Curling Iron VS. Straightener

How to choose the right tool for your curl style goals?

When it comes to curling wands vs straighteners, it’s hard to know which tool to choose. We all know straighteners can curl, but can they match the perfectly rounded ringlets of a curling tong? What are curling tongs!? Hands up if you have no idea where to start! Don’t worry; we’re here to show you which tool is best for achieving your favourite waves, curls and coils. 

Curling Irons or Straightners For Waves? What’s the difference?

Curling wands are designed to create curls, so naturally are excellent at doing so, but there’s certain limitations with the types of curls you can create depending on the shape of your hair tong and the barrel size. A larger barrel will produce loose curls and waves, while a small one will produce tighter ringlets. The biggest benefit of a tong is it makes curling your hair almost foolproof.

A hair straightener is traditionally used to iron hair straight, but it’s secretly an all-in-one tool that can be used to curl hair, too. The downside is it can be difficult to get small, tight curls due to the larger size, and you have to be careful with the high heat. There’s a bit of a knack to getting it right, too. But on the plus side, you don’t need to invest in multiple tools to create dreamy styles. 

If you want to upgrade your heat styling collection, shop the best hair styling tools in Australia and get flawless locks every time.

Curling Iron vs Straightners: Which One to Use for Which Styles

1. Undone waves

This effortlessly chic look is all about creating beautiful wavy ripples through your hair to add a touch of playfulness to your style that will last all day. This on-trend dishevelled look is best achieved with a hair tong featuring an oval barrel to create natural-looking waves with ease. 

Best tool: The best hair curler for the job is the Cool Curl Brilliance. To create gorgeous loose waves with this curling iron, simply follow these steps:

1. Start with clean, dry hair and apply a heat protector. Brush it through.
2. Separate your hair into three sections.
3. Take a section around 2-3cm and wrap the hair around the barrel. Hold for 10 seconds. Tip: If you want looser waves, take a larger section, or for a tighter curl, take a smaller section.
4. Repeat until all the hair is wavy. 
5. Finally, run your fingers through your hair to style. For really loose waves, you can brush your hair out. Watch a step-by-step tutorial here.

2. Bouncy curls 

The term ‘straightener’ is a bit misleading as, in fact, this trusty styler is an excellent multitasker. That’s right; you can create dreamy curls or poker-straight locks with the very same tool. Straighteners are especially good at producing big bombshell curls though they’re a little trickier to master, but, thanks to the higher heat, the curls often hold for longer, so it’s well worth a try. Practice makes perfect!  

Best tool: We recommend the Straight & Curl Brilliance, especially if you’re new to straightener curls. This dual function styler features a unique heated contoured shape to create flawless waves, curls and straight tresses. To curl your hair with the this styler, follow these steps:

1. Start with clean, dry hair and apply a heat protector. Brush through.
2. Separate your hair into three sections. 
3. Place the straightener over your hair a couple of centimetres from the roots and twist all the way around once, then pull slowly down the strand and release.
4. Repeat until all sections are curled.
5. Wait for your hair to cool, then run your fingers through to soften and style. You can watch a video tutorial here.

If curling your hair with a straightener seems too much like hard work, then look no further than the Unbound Cordless Auto Curler! This innovative tool takes the guesswork out of creating perfect curls time after time. Simply place a strand of hair into the curl chamber and let the cordless styler do the rest. The higher the heat, the tighter the curl - it’s the easiest way to achieve gorgeous curls and waves, every time. 

3. Beach waves

Bring back the summer vibes with this massively on-trend look. The key to a good beach wave is to look like you haven’t tried, despite the amount of effort you’ve actually put in! The result is an I-just-left-the-beach tousled look that flatters every face shape and hair type. 

Best tool: If you’re struggling to choose between a curling iron or straightener for waves, we recommend the 38mm Ceramic Curler. Using a curling tong is the easiest way to achieve a few beachy waves, and using a large barrel will create voluminous loose curls perfect for this style. Follow these steps to create gorgeous beachy waves at home:

1. Apply a heat protector and brush through.
2. Take a section from your temple on one side to your temple on the other, then twist and clip. 
3. Next, repeat by taking a section from either ear and clip at the back. 
4. Now with the hair left down, begin curling. Take a section starting 3cm from the head and wrap it around the barrel. Hold in place for 5-10 seconds before releasing. 
5. Repeat until all sections are curled.
6. Leave the hair to cool, then gently run your fingers through to tease into waves. If you have short hair, try following the same steps with our 25mm Ceramic Curler instead. You can watch a tutorial on creating beach waves here.

4. Hollywood waves

You know those sultry retro waves made famous by fictional sexpot Jessica Rabbit? Well, the style is timeless and worth every bit of effort for a red carpet-worthy look no matter what your plans. Radiate old Hollywood style with this sleek rippled ‘do using a curling tong.

Best tool: The Frizz Defense 32mm Salon Curler is an ideal curling tong for the job. The thick barrel helps create the perfect size loose curls needed for teasing into a glamourous wave. Follow these easy steps to find out how: 

1. Start with clean, dry hair and apply a heat protector. Comb through.
2. Separate the hair into three sections: temple to temple, ear to ear, and the remaining hair left down.
3. Place the curler around 3-4cm from the roots and wrap the hair around. You’ll want to work with approximately 3cm thick strands. Hold for 5-10 seconds, depending on your hair type.
4. Repeat until the first section is curled, then spritz with a little hair spray and repeat with the second and third sections. Ensure you curl all hair in the same direction.
5. Use a wide-toothed comb to brush out your hair and tease the curls into crested waves. 

5. Short hair curls

With a teensy bit of practice, you can have soft, beautiful curls no matter what your hair length. And using a straightener is a great way to get a light curl or wave to hold, so you can enjoy a textured ‘do all day long. 

Best tool: You can’t go wrong with the Digital Sensor Straightener for flawless waves on shorter locks. Designed to guard against excessive heat, this clever tool tames frizz and locks in shine for a salon-worthy finish. To add curls to your hair, follow these steps:

1. Start with clean, dry hair and apply a heat protectant. Brush through.
2. Separate your hair into three sections: temple to temple, ear to ear, and the remaining hair left down.
3. Take the first section of hair, grabbing a strand closest to your face, and clamp the straightener over it. Twist away from your face once and pull gently down until the hair is released. 
4. Repeat with the next strand, but this time twist towards your face. Keep alternating like this until you have curled each section.
5. Allow your curls to cool, then run your fingers through your hair to style. Finish with a spritz of hairspray to hold.

Watch here as @ozbeautyexpert shows you how!

Love your style, from the VS Sassoon team.  X