Zooey Deschanel's Charming Curls
It’s basically a widely acknowledged fact that Zooey Deschanel is one of the most adorable women on the planet – and her hair is a big part of the cuteness equation. The singer/actress usually wears her chestnut brown hair straight, with her signature eyebrow-grazing blunt cut bangs, but I love this shot of her with softly cascading curls. And it’s such an easy look to do at home! All you need is a 2 inch curling iron.
Professional curling irons come in a variety of different sizes, and the general rule of thumb is this: The bigger the barrel, the looser the curls. Since Zooey’s curls border on loose waves, she probably used an iron with at least a 1 1/2″ to 2″ barrel. Unless your iron specifically says ‘wet to dry,’ make sure your hair is totally free of moisture before you start curling. You may even want to apply a heat protective serum to your locks beforehand in order to guard it from damage.
After curling your hair, a light hold hairspray can keep flyaways in place without giving you that stuff “Aqua Net” feel that we all remember so well from the 80s. So pretty!
The Secret to Effortless Hair
There are not many of us who have the luxury of just washing our hair and letting it airdry, with the end results being perfectly coiffed locks. There are some women who seem to get away with this kind of low maintenance routine and the rest of us are left wondering, “How do they do it??” Well, here’s a secret: Most of the time, those who say they haven’t done anything to their hair are probably telling a little white lie. If you want to make your hairstyle look effortless, you have to put in a little bit of effort. Fortunately, if you have the right tools, this can be one of the easiest parts of your routine.
Whether you airdry or blow your hair out, having a professional curling iron in your tool box can make all the difference in making your hair look fabulous. A one inch barrel is one of the most universal sizes that can help you to create just the style that you want. If you want larger waves, you can try one with a larger barrel, like a 2 inch curling iron. And one of the most natural looks that you can create is that of the soft wave. People will be unsure as to whether your hair just looks that pretty all the time or if you did something to create that effect. The best part is that it can take literally five minutes or less to give yourself a soft wave.
Concentrating on the layers framing your face, simply wrap small sections of your hair around the barrel starting at the tip and curling up towards the root. You don’t have to worry about being precise or making sure the sections are the same size – that is the beauty of the soft wave. If it looks too “done,” it loses its charm. Curl some sections throughout your hair, spray it and then finish the rest of your getting-ready-routine. Before you walk out the door, brush through your curls. The wave will remain but it will look more natural. And it will look like you were just born with Jessica Alba’s genes!
Have Control with Professional Curling Irons
If you want to get that fresh from the salon look or you want to duplicate that model in the magazine, having the right tools will take you far. To get a professional look, you gotta use professional tools. Sure, you may not be a hair stylist but that doesn’t mean you can’t fake it ’til you make it. Getting curly hair that looks great and lasts throughout the night is easy to do with professional curling irons. A professional curling iron will most likely have a ceramic finish on the barrel (these are the best curling irons out there) which means you’ll have more control over the heat and the heat will be evenly distributed so you don’t have any hot spots. With this amount of control, you can get the hairstyle you want!
Perfect Wedding Hair
It is one of those years: The Year of the Weddings. It seems like everyone who I am close to and is important in my life is getting hitched this year and that means I have to figure out how to streamline my wedding experiences. I’m in three of the weddings so I will need to make sure my hair looks good but since I have so many weddings to go to, I’m not going to be able to afford getting my hair professionally done for every event. So instead, I’m investing in professional curling irons in a few different barrel sizes so that I can create beautiful hairstyles on my own. The best part about buying the professional curling irons (and a few CHI hair products) is that then I’ll have them long after the weddings have ended. Who knows, they might outlast a few of the marriages. I’m kidding!! I hope not!
I know what my go-to style is going to be. This picture of Natalie Portman’s hair is exactly the kind of updo that will work for any wedding. My hair is already naturally wavy so I’ll just let it air dry and then I’ll define the curls with a professional curling iron. Then I’ll create a deep side part and then pin it all up off of my neck. This is one of those styles that doesn’t have to be perfect and a little imperfection actually adds to the beauty.
Getting Scarlett Johannson's Hair from Iron Man 2!
Iron Man 2 made its big premiere in Hollywood last night and is hitting theaters next week. While the stars looked great on the red carpet, I’ve been obsessing over this promo pic of Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow. Rumor is that Scarlett dyed her hair red before she even got the part because she wanted to play the role so badly. Well, not only do I want the shade of red she chose for my hair, but now I want to mimic the curls that she wears in the film.
Luckily, I got a professional curling iron for my birthday this year and it has a one-inch barrel. I feel like I can get the most versatile looks with that size of a barrel. The curls aren’t too tight or too loose – gosh, I really do sound like Goldilocks! Seriously though, I’ve found that the easiest way to make sure that my hair is evenly curled throughout is to rely on sections. I section off my hair by pinning up the area that I’m not working on. And I always work from the underneath layers to the top layers. This ensures that I get plenty of volume and I don’t squish any of the curls I’ve already created by pinning them. It takes a little effort but the end result is always worth it. Watch out, men of the world. I take no prisoners!
Double Barrel Curling Irons
Curling irons with multiple barrels can give you great waves.
There are many different types of professional curling irons, designed to help users create a huge variety of styles: Tight curls, loose curls, sexy waves, and many more. But to the uninitiated, one of the most perplexing types of irons is the double barrel curling iron. Have you ever seen a stylist using one of these babies and wondered what, exactly, they do? It’s actually really simple!
