collaborative post | Could you use a hair curler to curl your short hair? Probably, but you’re not going to always get the best results. Well, the deeper you dive into the world of beauty, the more you realise the importance of finding the best hair curler for your specific hair.
Whether you want a tight, wavy or textured curl for your short hair, we’ve got the information to help you keep your hair looking and feeling great. So, stick with us as we as we give you tips on how to choose the best hair curler.
The length of your hair is going to be one of the biggest factors when deciding which hair curler to choose. Short to medium-length hair is always better suited to a smaller barrel as it will create a more voluminous effect for your trendy do. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be confined to using a hair curling wand with a small barrel; smaller sizes just give those gorgeous tight-on short hair.
Ultimately, the size of the barrel you choose should be determined by the style you want to create. Here are some barrel sizes to help those with a shorter cut the desired style:
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¾ inch barrel – this is a brilliant size barrel for those with short hair who want tight, defined curls or ringlets
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1-inch barrel – for the short-haired people who love a bit of diversity and want to step away from the tight curls (but still could if they wanted to), then the 1-inch barrel is a great choice
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1 ¼ inch barrel – for a more relaxed and wavy curl for short hair, the 1 ¼ inch can give you those beachy waves
The next consideration when choosing the best hair curler isn’t exclusive to people with short hair, but rather something everything using heat styling tools should pay attention to: the type of plate.
Choosing the right plate has the power to make or break not just the style of your hair but your hair’s health. So, especially for those who are new to using hair curlers, pay particular attention to the materials your hair curlers use, as each comes with distinct advantages and disadvantages:
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Tourmaline plates – barrels made with the gemstone tourmaline are definitely crowd-pleasers as they are ideal for all different textures and lengths of hair, but especially for short hair as they’re durable and so easy to control. Bonus! When heated, tourmaline emits negative ions, which helps to eliminate frizz and static
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Ceramic-coated plates – these types of hair curlers are popular, like GHD’s selection of hair curling wands, especially for those with fine hair. This is because of their ability to provide an even distribution of heat and consistent temperature – but most people with thick hair find that hair curlers with this type of barrel are less effective.
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Titanium plates – hair curlers with titanium plates are ideal for those with thick and textured hair due to their ability to heat up fast and style hair quickly, but this also means they’re more likely to cause hair damage as they’re more difficult to control
One of the keys to getting the best style is customisation, and the way you achieve that with a hair curling wand is by opting for a tool that puts the power in your hands with adjustable heat settings.
Shorter hair usually doesn’t require as much heat as long styles. Avoid causing damage to your hair by ensuring you minimise exposure to heat. Another reason for having control over the heat is that with shorter hair, you’ll be working in closer proximity to your scalp, which makes your hair more susceptible to damage or even burns.
The ideal temperature for your short hair also goes hand in hand with the texture of your hair:
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Thick or curly hair (180-200°C)
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Medium or wavy hair (150-180°C)
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Fine or damaged hair (120-150°C)
Remember that all heat-styling tools have the potential to cause damage, so it’s essential to apply a good-quality heat-protectant product to your hair before curling.
Final Thoughts
Your hair-styling tool of choice heavily depends on the length of your hair, so to all the stylish short-haired individuals out there – yes, it’s essential to choose the right hair curler for your length. While you can use any size barrel, the hair curlers that give the best results for short hair tend to be the smaller size.
