What is the best way to create curls with a straightener? We'll give you the best professional tips and simple step-by-step instructions.
Table of contents
- Make curls with the straightener
- This is how curls last longer with straighteners
- How often can I curl my hair with a straightener?
Half-Bun, Messy Bun & Co. are super practical, but every now and then we just want beach waves. All we need to transform straight hair into a curly mane is heat protection spray and a straightening iron. Because you can conjure up great curls in your hair in just three steps.
The best hair straighteners for heat styling are those that have a rounded top in addition to the heating plates, which also gets hot. This makes it easier to turn the straightener when using it and automatically avoids unsightly kinks in the top hair.
So if you already have a straightening iron at home and don't want to invest in an additional curling iron, we'll tell you here how you can achieve the wonderful hairstyle trend with curls.
We'll show you step by step how you can style curls with a straightener.
Beautiful beach waves: tips for big curls with the curling iron
Make curls with the straightener
Transform your hair into curls using just a hair straightener? All you need is a heat spray and these step-by-step instructions. You can also use heat styling to give natural curls new momentum.
1. Preparation
The first step is to spray on the heat protectant, comb your hair and divide it into sections or individual sections. Attention: risk of burns! The heating element can reach a temperature of up to 220 degrees. The hair needs the heat to curl temporarily. But at the same time it also damages its structure.
It is therefore essential to always use heat protection before using the straightener. Such a spray absorbs some of the heat energy and thereby protects against permanent damage. A few sprays into the hair sections and you're ready to go.
A very good heat protection spray from ghd is available here on Amazon.*
Comb the hair thoroughly and divide it into strands: To do this, pull a parting from the middle of the forehead backwards with a handle comb - this will divide the hair vertically. Then draw a parting horizontally at ear level. This way you divide your hair into four large sections. Then pin each of them in place with hair clips.
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2. Heat styling
Now it's time to curl! Preheat your straightener until it reaches operating temperature. Start with one of the side sections and separate a strand of hair with the tail comb. Place these between the heating plates.
Do not apply the straightening iron too close to the roots, but rather at ear level - the result is a natural wave look with a smooth roots. Then rotate the curling iron 360 degrees around its longitudinal axis.
Important:Always use a high-quality straightener with a temperature control. Models with a ceramic coating are particularly gentle on the hair.

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Expert tip
“For curls to be more defined and last longer, wrap the hair around the curling iron and hold for a few seconds before gently releasing the strand.”
Serdal Bengi and André Aus der Wieschen, owners and star hairdressers of the 'Aus der Wieschen' hairdressing salon in Münster
3. Definition
Final spurt for your curls with the straightening iron: Now pull the heating element wrapped around the strand down at a steady pace to over the tips. Important: Keep it constantly at the same angle. This works best if you grab the strand with your free hand and tighten it slightly.
Tipp:If you notice that the straightening iron glides less and less as it goes down, that means that the section is already a little stressed and therefore rougher. Then loosen the pressure of the heating plates slightly so that these areas of hair suffer less heat stress.
Work your way through the entire hair in this way. First work on the lower strands and then the top hair. The front section is the last to get really curly.
Reading tips:
The slower you move the straightener, the more heat is applied to the hair - and the more bounce your curls have. If you don't have much experience using straighteners, you should initially choose a low temperature setting to avoid heat damage.

This is how curls last longer with straighteners
Do your curls hang down again after a short time? Here are three tips to make the curls last much longer with the straightener:
- Use mousse with heat protection
If you want the curls to last all day with the straightener, you should use one before curlingmousseApply to damp hair. Practical: There are 2-in-1 hair products on the market that also include oneHeat protectioncontain. - Pin curls to head
To ensure that the curls last all day, you should pin each individual curl to your head with a hair clip and allow it to cool. If you let the strand of hair fall down while it is still hot, the curls will hang out again much more quickly. - Use only a little hairspray
Many people use too much hairspray. The effect: Instead of the curls lasting a long time, the hair is weighed down and hangs out more quickly. You should therefore only use hairspray sparingly. 1-2 sprays are completely sufficient. Also, be careful not to comb your hair too hard after curling it. - Do not use conditioner beforehand
Conditioners and hair treatments make the hair velvety soft. The problem: Curls don't hold well. If you want to curl your hair with a straightener, you should not use conditioner. It's better to move your care day to another day with these hair products.
Which straightener creates the best curls?
When buying a straightener that is also suitable for heat styling curls, there are a few important factors you can consider. Here are a few shopping tips:
- Plate material and size:Ceramic and tourmaline heating plates are recommended as they provide even heat distribution that is less damaging to hair. In addition, narrow plates are more suitable for making curls.
- Temperature control:Adjustable temperature control is important because different hair types require different heat settings. Fine hair requires lower temperatures (160-180 degrees), while thick or frizzy hair can tolerate higher temperatures (190-210 degrees).
- Heating time:A straightener with a short heat-up time is time-saving and practical. Most high-quality hair straighteners heat up within 30 seconds to a minute.
- Ion technology:Straighteners with ionic technology help reduce frizz and make hair shinier and smoother. But they are usually also more expensive.
- Drehkabel:A swivel cord prevents the cord from tangling during use, making it easier to handle.
- Automatic shutdown function:An auto shut-off feature is a safety feature that automatically turns off the straightener after a certain period of non-use.
Think about how often you want to use the straightener and choose a model that doesn't exceed your budget but still achieves good results. With all of these factors and a little practice, you can conjure up beautiful curls in no time.
A top-rated straightener from Remington is available particularly cheaply on Amazon*
How often can I curl my hair with a straightener?
Heat styling once a week is great for healthy hair. The more damaged your hair is, the less often you should subject it to the procedure. In this case, it's better to use the good old hair curlers, which don't require a lot of heat.
Treat your damaged hair to special care once a week. Because of the heat they quickly lose moisture and become brittle. Rich hair masks like this help against thisRedken Extreme Strength Builder Mask.*
Something important at the end:Of course, hair styling is purely a matter of taste and not everyone finds the trends and hairstyles shown beautiful. Our styling tips are intended to serve as inspiration for you - what you do with them is entirely up to you.
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