As a hair care brand, you know we’ve tried it all. From crazy products to weird tools and confusing hair techniques, there’s no stone uncovered in our quest to get you the best hair care. No matter how many new things we try, the truth is that there’s one tool we go back to again and again…our beloved flat iron. It’s basically the gift that just keeps giving.
One of our favourite hair straightener hacks is using a flat iron to create voluminous and bouncy curls - and it helps that they take no time at all to create. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to learn exactly how to curl your hair with a flat iron for effortless style every time.
Why We Love This Technique
Curling your hair with a flat iron is a must-know technique for every haircare lover - trust us, we’ve been doing it for years. Learning the process can take a few attempts to perfect, but here’s why it’s worth the time investment:
● Convenience: Use just one styling tool instead of many in your morning routine.
● Money Saving: Switch up your look without buying a new heat tool.
● Ease: We think doing hair straightener curls is even easier than using a curling iron!
All that’s left to do is grab your favourite straightener, heat protectant, and hair spray and get to curling!
How to do Curls with a Flat Iron: A Step-by-Step Guide
We’ve broken the process of making curls with a hair straightener into six super-simple steps. It’s probably best to read them through before your first straightener curl attempt…but we won’t judge you if you’d rather just dive straight in.
Step 1: Prep the Look
Ideally, you want to start with freshly washed hair and either leave it to air dry or blow dry about 80% of the way. While the hair is still damp, run through a few pumps of our Tackle & Tame Heat Protectant Serum then leave for a few minutes to dry completely. The serum is fragrance-free and designed so that even the most sensitive of scalps can enjoy its soothing properties.
If it isn’t wash day (or you just can’t be bothered) then don’t worry, you can also apply our heat protectant directly to dry hair.
Give your hair a good brush to make sure the product is evenly distributed from roots to tips. You want to make sure your hair is smooth and tangle-free to make the rest of the steps as easy as possible.
Step 2: Section the Hair
Next, you’ll want to separate out the bottom layer of your hair with your finger or the end of a comb. Depending on your hair thickness, this might be anywhere from a third to a fifth of your hair. The split doesn’t need to be perfect just so long as it feels like a manageable portion is left out!
Clip or tie the rest of your hair out of the way and pull the remaining section to the front so you can see it in the mirror.
Step 3: Clamp and Spin
Okay, it’s heat time! Switch on your flat iron and give it a few moments to heat up. In the meantime, take a one-inch section of hair and run your brush through it one more time to double-check it’s totally tangle-free.
Pick up the hair straightener and clamp down at the top of your section (or wherever you want the curl to begin). Keeping the hair clamped, spin the flat iron 180 degrees towards your head. The hair should now be wrapped around the barrel.
Step 4: Drag and Wrap
Holding the flat iron in one hand and the rest of the strand in the other, slowly drag the straightener down the length of your hair - this should take around 10 seconds. There shouldn’t be any resistance when dragging thanks to our silky smooth heat protectant but just make sure not to pull too hard!
This part is important - once you’re at the end of the hair, DON’T RELEASE! Instead, you want to rotate the flat iron back toward the root, wrapping the hair around it as you go. This is the key to those long-lasting curls!
Step 5: Release and Repeat
Hold the flat iron at the root for another 5-10 seconds then gently release the hair into a coil in your palm. Hold it in this shape for a few seconds until the hair gets cold before finally letting your bouncy curl drop. Dropping the curl too soon can encourage it to lose its shape whereas letting it cool in shape locks in the curl for longer.
Grab the next section and repeat this process until the entire bottom section of your hair is curled.
Step 6: Style and Set
Don’t forget to hit the section with some hairspray once it’s finished. You can then let down the next portion of your hair and repeat the process. Use a light layer of hairspray as you go for maximum hold then finish with a final spritz!
Once your whole head of hair is curled, it’s time to part it. We recommend spending a few additional moments getting the part as clean as possible in order to get that ‘straight out of the salon’ look. We know central partings are in right now, but still love a side part too!
And…that’s it! Remember when we told you it was easy? All that’s left to do is fix any strays and accessorize!
What Heat Settings to Use to Make Curls with a Flat Iron
It’s so important to use the right heat settings for your hair type when it comes to flat iron curls. Here’s our guide to finding the right temperature for you and avoiding any accidental frying:
Heat Setting Guide for Doing Curls with a Hair Straightener
Fine Hair: Low heat between 100°c to 140°c
Healthy Medium Thickness Hair: Medium heat between 140°c to 150°c
Thick, Natural Hair: Higher heat between 150°c to 220°c
Fine and Curly Natural Hair: Below 100°c
Medium-Thickness Natural Hair: Medium heat between 140°c to 180°c
Coarse Natural Curly Hair: 180°c to 220°c
Bonus Tips for Perfect Flat Iron Curls
Just because you can curl your hair with a flat iron, doesn’t mean you’ve necessarily perfected it. Luckily we’ve got you covered with our three bonus tips for long-lasting, bouncy flat iron curls:
● Bonus Tip 1: Choose a flat iron with a more rounded barrel for smoother curls.
● Bonus Tip 2: Practice with the straighteners switched off first to avoid burning your hair.
● Bonus Tip 3: For a more effortless style, try starting the curl a few inches below the root.
Rescue Wild Hair & Sensitive Skin with The Naked Range
We know that nothing kills a good hair day like harsh fragrances and irritated skin. That’s why at The Naked Range, our products are just that…naked!
We keep haircare simple with always unscented products designed to protect, smooth, and save. Our products are crafted with sensitive skin in mind because no matter how good your styling skills are, there’s no replacement for a healthy scalp and hair.
Ready to experience your best fragrance-free hair day yet? Check out our line of unscented haircare products below to keep your skin and hair looking and feeling good.
thenakedrange.com
Jessica is a content writer from the UK who covers all things beauty, confidence, and travel. She can usually be found hiking, drinking coffee, or on a plane to somewhere new.
