Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by Gaga
Using a spiral curling iron is the quickest and easiest way to add beautiful spiral curls to your hair. A spiral curling iron is similar to your regular curling iron, but there are some important differences.
A conventional curling iron comes with one uniform barrel or several interchangeable barrels that have a plain surface. A spiral curling iron, however, has either a curved barrel or a barrel with a spiral pattern along the barrel. Your hair should lie between the ridges around the barrel. This way each section is heated evenly to ensure you will get perfect, long-lasting spiral curls.
Spiral curling wands come in various designs and shapes. Newer models have a protective shield that covers the barrel to protect your fingers and forehead from heat.
Spiral curling irons work best for naturally wavy hair and hair of medium length. Long, thick hair can take a very long time to curl, but if you have enough time, you can get great results by working with small sections of hair. A spiral iron is hard to manage if your hair is very short since it could be a challenge to wrap the hair around the barrel. For best results, your hair should be at least chin-length to define curls.
How curly your hair will end up depends on the amount of hair in each section and how long you hold the iron in your hair. By taking smaller pieces of hair and using higher heat, you will get tighter curls. By doing larger sections of hair and applying less heat, you will get more relaxed, natural-looking curls.
How to Use a Spiral Curling Wand
It takes some time and practice to learn how to use a spiral curling iron. However, with patience and practice, a good curler will give you beautiful spiral curls that last. The curling process is time-consuming because you can’t put much hair in the curler at once.
The following are basic instructions on how to get spiral curls using a spiral curling iron. Keep in mind that different models should be used in different ways, so it is important to read individual product directions. Also, make sure to watch some tutorial videos to make the learning process easier.
Preparing the Hair: Wash, condition, and towel dry your hair. Use a comb to remove tangles. Apply a heat protectant, coating your strands evenly. Allow your hair to air-dry or use a hair dryer to dry it completely.
Sectioning: Section your hair to make it easier to work with. Create tiny sections of hair if you want tighter curls. Use bigger sections to get softer curls and to speed the curling up. Keep in mind that spiral irons with a heat insulation shield around the barrel can’t handle larger portions of hair. Large sections also run the risk of additional tangling.
Curling: Set your iron at the proper temperature for your hair type. Insert the end of your hair in the clamp of the spiral iron, and then twist the barrel towards the roots until it’s close to your head (Conair Spiral Styler). With some spiral irons, you need to start curling from the roots and then wrap the section of hair around the barrel between the grooves holding the ends of your locks (Bed Head Curlipops Spiral Curling Wand). For both methods, hold the tool in your hair for a duration based on how tight you want the curls to be. The longer you leave the iron in each section, the tighter the curls will be. Repeat working with small sections until you finish the curling process.
Styling: Once you have your whole head curled, run your fingers through it, and set it with hair spray to give your curls hold.
It might take about 30 minutes to do the whole head if you have shoulder-length hair of medium thickness and density.
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Spiral Curling Irons that may Be Worth Buying
1. Bed Head Curlipops Spiral Curling Wand
This curling wand features a two-inch spiral barrel designed to guide your hair around the barrel to create stunning, bouncy curls. The barrel is made of tourmaline and ceramic materials that are considered healthy for hair. Tourmaline technology helps to eliminate static and frizz and adds a beautiful shine to hair.
This curling wand can be used to give you either tight curls or loose, beachy waves depending on how you use it. The tool heats up to 400° F and doesn’t have an adjustable heat setting.
The positives
- Allows you to create tight, relaxed, or asymmetrical curls
- Creates curls that can hold even when you sleep on them
- Makes fine and flat hair look much more voluminous
- Helps to reduce frizz and static and leaves your hair shiny
- Creates a nice texture for a curly updo
- Doesn’t leave any creases
- Has an attractive and eye-catching design
- Gets hot quickly
- Comes with a high-quality protective glove to protect your fingers when touching the barrel
- Has dual voltage and can be used worldwide with the appropriate adaptor
- The on/off switch is placed so that it is not easy to turn off the curler accidentally while in use
The negatives
- Lacks a heat setting feature, so you cannot control the temperature
- Requires some practice to figure out how to use it
- Doesn’t have a long enough barrel for use with very long hair
Suggested Use
Take a one- to two-inch section of hair and wrap it around the barrel, starting from the roots and holding the appliance with the tip pointing down. Hold the end of your hair with your fingers for the recommended time, then release the curl. You should use a glove and be careful when holding the tool close to your head.
2. Conair Instant Heat Spiral Curling Iron
This spiral styler has an extra-long spiral barrel that allows you to create bouncy spiral curls in long hair. It has a small clamp at the bottom to hold the end of your hair, making curling easier and reducing the chances of getting burned. The uniform heat recovery system keeps the barrel temperature at a constant level, enabling you to create well-shaped, long-lasting spiral curls. A wide range of temperature settings makes this styling tool suitable for many different types of hair.
The positives
- Gives you cute spiral curls
- Creates long-lasting curls even if your hair is curl resistant
- Lightweight and easy to hold
- Heats up very quickly
- Multiple heat settings ranging from 1–25
- Dual voltage for worldwide use with an adaptor plug
- Auto-off functionality
The negatives
- Takes some time and practice to figure out how to use it.
- Due to the barrel’s design, the curls could only go in one direction. If you like multidirectional curls, this curler is not for you.
- The hair can get caught in the clamp.
Suggested Use
Take a section of hair and affix the end of your hair to the clamp. Then twist the styler from tip to root. Your hair will slip between the ridges. Hold the iron in the hair for an amount of time, based on the desired results and the heat setting that you have selected. After releasing the curl, use your fingers to loosen it.
3. Spiral Curl Ceramic Curling Iron by SexyBeauty
This spiral iron has a ¾-inch ceramic barrel encased with a protective shield that keeps fingers from getting burned. Ceramic heating elements help to evenly distribute heat and prevent damage while creating beautiful and long-lasting spiral curls. There is a small clip for securing the end of your hair, so you don’t have to hold it.
The positives
- Fast heating in 15 seconds
- Anti-scald design
- Lightweight and travel-friendly
- Long, anti-swivel cord
- Dual voltage for worldwide use
- Produces long-lasting spiral curls
The negatives
- Your hair may get tangled if you use a larger section.
- No adjustable heat setting
- Doesn’t have an auto shut off
Suggested Use
Divide hair into workable sections. Take a small section of hair and insert it into the curl chamber. Secure it with the clip. Twist the iron towards your head while wrapping the hair around the barrel. Hold it in place for about 5–10 seconds for looser curls or 20 seconds for tighter curls. Repeat this action to curl the remaining section of your hair. Allow your hair to cool, then gently run your fingers through it for a more natural finish. Use hairspray to give your curls a nice hold.
Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.