Curling wands or curling irons are necessary for most of us because our hair does not naturally have ideal beach waves or curls when we wake up in the morning. However, it is not always simple to tell the difference between two hairstyling tools that appear to be the same, and it is important to base your choice of one over the other on the kind of appearance you want to achieve with your hair.
The intended style or general finished look should be considered before making the decision between using a curling iron or a styling wand.
The curling iron can really only create the classic, bouncy curls, however, a styling [wand] can create a broad variety of different wave styles.
She explains that “curling irons make a spiral design in the hair, whereas a styling wand produces more of an ‘S’ pattern in the hair.” This is the reason why.
Here is all you need to know regarding curling wands vs curling irons, namely when to use each, the benefits and drawbacks of each, or, of course, how and where to curl long hair using either one of these tools, in addition to short and medium lengths.
What Sets A Curling Wand Apart From A Curling Iron, And What Are The Benefits Of Each?
Curls that are normally polished, precise, and long-lasting can be created with the help of a curling iron since the instrument features a clamp that holds the hair flat against it. “Clipping the hair before curling gives essential tension to generate tighter and more defined spiral curls,” says Sabina Wizemann, the lead researcher in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. “Clipping the hair gives required to strain to create tighter and so more defined spiral curls.”
Clipping the hair provides needed tension to create tighter and more defined spiral curls.” According to her observation, curling irons are typically more adaptable than straightening irons because “they can also be used as rods [by looping hair] over the clamp to create loose waves and curls rather than curls.”
In addition, if the barrel of the curling iron has a clip that runs the full length of the barrel, it is possible to straighten hair. This clip gives the iron the ability to perform both functions.
The greatest candidates for using curling irons are those who want to achieve defined and consistent curls on a variety of hair lengths, kinds, and textures.
Curls produced with curling irons are typically more long-lasting than curls produced by wands. Additionally, curling irons are much more versatile than wands because they may also be used as straightening irons.
Con: The results of using a curling iron can occasionally look overly flawless, and the extended close contact that the hair has with the hot instrument can cause it to become damaged more quickly.
Directions For Using A Curling Iron
According to the specialists at GH Beauty Lab and professional stylists, following these guidelines will ensure that you always have flawless curls:
- Start style at the front of the hair and divide it into neat pieces that are two inches wide.
- Take a section of hair that is no thicker than the instrument you are using and put it in your hand. Position the clamp of the curling iron so that it points downward and is towards you in the glass. Clamp the iron down near the roots.
- To generate tension, pull [the iron] to the section’s end and then roll upward while holding the iron in a horizontal position and uniformly wrapping the hair around the barrel. Turn the barrel so that it is facing away from you. then softly wiggle the clamp to make the operation simpler.
- Maintain this position for ten seconds, after which you should hold the iron so that it is vertical, carefully open and shut the clamp, and then pull downward to free the portion.
- After you have released the curl and allowed it to cool and set, repeat the process on the remaining parts.
Instructions For Using A Curling Wand
- The thought of employing a curling wand for the first time can be scary (hello, risk of burns!), but these expert suggestions make it easy:
- Start style from the front and divide the hair into neat pieces that are 2 inches wide.
- Hold the instrument at an angle and point the end of the wand in a downward direction. Beginning at the root, begin to wind the hair all around the barrel, being sure to leave around one inch at the tip of a hair section unwrapped so that you have something to grab onto with your fingers.
- Hold this posture for a few seconds, and afterward remove the hair by moving the instrument upward while maintaining this position. Before releasing the curl from the center of your hand, give it some time to set & cool down if you have hair that doesn’t keep its curls very well.
Different Types Of Hair Require Different Approaches When Using Curling Irons And Wands
Protecting your hair from damage should be your first priority if you have fine hair. A suggestion from an industry professional is to “have used a curling iron and wand with a computerized temperature regulation to enable for customized styling.” The experts in our Beauty Lab recommend setting a temperature between 180 degrees Fahrenheit and 370 degrees Fahrenheit, and they advise keeping the hair on the barrel for a maximum of 3-5 seconds.
When curling thick hair, first and foremost, an expert recommends ensuring that the hair is completely dry before beginning the process. This will assist in preventing the curls from escaping out of the hair.
The following step is to “work for small, manageable chunks and hold the part for a few moments longer to ensure that the hair is heated fully and evenly.” Our beauty experts have determined that temperatures ranging from 420 to 440 degrees Fahrenheit are safe to use on this type of hair, so feel free to experiment with those ranges.
The short version: An expert recommends utilizing a smaller gun size and working from the middle of the shaft to the ends in order to prevent an overdone style. “Beginning the curl there at edges might lead hair to be overly curled, making it appear shorter,” if it is not done correctly. She also mentions that if you wrap your hair all around the barrel of a styling wand only once, you may produce a look called a single wave, which is ideal for this length of hair.
If you have long hair, you’ll want to move as quickly as you can through the process so that you don’t damage your hair. To do so, “While your hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, give it some curls.
Relax your hair by slighting the ponytail, and afterward make any required alterations to the curls. One last piece of useful advice: the iron barrel needs to be held in an upright position at all times. This helps generate curls that last longer and have more bounce!
The Final Battle: Curling Wand Vs Curling Iron
When we need to make a quick and easy curly hairstyle, we reach for this brilliant hair product time and time again. The curling iron has a clasp and a circumference that is the same size from the top of the barrel to the bottom of the barrel (either spring or Marcel handle). It helps keep hair in place and makes it simpler to wrap the accessory around the hair.
When you are giving your hair a style, you should point the curler in a downward direction while securing the hair between the clamp and the barrel of the curler. The curling iron can produce either one tight barrel curl or a loose curl that is defined and bouncy. The type of curl you get depends on the diameter of the barrel. If you want your curls to be very tight and spirally, use a small barrel iron, but if you want them to be looser and more gently curled, use a volumizing iron.
When compared to a curling iron, a hair wand typically has a progressive rise in length as you move down the circumference of the barrel. In contrast, a curling iron has a more consistent size throughout the whole barrel.
Conical, cylindrical, and inverted cone shapes are all part of the product lineup. The conical style has a diameter that is one size smaller than the standard style, much like a curling iron. This curling iron does not have a clasp; instead, it has barrels composed of tourmaline, ceramics, or titanium. These materials can reach temperatures of 450 degrees Fahrenheit and help keep your hair firmly in place while you style it.
Curling your hair all around the wand while wearing the protective gauntlet that goes with the wand will help you obtain your favorite trendy hairstyles that appear to have been done with little effort, such as ocean waves. Choose a cylinder barrel for your curling iron if you want to end up with a great spiral curl. Use a cylindrical barrel to achieve a curl that transitions from loose to tight, and use the opposite cone shape to achieve the curl that is the reverse of this one.
Curling wands are frequently preferred to curling irons by the general public.
This is due to the fact that it is provided with tourmaline, ceramic, or titanium plates to choose from. Tourmaline is responsible for the production of negative ion technology, which helps reduce frizz by adding moisture to the hair and smoothing down the cuticle layer. Ceramics, on the other hand, is capable of distributing heat uniformly throughout the hair. Shine is produced by both, and styling time is reduced, which means that you can curl your hair at a lower temperature.
Stickiness brought on by your hair & styling products can be reduced with the use of titanium plates. Curling wands or irons made from gold as well as titanium are also available; these products have a lovely appearance and generate a fair amount of heat; nevertheless, they do not significantly improve the overall condition of human hair and do not eliminate frizz.