What makes a curling iron the “best” curling iron?  The standards have risen in the world of curling irons because the technology to make a curling iron great has become more attainable.  We now know that ceramic curling irons are among the best for your hair because the ceramic creates negatively charged ions that actually helps protect your hair.  It seals in the moisture and helps to prevent breakage.  The ceramic also helps to create an even conduit for heat.  This means no more troublesome hot spots on your curling barrel.  Tourmaline curling irons offer similar advantages but they are often a little more expensive for practically the same results.  It just depends on what your budget is for finding the best curling iron that determines which finish you go with.  If you want to get great curls like Jessica’s then make sure you use the best curling iron!

Sometimes the best curling irons are not the most expensive ones.  A lot of times people associate quality with cost but I’ve found that just because a curling iron costs an arm and a leg, that doesn’t always mean that it does a better job than one that is more affordable.  While you don’t want to buy the cheapest curling iron if you want to keep your hair looking healthy, there are options out there that won’t break the bank.

There are two important qualities to look for when you are buying curling irons:

1.  Ceramic

A ceramic curling iron is one of the first and foremost requirements when you are looking for the best curling iron.  A ceramic coating or finish to the barrel will help protect your hair.  Applying any kind of heat to your hair is a risky endeavor because hair is fragile.  To avoid breakage, split ends and overall damage, making sure your curling iron has ceramic plating will make a major difference.

2.  Temperature control

Not all hair is created equal, which means a curling iron should never be one-temperature-fits-all.  Finer hair needs a lower heat setting while coarser hair will need higher heat settings in order to hold a curl.  If you can’t control the temperature settings you risk damaging your hair or just not getting the results that you need.

If the curling iron you are considering has these two important qualities, then you are on the right track.  Chances are that the one for $30 will work just as well as the one for $300.  The choice is up to you.

Alicia Keys always looks fabulous, and in my opinion, never more so than when she rocked this super sexy, Bardot-esque bombshell hair! It can be hard to decide which curling irons will work best on your hair if you’re African American, but Alicia and her stylist clearly have it figured out. If you’re looking for a curling iron that will effectively curl your hair without damaging it, here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

• Choose an iron with a ceramic or tourmaline – NOT metal – barrel. Metal barrels can seriously dry out, burn and damage your hair, whereas ceramic curling irons seal in moisture and leave your hair healthier than before.
• Turn the heat up high. How high? That depends on the texture and thickness of your hair, so use your own judgment, but remember than African American hair tends to be coarse, so you’ll probably need to crank the heat a little to add the curl you want.
• Use a thermal protectant beforehand. This will prevent the extra high heat from frying your locks!
• Dry your hair completely first. You can’t use heat styling tools on wet hair, because the heat can actually cook your hair! Not pretty.

After curling, try pulling your hair into a half-up, half-down style a la Alicia. Your romantic style is sure to rake in the compliments!

My favorite show currently on TV is The Office – and one of my favorite characters is Pam. Pam Beesley, as played by Jenna Fischer, has had quite the character arc so far. We’ve seen her grow and mature from a meek receptionist with an insensitive fiance and a latent interest in art to a brave, self-assured woman unafraid to go for what she wants. Over the course of six (and counting) seasons, we’ve seen Pam leave her relationship, move to New York to study graphic design, ask her boss to promote her from receptionist to sales, and – perhaps most importantly – actively pursue a relationship with her soulmate, Jim Halpert. To go along with her newly acquired confidence, Pam’s style has developed as well…but, while cute, she’s still far from glamorous. Jenna Fischer, on the other hand, is really getting the hang of the red carpet! I think she looks absolutely gorgeous here, especially her softly waved hair that cascades around her shoulders. Best of all, it’s a look that’s fairly attainable for those of is with longer hair! The best curling irons for this kind of look are those with larger barrels. The size of the barrel corresponds to the size of the curl it will produce, so if you want big, loose curls like these, you’ll need something with at least a 1 1/2″ inch barrel. Just wrap sections of hair around the barrel for a few seconds at a time, muss everything up with your fingers, a give yourself a not-too-precise center part. Now you’re ready to join Jenna in leaving “The Office” behind!

If you are just entering into the exciting world of curling your hair, you might be a little overwhelmed at first when you are trying to decide what kind of curling iron to get.  There are so many to choose from!  Here is a quick guide on how to choose which is the best curling iron for you:

1.  The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl.  If you want to create small, spiral curls, you need a smaller barrel.  Anything under 1″ is best for creating ringlets.  And if you have shorter hair, a smaller barrel is going to better grip your hair.

2.  For volume, think big.  If you want to have big, thick curls or just want to add a bit of “oomph” to your style, then go for a 1″ to 2″ barrel.

3.  Ceramic is best.  Any type of heat can damage your hair.  You want to do all that you can to protect your hair and having a ceramic finish on your curling iron gives you added protection.

