TIL overheard a salon owner say flat irons are for lazy stylists

I was at the beauty supply in Austin last week and heard a woman telling her friend that curling with a flat iron looks cheap compared to using a proper curling iron. She said it takes more time but the curls hold way longer and look more natural. Has anyone else run into this mindset from older stylists?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewross1mo ago

Wait, do they really think that makes a difference in how long the curls hold? I've been doing hair for about 15 years now and I see it both ways. Flat iron curls can look really polished if you use the right technique, like twisting the iron as you pull it through and letting the curl cool completely before touching it. But I've also seen people just clamp down and pull straight through, which gives you that weird kinked look that falls out after an hour. My experience is that curling irons give you a more consistent curl pattern with less room for messing up, but flat irons are way better for getting those beachy, undone waves that everyone wants right now.

charliew991mo ago

Nodding along with @matthewross on this one. I've had clients swear by flat iron curls for days, and others where it fell out on the way home. The trick is really in the heat setting though. I usually crank my flat iron up a bit higher than I would with a curling iron, and I never skip the heat protectant. If you're going for that beachy wave look, try a 1 inch flat iron and just twist as you pull down, then shake it out after it cools. That's been my go-to for a while now and it holds way better than just clamping and pulling straight through.