4 Ways To Use A Curling Wand - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Personal Care and Style
• Hair Care
• Hair Texture
• Curly Hair
• Curling Hair

How to Use a Curling Wand Download Article Co-authored by Jenny Tran

Last Updated: May 25, 2025 Approved

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• Setting a Solid Foundation
|
• Doing Basic Curls
|
• Doing Beach Waves
|
• Using a Wand on Curly Hair
|
• Video
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings
|
• Things You'll Need

|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Jenny Tran. Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 11 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,239,451 times.

If you're tired of the kinks and lines that using a curling iron with a clamp produce, try using a curling wand. These heat tools work to curl your hair without clipping it in place, creating smooth, full, spirals. There are several different looks you can do with a curling wand, such as basic curls or beachy waves. If you're hair is already naturally curly, you can use a curling wand to make more refined curls.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Setting a Solid Foundation

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1. 1 Dry your hair completely. If you have just washed your hair or if your hair is damp, blow it dry with a hair dryer before using a curling wand. Your hair needs to be completely dry before you start.
2. 2 Brush out your hair. Always start with neat, tangle-free hair when using a curling wand. Use your regular brush or comb to gently tug out any tangles so your hair is smooth going into the process.[1]
   • If you use any products, like a leave-in conditioner, apply them while brushing out your hair.
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3. 3 Pick your heat setting. Curling wands usually provide several different settings, ranging from high to low. For the most part, start with the lowest heat setting possible as this provides the least amount of damage to your hair. If you find your hair is not curling at the lowest setting, increase the heat gradually as you curl.[2]
   • Coarse hair generally requires a higher heat setting while fine hair should use a lower heat setting.
   • It can take some trial and error to find the right heat setting for your hair, so be patient. As you get used to using your wand, you should find a heat setting that works for you.
4. 4 Use a heat protectant. Never apply any type of heat treatment to your hair without using a heat protectant first. You can purchase a heat protectant spray or gel at a salon or department store. Apply it to your hair according to instructions, working it in from your roots to your tips to ensure full protection.[3]
   • If you also tend to use non-aerosol hairsprays or styling gels when styling your hair, apply these as well. Aerosol hairsprays should be used after the hair is curled.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Doing Basic Curls

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1. 1 Section your hair. To do a basic set of curls, section your hair first. Use hair clips or hair ties to section your hair into four different sections There should be one in front, one in back, and two on the sides of your head.[4]
   • Make sure the sections are roughly equal.
2. 2 Curl your hair for three to four seconds. Un-clip your hair from one of the sections. It does not matter which section you start with. Take a strand of hair about an inch wide and hold your curling wand vertically at the side of your head. Starting with the tips, wrap your hair around the wand. Hold the hair for three to four seconds before releasing your hair from the wand. You should be left with a long, wavy curl.[5]
   • If the curl is tighter than you want, let it cool down before running your fingers through it to loosen it. Keep in mind that curls made with a curling wand do tend to loosen over time.
3. 3 Curl each section. Keep curling your the section you started with strand by strand until it's fully curled. Repeat this with each section of hair until you have a full head of curls.[6]
4. 4 Mist your hair with a light amount of aerosol hairspray. This should help your look stay in place throughout the day. Make sure that the hair spray you use is an aerosol hairspray. Non-aerosols should be applied before curling. [7]
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Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Doing Beach Waves

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1. 1 Mist on a setting spray. You can buy a setting spray at a salon or buy it online. Mist your hair with a light amount of setting spray before you begin the curling process. This will help your hair mold more easily.[8]
2. 2 Curl your hair away from the face. Start towards the front of your head. For messy beach waves, work strand by strand. Grab a section that is longer than it is wide. Wrap your hair around the curling wand vertically, starting at the roots and moving down to the ends. In the front, curl your hair away from your face.[9]
3. 3 Leave an inch on the ends uncurled. As you wrap your hair around the wand, stop about an inch from the tips of your hair. Leave this inch uncurled for a loose, beach-like wave.[10]
4. 4 Curl towards your face in the back. As you finish curling the hair in front of your face, shake things up a little when you reach the back of your head. To create a natural appearance, curl your hair in different directions, both towards and away from your face. Other than the direction you're curling, curl using the same process as earlier. Remember to leave the last two inches of your hair uncurled.[11]
5. 5 Finish off the look. Continue curling until you have a full set of beach waves. When you're done, run your fingers through your hair to loosen the curls to your liking. Professional hairstylist Jenny Tran recommends finishing things off "with a styling spray, which holds your hair in place without making it crunchy."
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Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Using a Wand on Curly Hair

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1. 1 Apply a leave-in conditioner. Before doing curling your hair, apply a leave-in conditioner from the roots to the tips. This will help you mold your curls, encouraging them to stay tight.[12]
2. 2 Scrunch the ends of your hair with gel. Apply a styling hair gel to your hair, working it in from the roots to the tips. As you apply your gel, scrunch up the ends of your hair using your hands. This should help refine your curls.[13]
3. 3 Blow dry your hair from the roots to your tips. Your hair should be completely dry before you start curling. As you blow dry the tips, mess them slightly with your fingers. This will encourage further curling.
4. 4 Wrap a small section of hair around the barrel. This section should be roughly one inch wide. Start at the roots, and wrap the ends around the barrel. Keep a firm tension as you do so. Let it rest for three or four seconds before releasing.
5. 5 Brush out your curls if desired. Curling wands will create slightly looser, refined curls on curly hair. If you want even looser curls, you can brush them out with your fingers.
6. 6 Set your look with hairspray. Take some hairspray and mist it gently over your hair. This will set your look for the day, keeping your curls intact.[14]
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Expert Q&A

