How to choose a hair curler

Thanks to the curling iron, girls with straight hair can literally create beautiful curls for themselves in half an hour. A few decades ago, the tool was used only in hairdressing salons, but gradually became available to everyone who wanted to buy it. Hair curlers are easy to use and do not require special skills from their owners. The range of various hair care stylers has expanded significantly in recent years. Here you will learn how to choose a quality curling iron, what parameters to look for when buying. Our experts also prepared a rating of the best pads according to characteristics and customer reviews.

Types of Plates

Previously, curling tongs were of the same type: a rod with a heating element of medium diameter and a clamp. Later, manufacturers began to create more and more types of plates, differing in shape, diameter, coating material. Consider what types of forceps can be found in stores today:

1. Classical - an ordinary cylindrical curling iron, it can be of different diameters for small, medium or large curls.
2. Cone - thanks to this gadget, you can create interesting curls, large at the roots and tapering to the tips.
3. Triangular or square - suitable for brave girls to create creative hairstyles with broken curled strands.
4. Spiral - allows you to curl clear, elastic spiral-shaped curls.
5. Double - zigzag curls wind it.
6. Triple - creates soft wavy curls.
7. Automatic - it looks different. Rotating automatically, the curler itself pulls the strand inward, twisting it onto the thermal shaft, it remains only to stretch the curl and enjoy the result.

In appearance, the stylers are noticeably different, so it is impossible to confuse them. Despite all the variety, the most popular are the classic curling irons. The rest can be purchased as additional.

Some girls wonder which curling iron is better - conical or ordinary. In fact, this question cannot be answered exactly: they give completely different effects, and which of the results is better is a subjective opinion.

What to look for when choosing

Having dealt with the forms, we move on to a more detailed consideration of the characteristics of the planes.

Diameter

First of all, you need to deal with the dimensions of the tool. This or that diameter is selected depending on the length of the hair and the desired result. Here is what professional craftsmen advise regarding the diameter of the working part of the forceps:

• 15-17 mm - the thinnest curling iron. It is suitable for short hair and for those who want to make thin graceful curls;
• 19-20 mm - the tool is oriented to any length to create vintage elastic curls;
• 25 mm - medium diameter, perfect for curling natural curls on hair of any length;
• 32-33 mm - more suitable for light waves, ideal for daily hairstyles. The length of the hair should not be higher than the shoulders;
• 38 mm - the curling iron will be convenient for long hair, it can create large light waves;
• 45 mm - forceps give volume, create chaotic large curls, suitable for long hair below the shoulders;
• 50 mm is the largest curling iron for long hair and romantic, most natural waves.

Material and coating

Modern curling irons for self-curling hair can have a different coating, on which the health of the hair will depend.

The body of the forceps is usually made of heat-resistant plastic, but there are also wooden handles.

Types of coverage of the working area:

1. Metal is not the best coating material.Undoubtedly, it has advantages: it quickly warms up, is resistant to mechanical stress, but it mercilessly dries hair and can easily burn it.
2. Teflon is a good coating option. Teflon spraying protects the strands from drying out, but it erases very quickly.
3. Glass ceramics - a smooth glossy surface gently affects hair without burning or drying it. The minus of the coating is it is brittle, and upon impact it can crack, crack.
4. Ceramics is one of the best materials regarding hair exposure. But just like glass ceramics, a purely ceramic coating is very vulnerable to mechanical stress.
5. Tourmaline is a natural and durable mineral with high thermal conductivity. It not only gently affects the hair, but also gives them smoothness, shine, and silkiness.
6. Titanium is a very durable material, quite safe for hair. Coating is often used in professional models.

Those who need not only a good, but also a safe curling iron are advised to choose a model with a ceramic, glass-ceramic or tourmaline coating. And those who are looking for a durable tool can safely take a titanium styler.

Power

The rate of maximum heating of the gadget will depend on this indicator. The average power indicator is 20-80 watts. There are models with higher power. The optimal parameter is a range within 25-50 watts. With such power, the tool will warm up in a couple of minutes.

Heating temperature and availability of regulators

For fast curls and persistent curls, the thermal tool must have a heating temperature of at least 180 degrees. Modern curling irons are equipped with temperature controllers in the middle range from 100 to 200 degrees. This is very convenient: you can choose the level of heating depending on the quality and structure of the hair. 160 degrees are enough for girls with soft and thin hair. Ladies with stiff, thick hair will be able to wind curls at a temperature of 200-220 degrees.

The regulator can be in the form of buttons or a slider. More expensive models have an electronic display with settings. On others, light indicators are used.

Nozzles

Today you can choose hair stylers with additional nozzles. In one tool there can be a basic cylindrical nozzle, conical, triangular and some others.

