Curling Wand, Iron Differences and Effects

Photographed by Alexandra R. Gavillet.

Ever wonder what it is about naturally curly hair that gives it a certain je ne sais quoi, which not even the best set of rollers can mimic? It's called imperfection.

That's right, naturally curly hair rarely contains two identical curls, and that small detail makes all the difference between a natural head of ringlets and one that was made for a commercial.

For women with naturally curly hair, curls come in waves, coils, and every possible hair type in between. On top, hair might be looser and thinner, but on bottom there might be a thick patch of corkscrew curls that show through only when your hair is up in a bun or puff. And, all of that is assuming each section curls the same way every day — which is pipe dream in a natural's world.

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For years, the natural hair community has been condemning the portrayal of certain curl types in popular culture (Beyonce has been a pretty big target for this) for not staying true to a real, natural texture, claiming that curls made via a curling iron don't portray naturally achievable texture. More recently, though, curls have gotten a popularity boost and even those with straighter hair are looking for more of a Lorde-like texture.

Luckily, there's a heat tool for that.

Enter the curling wand. The hair tool that looks so similar to a curling iron, it's possible you've brushed it off as a more modern version of the old-school tool. It's not just a modern upgrade, though. A curling wand does one thing that a curling iron has rarely before been able to achieve: purposeful imperfection.

Whereas curling irons are used to create all over, cohesive curls, a curling wand is used to create a more natural look — one with curls of different sizes and shapes. And, a curling wand does so without much work on your part.

Due to the curling wand's shape (the rod is bigger on one end and decreases in size to a point at the other end) and the fact that you have to hold the hair on the wand yourself, the curl result is different for every strand of hair depending on how tightly you hold the hair to the wand and which part of the wand the hair curls.

For women with both curly and straight hair, this tool gets you the naturally curly look you want (or just helps to redefine your natural curls), without much damage to the hair itself. Here's how to use it:

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1. Turn the curling wand on to its lowest heat setting.
2. Grab small sections of your hair as they naturally part and loosely wrap the strand around the wand, from top to bottom (this is hard to mess up), and hold for five to 10 seconds.
3. Continue around your head until you obtain the look you want. Again, each piece will curl differently depending on how long you hold the strand to the wand, how tightly, and where you hair falls on it. Be sure not to heat for longer than 10 seconds or hold it too tightly, both of which can do some serious damage.
4. When finished, flip your head over and with your hands, loosely shake out the curls to release them.
5. Add a dime-sized amount of rose oil (or an oil like jojoba if you have thicker hair) to hydrate the hair. Hairspray if needed.

Keep in mind that it isn't necessary to curl every single strand. Not doing so will help to create a more natural look.

Conair Infiniti Curling Wand Styler, $19.99, available at Ulta.

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