How To Use A Hair Curl Iron On Thick Hair

Everyone with thick hair has heard it all before. 'Wow, your hair is so thick! It's amazing!' Yes, it is, thanks for saying! But, every thick haired girl has had the heartache of trying to get it to curl. Is it even possible without the curls all falling out an hour later? Yes, yes it is. Here's how you can use a hair iron set to get perfect curls, every time.

Is a curling iron the best choice for thick hair?

In a word, yes. It's possible for a lot of people to get curls in their hair with their blow dryer and a round brush, but for ladies with thick hair it usually just isn't possible. A curling iron has them beat because it's a tool focused on creating curls out of your hair. When used correctly, you'll get beautiful curls that last for hours.

What to look for when picking a curling iron

When looking for a professional curling iron set, there's three things you must keep in mind:

• Curling irons hold different temperatures: You'll want a curling iron that can be set to an exact temperature. This is because you'll need a different temperature to get a curl to hold, depending on the nature of your hair. Higher is better, but remember to never hike the heat up all the way. That's a good way to burn your hair.

• If your hair is naturally frizzy, you may want to straighten it first: If this is the case, you may want to buy a tool that can both curl and straighten. This way, both jobs can be done with the minimum of fuss.

• Ceramic barrels are essential: There's plenty of options when it comes to your hair curl iron, but ceramic is the material that will do the least damage to your hair. If it's not ceramic, don't buy it.

How to curl your hair with your curling iron

Follow these steps and you'll get the perfect curls you crave, every time.

• Start with clean, dry hair: If you can, let your hair air dry before you start to curl it. It needs to be free of any product before you get started.

• Preheat your iron: If you're not sure how hot your irons should be, start around the 200 F mark, and try it from there. You don't want to go above 300 F, or you'll cause damage to your hair.

• Section out your hair: It'll be much easier to curl your hair if you have sectioned and ready, while you wait for the curlers to heat up. As a rule, it's better to have smaller sections, as they'll be easier to curl. You'll get more, tighter curls this way, too.

• Use heat protectant spray: As you curl, spray each section of your hair with a heat protectant spray. This will add silicone to your hair, so a barrier forms between your hair and the barrel. This will protect your hair from a lot of heat damage.

• Don't curl each section for too long: Give each section of hair only 10 seconds on the barrel of your curling iron. Any longer, and you can risk serious heat damage. If 10 seconds isn't long enough, your heat may need to be higher, or your sections need to be smaller.

• Pin each curl: Once you're done curling a section, pin it up so it stays in the right shape as it cools. If you let it drop, it will lose all shape it had, and quickly.

• Finish the style: Once the curls have curled, unpin them and let them fall. Then, run your fingers through them once or twice to loosen them up. Once you've done that, give your hair a light misting of hairspray to set the style. Now your curly look is complete!

Tips to get your hair to hold your new style

• Use the right shampoo and conditioner: What you use in the shower will affect how your curls come out. For example, if your hair is frizzy, you need to use an anti frizz shampoo so your curls come out smooth and stylish.

• Use good quality tools: You'll never get a good curl from an inferior product. Do your research before you buy.

• Give your hair a rest: Try not to use heated styling tools every day. You'll reduce the heat damage done to it, and give it a much needed rest.

Now you know the secrets, you can get the beautiful curly mane that you've always wanted. Put these tips to good use, and you'll keep your hair healthy too. Nothing looks better than a well cared for head of hair.