Curling Irons and What to Look For

Curling irons. It’s really easy to get overwhelmed when trying to find the right one. I feel the same way when I go to the vitamin isle at the grocery store or the makeup section at Target. There are SO many choices and options that I don’t know where to start. I have a few tips to keep in mind when looking for a new curling iron to buy. And of course I’ll share my few favorite brands as well.

Sizing

The size of the barrel is really important. I typically recommend a 1.25″ barrel. I remember trying to get my hair to curl with a 1.5″ curling iron and it would not curl my hair enough. For someone who usually has no problem with curl staying in my hair, the curls would fall flat so quickly with the bigger iron. Yes, that quarter of an inch makes a HUGE difference. Now if your hair is straight and fine, consider going to a 1″ curling iron, especially if you have thick/heavy hair. It may feel really curly at first, but it’ll be perfect once it relaxes a bit.

Temperature gauge

Look for a curling iron that has a temperature gauge. This is really important because it’ll help you customize the look you’re going and avoid as much damage as possible. Most curling irons have temperature gauges, but make sure it give you a wide range. Be mindful of how hot the temperature gets, especially if you have thin fine hair or heavily bleached hair. No one wants little pieces of hair sticking out because of damage.

Materials

Speaking of heat, be mindful of what the curling iron is made of . Different materials conduct the heat better. Tools with ceramic material tend to distribute the heat more evenly and are better for people with fine hair. If you have coarser hair, go with titanium or gold plated barrels. They keep the heat longer and have technology to help prevent frizz.

Here are my two favorite curling irons to recommend. The quality is top notch, and the investment is worth every penny.

This a link to take you to the hot tools 1.25" curling iron, my favorite curling iron to use.

This is my all time favorite curling iron. Hot Tools is high quality and lasts a long time. Better yet, the price is very reasonable! I feel like it distributes the heat consistently and give you a lot of styling options to work with. This link will take you to the 1.25″ size.

This is a link for the babyliss pro 2" inch curling iron to purchase if wanting to try it out.

If you have longer, thicker hair, consider using this 1.5″ iron from babyliss to achieve long loose waves. The technology will help the damage stay at bay and will combat frizz.

Now you have the info, run with it! Go gift yourself with a new curling iron, you deserve it!

If you’re looking for an easy way to use a curling iron, click this link HERE for a tutorial.