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Hair Curling Tools Guide

Determining which hair curling tool is best for your hair goals is no easy feat. You have to contend with hair texture, density, and potentially existing damage in your decision-making process. Thankfully, you have many options when it comes to selecting a hair curling tool that can deliver eye-popping results.

Tough to pick a curling iron tool?

1. Modern Curler (Hair curler)

The modern curler is quick and efficient. It is also easy to use. All you need to do as illustrated in the above gif, section your hair, take a hair piece and twist it a bit, hold it in the curler for a few second and you get it.

2. Hot Hair Rollers

Hot hair rollers are perfect for those occasions in which you are looking to have curls that are bouncy, glamorous and full of volume.

My favorite hot hair rollers include:

  • BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Jumbo Roller Hairsetter
  • Conair Heat Waves Jumbo and Super Jumbo Ceramic Rollers
  • Remington T Studio Thermaluxe Setter

How it Works

Warm your hot rollers before use. While those curlers are warming, section your hair into three columns. You will have one section on each side and a mohawk row down the middle. Pin two of those sections up, then –starting in the middle, install those rollers one block at a time. Once your middle section has rollers, move to one side, repeat the process, then the other.

To install a single roller, wrap your hair around it and use the pin or clamp to lock it into place. You repeat the process until all of your hair is in a roller. Before installation, the rollers are all usually warm. Leave these rollers in place for 15 minutes or longer depending on your hair thickness and texture.

2. Hair Flair Bonnet Hood Hair Dryer Attachment Hair Flair Deluxe Softhood

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Photo: Amazon

Soft bonnet dryers are an affordable and excellent option for deep-conditioning events but are also user-friendly for roller sets no matter your hair texture. It contains 120 ventilation holes which make for an even and rapid drying process. Soft bonnet hair dryers like the Hair Flair Soft Bonnet Dryer are convenient and easy to pack away for travel.

These soft hooded dryers come with a fitting drawstring that helps to hold it in place and allow you to use a low heat setting which is perfect for those of us hoping to avoid heat damage.

They are washable which means you won’t have to get rid of it after your initial use.

3. Curling Wand

Curling wands are a must-have for every girl’s hot tool collection o’ goodies. Curling wands deliver fabulous, natural waves.  They have a protective tip, barrel, barrel rest (so that you don’t burn any surfaces), swivel handles, and temperature setting very much like your average curling iron.

If you decide to use a curling wand on fine hair –use a temp setting of 340-350 degrees. For normal to medium hair, choose 380-390 degrees. For coarse hair, you might aim for a heat setting of 400-410 degrees.

Popular curling wands include:

  • O’Bella Curling Wand with Ceramic Tourmaline Coating
  • Conair Professional Jumbo Taper Iron
  • Nano Ceramic Taper Iron by Hot Shot Tools

How It Works

Part your hair into subsections that are no wider than the barrel. Placing the barrel in your direction of choice, then wrap the hair around the barrel. Of course, do so with caution. It is easy to burn your precious fingers if you are not careful. Leave hair against the barrel for approximately 10 seconds, then release the hair. Your goal upon release is to avoid immediate manipulation of the hair, or you will risk disrupting the integrity of your wand curl.

4. Round Hot Hair Brush

Hot Hair Brushes are a fantastic alternative to your average flat iron or straightening heating tools. These tools have a broad temperature range that may go from 185 degrees to upwards of 465 degrees depending on the product.

These brushes have protective tips on the ends of the bristle that help to keep you from burning your scalp which is vital to avoiding heat trauma to your scalp that might kill your follicles or disrupt the hair growth cycle. Many have a ceramic coating and use ionic technology which helps to straighten hair without generate excessive damage.

These brushes do a fantastic job of straightening your hair no matter the texture. They also serve as blow dryer and curling tool. Are they better than your average flat iron? Ultimately, it may depend on your hair goals.

For women with natural hair or coarser textures, you may find it difficult to reach the kinkier areas of your hair which lay closest to your scalp –commonly known as the root, but for the most part, these tools are effective.

Popular hot hair brushes include:

  • All-in-One Straight & Style XL Heated Brush
  • La Belle Vue Heated Ceramic Brush
  • Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler
  • INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR® 2-INCH & 1 ½-INCH HOT AIR SPIN BRUSH (with addtional function – rotating in both directions)

How It Works

As with most heating tools, you can apply a thermal protectant to spare your hair from being exposed to too much heat. Next, you can section your hair into small sections and pass the brush through your hair. The price range can vary on these tools, but even the low-cost tools are effective. These tools cut the hair straightening process and yields results.

5. Curling Iron

Curling irons are fantastic for rapidly creating curls with heat where none exist. They are also helpful in restoring curls that have gone flat or for a basic bump. Curling iron barrels are available in a variety of sizes, and your choice of iron may vary based on your ultimate curl goals, hair length, density, and texture.

Are you seeking to create tight curls on short hair or are hoping to develop classy beach waves that deliver a cascading look?

Many of us are guilty of misusing our curling irons. The key to a perfect curling iron curl has everything to do with choosing the right size, using irons on dirty hair, holding these irons at the wrong angle which can lead to scalp, hair and the dreaded facial burn; or simply mismatching your goal curl pattern and direction.

6. Rotating Curler

Rotating curlers can help you achieve those natural curls you have been chasing for so long. These hot tools may not be for everyone, however. If your hair easily tangles, is thick or extremely coarse, these tools may not be for you.

ProsCons
  • It’s easy to use
  • Two directions
  • Create bouncy curls
  • Because of chamber design, you will never burn yourself
  • You can’t get variety of curls
  • You do have to work with small hair sections
  • May be expensive
  • Curls are not suitable for your age (younger)

How It Works

Rotating curling irons can move or rotate in either direction. Your fingers do not have to come into contact with the heat on these tools which is terrific for those of us who dread this sensation. The device pulls the hair into the chamber and generates a curl with the momentum of the rotating chamber. You hold this tool in place for approximately 15 seconds (wait for the beeps four times) then pull down and release.   

The Chi Air Spin N Curl Ceramic Rotating Curler is perhaps one of the most popular rotating curlers. This rotating curler works on all types of hair textures including coarse and fine hair.

These are just a few hair curling tools every woman should have in her arsenal of hair styling utensils. Each of these tools has the capacity to deliver results that are guaranteed to create a bit of hair envy.

7. Plastic rollers + Hair dryer and Bonnet Hood Hair Dryer Attachment

One of the oldest form of curling tool, you need to wear those rollers overnight in order to get your hair curled.

8. 3-Barrel Hair Wavers

This tool has been prove working faster than any other type of curling irons. It works the same as crimping irons (which I separated into another section), but you can’t change its size barrel, meaning your curl patterns will be the same for every hair style.

Curl your hair three times faster than single barrel irons

9. Automatic Curling Iron

You don’t have to wrap your hair around the barrel, just press the button and the tool does it all for you.

An easy way to curl your hair

10. Bubble Curling Wands

If you have a long or medium hair, this tool can accommodate, the ball shaped patterns give a consistent wave for every sections of your hair.

The size, temperature will define your curls

11. Sprial Curling Iron

Screw-like barrel will guide your hair

12. Double Barrel Curling Iron – Just another kind of hair waver

There are a couple of different ways to handle your hair sections

Keywords/Keyphrases: Curling Wand, Hair Flair Soft Bonnet Hair Dryer, hot hair brush, rotating curler