Are Wide Straighteners Better for Curling Hair?

By Leah Williams •  Updated: 05/21/22

Quick Answer: Yes, wide straighteners can be an excellent beauty tool for curling hair!

It’s convenient to own a versatile styling tool, isn’t it?

A fine example would be the wide plated hair straightener that can also be used for curling hair!

Straightening irons are great for styling different hair types. It’s definitely a must-have for women out there looking to achieve a fabulous hairstyle.

It is, most especially, a fantastic investment for you if you are blessed with thicker hair, or you got a straight hair that needs a quick run-through to achieve the texture that you like.

In this article, Lucky Curl will answer the question – are wide straighteners better for curling hair? Also, we’ll show you briefly how the wide hair straightener is used on your hair with minimal heat damage.

So, keep reading until the end!

Why wider straighteners are better for curling hair

The wider the plate, the softer the curls...

First off, straighteners aren’t one-size-fits-all. Plate size matters and the right one depends on hair texture and styling goals.

Even though wide straighteners are bulkier, they’re becoming more popular because they offer benefits to certain hair types and styles. They’re definitely great for curling your hair too!

This type of hair straightener is ideal for coarse and very thick hair. They get quite a good grip on thick hair and will do the job better compared to the very thin plated straightener or regular curling iron.

With that said, if you’re after very tight ringlets, a thinly plated straightener is suitable for you. On the other hand, if you want a subtle wave, then you should go for wider straightener plates.

In addition, the wider hair straightener is also great for curly hair that’s hard to straighten and also for short and fine hair.

So, keep in mind your hair type and texture before deciding which straightener will work best in curling your hair.

How to Curl Your Hair Using a Wide Hair Straightener

It may not sound that exciting for some as curling hair using straighteners is not a new idea. However, it is vital to learn how to use the wide straightener properly to achieve beautiful and tighter curls. And it takes a lot of practice to perfect the curls!

So, here’s how to use the wide hair straightener:

Choose Your Straightener.

Use hair straighteners with wider plates for softer and looser curls. As mentioned, the very thin plated straightener is excellent for very tight ringlets, while the wider straightener is suitable for a subtle wave.

It is important to choose a wide straightener with excellent temperature for the best curling results. You don’t want it too hot or too cool! As a general consensus, you should go for 185 degrees Celsius optimal, just to be safe.

Hold it right!

There are ways to hold the straightener properly when curling or straightening hair. Holding it right is vital to achieving beautiful curls and preventing heat damage.

If you’re curling your hair, hold the straightener at a slanted downward angle for the base end to face the ceiling in front of you. On the contrary, hold the straightener horizontally in the direction of your hair and pull downwards if you’re trying to do straight hair.

Important: Do not start from the end and curl up!

Section your hair.

Divide your hair into inch-wide sections. Position the straightener at the above angle with the section between the plates.

Turn the styler up to 180 degrees Celsius and apply light pressure while pushing down through your hair. You should alternate the direction for voluminous curls.

Set the curl.

Use some hair spray to set the curl. Brush through your hair using a soft bristle brush or a wide-tooth comb.

The spray helps the curl last while brushing can create a more natural finish. Bear in mind, that you must let your hair cool down before brushing and dressing out.

In Conclusion

There are different techniques for curling your hair – the use of wide hair straighteners is one of them!

Keep in mind to use the right tools for curling hair. As you already know, wide hair straighteners are excellent for curling hair.

It is important to choose the right hair straightener plate size based on your hair texture and hair type to achieve beautiful voluminous curls that are set to last.

As a rule of thumb, always use a heat protectant before exposing your hair to heating tools such as flat irons and hair straighteners.

There’s really no perfect beauty tool for straightening or curling hair as most heat styling tools are damaging to your hair, in general. However, there are ways to minimize hair damage such as choosing to use the best styling tool for your locks!

If you’re curious to know what’s the best flat iron for curling hair, check out our articles!

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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