How to Curl Hair With a Flat Iron?
While it may seem counterintuitive, celebrity hairstylists Larry King, Kellon Deryck, and Jen Atkin have been using curling irons for years. A global hair care study conducted by Dyson in 2017 found that less than 18% of participants who styled their hair curly used a curling iron.
Half a decade and thousands of tutorial videos later, more and more owners are realizing its multifunctional capabilities. Even if you’re late to the party, you don’t need to be a stylist to master the art of curling hair with a flat iron or to understand the benefits of investing in the best hair care technology. Whether you’re looking for soft, voluminous waves or loose, relaxed curls, Dyson’s global ambassadors are here to share their tips.
A five-step guide to curling your hair with a flat iron
1. Prepare the hair
When it comes to curling hair, the drying and styling process takes most men and women between 11 and 30 minutes. While the initial effort can add time, “to truly achieve a great hairstyle, it’s important to invest in its preparation. What matters for a long-lasting style is what you do before styling,” says TT Hart, Principal Hairstylist at Dyson GB.
To prevent curls and waves from falling flat, add a generous amount of mousse or volumizing spray to damp or towel-dried hair before blow-drying with a soft-dry attachment.
2. Adjust the temperature
Heat is the key ingredient in styling hair. Therefore, it’s important to identify your hair type and adjust the flat iron’s temperature accordingly, explains celebrity hairstylist Larry King. “As stylists, we work with many clients with different hair types, and the flat iron’s temperature is very important for creating that perfect hairstyle.”
A straightener that offers multiple precise heat settings allows you to adapt the temperature not only to your hair type, but also to your desired hairstyle. For thick hair with a natural curl, set the temperature to 210°C, the highest setting on the Dyson Corrale™ straightener. If you have type 1 hair, meaning straight or fine hair, a lower temperature of 185°C should be sufficient for curling.
Whichever heat setting you choose, the Dyson Corrale™’s intelligent heat control regulates the temperature 100 times per second to ensure that the selected temperature is never exceeded.
3. Choose wireless versatility
According to Dyson’s global hair care survey, most participants don’t describe loose curls as an easy hairstyle to create². Whether the biggest hurdle is maneuvering the straightener to create well-defined curls or styling those hard-to-reach areas like the back of the head, a cordless straightener truly allows for that freedom of movement.
Celebrity stylist Kellon Deryk agrees, insisting that “it’s a revelation not to be tethered to a wall while on set,” and cordless mode is just one of the many reasons he uses the Dyson Corrale™ straightener.
Cordless versatility is important not only for stylists but also for those trying to create intricate hairstyles at home. According to a 2020 study of Corrale owners in the US, cordless design was the second most popular purchase reason among Dyson Corrale owners.
4. Work in sections
No matter what size curls or waves you want to create, working with smaller sections of hair will make the job more manageable.
“To save time, many people forget to section their hair before styling. This can be inefficient and also compromise the final style,” reveals Guo Zijing, Dyson Global Ambassador.
During the curling process, experiment with the section size to see what works best for your hair type and helps you create the look you’re trying to achieve. For thick or curly hair, try taking smaller sections, and for finer hair, try larger sections. In either case, the smaller the section, the tighter the curls will be. Sectioning your hair is also important for creating texture.
To create a more natural, textured look with varied curls, Larry King suggests alternating the curl direction between sections. Turn the curling iron toward your face for the sections between your face and ear, and then in the opposite direction for the back sections of your hair.
5. Enjoy an improved hairstyle with half the damage
It’s no secret that frequent use of heat styling technology leaves hair more susceptible to heat damage. “I stake my reputation on the care of my clients’ hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkins. She uses Dyson Corrale™ to create the same style at lower temperatures, causing less damage.
When it comes to straighteners, three out of five British women with thick hair admit to leaving them on far longer than necessary to achieve their desired look. Unlike conventional straighteners with fixed plates, a straightener with plates that flex to catch the hair reduces the need for multiple passes over the same section.
The Dyson Corrale™ was designed with manganese-copper alloy plates that apply even heat and tension to hair strands with each pass, providing more control for improved styling and protection against breakage.
Tips and tricks for long-lasting hairstyles
“Using a hair straightener is a great way to achieve a relaxed, beachy wave look,” Jen explains.
Gather your hair at the top and twist it inwards, slide the straightener down and twist it outwards, then slide it down again before releasing it. Continue with slow, even passes, repeating the same process throughout your hair.
For softer, more defined curls, start at the top of a section of hair and rotate the straightener 360 degrees. Then, slowly glide the Corrale through the hair. Repeat this process throughout your hair.
Larry suggests using the Dyson logo as a guide for the 360-degree rotation before gently gliding the straightener through your hair. To further enhance each curl as you release it, “simply twist it with your finger.”
With the right technology and technique, you don’t need to apply much pressure. Nor should you spend a lot of time repeatedly trying to create the same curl.
“Instead of repeating several passes on the same section of hair, use a single pass at a slow and steady pace,” advises Kellon.
