Do Curls With a Flat Iron Last Longer?

By Leah Williams •  Updated: 05/21/22

Short Answer: Yes, curls made with a flat iron last longer than those made with curling irons!

Who doesn’t love curls? We all do!

The thing is, some curls cannot last long and the reason for that could be the use of the wrong styling tool or not prepping your hair well enough for curling.

Here’s an idea:

Instead of curling irons, you should try using a flat iron for achieving beautiful curls that last longer. The flat iron is a versatile tool for straightening and curling hair making it a must-have in your beauty wardrobe.

This article provides an answer to the question “do curls with a flat iron last longer?” You should read until the end to find out how exactly you can use the flat iron for curls that are designed to last.

Let’s begin!

Is curling with a flat iron better?

The flat iron is better for curling hair because of the ceramic plates that heat the hair’s surface evenly. 

As you know, ceramic is a common curling material. It does not only spread heat evenly on your hair but also smoothens it.

The good news is… you can use the flat iron for curling thin hair. It does a great job curling thin hair with minimal heat damage. Plus, you don’t have to worry about burnt hair while curling! 

In addition, you should choose a flat iron with an adjustable temperature setting so that you can control the heat level that suits your hair type and hair thickness.

But really not all flat irons do a good job in curling your hair! In that case, it is important to consider a few factors before setting off yourself to choosing a flat iron that guarantees long-lasting waves.

Whatever kind of flat iron you go for, be sure to get the one with multiple heat setting for the best curls.

How can I make my curls last all day?

The greatest secret to making your curls last all day is the right temperature!

The right temperature along with the best curling wand or flat iron can help you achieve perfect curls that are set to last.

Here are ways to make your curls last:

Prep and prime for success.

If your hair is freshly washed and squeaky clean, chances are, it’s going to be a challenge to hold the curls.

So, prime using texturizing or thickening products to make your hair receptive to curls. Curling creams, spray wax, and curl-setting spray are styling products that you should have for making curls.

Play dirty!

As mentioned, squeaky clean hair can’t build up curls. So, playing dirty is the way with this. Don’t wash your hair the day before curling. 

The reason is, that unwashed hair is easier to style due to the build-up of oil in your scalp. So, what more if you add some priming creams and curl spray? The result would be beautiful curls!

The flat iron is your friend!

Using a flat iron is one of the secret hacks to curling hair. Even heat distribution is the main reason why in theory flat irons are best for achieving a perfect curl.

With flat irons, every single bit or portion of your hair gets the same amount of heat – areas from top to bottom. This results in not only bouncier curls but also long-lasting curls.

Skip conditioning.

This is a biggie! Over conditioned hair is trickier to style – curl in particular.  Anyway, conditioners naturally wear down your hair making it difficult to curl.

With that said, skip the conditioner once in a while. If you can’t go on without it, use a lightweight amount for better curls and easy hair styling.

Let it cool.

Pin your finished curl so they can cool down properly. Letting your curls cool down gives the cuticle time to close and your curls to last longer.

In addition, cooling allows your hair to reach its curl potential instead of stretching your hair down which ruins the waves.

Wrapping Up

So, there you go!

Flat irons are great for curling hair. It distributes heat evenly on your hair resulting in tight curls that are said to last.

There are certain ways how you can set your curls to last such as the use of curling creams before picking up the flat iron or curling wand.

Flat irons are indeed a versatile tool for styling your hair. However, if you really want to achieve bouncy curls with flat irons, you must be ready to use the right technique.

Still, you should always use heat protectants before going anywhere near flat irons and other heat styling tools.

Speaking of which…

If you’re on the lookout for the best flat iron for curling, we’ve got a few good recommendations. Go ahead and check out our article!

Leah Williams

Leah Williams is the founder of Lucky Curl and has been in the hair care and styling industry for the last 15 years. Since then, she has developed incredible expertise and a deep understanding of how to treat and style the most difficult hair types and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the readers of Lucky Curl.

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