Remember to experiment and just have fun with your hair!

Is Megan Fox a curling iron fan?

When it comes to creating waves or curls, or simply taming frizz and flyaways, few styling tools are quite as useful as that old reliable the curling iron. From famous beauties like Megan Fox to – quite literally – the girl next door, you would be hard-pressed to find a woman who doesn’t rely on her curling iron to create at least one of her signature hair looks. But where do hot rollers enter into the equation? Which one is the better styling aid?

For the most part, the best curling irons are preferable to a set of hot rollers for one big reason: Versatility! While hot rollers can only be used for one purpose – to give your hair a kicky curl – curling irons can help you create spirals, waves, ringlets, and even straighter, smoother locks. Curling irons are easier to use and more comfortable for most women, and they take far less time, since you don’t have to wait for the iron to cool the way that you do with hot rollers.

Curling irons come in all different shapes and sizes, so you can select the iron you need based on the kind of look you’re planning to create, while most women only own one set of hot rollers. If you want truly gorgeous hair, choose the same tools that the professionals do: High quality curling irons.

Jessica Biel uses a curling iron to enhance her hair, not fight it.

When you think of curling your hair, what kinds of images come to mind? If your hair is naturally straight and you use your curling iron to create tightly coiled ringlets, or your hair tends to be frizzy and your curling iron helps give it wave and body, then you may be used to thinking of your curling iron as a weapon in your personal fight against your hair’s natural inclinations. However, many women are learning that some of the best curling irons can actually be used to enhance your hair’s normal texture, rather than battling against it! Take a look at Jessica Biel’s sexy, subtle waves for instance; would you ever imagine that a curling iron was used to achieve this look? It’s true! Jessica’s stylist simply wrapped medium-sized sections of her hair around a large (1 1/2″) barrel curling iron for a few seconds, then used the hands and a texturizing pomade to artfully tousle the hair before setting the entire look with light-touch hairspray. Voila – Jessica is red carpet ready, and her entire ‘do only took a few minutes! The best curling irons for each woman will depend on her hair length, whether her hair is straight, wavy, frizzy or naturally curly, and whether the hair is coarse or fine.

Use a large-barreled curling iron to make waves like Scarlett Johansson's!

If you have long hair that reaches past your shoulders, it can be hard to find new ways to style it – particularly if your hair is thick or coarse. One common problem that long-haired ladies run into when it comes to styling is that the heaviness of their hair pulls the curl right out, making it difficult to create spirals or ringlets. But when you look at beautiful Hollywood stars like Scarlett Johansson, it’s clear that achieving gorgeous waves is a definite possibility – you just have to have the right tools in your beauty arsenal! So what are the best curling irons for long hair?

Generally, it’s best to choose a curling iron with a larger barrel if you have hair that is shoulder-length or longer. In my personal experience, I think the best curling irons for long hair are those with barrels that are 1 1/2″ in diameter. Using a large-barreled iron with allow you to create luxurious, loose waves just like Scarlett’s, and since you’re not attempting Shirley Temple-esque little girl curls, your hair will be able to hold the style much better. Plus, using curling irons with large barrels will prevent you from having to spend hours dividing your hair into tiny sections and curling them one by one! Larger curling irons can handle more hair, so it will take you less time to create your new look.

Getting glamorous, feathered out, volumized hair, like country superstar Carrie Underwood, is not an impossibility.  All you need is a little patience, a little know-how, and the best curling irons to get this look.

First, before you dry your hair, add some volumizing mousse to add texture to your hair.  Then you will want to blow dry your hair in sections using a large round brush so that you can add even more volume.  Once your hair is completely dry, you will want to divide your hair into sections again so that you can make sure to curl hair all over.  You will want to use a barrel size no larger than one inch.  A 3/4″ barrel is the best choice.  Take small sections of hair, a half inch or one inch amount, and wind around the barrel.  Continue doing this all over your head until you have a head full of tight ringlets.  Let hair set in this tightly wound state for about thirty minutes.  Then gently comb your fingers through your hair to release the curls so they fall into voluminous waves.  Create a far right part and then smooth the top layer of your hair or bangs, to achieve a more polished look.

I always wonder about the best way to do my hair when I am going to special events. I have short hair and so I can’t do elaborate updos or voluminous waves. I always thought I would just have to make it look sleek and sharp. However, a good friend of mine suggested I try to do ringlets all over my head to create a fun and bouncy look that could be really sexy and playful at the same time. She insisted on experimenting with my style and said she had the best curling irons to choose from to make it happen. I am so glad she wanted to play “dress up.” I was surprised at how easy it was to get my hair looking like it was naturally curly. She chose a three-quarter inch barrel curling iron as her weapon. She then took small sections and sprayed them with hairspray before curling the section. This made my style hold together all night and also made my hair look shiny and healthy. I love this new style and I can even do it myself, without her help!