Curling hair with straighteners step by step: ok, so you’ve decided to purchase a flat iron. You’ve taken it out of it’s pretty packaging, plugged it in and turned it on. Now what? You have different choices in how to use a hair straightener depending on the desired look you are going for.

Are you simply wanting to straighten and smooth, or do you want to add a little twist and shine to your hair without having to use both a curling iron and hair straightener? Below we will walk you through how to curl your hair with a flat iron step by step.

Step 1: Heat Protectant Spray – Optional but Optimal

Although heat protectant spray is optional, it’s purpose is to help protect against heat damage from hot hair tools. If you are going to be using a hair straightener often, this may be a step you do not want to skip. We recommend using a spray such as John Frieda Frizz Ease Heat Defeat or Chi 44 Iron Guard for styling protection from the inside out.

Step 2: Part Hair Into Sections

Once again you will be parting your hair into sections. Tie your hair up into a bun at the top of your head or pin it up to keep it out of the way, leaving the very bottom section down (approximately 1-inch sections). You will be working in layers from the neck up. The smaller the layers, the curlier it will be.

Step 3: Flat Iron Curling Techniques

How to Create Bouncy Curls with a Flat Iron:

Once fully curled, simply leave your hair as is or you can run your fingers or a pick through it. If desired you can spray the finished style with a flexible hair spray like Kerastase Laque Dentelle that was seen in the beach waves video. You can also use a wax or pomade like AG Hair Texture Paste to give the hair a smooth, matte look and better keep it in place.

Hair Straightening Tips

• Hair near the hairline is thinner than other areas of the head, so keep in mind that not as much time is needed with the flat iron in that area to get the same result as the thicker areas.

Conclusion

From loose curls to tight curls to flat iron beach waves, there are many different techniques used for curling your hair with a flat iron. Don’t be afraid to play around and discover your own technique or what works best for your hair. Remember it’s best to start with dry hair that has been combed through and optional to spray hair to protect from the heat damage that can occur with repeated use of hot tools. It will get easier the more you practice! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to curl your hair with a flat iron.

Titanium hair iron vs ceramic: We take hair straightening seriously here at Beautisenz. When it comes to hair straighteners, there are different plate materials available and each has different purposes to suit different needs. Careful consideration should be made when choosing between the different flat iron types; the most important being your hair type. In this article, we will look at titanium vs. ceramic plate material types so that you can better understand the differences and similarities between the two. Scroll down for more information.

Ceramic straighteners offer excellent value for money. Some of the desired benefits of a ceramic straightener are:

• Smooth glide – they will not tug or pull at hair.
• Quick even heat – they heat up very quickly and evenly so you will not have to make many passes through the hair.

There are also tourmaline-infused ceramic irons on the market. Together they make for a very desirable straightener giving you incredibly shiny locks. Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone that comes in all different colors. The benefits tourmaline brings to a ceramic iron are:

• Generates a larger amount of negative ions that lock moisture into hair, reducing static and frizz.
• Generates infrared heat that penetrates the hair from the inside out making hair smooth and shiny without damage.
• Heats up quickly like ceramic.

Pros & Cons of Ceramic Plates

• Ceramic is not as durable as titanium. The plates can chip over time due to the brittle nature of ceramics.

What is a Titanium Straightener?

Titanium plates also use infrared heat and negative ion technology to smooth hair and enhance shine.

Pros & Cons of Titanium Plates

• The more expensive option.

Things to Consider When Making a Choice Between Ceramic vs Titanium Plates

Cost

Ceramic hair straighteners are very common and come in a wide price range. They offer great value for money and are usually cheaper than titanium irons. Keep in mind that the cheaper ceramic irons may not perform as well as the more expensive ones.

Hair Type

Hair type is the most important factor that comes in to play when choosing a straightener. Here are the differences between ceramic and titanium when it comes to hair type:

Ceramic – Good for all hair types from thin to thick hair. Will not work as well on hair that is very thick and stubborn or very curly.

Titanium – Should not be used on thin fragile hair. Great for hair that is thick, coarse and/or curly.

Although ceramic plates heat up pretty quickly, titanium plates will get the job done quicker due to their ability to quickly heat up, retain heat, and allow for fewer passes through the hair.

Experience

If you are a beginner it is best to stick to ceramic hair straighteners until you get the hang of it and discover how your hair reacts to straightening/what temperature your hair straightens best at without causing damage. If you are experienced and know what you’re getting into with straightening hair, the titanium straightener is an excellent choice. Titanium plated hair straighteners are often used by professionals.

The Bottom Line

Ceramic plates provide quick and even heating and are great for all hair types, unless of course, your hair is very stubborn and/or very curly. For a beginner, this is a great place to start. Titanium plates heat up to very high temperatures quickly and evenly. They may cause hair damage that is fine and fragile and are best for professional or experienced users. When it comes down to a titanium hair straightener vs. ceramic, make the choice that is best for your hair type and skill level!