To curl hair with a flat iron, start with dry hair and a heat protectant, take a 1 to 2 inch section, clamp the iron near the root, turn it half a turn away from your face and glide it slowly down to the ends. Slower glides make tighter curls, faster glides make looser waves. Let each curl cool before you touch it.
A flat iron is not just for straight hair. With the right twist and speed, the same tool gives you bouncy curls, loose beach waves or a soft bend at the ends, which is handy when you only want one hot tool on your bathroom counter or in your suitcase. This guide walks you through it step by step, with heat settings by hair type, tips for short and long hair, and the mistakes that make flat iron curls fall flat. We use our Hair Straightener, a twisted-plate flat iron with a digital temperature display, as the example, but the technique works with most flat irons.
What you need
- A flat iron with rounded or twisted edges. Sharp, square edges can leave a crease. Rounded or twisted plates let the hair slide around the iron as you turn it.
- A heat protectant spray or cream. Apply it before any hot tool.
- Clips to section your hair, and a wide-tooth comb.
- Optional: a light hairspray to hold the curls and a drop of hair oil to finish.
How to curl hair with a flat iron, step by step
- Start with completely dry hair. Never use a flat iron on wet hair. Blow-dry or air-dry fully, then brush out any knots.
- Apply heat protectant. Mist or smooth it through your mid-lengths and ends and comb it through so every strand is covered.
- Choose your temperature. Start low and only go up if the curl will not hold (see the heat guide below).
- Section your hair. Clip the top half up. Work from the bottom layer near your neck first, in sections about 1 to 2 inches wide. Thinner sections hold a curl better.
- Clamp and turn. Clamp the section a few inches below the root, then rotate the iron half a turn (about 180 degrees) away from your face so the hair wraps over the top plate.
- Glide slowly down. Keeping the iron turned and the plates lightly closed, pull it down the section toward the ends in one smooth motion. Do not stop in one spot.
- Let it cool. Drop the curl into your palm or pin it up for a few seconds while it cools. This is what sets the shape.
- Repeat and alternate. Keep going around your head, turning away from your face on both sides. For a more relaxed look, alternate directions on the back sections.
- Finish. Once all your hair is cool, run your fingers through the curls to break them up, mist with a light hairspray and smooth a drop of oil on the ends.
What temperature to use
Use the lowest setting that makes your hair hold a curl. More heat is not better; it just means more stress on your hair. As a starting point, these are the ranges listed for our iron:
- Fine, damaged or bleached hair: about 250 to 310°F
- Normal, healthy hair: about 320 to 390°F
- Thick or hard-to-style hair: about 410 to 450°F
If your curls drop within an hour, go up by one step rather than jumping straight to the top setting. If you notice a burnt smell or see steam from your hair, stop: your hair may still be damp or the heat is too high. Always check your own iron's manual, since settings vary between models.
Curls vs beach waves: speed and twist
The same steps make very different looks depending on two things: how fast you glide and how far you twist.
- Bouncy curls: full half turn, small sections and a slow glide, about 3 to 5 seconds per section.
- Loose beach waves: half turn, bigger sections and a quicker glide. Leave the last inch or two of the ends straight for a lived-in look, and finish with your fingers, not a brush.
Tips by hair length
Short hair (chin to shoulder length)
Use smaller sections and start the turn closer to the middle of the strand so you do not get a bump at the root. A quick glide gives the soft, tousled waves that suit a bob or lob better than tight ringlets. Leave the front pieces slightly straighter so the style does not look too done.
Medium-length hair
This is the easiest length for flat iron curls. Work in two layers, bottom and top, and alternate directions at the back so the curls do not merge into one big wave.
Long hair
Long hair is heavier, so curls drop faster. Use thinner sections, a slow glide and let each curl cool pinned up. Spray each layer lightly before moving to the next one.
Thick, coarse or natural hair
Detangle and stretch your hair first, then work in smaller sections than you think you need. Higher heat may be necessary, but build up gradually and keep each pass short. Limit how often you use high heat each week.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Curling damp hair. Wait until your hair is fully dry.
- Skipping heat protectant. Apply it every time you use hot tools.
- Clamping too hard or stopping mid-strand. That causes dents and kinks. Keep the grip light and the movement smooth.
- Taking big sections. Thick sections heat unevenly and the curl falls out fast.
- Brushing hot curls. Wait until they cool, then break them up with your fingers.
- Leaving the iron on. Switch it off and unplug it when you finish, and let it cool before storing it.
Aftercare: make your curls last
A drop of oil on the ends after the curls have cooled smooths frizz and adds shine; our guide on how to use hair oil covers how much to use. At night, loosely twist your hair into a bun on top of your head or sleep on a satin pillowcase, then refresh the next day by retouching just the front sections. If you prefer a tool that curls for you, see our guide on how to use an automatic hair curler, and if you are packing a cordless straightener for a trip, read can you bring a cordless hair straightener on a plane.
Our Hair Straightener
Our Hair Straightener is a corded flat iron with twisted ceramic plates, a digital temperature display and settings from about 250 to 450°F, so you can straighten, wave or curl with one tool; its product photos show the same twist-and-glide method described above. It is $56.38. Read the instruction manual in the box before first use, start at the lowest setting and use a heat protectant every time.
Every US order ships free, and new customers can use code WELCOME15 for 15% off their first order. You can browse more styling tools, oils and masks in our hair care collection.
FAQ
Can you curl your hair with a flat iron?
Yes. Clamp a small section near the root, turn the iron half a turn away from your face so the hair wraps around one plate, then glide it slowly down to the ends. Twisted or rounded plates, like the ones on our Hair Straightener, make that turn easier than a sharp-edged iron.
What temperature should I use to curl hair with a flat iron?
Use the lowest heat that holds a curl in your hair. Our iron's listing suggests about 250 to 310°F for fine, damaged or bleached hair, 320 to 390°F for normal hair and 410 to 450°F only for thick, hard-to-style hair. Always apply a heat protectant first.
Why won't my flat iron curls hold?
The usual reasons are sections that are too thick, gliding too fast, hair that is still damp, or touching the curls before they cool. Use 1 to 2 inch sections, glide slowly, let each curl cool in your hand or pinned up, and finish with a light hairspray.
Can you curl short hair with a flat iron?
Yes, if your hair is long enough to wrap at least once around the plate, which for most people is chin length or longer. Use smaller sections, start the turn a little farther from the root and glide quickly for a looser bend instead of a tight ringlet.
Flat iron curls vs curling iron curls: what's the difference?
A flat iron gives a flatter, more beachy S-wave or a bouncy curl depending on how slowly you glide, and it can straighten too. A curling wand or iron gives more uniform, rounder curls. If you want one tool that does both straight and wavy styles, a flat iron is the more versatile choice.