How to Curl Hair With a Straightener or Curling Iron: Hair Curling Tips and Tricks for Beginners

When women envision gorgeous hair, they often think of curls. It’s the most iconic pageant hairstyle that gives any look a feminine, sexy, and sultry vibe.
Whether you have naturally curly, wavy, or straight hair, at some point, you will definitely be embracing those curls and making them your tool for a standout look. To achieve those gorgeous curls, however, you need to observe a few basic commandments. So, we’ll walk you through how to curl hair with a straightener or curling iron here in this guide while sharing hair curling tips to bring out the best in your curls. If you don’t already have curling irons or straightening tools that you love, you’re in luck. We here at My Haircare & Beauty have created the ultimate collection to set you up for curling success. Browse our catalogue or get in touch with our experts today for help!

How to Curl Hair With a Straightener

You may be thinking to yourself…why would I want to learn how to curl hair with a straightener? Doesn’t it make sense to use a curling wand? 
The appeal of curling hair with a straightener is that you can create a more wavy, natural look. If you don’t want to buy a curling iron and you already have a straightener on hand, it will save you money, too. It also protects your hair against heat damage and you can style faster. Here’s how:

1. Prep Your Hair: Always start with dry hair and apply a heat protectant spray to minimise damage.
2. Section Your Hair: Divide your hair into small sections for more defined curls. The smaller the sections, the tighter the curls.
3. Clamp and Twist: Take a section of hair and clamp the straightener close to the roots. Twist the straightener 180 degrees away from your face.
4. Glide Down Slowly: While holding the twist, gently glide the straightener down the length of your hair. Make sure to keep a steady pace – moving too fast will give you looser waves while moving slowly will give you tighter curls.
5. Repeat: Continue this process around your entire head, alternating curl direction for a more natural look.
6. Finish: After all sections are curled, run your fingers through your hair or use a wide-tooth comb to loosen the curls for a more relaxed wave. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to keep the style in place.

But, if you’d rather learn how to curl hair with a curling iron, we’ve got you covered there as well.

How to Curl Hair With a Curling Iron

There’s no denying the benefits of curling hair with a straightener, but that doesn’t mean you should never try using a curling iron. This is how you get those tight curls, after all. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose the Right Barrel Size: A smaller barrel (around 1 inch) will give you tighter curls, while a larger barrel (1.5-2 inches) will create loose waves.
2. Prep Your Hair: Just like with the other approach, you need to start with clean, dry hair and apply heat protectant.
3. Section Your Hair: As with the straightener method, section your hair into manageable parts for more precise curls.
4. Wrap the Hair Around the Barrel: Start near the root and wrap a section of hair around the curling iron’s barrel. Make sure the hair is wrapped away from your face for a natural look.
5. Hold and Release: Hold the hair around the iron for about 5-10 seconds, depending on how tight you want the curl to be. Release the curl carefully and avoid touching it until it cools.
6. Repeat: Curl each section of hair, alternating curl directions for a more tousled, voluminous style.
7. Final Touch: Once your curls have cooled, gently run your fingers through them for a more relaxed wave. Finish with a setting spray for long-lasting hold.

There you have it: how to curl your hair using two different methods. Both have their place, and your choice will depend on your vision for what you want the curls to look like. Of course, if you only have a straightener or curling iron on hand, that will also dictate your method of choice.

More Hair Curling Tips to Bring Out the Best in Your Curls

Now that you know how to curl your hair, we want to leave you with a few styling commandments to bring out the best in your curls. Here are some more hair-curling tips.

Focus on conditioning

Frizz is one of the biggest enemies when styling curls so you need to give it proper moisture to fight off frizz. Once the hair fibers have sufficient hydration, this will automatically eliminate frizz. It also gives that shiny finish to the hair as the smoother surface is able to reflect light more effectively. For women with naturally curly hair, you need to double the dose on conditioner. You may even consider using anti-frizz conditioner and anti-frizz shampoo.

A styling gel is your best friend

This product facilitates in holding the natural shape of the curl while also providing protection against harsh environmental conditions such as sunlight and wind. When buying a styling gel, however, you need to stay away from the ones containing silicone and alcohol in its ingredients as they contribute to making your curls crunchy.

Observe proper drying methods

You need to handle your curls with TLC when it comes to drying and use gentle methods. For instance, using a diffuser when you blow dry can keep away the possibility of forming frizz.

Keep those gorgeous curls fresh all day

When you notice that your hair is starting to dry out, you can apply a small amount of water and then add some styling products designed to preserve your gorgeous curls such as curl cream or mousse. Scrunch this onto your hair to give more texture and volume. If you want your curls to hold for a long time, use a curl-defining gel. Opt for ones with lightweight hold so that you can create more definition to your curls without it being too heavy or looking overly done. For maximum results, apply this to wet or damp hair.

Curling short vs long hair and accounting for texture

Your hair’s length plays a role in the curling process. Short hair necessitates a smaller barrel size when using a curling iron – around 1-inch works best. 
This will create well-defined curls or waves that last. You should also work in smaller sections to avoid curls looking too tight or unnatural.
Long hair, on the other hand, can handle larger barrel sizes (up to 2 inches) to create looser, beachy waves. Since there’s more length, longer hair tends to hold curls better but also requires more time to section and curl properly.
Hair texture is equally important. If you have fine hair, avoid high heat settings to prevent damage. Thicker, coarser hair, however, may need a higher temperature to achieve lasting curls.

Make Curling Your Hair as Effortless as Possible With the Right Tools!

Whether you came here to learn how to curl hair with a straightener or curling iron, your results will only be as good as the tools you use along the way. That’s why we are so excited to unveil the best curling iron and straightener selection online here at My Haircare & Beauty!
From Muk hair straightener to GHD curlers, we’ve got something for everyone. In fact, we stock more than 200 leading beauty brands so you can bring out the full potential of your hair. That includes Milkshake hair products, Goldwell shampoo, Kevin Murphy hair products, Davines, Keune, Evo, Brasil Cacau, and more!
But we aren’t just here to set you up for curling success with the best hair straightener or curler. We also have the curl enhancer solutions you need to complement your efforts. That includes the basics like curl-enhancing shampoo and conditioner for curly hair along with curly hair cream and other types of curly hair treatment. So, take a look around – or, get in touch with our customer service team for one-on-one assistance choosing the right products for your hair’s unique needs.

Parting Thoughts on How to Curl Your Hair

There you have it, how to curl your hair! We hope this guide has left you feeling clear and confident in your next steps, whether you came here to learn how to curl short hair or how to curl long hair, how to curl hair with a straightener or how to curl hair with a curling iron.
Our blog has more tips on how to properly wash curly hair to protect it. You can also learn about curly hair myths, shampoo vs conditioner, types of shampoo, permanent vs semi permanent hair dye, Muk hair straightener vs GHD, cost to dye your hair in Australia, and more.
With all the resources, tools, and products you need to bring out those beautiful bouncy curls, there’s only one thing left to do at this point – shop our selection at My Haircare & Beauty to set yourself up for curling success!

My Haircare and Beauty

Established in 2008, My Haircare & Beauty have not only established ourselves as a trusted name within the retail world, but also for our ability to deliver on-trend, dynamic services and advice to our loyal clientele.