Long Lasting Curls: A Hair Curling Tutorial and ISO Hair Wand Review

Product Sent for Review

A few days ago, when I posted about how I do my eyebrows, PinkPirate asked how I had curled my hair. I've had pictures taken for a review and tutorial for a while, I just needed to finally get going and put the post together!

There are two ways that I curl my hair. The first is detailed in my Easy Beachy Curls Tutorial. I prep my hair, curl it all over with my BeachWaver. I love the BeachWaver because I can adjust the temperature and the auto-curl button is very easy. The BeachWaver waves last for days and need minimal touch up. But, the curls can be a bit too tight (I wish the barrel was about 1/2 inch bigger), so they look best as next day hair. In addition, due to the size of the curls, I can't really use the BeachWaver for touchup. I need a bigger curl for the look I want.

Recently, the nice people from ISO Beauty sent me their 5 Piece Curling Iron Set to review. Since it arrived at my house, I've been in love with this product! It's basically a clipless curling iron, execept that it has 5 different wands to use with it! I've been using the wand for curling all over my head and for occasional touch ups.

The curling wand set comes with 5 different interchangeable wands, which I love! They are Tourmaline and once changed out on the barrel they feel very stable, not like it was added on. I love the option of changing to a different size, definitely a space and time saver.

Sizes included:
32 mm
25 mm
19 mm
18-25 mm
9-18 mm


In order to change out the wand, you need to press the buttons on the top and bottom at the same time and pull. It's not hard, but it isn't exactly easy either. I haven't tried this when the wand is hot, but it's hard enough when it is cool that I really wouldn't recommend doing it until everything has cooled off. So, pick a size for the day and stick with it! I've mostly been using the 32 mm and 25 mm sizes.

The controls are very easy to use. Turn it on, adjust the temp as needed. I'm usually about 400 degrees.

Here's a quick peek at the products I use for long lasting curls. I've been really loving the hold from about an egg size amount of Italy Hair Fashion's mousse. I also add in a few sprays of the L'Oreal Color Vibrancy Dual Protect Spray (adds shine and heat protection).

After I'm done curling, a little spritz of Elnett is all I need. (And yes, somehow that little bit of Elnett does make a big difference, without it my hair is straight faster.) This is my current favorite trio of products, whether I'm using my BeachWaver or the clipless curling iron.

So, it is really easy to use the curling wand. I hold it upside down, just grab some hair, curl it around and hold for about 10 seconds or so, then release. You have a lot of control over the curls since you're the one wrapping your hair and you pick which rod to use (I think this is the 32 mm size pictured). I generally like bigger curls, hence the larger rods and bigger chunks of hair. Make sure you wear the heat protection glove!

In these pictures, on the left I have 1 day old hair that was curled with the BeachWaver and the front parts were touched up with the clipless curling iron (really, those are the main curls that you see, they are from the 25 mm rod). On the right I've done more random sections with the 32 mm rod, so things are a bit more natural and casual.



ISO Beauty
Product Sent for Review