How To: Curl Your Hair with a Straightener
BY Julianna Lopez
@juliannalopez7
If your curling iron has stopped working, or you simply can’t find it anywhere and your hair needs to be curled, have no fear. Your straightener can work wonders and make just as beautiful and bouncy curls as any curling iron.
What kind of straightener should you buy?
When looking for a good straightener, there are a few things to keep in mind. The width of the straightener is very important depending on the type of hair you have. If you have thinner/straighter hair, a smaller width will do the trick. But if you have thick hair and/or curly hair that takes a while to straighten or curl, a wider width will be best to use.
The plate type of the straightener is also very important. Metal plates are usually cheaper, however, they are the most damaging to your hair. Ceramic or titanium plates heat up faster and don’t damage your hair as much, but can be pricy. However, the higher price may be worth it considering the damage a cheaper straightener can do to your hair.
Another aspect that is important when choosing to purchase a straightener is the heat range. Colored or damaged hair needs a straightener with somewhat lower heat settings, so the damage isn’t multiplied by using a higher heat straightener. Straighter hair also tends to need less heat than coarse, curly, and/or thick hair. Use your best judgement as well as these tips when choosing a straightener that’s right for you, and try to minimize heat damage as much as possible.
What straighteners are the best straighteners?
As of 2016, the top hair straighteners are the HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron, the CHI Pro Ceramic G2 Digital Titanium Flat Iron, the Babyliss Pro Ceramic Porcelain Plate Flat Iron, and the Conair Infiniti Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron.
All of these come at different prices and with different advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately pick the straightener that is best for your hair and your budget.
What you need:
- A straightener
- Heat protectant spray
- Comb
- Bobby Pins
- Always spray your hair with heat protectant before applying any heat to your hair.
- Starting from the bottom, use a comb to section your hair and bobby pins to keep them in place. If you want a tighter curl, take a smaller section of hair. If you want more beachy waves, take a larger section of hair.
- Starting near your roots, clamp strands of hair in the flat iron, twist your hair around the back of the straightener one time, and then twist your straightener 180 degrees away from your face and pull until the end.
- Repeat until all sections have been curled.
- Voila! A beautiful curly hairstyle when you can’t find your actual curling iron.