Thermal curling irons and curling iron stoves are important tools in the beauty arsenal of almost every woman. Whether your hair is long or short, stick straight or naturally curly, you probably rely on a curling iron from time to time. These versatile tools can help you create everything from luxurious, full-bodied waves to tight, sexy ringlets, and they’re more portable and easier to use than hot rollers. But when it comes to choosing a thermal curling iron, how do you choose from among the many styles and sizes on the market? Barrel size is perhaps the single most important consideration you should keep in mind when selecting a new curling iron. Which barrel size is right for you? The answer lies in what you hope to accomplish with your curling iron.

There are nearly as many curling irons as there are hair types. They range in size from as small as 3/8 of an inch in diameter to an enormous 2-inch barrel, and with so many options, making a choice can be intimidating. Begin by examining your hair itself. What type of hair do you have? Is it very short, very long or somewhere in between? Is your hair thin and delicate or thick and coarse? What kind of texture does your hair have? A good rule of thumb is to make sure that your hair can wrap around the barrel of your curling iron at least one and a half times. This means that women with short bobs or pixie cuts should go for curling irons with smaller barrels, rather than a large 1 1/2 to 2” barrel. If your hair is very long or extremely thick, you should choose a larger barrel size, since an iron with a very small barrel will create smaller curls that your hair is unlikely to hold.

While your hair type is important, the most crucial factor to consider when choosing a curling iron barrel size is the type of curls you want to achieve. Essentially, the smaller the barrel size, the tighter the curls it will create. Anything under 1” in diameter will produce charming ringlets and tendrils; again, this may not be the best choice if your hair is too long, thick or heavy to hold such a tight curl. Thermal curling irons with barrels around 1 to 1 1/4” in diameter are ideal for medium to long hair, and will enable you to produce standard-sized curls. This is a great all-purpose size to begin with if you’re not entirely sure which size to select. Thermal curling irons with barrels that are 1 1/2” in diameter and up are perfect for smoothing out frizz, flipping ends under, and creating waves and texture in very long hair.

In order to choose the curling iron that will work best for you, decide what kind of curls you’re after and go from there. If you’re unsure, begin with a basic 1” barrel that will work for most hair types. Alternately, you may want to purchase more than one curling iron, depending on your needs. The great thing about Golden Supreme curling irons is through this site, you can purchase a unique combination of ten different sizes for one low price. They all come together in one convenient case. This broad array of sizes can create virtually any size or combination of curls you could ever want! Remember, each barrel size produces different types of curls, so if you want to create a variety of styles, you’ll need a variety!