Curling Wand Or Iron For Beginners?

Have you been rocking straight hair for a long time? Maybe now is the time to amp up your game by trying a gorgeous curly or wavy hairstyle. 

Before you head out to the salon for a more semi-permanent solution, you might want to try to use curling hair styling tools first. Nowadays, there are two main hair styling tools designed to create curls: the curling wand and curling iron. 

Which one would be best for those who are just starting out? Should you choose a curling wand or iron for beginners?

That is a difficult question to answer. It is highly subjective. The truth is either would work well for beginners. It is just a matter of getting used to it. 

However, we don’t want to leave your choice to guesswork. That’s why we’re going to tell you how to use both of the hair curling tools.

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The Basics Of Hair Curling

If it was only possible to twirl your hair around your finger and make it curly that way! That would be a dream. But it’s impossible — especially if you naturally have straight hair. 

However, one way to style your hair curly is to add heat to the equation. Our hair strands are made up of various chemical bonds which react to the heat whenever you curl your hair. 

With the addition of heat, the texture of the hair is temporarily altered. This makes it possible for the hair strands to maintain the shape of the mold that it is in. 

In this case, the mold is the curling iron  or a curling wand . When your hair gets wet, the chemical bonds and texture of the hair go back to their natural form, which is why your hair straightens back again after taking a shower. 

Although heat allows us to control the shape of our hair strands, too much heat can be very damaging to the hair. That is why it is essential to always use a heat protectant  whenever you are using heat styling tools. 

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How To Use Curling Wand Or Iron For Beginners

The steps to curling by using a wand or an iron are similar. It is just a matter of practice and getting used to it. Whenever you use a curling wand or a curling iron, it is important that you make sure that your hair is already dry. 

You may blow-dry the hair prior to curling it but make sure you’ve already applied a heat protectant serum to prevent or lessen heat damage. 

Using A Curling Wand

Step 1: Section The Hair

Section your hair depending on how thick or thin you want each section to be. If you want tighter curls, make a smaller section. For loose beach curls, create larger sections. 

Step 2: Place The Wand Near The Root Of The Section

Carefully position your wand near the root of your hair. Make sure that the base of the wand is the part that’s near your roots and is pointing downwards. 

Step 3: Wrap The Hair Around It

Start wrapping the section of your hair from the roots downwards. Be careful not to burn yourself. Most curling wands come with a glove so use it to avoid burning your fingers. 

Step 4: Wait Then Release

Keep the hair in that position for about 10-15 seconds so it develops the curl. Afterward, unwrap the hair on the wand and pull the wand away from your hair. Repeat the steps for each section.

Using A Curling Iron

Step 1: Grab A Section Of Your Hair

Divide your hair into sections and you can choose whether you take larger or thicker sections. Larger sections will produce looser curls while thinner sections will produce tighter ones. 

Step 2: Place Your Hair On The Curling Iron

Open up the clamp and place the hair strands towards the root. Be very careful in doing this so you don’t accidentally burn your hands or scalp. 

Step 3: Slide Towards The Hair Ends

With the clamp partly closed, you then slide towards the ends of the section of your hair. Once you’re at the ends, fully close the clamp.

Step 4: Twist Towards The Roots

Twist the curling iron towards the roots of your hair section. It can take about 10-15 seconds for the hair section to heat up and mold into the curl. 

Step 5: Release The Hair

Once the section has taken the shape, carefully open the clamp to free the hair, then you call pull the curling iron away from your hair. Repeat this for every section. 

After all the sections are done, you can run your finger through some of the curls to break them. This can give you a more natural effect.

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Which Is Best?

The different curling tools produce different curls. The curling wands usually give a more natural look because it produces looser curls styles. 

However, curling irons are also great! They give a more defined and even curl due to the design of the barrel.

There are certain looks that can be achieved best if you use a curling iron.

If you want to get both , you can! Today, there are now products that you can swap the heads with so you can use it as a curling iron or a curling wand. 

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Conclusion

Curling your hair is possible by using either a curling wand or a curling iron. Both make use of heat to mold your hair into those curly locks. 

Additionally, both are also beginner-friendly tools. It can be scary to style your hair with heat but if you use a heat protectant, you lessen the potential damage your hair receives. Also, with practice, you will be able to curl your hair efficiently with either of the tools. 

There is no better curling tool when it comes to beginners. It is a matter of preference. You’ll eventually get used to the tool you select if you just use it often. Furthermore, there are also products that could serve as a curling wand and a curling iron. 

See also:

• Curling Wand vs Curling Iron: What’s the Difference?
• How to Use a Curling Iron on Short Hair
• Flat Iron vs Curling Iron: What’s The Difference?