Hubert de Givenchy famously mused that a “hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself“.

Whether or not you believe in that philosophy, your hair speaks volumes about you. If you’re not happy with what yours is saying, then spring is the perfect time for a change. But before you sprint off to the salon, remember you don’t need to take drastic measures to try out a new look. The market is awash with products to help you achieve beautiful hairstyles at home, and your first purchase should be a decent pair of hair straighteners.

Photo courtesy of Christina Parasii.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that straighteners mean straight. Think again. While straighteners are perfect for taming flyaway locks and achieving a sleek, straight finish, they can also be used to add big curls, soft waves and tousled tresses. Quicker and easier to use than curling tongs, and less cumbersome than traditional rollers, using straighteners to curl your hair might seem like a bit of an oxymoron, but it’s easy once you know how.

How To:

Invest in a good set of straightening irons, like Remington hair straighteners and a good quality heat protector spray. Before you use straighteners, it’s important to protect your hair from the stresses of heat – the same applies for blow-drying. Apply a liberal coat of heat protector spray to damp hair before combing and blow-drying.

1. Once your hair is dry, part your hair, pinning or tying the top half up, and leaving the bottom half loose.
2. Next, take a section of the hair, roughly one inch, and instead of drawing the straighteners through the hair as you would to straighten it, apply the straighteners to the root and twist them round as you would curling tongs, and then draw them through the hair.
3. Repeat the process, gradually unpinning and curling each section.

The key to curling your hair with straighteners is the angle; for tight curls, hold them the plates at 180° to the direction of the hair, but for looser curls, use a smaller angle.

If you can’t get it down first time, take a look at a video tutorial, or ask your stylist to show you how it’s done next time you visit the salon.

Once you’ve mastered the art of using straighteners to curl your hair, experiment with different styles; soft curls and tousled waves are perfect for spring and perfect for testing out your new straighteners.

Second and third photo from thinkstockphotos.co.uk