Hair Straighteners & Curlers

Hair Curlers like curling irons are handheld appliances designed to style curls or waves into hair using heat. Each model has a heated barrel that hair can be wrapped around to impart a wave or curl shape. These barrels can either be an even cylinder or tapered cone.

Different barrel sizes will produce different types of curls with larger barrels producing larger, softer curls or waves and a smaller barrel producing smaller, tighter curls. Tapered cone shaped barrels can produce different sized curls depending on how far on the length of the barrel hair is wrapped.

For the best results, use heat protectant hair product and aim to use the Curler on the lowest temperature settings possible. Everyone’s hair is different so it’s best to start low and gradually increase the temperature to find the perfect level of heat over time. Excessive heat can cause cuticle damage to hair so we recommend avoiding daily use.

A normal Hair Straightener is a handheld appliance often shaped like a large pair of tongs designed to smooth out waves and curls in your hair and help style it. They have two heated plates on the inside that clamp around strands of hair and iron them out by pulling the plates along the strands, starting from closer to the roots and moving outwards towards hair tips.

Some Hair Straighteners have built in steaming designed and functioning in largely the same way as a traditional straightener, but with additional steaming functions that help restore then protect damaged hair. Their water tanks add some bulk and weight as a tradeoff.

Steam Straighteners are suitable for all hair types and compared to traditional Straighteners tend to be better at reducing frizz. Straightening with steam also holds the style in place for longer.

Excessive heat can damage hair and everyone's hair heat sensitivity varies. A Curling Iron with a range of heat settings is the most versatile and the best at finding the optimal temperature without causing damage. Some models display their current temperature on a screen allowing for more control.

Some models have interchangeable heating barrels varying in size and styling differently. Larger barrels generally produce looser curls whilst smaller barrels make for tighter curls. The length of hair is also a factor with larger barrels better suited to long hair and vice versa. Rotating barrel Curlers are generally easier to use, but be sure to check for safety settings like tangle stop or automatic shut off when not in use.

Getting the best results from a Hair Straightener begins with a good hair care routine as healthy hair is easier to style and protected against damage. Use shampoo and conditioner to properly hydrate the hair plus hair product with heat protection, ensure hair is completely dry beforehand and don't use a Straightener every day.

Sectioning hair beforehand makes Straightening easier and will save time so use hair clips to hold sections of hair in place and out of the way. Heating too much hair at once will lead to uneven results and potential hair damage so work across smaller sections at a time.

To ensure good performance out of a Hair Straightener, make sure it is properly cleaned and maintained. Dust and dirt on the heating surface can prevent it from heating hair up properly and evenly. Other greasy or grimy residues can also build up and end up sticking to or damaging hair.

Hair Stylers and Hair Dryers used with Straighteners or Curlers provide the best results.