How to Curl Your Hair with a Clamp Curling Iron

There are several techniques that you can do with a clamp curling iron to get several different types of curls. But today we’re going to teach you a look that everyone loves. It's a modern soft curl with a straighter end using a standard one inch barrel.

Steps to Curl Your Hair with a Clamp Iron

1. The first thing you're going to do is practice and you're going to practice without using heat. Turn on iron, once it's already hot, do it. Get started by practicing with the section that is beside our face, because it's just easier that way. A general rule of thumb that is great to follow when you are a beginner is your section should be about the same size as your iron. So if you use a one inch iron, then you want a section that is one inch horizontally and one inch vertically. If you use a one and a half inch iron, then your section can be one and a half inches by one and a half inches. 

2. Take that section and hold it 90 degrees out from the head. Then take your clamp curling iron. And with the clamp facing forward, you want to put your hair into it. Slide it halfway down the hair shaft and rotate it moving backwards or away from your face. Then take the thumb part, rock it open and close a little bit until you move all the way down so that one inch is left out of the iron and rotate that back again. 

3. Once the hair has heated up, you are going to unravel the iron and then you're going to pull to straighten the end out. 

4. Take a one inch square section. Pull it 90 degrees from the head with your clamp forward. Put the hair into the barrel. Slide halfway down the hair and turn towards the back of the head. Use the clip to rock the clamp open ever so slightly and move down until only one inch is left out of the barrel and rotate it back again. When the hair is heated up, unravel the iron and pull it down to smooth out the end. 

5. Now we can graduate to using heat to make this easier. Split your hair down the middle at the back again. It doesn't have to be perfect. The key to doing anything with hair is to stay neat and controlled. So starting at the bottom on the first side, bring your hair forward on the shoulder. Pull it out. 90 degrees from the head with the clamp facing forward. Put the hair in at the root. Slide the barrel halfway down the hair shaft and rotate it backwards. Then wiggle the clamp and move down again until only one inch is left out at the bottom and rotate backwards when the hair is hot. Unravel the iron and pull it down to smooth out the end. Release one more inch of hair horizontally from what's clipped up and do it again. 

6. Now, when you’re all done, you have to let the hair cool down and set so it doesn't drop and you don't lose all your curls. So do not touch it until the hair is 100% cool down. When it is cool, you can run a wide tooth comb through it or you can break it up with your fingers. 

7. As a final step, use some texture spray. 

Tips:

• To achieve a more natural look, alternate the direction of the curls as you work your way up.

• For tighter curls, use smaller sections of hair and hold the iron in place for longer.

• For looser waves, use larger sections of hair and hold the iron in place for a shorter time.

• Be careful not to burn your scalp or ears with the hot iron. You can use a heat-resistant glove or wrap a towel around the iron to protect your skin.