If you’re like most women, you probably have an area under your bathroom sink dedicated to a plethora of hair tools. Curling wands and irons are a favorite, though, for their ability to help us create every look from glam or dramatic to casual or sophisticated. 

If you want a gorgeous look for any occasion, follow these five tips and tricks for curling your hair:

1. Pick the Correct Barrel Size

Do you want large voluminous curls, tight spirals, or somewhere in between? What you want your final look to be depends on the barrel size of your curling iron. For short or medium-length hair, use a barrel 1" in diameter. Women with long hair or who want loose curls should use a 1 ¼" barrel. Also, note the difference between a curling iron and a curling wand: curling iron will yield medium-sized glam waves while a curling wand is best for those beachy waves. Check the differences in details at Hotstylingtoolguide.com

The other option in lieu of curling wands and irons are rollers. Hot rollers are a common choice for women whose hair refuses to hold a curl. There’s a technique to using them but once you see the results, it may be worth it to you to learn! Pick up a set online or a beauty supply store.

2. Don’t Touch Wet Hair with Hot Tools

Prepare in advance and let your hair dry completely before bringing a hot tool to it. In case you haven’t heard it before, hot tools and wet hair do not mix! If you can’t air dry hair, use a hair dryer with heat protectant since you’ll be using another hot tool immediately after.

3. Use Heat Protectant

No, heat protectants aren’t just another ploy for you to spend more money on hair products. Heat protectants create a barrier between the hair follicle and heat so you don’t cause damage. Heat protectants also do a great job of banishing frizz and sealing in moisture. 

A visit to your local beauty supply store or a search on Amazon will give you many choices - our favorites are Chi 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Hairspray ($13 at Walmart) or TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer for Hair Heat Protection ($5 at Target). A few spritzes on each section of hair before using your hot tool will save your locks from heat damage.

4. Hair Spray Is Your Friend

Hair spray is key to helping your locks hold a curl. Use light- to firm-hold hairspray for prep and while setting curls. Using hairspray only after curling hair will only increase the chances of it falling flat and losing shape. Try Ion Curl Texturizing Spray ($8 at Sally Beauty) or Garnier Fructis Style Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel ($4 at Walgreens). 

After misting your hair with spray, avoid running your fingers through curls. We know how tempting it is, but the more you touch them, the more you run the risk of loosening their shape.

5. Work Smarter Not Harder

You may think the only way to curl hair is by sectioning it off and curling as you go. But a YouTube search of curling tutorials will show you that there are other hair curling techniques that may not only cut down on your styling time, but give you a better result. One example is the ponytail trick: gather hair in a pony, separate into small ½-inch to 1 ½-inch sections, and curl! When you undo the pony, you’ll have a beautiful mane of curls.

As with all hot tools, try to avoid using them every day and treat your hair to lush products in between, like leave-in conditioners and hair masks. The less heat your hair is exposed to, the better.

One last tip for getting a gorgeous look? Consider your current hairstyle and experiment. A pixie cut, for example, may only look more poofy with large curls, but adding tight spirals will give it pep! 

Mastering the above five tips and tricks for curling hair are key to creating a gorgeous, shapely mane.