Though it's a hassle -- we already have to clean our makeup brushes (groan) -- it's important to clean your curling iron after every use, otherwise it gets coated in product build up. The residue will prevent your curling iron from heating your hair evenly and you'll end up with lackluster curls. Yikes.
To clean your iron, wait until it is completely cool and simply wipe it with a damp towel. If you haven't cleaned it in a while, you may need to invest in a hot iron cleaner to remove the gunk -- give Hot Tools Styling Iron Cleaner, $5.99, a try.
If the almighty hair care gods didn't grant you naturally curly hair, you've likely clocked your fair share of time in front of YouTube tutorials on how to curl hair. And perhaps your curling iron has become your BFF as you've tried to fake the bouncy curls and flowing waves of your dreams.
Curling irons are indeed magical little devices that can turn straight hair curly in an instant, and simply add definition and perfection to natural curls. But as easy as that last declarative statement sounds, they can actually be quite tricky to master. That's why we went to a pro to get the 411 on the best types of irons for your hair type and texture, the tried and true methods for how to curl hair into a lasting look, and the expert techniques that will turn your hair into frizz-free ringlets every time you style.
The curling iron is by no means a modern invention; people have been using them to add texture to their hair for eons (think ancient Greece, not caveman days). In fact Babylonian and Assyrian men crimped and curled their beards with curling irons (freaky fact, but yes, it's true). Of course these curling irons didn't look anything like the electrical curling irons we know and love today — they didn't debut until around 1959 thanks to BaByliss, and we're assuming women or men today don't use them to curl their beards (not that we're ones to judge), but it's interesting to know that the desire to have curly hair dates way back. So whether you're after tightly wound ringlets or tousled, beachy waves, this guide on how to curl hair will help you master the curling iron once and for all.
