi Brown/Trunk Archive
From uniform ringlets to textured, beachy waves, there are tons of ways to curl your hair—and almost as many heat tools on the market. Are you sure you’re using the best curling iron and products to achieve your desired look? Whether your ends’ end game is Veronica Lake ‘40s chic or small spirals, here are the expert-approved tips and tricks to get there.
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Kardashian-Style Cascading Curls: Butterfly Studio Salon expert stylist Dana Tizzio recommends using a 1 ¼-inch iron, like this one from Hot Tools. “Make sure you are rolling the iron away from your face (towards the back of the head),” Tizzio explains. “Keep hair sections big and it will give the illusion of trademark Kim waves.” Tizzo first spritzes Shu Uemura’s Detail Master Directional Fixing Spray about 12 inches away from the hair before combing each section and then curling it.
Gorgeous Gisele Waves: Drybar Founder Alli Webb says Drybar’s 1-inch barrel 3-Day-Bender is excellent for this look. “After spraying Drybar Mai Tai Spritzer onto dry hair, use the Bender in vertical sections throughout,” says Webb. The key to this look is curling away from your face near your face — and alternating the curl direction everywhere else. Leaving the ends out yields a more undone look. But, if your beachy waves came out a little too pageant-y, Sally Hershberger stylist Matthew Fugate notes that you can simply use your hands to tug on the curl and make it straighter. “Or take the curling iron and lay it down on the top of the surface of the hair to pull the curl out, kind of like a light saber,” he says. “This gives it the same effect as a flat iron.” He recommends adding a bit of Sally Hershberger Hyper Hydration leave-in spray to counteract bounciness while imparting shine and UV protection.
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Small Spirals: If you’re looking for corkscrew curls, Suave Professionals Celebrity Stylist Jenny Cho says to opt for a ¾-inch iron. Try the smallest wand included in T3’s Whirl Trio of interchangeable stylers. “This iron is great for vintage style updos and messy chignons,” she notes. “Remove the clamp and wrap small sections of hair around the barrel to achieve springy curls.” Lock in the look with extra hold hairspray, like Suave Professionals Touchable Finish Hairspray.
Veronica Lake Waves: This style is about sectioning more than it is about the iron. Consistency is key here, Fugate says. He likes a 1-inch iron because you’re going to end up brush it out anyway, yielding a bigger wave. “ Deep side-part the hair and curl hair in the same direction so that when you brush it out, it becomes a uniform movement.” If you’re pressed for time, Fugate says not to worry about the back of your hair so much. Instead, focus on your part and the face-framing pieces. He likes to apply Blowpro Faux Dry Shampoo at the root so that the look stays together and isn’t piecey. “You can be daintier with this non-aerosol version, and step into it like you would a spritz of perfume.” Webb suggests slightly backcombing at the indentation of the curl to help set the style.
Ravishing Ribbon Curls: Cho says to start with a mousse on damp hair to keep your curls intact all day long. Webb maintains that the best best way to get a ribbon curl is to use a flatiron. Says Webb, “Section hair into one- to two-inch pieces and rotate the iron as you would a curling iron, quickly moving down the hair shaft.” This method is all about speed (or lack thereof). The more slowly you go, the tighter the curl. “Moving the iron through the hair more quickly will produce more of a wave than a curl,” she explains. “Don’t be afraid to use a lot of tension and move quickly!”
