California Cosmetology Practice Exam

Curling irons primarily utilize heat to curl the hair. The process involves applying direct heat to the hair strands, which temporarily alters the hair’s structure, allowing it to take on a new shape or curl. This method is effective because hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which can become malleable when heated. As the hair cools after being curled, it retains the shape until it is exposed to water or significant humidity, at which point the hydrogen bonds in the hair can reform and potentially cause the curls to loosen.

While steam is sometimes used in styling tools, as in the case of steam rollers or other hair devices, standard curling irons typically do not utilize steam as their primary means for setting curls. Electrical stimulation is more common in tools designed for deep treatment or hair repair, not for shaping hair. Magnetic waves are a concept found in some advanced styling tools, but typical curling irons do not employ this technology; they rely mainly on heat generation.