7 Great Tips On How To Use a Curling Iron With Clamp

by Leah Williams | Updated: 11/08/2019

Wondering how to use a curling iron with clamp? Traditional curling wands come in two types, one with a built-in clamp and the clipless kind. Choosing which curling wand to get is a matter of personal preference but each product has its own pros and cons. Some love the idea of a curler with a built-in clamp while for others, it’s a deal-breaker.

The clamp is designed to hold the hair in place while styling it. This feature is perfect for individuals who are either new to hair styling or those who want to simplify the process of curling their hair. Most curling iron sets come with heat protectant gloves but if you don’t want to use such products then a curler with a clamp will be most helpful to you. Lucky folks with shiny, extra smooth hair fall in love with curling wands with a clamp because these tools make styling completely fuss-free every time.

A personal curler with a built-in clamp may look intimidating but it’s easier to use than you think!

In this article we will take you through how to use a curling iron with a clamp, our top tips for using a curling iron with a clamp and some our favorite curlers.

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron - 1.5 Inches

$59.99

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09/23/2021 04:09 am GMT

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use A Curling Iron with A Clamp

Step 1 – Prep the Hair

This is a really important step when it comes to achieving beautiful results with a curling iron. Wash your hair with a volumizing or frizz fighting shampoo and conditioner prior to curling.

Then use a blow dryer to completely dry the hair. A straight blow dried style is generally a good place to start prior to using a curling iron.

Grab your favorite heat protectant and ensure your hair is well-coated prior to styling.

Let the curling iron warm up a minute or so before styling. Those with fine hair will want to make sure you use the lowest heat setting.

Step 2 – Create Sections

Part your hair into the way either in the middle or in a side part — however you plan to wear it.

Then divide your hair into 2 to 3 sections. If you have thick hair, you might have to divide your hair into 3 to 5 big sections to make styling more manageable.

Step 3 – Twist & Hold

Start with a small section of hair, curling the hair around the barrel with the clip open. As you curl from the tips of the hair to the top of your head, clip the clamp near your roots.

This is a great method to avoid a clamp mark that can often happen when using a curling iron with a clamp.

Step 3 – Release & Style

Hold the curling iron in place for a few seconds and then release the clip, which will gently release the curl.

Repeat by continuing to curl your hair in sections until you’re done. Give your curls a shake, a brush, or a flip then set the curls in place with your favorite hair styling product and you’re done.

Tip! Don’t wait until you are seeing sign of dryness and use the right heat protective product.

7 Helpful Tips For Using a Curling Iron with a Clamp

Tip 1 – Work in Sections

This seems like a no-brainer but never skip this especially if you have thick hair! One of the reasons why most people favor clipless curlers over curling irons with a clamp is that the latter tend to produce unsightly creases and frizz. The creases make the curls that do not look natural, misshapen even.

The simplest, easiest way to address creases and create a curled look is to work the hair into smaller sections. The thicker the hair, the smaller the hair sections. If the hair section is too thick, the clamp won’t be able to hold the entire section, which could lead to pesky creases! To achieve the perfect curl, the hair section should fit the clamp perfectly; no ends should peek out of the clamp.

Tip 2 – Curling Thick Hair

How to use curling iron with clamp when your dry, thick hair can’t hold a curl? Try holding the curling iron vertically with the clamp facing forward. Clip a 2 inch section of your hair halfway up, twist the curling iron away from your face to get close to the roots then hold. Wait for a few seconds, release the hair section and then curl the same section again about an inch or two from the ends. 

The direction of the curler and re-curling the same hair section will help stretch the life of your curls! Don’t forget to give your curled tresses a spritz of strong hold hairspray to extend the longevity of the curls.

Tip 3 – Bouncy, Voluminous Curls

One of the best tips to try if your hair lacks volume or body: curl the hair sections in different directions. Alternating between inward and outward curls pumps up the volume especially in the mid-length sections of the hair. Also, curl close to the hair roots. Be sure to finish up with a spray of extra strong hold hair spray so the curls won’t fall flat.

Tip 4 – Undone Beachy Waves

I cannot get enough of beachy waves, they’re so flattering. Although beachy waves could be one of those passing trends, I feel that they are here to stay!

If you love relaxed curls as much as I do, try this trick:

Clamp a hair section halfway on the strand so the curls aren’t too high up. Then, twist the barrel in one direction, away from the face towards the back of the head. As you twist, leave more space in between the hair portions to create bigger curls. Don’t curl all the way to the ends to give your tresses a more un-done, lived-in look.

Also, curl for less time for even looser curls, about 75 to 7 seconds per hair section. Finish up with a spray of your favorite hairspray or a dollop of hair mousse to set the curls in place.

If you love relaxed curls as much as I do, try this trick:

Clamp a hair section halfway on the strand so the curls aren’t too high up. Then, twist the barrel in one direction, away from the face towards the back of the head. As you twist, leave more space in between the hair portions to create bigger curls. Don’t curl all the way to the ends to give your tresses a more un-done, lived-in look.

