What is the easiest curling iron to use on short hair? (2023)

What kind of curling iron is best for short hair?

What size of curling iron is best for short hair? A barrel that's 0.5 to one inch in size is usually best for shorter hair. A smaller barrel will make the tool easier to maneuver and allow you to wrap an entire section of hair around it.

1″ Curling Iron

This is the most versatile curling iron size. With short hair, a 1″ curling iron will give you a loose wave. With medium to long hair, a 1-inch is the best curling iron size for beach waves with just the right amount of texture.

A curling iron has a clamp attached, while a wand doesn't. Therefore, Paul Norton, a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Demi Lovato and Idina Menzel, believes a curling wand is generally more user-friendly.

Tips for Styling Fine Hair

Use a small barrel curling iron for fine hair. A smaller barrel will give you tighter, more defined curls. Take small sections of hair. This will help you get a better curl.

"For fine hair, you want to look for a curling iron that has a ceramic barrel," she says. "This material heats evenly and doesn't tug on your hair." Metal barrels are prone to heat unevenly and can be rough on your hair.

Simply put: Slightly oily hair will hold a curl much better than slippery, just-cleaned hair. And skip conditioner — which weighs down hair, making it harder to stay curly — if you can. This will help give your hair a bit more bounce. And even better, use a dry shampoo in the morning.

The biggest and most obvious difference between curling irons and wands is that a wand doesn't have a clamp like a traditional curling iron. The two most common ways to wrap hair around the wand barrel are to wrap it flat against the barrel or to let it twist naturally in your hand.

"A curling iron creates classic, bouncy curls, while a styling [wand] can create a variety of wave styles." That's because, she says, "curling irons form a spiral pattern in the hair, while a styling wand creates more of an 'S' pattern."

Prep the right way.

Spritz a curl-boosting spray onto damp strands (we love Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancing Hair Spray to give it texture and grip, then give it a rough blow-dry with your hands. Before you tango with your hot tools, it's always a good idea to use a heat-protectant spray so you don't fry your strands.

How do you get heat curls to stay in fine hair?

Pin The Curls In Place: This is the most important step to make curls last in fine, straight hair. Once you remove the iron after curling a section of hair, roll up the curl and pin it in place with a bobby pin so that it retains the shape for a long time.

If you have fine, straight hair (a.k.a. type 1A) that can't seem to hold a curl, you're not alone. “These hair types lack the body and amount of hair to hold a curl. The natural oils on the scalp weigh down the hair at the roots making hair easily fall flat.

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.

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.

It's easy to pinpoint the most obvious difference between the two. A curling iron has a clamp attached, while a wand doesn't. Therefore, Paul Norton, a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Demi Lovato and Idina Menzel, believes a curling wand is generally more user-friendly.

It depends on your style. A flat iron is a great multipurpose tool that creates sexy, beachy waves and curls, but takes practice. Curling irons make curls almost foolproof, but they're limited to only one size unless you go with a tapered wand or interchangeable barrels. Need some extra tips?