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• Question My hair is still not curling even with this tutorial. Are there any other suggestions? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Try using smaller sections. The more hair you have on the wand, the harder it is for the heat to penetrate evenly. You can also try wrapping sections you've already curled into little pin curls and clipping them until completely cooled. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 10
• Question How do you curl your hair without heat? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Wet it down and wrap it around something: pencils, rollers, or bendable rods. You can also make pin curls using your fingers. Let the hair dry completely, then remove the set and you'll have curls. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 11
• Question How do you curl your hair away from your face? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Working with vertical sections, wrap the hair away from the face, clockwise on the right and counterclockwise on the left. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8

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Tips

• Do not curl your hair when it is damp. That will damage it and it won't curl right. Thanks Helpful 71 Not Helpful 19

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• Before you start curling your hair, put on a heat-resistant glove to protect your hand and fingers. It's also a smart idea for beginners to record their first curling session so they can watch it later and see what they need to improve on. There are also lots of helpful curling tutorials and classes online that can teach you good techniques.
• After setting your curls with the wand, lightly spritz some hairspray over them or the curls can end up becoming hard and tangled looking as the day goes on. Use a hairspray with a strong hold to really lock the curls in place. Don't overdo it with the hairspray, or things will get messy and crunchy.
• Before starting to curl your hair, let the wand fully heat up to the temperature recommended in the directions first. If you don't, the curls won't set right, and you'll end up having to redo them over and over, which is super frustrating.
• If you're new to curling and don't nail those perfect curls immediately, don't get discouraged! Keep practicing with patience, and in time, you'll get the gorgeous curled look you want. These skills take time to master for beginners.
• When using a wand to curl the hair at the back of your head, always wear a glove on the hand holding the hair. That's an awkward angle to work at, which makes it really easy to accidentally burn your neck or fingers otherwise.
• If you accidentally burn yourself with the hot curling wand, don't put Vaseline on it. That can make the skin damage worse. Instead, soak a cotton ball in vanilla extract and hold that on the burn to soothe and heal it.

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

• Using a curling wand every day can take its toll on your poor locks. Try not to make curling your hair an essential part of your routine. You may only want to curl your hair for nights out or a few times a week. Thanks Helpful 314 Not Helpful 66

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Things You'll Need

• Curling Wand
• Hair Spray
• Mousse (optional)
• Curling Glove (optional)
• Hair Heat Protectant or Leave-In Conditioner
• Brush/Comb

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References

1. ↑ http://www.thatsfoxy.com/beginners-guide/
2. ↑ http://www.thatsfoxy.com/beginners-guide/
3. ↑ http://www.thatsfoxy.com/beginners-guide/
4. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/beauty/watch-how-to-curl-your-hair-with-a-curling-wand/
5. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/beauty/watch-how-to-curl-your-hair-with-a-curling-wand/
6. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/beauty/watch-how-to-curl-your-hair-with-a-curling-wand/
7. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/beauty/watch-how-to-curl-your-hair-with-a-curling-wand/
8. ↑ Jenny Tran. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdDtra8S8JA

More References (5)

10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdDtra8S8JA
11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdDtra8S8JA
12. ↑ Jenny Tran. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVcDNrug5h4
14. ↑ Jenny Tran. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview

About This Article

Co-authored by: Jenny Tran Professional Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Jenny Tran. Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients. This article has been viewed 1,239,451 times. 4 votes - 75% Co-authors: 72 Updated: May 25, 2025 Views: 1,239,451 Categories: Featured Articles | Curling Hair Article SummaryX

To use a curling wand, take a strand of hair about an inch wide and hold your curling wand vertically at the side of your head. Starting with the tips, wrap your hair around the wand. Hold the hair for 3-4 seconds, then gently unwrap the curl from the wand. Continue until you’ve curled all of your hair, then lightly mist your hair with aerosol hairspray to set your curls. Keep reading for tips from our cosmetology reviewer on how to create beachy waves with a curling wand! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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  Kathryn Thuma

  Jul 2, 2016

  "I am about to use a curling wand for the first time. I was a little nervous about my ignorance of the basics. ..." more

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jenny Tran Professional Hair Stylist 4 votes - 75% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 72 Updated: May 25, 2025 Views: 1,239,451

Kathryn Thuma

Jul 2, 2016

"I am about to use a curling wand for the first time. I was a little nervous about my ignorance of the basics. ..." more

Anonymous

Aug 23, 2016

"The steps to using a curling wand with clear directions were the most helpful. The pictures were helpful too! :)"

Holly Manders king

Jul 20, 2017

"I'm going to a wedding soon and I am using a curling wand so it is a good idea for me to have a look."

Anonymous

Feb 3, 2017

"Not using conditioner was good tip, and step-by-step instructions with pictures were helpful."

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Aug 26, 2016

"The comment section helped, because you give people answer to the questions that they have." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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