For great hair, you need the right styling appliances — and a few simple tips
on how to use them properly
Brian Henn
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Anatomy of a Curling Iron
Heating Element: Metal coils inside transfer their heat to the barrel.
Clamp: Choose an iron with a short, spring-loaded clamp, which is easy to open and close. It holds the hair in place against the heated barrel.
Barrel: Covered with a metal or ceramic plate, the barrel curls hair when it’s hot. An iron with a 3/4-inch-diameter barrel is the most versatile, allowing you to create everything from loose waves to tighter curls.
Switches: Look for an on-off switch as well as buttons that adjust the iron’s temperature. Coarse hair needs high heat; fine hair needs less.
How to Use It Properly
Work in sections. Separate a section of hair that’s as wide as the barrel of the curling iron, and clip the rest of the hair away. Trying to tackle too much at once will result in curls that don’t last.
Release hair from the iron when the hair is hot to the touch. You want to be sure the heat has penetrated the entire section, which usually takes about five seconds, to give the curl staying power.
Soften curls with a blow-dryer. If the curls you make are too defined, you can loosen them by wrapping each section of hair around a round brush and applying heat from a dryer for a few seconds, says Dominic Barbar, a stylist based in Beverly Hills and the creator of Barbar Hair Tools.
RS Pick: FHI Heat Digital Curling Iron, $195, www.fhiheat.com.
