Nevada State Board of Cosmetology Practice Exam

Which is NOT a function of a curling iron?

1. To create curls

2. To straighten hair

3. To add volume to hair

4. To dry wet hair

The correct answer is: To dry wet hair

A curling iron is primarily designed to create curls and waves in the hair. Its function revolves around using heat to alter the hair's shape, allowing it to hold various styles that are defined by curls. When it comes to straightening hair, while it's possible to achieve a straightened look with a curling iron by using specific techniques, it is not its primary function, hence categorizing it as something the curling iron can do but is not designed specifically for. Similarly, adding volume can be a byproduct of creating curls, as curls can lift sections of hair, providing body and fullness. However, this again is not the main purpose of a curling iron but rather a secondary effect of the styling process involved. On the other hand, drying wet hair is not a function of a curling iron. Curling irons are not equipped to handle moisture as their primary mechanism is to apply direct heat to alter and style hair that's already dry. Thus, they cannot effectively dry hair, which is instead the function of a blow dryer or similar tool designed for drying hair. This distinguishes drying as something outside the realm of what a curling iron is intended to do, making it the correct choice in this context.