On the one hand, it is very convenient, because you can purchase several gadgets at once in one fell swoop. But on the other hand, such models are less quality and durable. Experts recommend choosing and buying curling irons separately.

Another important nuance is the presence or absence of a clamp on a thermal tool. Classic curling irons always come with clamps. But conical, triangular and double, they may not be. For independent curling at home, it is better to choose a device with clips: it will be easier to hold strands in this way.

Cord

A short wire can significantly hamper movement. The length of the cord should not be less than 2 m. It is worth checking the electric wire for quality: if it is rigid and bends badly, then it will crack very soon.

Quality curling irons have protection from excesses at the base of the cord. In the same place is usually a loop for hanging. The wire should rotate freely in all directions, otherwise it will get confused.

How professional curling differs from household

The main differences of a professional device for curling curls from household:

1. More durable and safer work area coverage.
2. High power.
3. Wide range of temperature settings.
4. High price.

In appearance, such gadgets practically do not differ, but they are designed for heavy loads, long continuous operation and have a longer service life.

If possible, it is quite possible to buy a professional curling iron for personal use.

Hair Length and Curling Iron

For a very short female haircut, only classic tongs with a small diameter are suitable.

Triple and spiral curling can be used by girls with a long square on the shoulders, and they can also use a regular tool with a small and medium diameter.

Owners of medium and long hair can not limit themselves in choosing a styler: all varieties of thermo-forceps are relevant for them.

But it is worth remembering that even a high-quality coating will dry and spoil the hair if you use the device too often. Experts strongly recommend the use of protective sprays when curling.

Rating

Introducing the TOP-5 of the best models of pans, characterized by worthy characteristics, quality, reliability.

Polaris PHS 2525K

Classic tongs of medium diameter (25 mm) will help create perfect curls for girls with any type of hair. The highest heating temperature is 200 degrees. The appliance warms up for 1 minute. The model has 10 modes, so even weak and thin hair can be twisted without fear of burning them. The working area has a ceramic coating. The curling iron is equipped with a clip with a convenient anti-slip palm rest. The wire rotates around its axis and is protected from bending at the junction with the tool. The best tongs can be bought for 1300 rubles.

BaByliss BAB2269E

The famous company producing professional stylers offers a triple wave model with ceramic tourmaline coating. The device is recommended for long hair. The curling iron has an impressive power of 110 watts, it heats up in a matter of seconds. The temperature is adjustable in the range 140 - 220 ° C. The heat-resistant tip will allow holding the forceps with the second hand without burning. The kit includes a heat-resistant mat and protective gloves. Some girls say that the styler is heavy. The average price of a model is 3500 p.

BaByliss BAB2281TTE

The ceramic-coated cone is heated to 200 degrees and has 25 temperature conditions. She has a long cord - 2.7 m, there is protection against overheating, and the kit comes with a special silicone mat. The model is not so new, so I managed to gain a lot of reviews, 99% of which are positive. The tool is convenient, easy to use and very reliable. The only drawback is the lack of clamping, which is why the strands sometimes slide off the cone. Ladies who do not have experience with such a styler will have to adapt. Estimated cost of BaByliss BAB2281TTE - 2700 p.

BaByliss C1300E

This is an automatic model designed for lightweight curling and creating beautiful large waves. It has a ceramic coating, has an ionization function and auto shut off when overheated. The model has 3 temperature conditions, and the case is made in such a way that completely eliminates burns. Thanks to automatic technology, you can quickly wind up without difficulty, and the result will be no worse than a salon.

Less: it takes time to study the instructions and learn how to insert and pull out the strands correctly, so the perfect styling does not always work the first time. The price of a styler varies from 5300 to 6500 p.

Scarlett SC-HS60T50

The tool combines a medium diameter curling iron and an iron straightener. The forceps are made of ceramic and tourmaline, have 5 heating modes in the range from 120 to 200 degrees.

With this curling iron you can create spiral and broken curls, as well as quickly give your hair perfect smoothness. Convenient button control is located on the upper part of the handle, the cord rotates around its axis. The device automatically turns off when overheating. Thermal protective coating at the tip of the forceps. You can buy a multistyler for 1400 p.

			data-productID = "170100" />
Title	Polaris PHS 2525K	BaByliss BAB2269E	BaByliss BAB2281TTE	BaByliss C1300E	Scarlett SC-HS60T50
Power	25 watts	125 watts	65 watts	250 watts	45 watts
Number of modes	10	5	25	3	5
Maximum heating temperature	200 ºС	200 ° C.	200 ºС	230 ºС	200 ºС
Coating	ceramic	ceramic, tourmaline	ceramic	ceramic	tourmaline
Price	from 1500 rub.	from 4500 rub.	from 3600 rub.	from 8000 rub.	from 1600 rub.