How To Use a Curling Iron

Apply a heat protective serum to your wet hair according to the product directions.

Apply a styling product—like a volumizing or curl-enhacing gel, cream, or spray—to your wet hair, according to the product directions.

Blow-dry your hair straight unless you want to create spiral curls—in which case, allow your hair to air-dry—and brush it straight.

Plug in your curling iron and heat it on a nonflammable surface. Be sure to read the directions carefully, as different models require different amounts of time to heat up.

Part a line around the back of your head from ear to ear, and clip the top section of hair up.

Further divide your lower section of hair, pulling one smaller section forward and clipping the rest out of the way.

Open the curling iron and insert the end of a small section of hair between the barrel and the clip. Wind the rest of the section in a spiral around the length of the barrel.

Hold for about 10 seconds, then open the curling iron enough so you can slide your hair off.

Continue to curl the lower section of your hair one smaller section at a time, alternating the direction that you wind the hair around the curling iron.

When the lower section of your hair is curled, release a small section from your clipped hair and continue curling one small section at a time, alternating the direction that you wind the hair around the curling iron.

Use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to separate and style your curls—the more you touch them, the looser they’ll become.

For extra hold, spritz your finished look with a little hair spray. Congratulations: you’re a card-carrying member of the curl club.