Curling irons for short hair? (2023)

What curling iron size is best for short hair?

5 to 1-inch barrel and slim conical rod are best for short hair, and it's super lightweight.

1.25" Barrel Curling Iron: This size is perfect for loose, breezy, effortless waves. It adds the perfect amount of definition in all the right places. 1.0" Barrel Curling Iron: This barrel size should be in everyone's kit. Use it to create easy waves, polished curls, and everything in between.

We call it the 2.25 rule. Practically fool proof, this rule states that if the longest part of your chin is less than 2.25 inches from the tip of your earlobe, then short hairstyles are for you.

The 2″ barrel iron (AKA “The Bumper”) isn't intended for curl, but more for a nice rounded bend at the ends of your hair. This curling iron is best for those with long hair who want to make it look like they had a blowout. It's a good way to fake that round-brushed look. A- Bend the ends of a voluminous updo.

⅜″ Curling Iron

A 3/8 inch iron is the perfect curling iron size for short hair like a pixie haircut. You can give your shorter hair a sassy little bend/curl. For longer hair, if you're wondering how to get corkscrew curls, this is your iron. This little curling iron will give you fun teeny-tiny little curls.

Go for 1” to 1.25” barrel sizes for tight curls, 0.75” to 1.5” for big bouncy curls, 1.25” to 1.5” for big curls, and 1.25” to 2” for loose curls. You also need to keep your hair type in mind and set the correct temperature to style your hair in the best way possible.

The 1″ barrel is perfect when you have hair between short and medium, aka chin length to collar bones. It creates a tighter curl and a second choice after the 1 1/4″ iron above. The Jose Eber Trio Curling Wand Set is specially designed with three distinctive curling barrel sizes that are perfect for all hair types.

"You can't go wrong with a one-inch curling iron," says Rush. It's the perfect size because it allows you to wrap hair around the barrel securely, but not so many times that you'll end up with a supertight spiral. It's also incredibly versatile.

Short: from 0.125 inches to 2 inches. Medium: from 2 inches to 6 inches. Long: over 6 inches.

A thin flat iron that's one to two inches in width is the perfect size for creating curls. It can also be beneficial to look for a hair straightener with rounded ends, as these tend to make curling your hair a little bit easier.

Is a one inch curling iron good?

A one-inch curling iron is great for creating a more defined beach wave. “This iron size is perfect for a loose, tousled wave on short hair, and it works best for beach waves on long hair,” says Dueñas.

After smoothing a curl cream through your dry, brushed-out hair, twist small sections of hair around your finger and bobby-pin in place until your head is covered in pin curls. Sleep on them overnight, unravel them, and shake them out for beachy-looking waves.

Fekkai explains that flat irons are better tools to use when curling long hair, and anyone with shorter hair should stick to a curling iron or wand. If you do want to try your hand at flat iron waves, however: Section off your hair into three or four sections, depending on how thick your hair is.

Pixie styles are a modern and contemporary way to wear your hair when you're over 60. Actually, pixies look great at any age. These super short cuts are excellent for thick or thin hair, and you have more styling options than you probably think.

Identifying your curl shape and pattern(s) is best determined while your hair is sopping wet. A simple breakdown: Type 1s are straight, Type 2s are wavy, Type 3s are curly, and Type 4s are coily. Easy, right? The sub-classifications of A to C are based on the width or diameter of your wave, curl, or coil.

Medium Hair: Try a 1 inch curling iron for tighter curls and a 1 1/4 inch curling iron for looser curls. Long Hair: Try a 1 1/4 inch curling iron for tighter curls and a 1 1/2 inch curling iron for looser curls.

There's a lot of bending over during a curling match, so height can be a disadvantage. However, though many curlers are of average height, there's a fairly wide spread among the Olympic competitors. Curlers want to be muscular but not bulky. Upper body mass is especially helpful for pushing the broom.

The general rule of thumb: the smaller the barrel size, the tighter the curl. Conversely, the larger the barrel, the looser the curl, she says. Hair length plays a role in choosing the right wand size, too, says Cleveland. “Smaller barrels are best for shorter hair styles to give volume as well as curl,” she says.

How do you pick the right size curling iron?

The right curling iron size for you depends on the style you're hoping to achieve. When trying to choose a curling iron, keep this in mind: The larger the barrel, the more loose your curl will be. Select a thinner barrel if you want tighter ringlets and a larger barrel for loose curls or waves.

Choose a curling iron with an adjustable heat setting because different hair types need different heat settings. Thick hair can stand higher temperatures while thin hair needs much lower temperatures to prevent damage. Many curling irons have adjustable temperature today, the best come with an LCD display.

For beachy waves, a barrel size of between 0.75" and 2" is ideal. The best barrel diameters for mild waves are 1.5" to 1.75". While strong waves require a barrel that is 1.75" to 2" wide, loose waves can be attained with 1" to 2" barrels. The ideal barrel size for spiral or ringlet curls is between 3/8" and 12".

Hair length plays a role in choosing the right wand size, too, says Cleveland. “Smaller barrels are best for shorter hair styles to give volume as well as curl,” she says. The 1-1 ¼-inch wands are ideal for medium length hair; anything larger is best for long hair.

2″ Curling Iron

This is a mighty big curling iron. If you're just looking for a very loose wave or just big bouncy ends, with a slight curl you want to get yourself a 2 inch curling iron. This is a good curling iron size for long hair and the longer your hair is, the more wave you will get out of it.

2B hair consists of 'S' shaped waves in the lengths, but sits relatively straight at the roots. 2C hair has even more defined 'S' shaped curls that start from the root and continue down the lengths of the hair. Once you've identified you have wavy hair, you should also explore your hair's porosity.

For short hair that falls at your chin level or shorter, you will want to use a small-barreled curling iron or any other curling iron that has a diameter of less than one- inch. If your hair length falls just below your shoulders or at your collarbone, you will want to use a one-inch curling iron.

Always allow heated rollers to cool completely before removing. Use big rollers on top and smaller ones underneath for a style that lasts. Always roll away from the face at the front, but if you want a more natural looking curl feel free to alternate the direction throughout the hair.

Pixie diffusing minimizes curl movement caused when you reposition the diffuser. This cuts down on self-induced frizz while preserving the curl pattern. The dryer is set to low speed low heat and only blowing when the diffuser is full of hair and next to your scalp.