As for that “no-kink” clamp, I realized it was because of how I was clamping my hair. Thanks to yet another TikTok tutorial, I learned that you’re supposed to clamp it around the curve of the hair in the direction you’re curling your hair. Whenever I’m cognizant of how I’m clamping it, I never experience any creases.
Type Cast
As with any hair tool, it’s important to talk about my specific hair type. I have a mix of wavy, naturally curly hair that has a coarse feel to it. It typically requires a lot of heat, not only to reduce frizziness and puffiness but for the curls to hold. If your hair texture is similar to mine, I recommend going over it with a flat iron before curling it. It helps make for smoother curls and keeps the volume at a minimum (I’m not trying to achieve that ’80s big hair look).
I’ve only ever used the B1 on the highest heat setting (410 degrees). It holds the curl super well, but it loosens as time goes on—which I prefer. If you want to keep the tighter curl throughout the day, for a more dramatic look, I suggest using hairspray after curling each strand and then also after you’re done. Although 410 degrees is certainly hot, it might not be enough heat, depending on how thick or coarse your hair is. I would prefer the ability to make it slightly hotter for more defined curls.
I’d also recommend applying a heat protectant to your hair before going in with the curling iron. Since I’ve been using the Dyson Airstrait for almost a year now (which doesn’t have heat plates), my hair isn’t used to that much direct heat. Sometimes, a burnt-hair smell reminds me that I need a barrier to protect it from heat damage. It’s become less strong the more I use the B1 (eight months in, and it’s barely noticeable now), however, it’s still slightly there. I have yet to find a heat protectant that doesn’t leave my hair feeling greasy and sticky, but this has expedited my search.
When I first started using the B1 curling iron last summer, I had just cut several inches off my hair, bringing it to just above my shoulders. The 1-inch barrel size was perfect for that length because I had shorter hair, which took less time to style. But my hair has grown past my boobs since then, and using such a thin barrel takes forever to get through my now longer hair. I’ll usually block out 30 minutes to get through all of it.
If your hair is on the longer side, and you simply don’t have that much time for curling it each day, I would recommend opting for the bigger barrel, which is the 1.25 version. It likely won’t give you those tighter, corkscrew curls that you’d get with the smaller barrel, but you’ll be able to curl larger chunks of hair, which will reduce the amount of time it takes to curl your entire head. I’ve attempted to do this with the 1-inch barrel (multiple times) when I’ve been in a rush, and it leaves my hair looking messy and uneven.