You can find a lot of hair styling tips and tutorials out there to show you how to curl your hair. So today, we’ll be teaching you can properly curl your hair using curling wands. Before we go into that, let me give you some curling hair tips.

• Practice with your curling wand without turning it on. This might sound silly, but this lets you practice the curling techniques without burning your locks. You’ll eventually feel confident and naturally curl your hair when you turn it on.
• Use a heat protectant spray at all times, when curling your hair. Heat not only dries your hair out, but it can also destroy the integrity of the inner structure of your locks. It even decreases the longevity of your hair color.
• The maximum temperature to keep your hair safe from fading or dulling is 392 F. Turn your curling wands down and be more deliberate with your speed so you can create better curls without damaging your hair.

How to properly curl your hair using curling wands

These curling techniques will help you learn how to create different types of curls using a curling wand. Below are four ways to properly curl your hair using curling wands:

Flat wrap hair

With this technique, you can create a wide curl with lots of volumes. The secret is to keep your hair wrapped flat against the curling wand barrel without twisting it.

Adjust your hands every time you go around the wand to achieve this, or your hair will twist around the barrel naturally. If you have fine hair, and you want to achieve more volume, then this curl is the perfect one for you.

How to do this:

• Take a vertical section and mist with a thermal heat spray – this will help protect your hair from the heat. To distribute it evenly, you can use a wide-tooth comb. Choose the direction you want the hair to curl: toward your face or away from your face.
• Keep the section flat while wrapping it around the curling wand. Don’t twist your hair around the wand.
• Keep wrapping your hair around the wand until you get to the ends. For natural-looking curls, don’t curl the last 2 inches of your hair.

Lazy curl

You can create a loose wave with this technique by taking your wand and wrapping your hair around it, but only halfway down. Switch the wrapping directions for the remainder of the section to give your hair an effect of a more relaxed wave.

How to do this:

• Start with the first section and mist your hair with a thermal heat spray from at least 6 inches away. Gather the section and elevate it to 90 degrees with your thumb and index finger.
• Place the curling wand in front of the section with the barrel behind the section. While holding it, face your thumbnail up and flat wrap around the wand. After you’re done with the flat wrap, hold the section and roll the wand. Close it near the scalp and allow the section to heat completely before you move on to the next step.
• While holding the section, remove the barrel from your hair and then turn it. Then, place the wand in the spot where you made your last curl, and repeat this process: flat wrap, roll the wand, and close.
• Comb through with your hand and fingers through the section to separate the curls.

Spiral curls

Work in smaller sections like the flat wrap curl: twist your hair from the top to the ends and then wrap the twisted section around the curling wand to create the spiral effect. The result will be a tight spiral curl with extra texture.

How to do this:

• Take a small section and mist with a thermal heat spray from at least 6 inches away. Twist the entire section from the base to the ends. You may also brain the section instead of twisting.
• The goal is to twist the section and then wrap it around the curling wand all in the same direction. To curl away from your face, twist and wrap your hair in the outwards direction from your face.
• Wrap the entire twisted section around the wand and let it heat up.
• Remove the wand and allow the curl to cool. Once your entire head is curled, try to shake the curls out with your fingers. This will loosen them up to add more volume.

Red carpet waves

This curling technique is a bit difficult, but you’ll be happy with the result: soft but dramatic, beautiful wave.

How to do this:

• Mist the first section with a thermal heat spray from at least 6 inches away. Then, gather the section and elevate it to 90 degrees with your thumb and index finger, directly to the corner of your eye. Then, place the wand in front of the section with the barrel behind the section.
• While holding the section, face your thumbnail up and twist your hair so that it faces the floor. Then, slide your hair up the barrel, and make sure that the thumbnail is close to it, without closing the blade.
• Repeat the motions until you reach the end of the section: wrap, twist, thumbnail up, thumbnail down. 
• Drop the elbow of the arm holding the curling wand. While holding the end of the section with the thumbnail, turn the curling wand in the opposite direction for more tension.
• Release your thumb and place your palm underneath the barrel of the curling wand. Catch your hair with your palm once it’s released from the barrel. If you don’t do this, the section will stretch and become loose. Spray two shots of a firm hold hairspray while the section is in your palm, and compress the section in both palms. Allow your hair to cool and then release the section from your palm.
• Comb through the section to the ends and hold your hair at the bottom, just for a few seconds to relax the waves.
• Release the section and your loose waves will appear. You can add some light oil serum if you want to add an extra shine effect.