May 18th, 2013 • Posted by True Salon and Spa • Permalink
Do you aspire to have big, beautiful, beachy waves? We can't blame you.
Bouncy beach waves are a summer hairstyle staple and they're not going out of
style any time soon. Although you can achieve this look with a curling iron,
one of the best tools to use is a clampless curling iron (also known as a
curling wand or rod). At first, using a curling wand may seem tricky, but with
some practice, some stylists insist that it is even faster than using a traditional
curling iron.
There are many benefits of using a curling wand rather than a curling iron:
-A curling wand is better at getting closer to the roots
and allows you to create perfect, natural-looking curls from roots to ends
without those unattractive, kinky, crimp marks that a traditional curling
iron can leave behind.
-Since there is no clamp, it's highly unlikely that your
hair will get tangled, reducing the chances of severe damage.
-A curling rod also gives you more control, because as
you're grabbing sections of hair to curl, you're able to vary the
thickness and orientation of each curl.
-Many curling wands have detachable barrels, making it
easy to switch between different sized barrels and create dynamic
hairstyles.
If you're a little hesitant about shelling out the dough for a new tool that
you're not even sure you'll like, here are three different techniques you can
try to get an idea of how to use a curling wand and the types of curls it
creates:
- You can wrap hair around the closed barrel of a curling
iron, making sure to do so loosely or else indents of the clamp will appear in your
curls.
- You can try opening the clamp and winding your hair
around the barrel, without closing the clamp. It's a little tricky at
first, but you'll get the hang of it with some practice.
- You can transform an old curling iron into a curling
wand by removing the clamp on a traditional curling iron with a
screwdriver.
Get the curls you desire. Here's a chart to help you decide which size of
barrel you should use for you your locks:
Curl
type
Suggested Barrel Size
Hair Length
Super thin
tendrils
3/8"
(iron)
Short to medium
Shirley temple ringlets
1/2-5/8" (iron)
Short to
medium
Classy coils
1" (iron)
Medium
Loopy curls
1 1/4"
(iron/rod)
Medium to long
Big curls
1 1/2" (rod)
Medium to long
Loose "S" waves
2"+ (rod)
Long
If you decide to invest in an official curling wand, make sure to buy one
that includes a heat resistant glove. Before you apply any heat to your hair,
use a heat protectant to shield hair from heat damage. If you have fine or
color treated hair, use a low heat setting (below 200 degrees). If you have
coarse, curly or thick hair, adjust your heat setting between 200 - 300 degrees.
As you curl your hair, pay attention to how it responds to the heat and adjust
the temperature accordingly, but never go above 400 degrees.
It's also best to choose a ceramic and tourmaline curling wand, because
they're the safest and healthiest for your hair. Ceramic wands diffuse heat
through your hair more evenly, while the tourmaline releases negative ions that
leave locks looking shinier and feeling silky smooth.
If you want to learn more tips and tricks, schedule a free hair
consultation. We would be happy to sit down and talk with you about your hair
concerns and suggest a few products to make styling easier for your type of
hair.