A curling iron can be one of the best tools to get the look that you desire. It can do anything from giving corkscrew curls to help straighten hair. While a curling iron can be the way to achieve any desired hair style, using a curling iron is a sure way to damage your hair. Before you run out to your local drug store and buy a new curling iron, read these tips below:

The Heat Factor

Curling irons use heat to achieve your ideal hair styles. Curling irons give off a great deal of heat and it can be very damaging to your hair. To help reduce heat damage to your hair, you will want to start using a heat-activated shampoo like Thermasilk. This will help to prevent your hair from any unnecessary damage. While your hair is still wet, you will also want to apply a heat-protectant cream to the hair. Also, if you can abstain from blow-drying your hair, do so. Blow-drying and using the curling iron will damage your hair twice as fast. When you buy a blow dryer, make sure that it is hair-friendly and uses the least amount of heat on your hair as possible. Also, try not to use your curling iron everyday. Use it every other day and give your hair a break!

How to Use a Curling Iron

It takes practice to be able to use your curling iron in the correct way and to be able to get your desired hair style. Follow these tips below to help you get started.

1. Before putting a curling iron to your hair, make sure that your hair is 100% dry. If you use a curling iron on damp hair, you can damage your hair and the curling iron and not get the desired results.
2. Put on a heat protectant cream before you begin to curl, this will help to protect your hair.
3. Comb your dry hair out so that there is no tangles and so your hair is as smooth as possible.
4. You will want to divide the hair into small sections. Take a small piece of hair and wind it around the barrel of the curling iron.
5. Keep the hair in place for about 5 seconds.
6. Unwind the hair from the barrel of the curling iron and let it fall loose.
7. If you are not happy with the curl, try curling it again and keep it on the curling iron for a longer amount of time.
8. You will want to hair spray each section as it is curled. If you wait until the entire head is done to spray, many of the curls will have fell.
9. Do this to the entire hair, or until desired.