How to Buy Good Curling Irons & Get Perfect Curls

If you are wishing for sexy and voluminous waves for a special event or a first date, trade in your hot rollers for a few good curling irons.

While it is easy to pull your hair back into a blah and basic ponytail, using a few expert tips you can create the curls of your dreams in 30 minutes or less.

Whether you are having a bad hair day or looking to transform your straight hair to wonderfully wavy, here's how to buy the best curling irons and give your freshly-washed strands Hollywood star style at home.

Bye-bye boring hair. Hello, good curling iron!

Step 1 – Determine the type of ceramic flat or curling irons you'll need.

The range of curling irons in beauty salons and beauty supply stories vary. You can choose, ceramic flat irons, crimping irons, waving irons and two to three barrel irons. Based upon the type of wave desired in your hair, select a professional curling iron that will leave your hair smooth and prevent scorching and burning.

Step 2 – Barrel size matters.

Professional curling irons range in size from .25 inches to 2 to 3 inches in size. If you want tight curls or are styling short hair, a small-barreled iron is your choice.

Soft waves and curls are created using larger barrel irons for women with long hair. While in contrast, ceramic flat irons are used to straighten a woman’s hair instead of curling it.

Step 3 – Check the features of your ceramic flat iron and curling iron.

The best professional curling irons or the best flat irons have the following characteristics: a non-stick surface, a grip tips, curling brushes, temperature settings that are adjustable, a ready light that heats instantly, a swivel cord, and an auto safety function.

Step 4 – Examine the barrel coatings before your buy your ceramic flat irons and curling irons.

Types of barrel coatings include gold, chrome, velvet, Teflon and ceramic curling iron barrels. The coating on the barrel of the iron determined how much heat the iron holds. The coating material also determines the curling iron’s propensity to damage or burn hair.

The best coatings for a professional curling iron include Teflon, garnet or tourmaline finishes.

Step 5 – How to pick a perfect flat iron.

Because flat irons come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes it is hard to determine which curling iron is best for you.

For thick and long hair, choose a 3-inch wide iron to grab and flatten your hair easily.

For medium length hair with normal thickness, select a 1 1/2 inch iron to smooth your mane.  To tame your bangs or flat iron short hair, a narrow 1-inch flat iron is your best bet for straightening.

How to Get Nice Curls With a Curling Iron

1. Begin with clean and dry hair. If you curl your hair while it is wet, your strands may break or burn.  Coat your hair with a dollop of heat-protectant or curl cream. Rake the product through hair from the roots to the ends.
2. Comb hair from roots to tips to eliminate any tangles before curling. Separate hair into four equal sections. Secure the hair with large butterfly clips.
3. Turn on the curling iron to a medium, 280 to 300 degree Fahrenheit, heat setting for thin hair. Use a higher heat setting, around 400 degrees Fahrenheit, for coarse and thick hair textures.
4. Open the curling iron’s clamp. Roll two-inch sections of the hair vertically around the barrel of the curling iron. Wind the hair downward and away from the face. Press the clamp shut.
5. Hold the curling iron in the hair for a few seconds, then release by sliding the hair from the barrel gently. Complete the curling process until all sections have small, sausage-like curls.
6. Spritz hair with a shine spray to add gloss to your curls. Set hair with a medium-hold hairspray for all-day wear. If you want to create waves, rake your fingertips through your hair to release the curls.

Tips, History & Warnings When Buying a Good Curling Iron

• The cost of ceramic flat irons and curling irons should range from $20 to up to $100 or more for a state-of-the-art and professional curling iron.
• One of the most innovative and mandatory beauty tools created in the 20th century, we have the Parisian inventor and stylist Marcel Grateau to thank for developing a technique to style hair using heated metal rods.
• The least expensive curling irons are chrome barrels. Gold-plated irons are frequently found in professional tools due to their ability to heat evenly.
• Ceramic and tourmaline irons are efficient professional curling irons because they produce softer curls and conduct heat evenly—which prevents the hair from damage and abuse.
• Professional curling irons with a swivel cord allow the hair device to be free from tangled.