Also, curl for less time for even looser curls, about 75 to 7 seconds per hair section. Finish up with a spray of your favorite hairspray or a dollop of hair mousse to set the curls in place.

Tip 5 – Creating Defined, Tight Curls

If you love the look of tighter curls then I would search for a curler with 1) a smaller barrel with clamp and 2) the ability to reach high temperatures. The smaller barrel helps you create tight curls while the clamp sets the hair section in place for added definition. The high heat, of course, curls the hair efficiently, extending the life of your curls (around the 400-degree mark). You want to twist the curler all the way up to the base of the hair strands for added volume. Getting near the roots help address limpness so hair won’t deflate by the afternoon.

Rake your fingers through your freshly styled hair so the tight curls would look natural. This trick is perfect for thick, coarse hair that refuses to behave. Just be sure to apply a heat protectant product and be mindful of the curling time so you don’t end up burning your hair in the process. Finish up with your favorite hairspray for best results.

Tip 6 – Tilt the Curler at an Angle

The dreaded crimped curl is a common problem when styling the hair with curlers that come with a built-in clamp. Thankfully, it’s easy to avoid the unnatural crimp by simply holding the curler in the right angle. Tilt the curler to a slight angle as you twist the curler near the head to smooth the harsh creases. If you have long hair, you have to curl your tresses near the hair root to avoid the crimped look.

The general rule of thumb is, hold the curler horizontally for defined, bouncy curls and iron vertically for looser, beach waves. Holding the curler diagonally is best for pumping the volume at the hair roots. Finish up with hairspray or apply a volume-plumping mousse to preserve the life of the curls.

Tip 7 – Use a Heat Protectant Glove

This may seem like a simple (and obvious) step to take, but it is always recommended when using any hot styling tool to wear heat protectant gloves. Particularly when it comes to curling wands with clamps, this would be useful for hair that may get stuck. The gloves will give you more control over the styling products so you don’t end up scalding your head by accident!

Pros and Cons of a Curling Iron with Clamp

If you’re considering whether to buy a curling iron with or clamp or without, let’s look at the benefits and downsides of a curling iron with a clamp.

Pros

Fuss-Free Styling

If you want to make hair styling so much quicker in the morning then you will love a curling iron with a built-in clamp. It allows you to curl your hair with ease. There is no need to use hair clips to set your hair in place as you curl your hair because there is a giant clamp built right into the device. Convenient, right? 

Defined Curls

If you love defined curls then a curling iron with clamp is the best styling tool for you. The clamp changes the way you hold the device, allowing you to create tighter curls, not loose waves. 

User-Friendly

Hear me out! A curling iron with a built-in clamp may look intimidating but trust me, once you use a curling iron with a clamp, you will realise styling has never been easier. I feel that this curler is more user-friendly than a standard clip-less curler because you’re simply wrapping the hair around the barrel and then waiting for the curl to set. That’s it.

With a clip-less curler, you have to hold the hair in place as you curl your hair, which can be a burden for some. Also, you might end up burning your fingers or getting a crick in the neck because you are holding your hair every time you wrap the hair around the barrel.

Cons

Misshapen Curls

When used the wrong way, a curling iron with a built-in clamp could cause the dreaded crease. You have to refine your technique if you want to achieve the perfect curls. I highly suggest practicing with the wand turned off until you learn how to hold the curler properly. 

Bulky

The built-in clamp does add to the bulkiness of the curling iron, which is a bad thing if you want to take your hair curler with you while traveling. If you are after portability then a curler with a built-in clamp is definitely hard to lug around unless you have extra space in your luggage. 

Best Curling Irons with a Clamp

If you’re sold on the idea of a curling iron with a clamp, check out some of our favourite curlers below.

BIO IONIC Curl Expert Pro Curling Iron

• Bio Ceramic Barrel
• Natural Volcanic Rock Minerals Technology
• 5-Second Heat Technology
• Infrared Technology
• Moderate temperature of 250F to 430F maximum temperature

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Hot Tools Super Tool 2 Inch Professional Curling Iron

$47.50

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09/23/2021 04:10 am GMT

T3 Micro SinglePass Curl 1.25 Inch Professional Curling Iron

$149.00

• T3 Custom Blend Ceramic barrel
• SmartTwist Dial
• SinglePass Technology

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09/23/2021 04:04 am GMT

Wrap Up

We hope this guide that helped give you a better idea on how to use a curling iron with a clamp.

The clamp takes a while to get used to but it makes styling in the morning so much easier and more convenient. If you are new to hair curling, start practicing before a major social event. Most brands have step by step video tutorials online. Once you have the proper technique down pat, you could play with the clamp and experiment with different hairstyles!

Other Curling Irons with Clamp

About the Author

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.