Brush curls or iron curls: the real difference

In a photo, two heads of curls can look alike. Up close, and especially a few hours later, the difference is obvious.

A brush curl is soft and alive, it opens gently with the day. An iron curl is drawn, even, and it lasts. Choosing is first of all knowing what you expect from your hair at the end of the evening.

Two ways of making a curl

Both finishes start with a proper blow-dry: detangling, sections, working strand by strand. What differs is what comes next.

With a brush: the curl is born during drying

For brush curls, each strand is wrapped around the round brush and heated with the hairdryer, from root to tip. It cools while still wrapped, then it is released into a curl and loosened by hand.

No iron is involved: the shape is given by the brush, the heat of the air and the cooling.

With an iron: the blow-dry first, the curl after

For iron curls, a voluminous blow-dry comes first: the root is lifted, the hair worked with the round brush.

Once the hair is dry and shaped, the curls are worked with the iron, strand by strand, and cool in their shape before being released.

Both curled finishes take a little longer than the others, since they add shaping work to the blow-dry itself.

The finish: softness or definition

A brush curl is wide, round and irregular like a well-groomed natural wave. It catches the light on its curves and keeps a brushed quality, very elegant.

It is the finish for those who want curls that do not look obviously "done".

An iron curl is sharper. Each spiral has an outline, the volume is more pronounced at the root thanks to the initial blow-dry, and the whole has something crafted about it. It is the most constructed finish on the menu.

A brush curl comes undone with grace, an iron curl keeps its promise until the end of the night.

The hold: what happens after a few hours

It is often the deciding factor.

• With a brush, the curl loosens over the course of the day and becomes a soft wave by evening. Many prefer it that way, but you should know before booking.
• With an iron, the curl relaxes too, but it keeps its definition far longer, including on hair that does not hold shape on its own.

Humidity speeds up both movements. A journey in the rain or an overheated room will open a brush curl faster.

For the night that follows, our tips to make your blow-dry last the night apply very well to curls: a loose bun, silk, clips.

Which hair for which curl?

The nature of the hair matters as much as the effect you are after.

Straight hair that holds nothing

This is hair that falls straight whatever you do. A brush curl is likely to fade quickly. An iron suits it better: direct heat marks the fibre more, and the curl holds.

Wavy or thick hair

It holds movement naturally. The brush is often enough to give it beautiful curls, which will last longer than on straight hair. The iron remains possible when you want a very defined finish.

Fine hair

A brush curl gives it movement without weighing it down. An iron, preceded by its voluminous blow-dry, brings both height and curls, which makes it a good option for an occasion.

Length

You need some substance to wrap a strand around a round brush. Curls express themselves best from mid-length and long hair, and reach their full amplitude on extra-long hair.

And the heat?

It is often what makes people hesitate. A brush curl uses only the hot air of the hairdryer, always in motion: it is the curled finish to choose if you would rather avoid any direct contact with a hot plate.

An iron heats the strand by contact. Used occasionally, on dry, clean hair, there is nothing to worry about. What wears the fibre is daily repetition at high temperature.

If you curl your hair with an iron at home several times a week, a heat protector remains essential.

Choosing according to the occasion

A simple rule helps you decide: look at the time at which you want to look your best.

• A day, a lunch, an appointment: the brush. It is beautiful from the start and becomes more and more natural.
• A long evening, a wedding, a photo at the end of the day: the iron. It holds its shape when you dance and as the hours go by. We go into this choice in our article on the blow-dry for an evening, a gala or New Year's Eve.
• A desire for retro style: both work. Brushed curls were seen on the autumn-winter 2026-2027 runways, and iron waves are among the season's trends, as explained in the article on retro and glamorous curls.

Booking your curl

On the booking page, you choose your length using three markers (the nape, the shoulders, the bottom of the ribs), then the finish: brush curls or iron curls, and a free slot.

No online payment and no deposit: everything is settled on the day.

On the day of your appointment, come with clean hair, without oil, serum or styling product. The only effort of the day: sitting down.

In the mood for soft, natural curls? Book your brush curls. Need them to hold until the end of the night? Book your iron curls.