Have you got straight hair but been in awe of the latest curly hair trend. Have you thought, I will go out and buy a curling iron and do it myself, I am sure it’s simple. Then went to the shops and found out that there are many different types of curling irons or straightners promising to give you the perfect curl and stood there in utter confusion….well your not alone.
Here is the low down on tools to get that fab curl look and how to use them:
1. Conical Curling Iron
This is a good one for beginners. The Conical Iron is thicker at the base then gets more narrow at the tip and is just a simple barrel without a spring lever. To use, section hair into 3cm pieces starting from the base and wrap hair around the barrel toward the face. Hold the hair around the barrel for 15-20 seconds and release. The tighter you wrap your hair the tighter your curls will be so this gives the flexibility of tight curls or loose waves. Once you’ve done every section of hair, spritz with hair spray and then comb out if desired. The whole process should only take about 20 minutes or so depending on your hair length.
We recommend GHD Curve Creative Curl Wand
CURVE CREATIVE CURL WAND
2. Curling Tong
Better if you are more experienced with hair styling or have thinner, fine hair. The curling tong will have the same size barrel top to toe with a spring lever to secure hair in place. It can be easy to think you start at the top or bottom of your hair but it’s actually best with a curling tong to start in the middle of your hair (this is for loose waves, if you want tighter curls you can start closer to the top). Section your hair, and clamp the lever on to the middle of your hair and curl it around. Using a light hand on the lever slowly pull your hair around the curler until you reach the bottom. You have to go a lot slower to make sure you actually get the curl so this whole process might take around half an hour if you’ve got long hair.
We recommend GHD Curve Classic Curl Tong
3. Straightners
Most people own a pair of straightners but have never tried curling their hair with them as never knew how. Start with dry hair. One- or two-day-old hair works best, since it’ll hold texture better than clean hair. Using hair clips divide your hair into horizontal sections, starting with the bottom layer. Clamp the flatiron close to your head. Then, slowly turn the iron away from your face and rotate it as you work down the length of your hair, flipping the ends as you twist. Repeat this motion on all sections. Once you’re done and your hair has cooled, break up the waves with your fingers.
We recommend GHD White Platinum Styler
A top tip for anyone trying to curl their hair: Depending on if you’re right handed or left handed one side will be easier than the other. Looking straight on to the mirror makes this even harder (like patting your head and rubbing your tummy) so I advise setting up a mirror behind you too so your reflection is not back to front.
