How to Curl and Twist Hair with a Flat Iron

Don’t Just Straighten; Create Different Hairstyles with a Flat Iron

© Jill Nessel

Sep 6, 2008

Follow these steps for bouncy curls and ringlets.

Products Required for Curling Hair

• Blow dryer: ionic and/or ceramic is best to reduce dry time and damage. Recommended product: Paul Mitchell Express Ion Dry v.1

• Comb: professional combs have no seams that tend to break hair. Recommended product: CERAM-ION Wide Tooth Rat Tail Ionic Comb

• Styling product and Thermal Protectant: high hold and protection from high heat. Recommended products: ghd creation spray and Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum are formulated specifically for heat styling

• Clips: jaw clips hold large amounts of hair securely. Recommended product: Dannyco Expandable Jaw Clips

• Flat iron: look for one with ceramic plates to seal and smooth strands of hair, and with rounded plates. Recommended product: ghd IV styler

Prepare the Hair

Apply chosen styling product to wet hair from roots to ends. Thermal protectants like Super Skinny Serum are applied to wet hair, but ghd’s creation spray that provides hold and heat protection is sprayed on dry hair right before applying heat.

Dry

Hair must be dry. Flat irons called ‘wet-to-dry’ claim they can be used directly on damp hair, but do not give the best results. Excess moisture prevents hair from holding style. Let hair dry naturally for less heat damage, or blow dry thoroughly.

Protect and Style

1. Comb hair gently to remove any tangles.
2. Clip top ¾ of hair with jaw clips, leaving the remaining bottom ¼ in a fringe around the head.
3. Take a 1” vertical or horizontal section of hair and spray lightly with a thermal protectant, such as ghd’s creation spray (if one was not applied to wet hair), holding hair 90 degrees away from the head.
4. Clamp flat iron close to the scalp. Keeping the section of hair at a 90 degree angle, turn iron 180 degrees (half a full turn). If using a horizontal section of hair, turn iron away from head. If using a vertical section, turn iron in either direction.
5. Slowly pull the iron through the entire length of hair until ends slip through the iron’s plates. The slower the iron is pulled, the tighter the curl will be. Pulling the iron through swiftly will create loose curls and twists.
6. Make sure iron is pulled right through ends or hair sections will be curly with with an inch of straight hair at the bottom.
7. Wait for hair to cool before styling further or re-curling hair. Trying to re-curl warm hair won’t work, and trying to add hair accessories or style with product will cause the curl to loosen and droop.
8. Repeat Steps around fringe
9. Let a ¼ of pinned hair down each time a fringe is straightened, and repeat all steps until all hair has been curled.

Flat irons now do double duty instead of just straightening hair.

Create Curly Hair with a Flat Iron

Create Loose Curls and Twists with a Flat Iron

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