Double barrel curling irons help you make wide waves with ease. These S-shaped waves call to mind classic Hollywood movie stars like Veronica Lake. Creating such old school glamour with a double barrel iron is actually really easy, once you get the hang of the maneuvering the multiple barrels. If you’ve never used one before, it might be helpful to watch a few instructional videos online, or ask your regular stylist for tips. (He or she might even be willing to give you a hands-on tutorial at your next appointment.)
Multiple barrel curling irons aren’t for everyone – especially not women looking for a simple, straightforward styling method – but if you learn how to use this type of professional curling iron properly, you’re going to be adding a great deal of diversity to your hairdo.
Mindy Kaling's Awards Show Style
Mindy Kaling's hair looked incredible at the SAG Awards.
What’s your favorite TV show right now? Some say the sitcom is dead and that reality TV has sprung up as the most popular form of televised entertainment, but I completely reject that notion, because my favorite show is the funniest sitcom ever: THE OFFICE. There are those who think the original British version, starring Ricky Gervais, was superior to the American version, starring Steve Carell, but I am all about the U.S. version of the show. Why? For a few reasons. First, hello – Jim and Pam! Yes, Tim and Dawn had their moments, but Jim and Pam’s relationship has been way more fleshed out, and the characters created by John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer feel incredibly real. Second, there are just way more episodes of the American Office, which automatically makes it the winner, just because you have more Office to love! And, finally, you can’t forget about the supporting characters – the ones that really give The Office life. My absolute favorite secondary character is Kelly Kapoor, as played by Mindy Kaling (who also writes many of the episodes). Kelly is hilarious, and she always looks super cute – especially her hair, which she has been wearing in a an awesome bob this season. Mindy, on the other hand, has been going long for awards shows. Check out this shot of her from the SAG Awards, looking resplendent in a bejeweled blue gown and luxurious long waves. This just goes to show that you can create all sorts of looks with professional curling irons – they really are the best styling tools you can buy for your hair. Loose waves like this were probably made with a large-barreled professional curling iron – likely one with a 2″ inch barrel. All you have to do to replicate this pretty style is wrap your hair around the barrel of an iron for a few seconds, run your fingers through your hair, and then pull back the top section of your hair into a half-up, half-down style. The look is sassy/sweet, just like Kelly!
Amanda Seyfried's gentle waves
Whether you know her as the ditzy blonde from Mean Girls, or as the pretty blonde girl who was singing up a storm in Mamma Mia, Amanda Seyfriend is the poster girl for young, hot, and Hollywood. She’s proven she can handle more than just comedy, more than just drama, and has shown off her talents in a variety of films. And throughout all of it she’s kept her trademark long blonde hair. Sometimes she keeps it sleek and straight, other times curly, but I like it best in these pretty soft waves.
You can actually get this look fairly easily using a professional curling iron. Professional curling irons can help you can practically any look, including this one. All you have to do is make sure your hair is clean and dry. Then you can put that professional curling iron to work!
Take it all the way from your roots to the very bottom of your hair and use your wrist to curve the iron. Don’t make outright curls, just soft waves. Once you have the professional curling iron in your hand you will know what I mean. The barrel width of the iron doesn’t really matter as you can get this look using practically any curling iron. However, with the small barrels you will have to be more careful and make sure that the waves are soft and smooth, not abrupt.
Using professional curling irons you can get hair that looks just like Amanda Seyfried’s. When you’re done styling, almost make sure to add just a dash of hair spray to the look. You shouldn’t need to use too much because you’re creating waves, not super tight curls. Waves hold a lot better throughout the day than actual curls. Also, you might want to consider using a ceramic iron as opposed to a metal one as they do less damage to your hair.
Professional Tools, Professional Looks
Here is my big struggle: I love love love how my hair looks after a haircut with my stylist. Who doesn’t love that fresh-from-the-salon feeling? But it seems nearly impossible to get that same look and feel once I walk out those doors and I’m back at home. It’s frustrating to say the least. But as I was venting my frustration to my stylist the last time I went in, he quieted me real quickly when he asked if I was using professional curling irons at home. Um, no? I just use whatever I can buy at Target. He told me that using professional tools is one of the big factors in making my hair look so great. Making sure that the irons I use are ceramic finish, that they hold a high heat all over, and that they are well made is the key. A professional curling iron will help my hair to look sleeker all over, reduce my frizz and my frustration. Seriously, this little change has made a big difference in my life!
How to Use Professional Curling Irons
Anyone who regularly curls their hair should make sure to brush up on proper curling iron technique. The use of professional curling irons is one way to give your hair that beautiful, fresh-from-the-salon look, but there’s more to it than simply buying the right equipment. You also have to make sure you know how to use your new curling iron properly. Here are some tips to make the most of your professional curling iron:
- Always make sure your hair is ready for heat styling. Condition your hair regularly, consider investing in sprays or serums with heat protective properties, and never curl wet hair! Your hair must be completely dry before you begin or you risk doing serious damage.
- Don’t curl the same section of hair more than twice, and never leave your hair clamped in the iron for more than 5-8 seconds. If you do, your hair could burn or break right off!
- Try to avoid using the highest heat setting on your curling iron. Higher levels of heat means a greater potential for accidents and serious damage.
- Curl your hair in small sections. This will may the entire process much easier, and your hair will hold the curl much better than if you tried to wrap a great deal of hair around the iron all at once.
- After you’re finished styling, use a hairspray to set your curls.
Of course, you should also look after your professional curling irons as well by regularly cleaning the barrel, once cool, with a soft cloth or a special cleaning solution, always unplugging the iron after use, and storing your curling iron properly. Don’t wrap the cord around the handle of the curling iron, as this can damage the cord over time. With these guidelines, your professional curling iron can help you create beautiful hair styles for years – or even decades!