Hair care

Hair Care: How To Use a Curling Iron Like a Pro

Follow these 9 expert hair care tips so you can achieve perfect curls every time you style

October 7, 2010 | by Anna Jimenez | 61 COMMENTS

Curling tip 5: How to prep thick/course hair for heat styling If you hair doesn't appear oily, don't wash it before curling, says Moticka. Just apply a dry shampoo like Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo$12 to your roots to give extra lift and staying power, says Moticka. Then, apply a heat protectant to guard against damage (try Pantene Pro-V Medium-Thick Hair Solutions Heat Protection & Shine Spray, $5.99). Finally, apply a strong-hold mousse to your entire head that defines curls and works to fight frizz (try L'Oreal Upward Spiral Springing Curls Curl Defining Mousse, $4.99)

SEE NEXT PAGE: Curling tip 6: How to get bouncy curls

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products mentioned

Conair 1-1/4

9.1

BaByliss PRO GT Gold Titanium Spring Curling Iron

0.0

Conair Instant Heat 1" Curling Iron

8.8

NeXXus Diametress Luscious Volumizing Shampoo

9.3

Nexxus Sublime Volume Luscious Volumizing Conditioner

0.0

Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions Heat Protection &...

7.0

Rene Furterer Structuring Mousse

0.0

Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo

7.7

Pantene Pro-V Normal-Thick Hair Solutions Heat...

7.8

L'Oréal Upward Spiral Springing Curls Curl...

9.5

HANA Styling Iron Cleaner

0.0

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by Mollysunshine Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 01:46AM Report as inappropriate

Not usefull to me, but I can use on my daughters hair.

by MissPurple Friday, January 25, 2013 at 12:37PM Report as inappropriate

hydrating the hair is really important to mantain bouncy and shiny

by juan_carlos_ruiz_valencia Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 08:34PM Report as inappropriate

I dont know how I learnt but when I use my karmin clipless curling iron the curls just come out amazing. Haha!

by mary_jacobs Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 02:49PM Report as inappropriate

I have full thick curly hair, and I straighten it. This article was interesting, but truly of no interest to me.

by robyne00 Friday, October 26, 2012 at 05:37PM Report as inappropriate

My hair never holds curls when I use a curling iron. I'm going to try some of the tips in the "bouncy curls" slide and see if I can get my hair to look good with a curling iron!

by kara_lucas Monday, October 1, 2012 at 01:54PM Report as inappropriate

Nice, but can't one work for all?

by MissAmy00 Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 08:55AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips.

by Mysterylady Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 10:43AM Report as inappropriate

Some good tips

by T_rod93 Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 03:21AM Report as inappropriate

I have wavy hair and it is good to know how to enhance it.

by beautybody Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 09:37PM Report as inappropriate

All of these tips help me. With the style being curly or wavy, I like knowing how to do both! Thanks!

by powerwoman033 Monday, March 12, 2012 at 12:28PM Report as inappropriate

Nice.

by lazorc Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 08:38PM Report as inappropriate

Great !!!

by hayleyxonewjersey Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:29PM Report as inappropriate

Best article for learning to curl your hair like a pro!

by islands4me Monday, January 9, 2012 at 08:31AM Report as inappropriate

I didn't know which size barrel to use, thanks!

by sportimonki13 Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 02:56PM Report as inappropriate

Basic tips are helpful....as far as examples of hair, Denise Richards has such outdated hair and it is way too long for her facial frame - in my opinion of course! Carrie Underwoods style would look better on Denise too!

by CinnaBlaze Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 06:02AM Report as inappropriate

Thanks!! Sounds good

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 12:32PM Report as inappropriate

I love Carrie Underwood's hair style

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 10:13AM Report as inappropriate

Good tips, but sounds like a lot of work to do...

by patricia89 Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 05:21AM Report as inappropriate

Great advice, think I need to invest in a curler that is more friendly for my hair so.. Santa baby!

by RaraGiggles89 Monday, December 19, 2011 at 06:13AM Report as inappropriate

Super helpful!

by maic Monday, December 19, 2011 at 04:41AM Report as inappropriate

My hair never curls either! :( I might need to work with dry hair, right size and right heat setting.

by MissXu Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 02:02PM Report as inappropriate

My hair is never curls !!

by AliyaNatasha50 Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 10:17AM Report as inappropriate

greats tips going to start using some of them

by Nicole2814 Friday, November 18, 2011 at 08:42PM Report as inappropriate

Good tips. I love a good curl! :)

by ladyboarder9669 Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 01:32PM Report as inappropriate

thx for the tips! are there other styling tool cleaners out there (preferably more wallet-friendly?)

by jenstar313 Monday, November 14, 2011 at 10:34AM Report as inappropriate

These were really helpful tips!

by andyv1217 Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 05:52PM Report as inappropriate

These were some really great tips! Now I've got to by an iron!

by voyager24 Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:40AM Report as inappropriate

Selma, the same thing happens to me!

by gisellemarie Monday, October 31, 2011 at 08:59AM Report as inappropriate

I want to buy an iron but always forget to

by selma Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 01:59PM Report as inappropriate

I need to buy a better curling iron!

by tiffany_gallehugh Friday, October 28, 2011 at 08:51PM Report as inappropriate

I need to buy an iron!

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 01:44AM Report as inappropriate

I wish this would show me a way how to define my natural curls a little better...

by katherine_melendez Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 09:29PM Report as inappropriate

I need to clean my iron! Ooops!

by MissPurple Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 03:32PM Report as inappropriate

Thanks for the tips! I'm really excited about curling my hair now! I've tried many different curling iron brands and neither worked for me as good as my Karmin Salon Pro Clipless Tourmaline Curling Iron it is awesome and leaves my hair really soft and shiny I love it!

by michelle2210 Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 09:53AM Report as inappropriate

I don't clean mine and it's fine..

by eatinglipstick Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 12:07PM Report as inappropriate

i just use my flat iron

by BrenBren Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 05:32PM Report as inappropriate

Heh, maybe this will make me a little less lazy with a curling iron.

by bukiyounahito Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 08:34AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips - I love my CHI, but have never cleaned it. Guess that's on my to do list! I have super thick, naturally wavy hair that I love to flat iron!

by dark_beauty Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11:18AM Report as inappropriate

Very helpful, thanks for the info about the iron cleaner. didn't even know that existed.

by BellezzaBeauty Monday, May 23, 2011 at 04:00AM Report as inappropriate

(psst. typo - "'got' for a .75 to one-inch thick iron, says Moticka") i love this article though, i have such a struggle curling my hair but this helped!

by lovelove56 Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 05:17PM Report as inappropriate

I'm totally guilty of never cleaning my iron.

by ladyboarder9669 Friday, April 22, 2011 at 11:41AM Report as inappropriate

If you are clumsy try Enzo Milano's curling irons super easy to use. They are $$$ but you can find them on ebay cheaper.

by sarahmblessing Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 08:01PM Report as inappropriate

I love the new curling wand types of irons...they help you avoid kinks at the ends of the hair

by LittleBunny Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 11:17AM Report as inappropriate

Wow, I'm really excited to try curling my hair now! I don't usually have a lot of success with getting my hair to hold a curl, but these tips are definitely going to help.

by LipglossandSpandex Monday, April 11, 2011 at 11:02PM Report as inappropriate