11 Best Curling Irons and Curling Wands of 2024

Table Of Content

• How do you find the best curling wand for your hair?
• The 20 Best Curling Wands of 2024
• conair Unbound cordless auto hair curler
• Best Budget Pick: Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
• Beachwaver Co. Rotating Curling Iron
• The 9 Best Curling Irons That Make Styling Short Hair a Breeze
• Most Versatile Curling Iron: Drybar The Mixologist Interchangeable Styling Iron

If you’re not familiar with the tech behind it, it does things a little differently. It uses an integrated mini water tank to steam hair which promises to cause less damage than conventional tools. We found with a little practice you can create voluminous ringlets using larger sections of hair spread out across the barrel, as well as brushed waves for a more relaxed look. You can expect them to last too as our tester’s curls looked just as fresh the next day.

How do you find the best curling wand for your hair?

When connected to power, the wand heats up and the hair wound around it gets curled. A hair straightener, on the other hand, is a hairstyling tool designed to remove any curls and waves from the hair. If you have thick hair, then it is a good idea to brush it to remove any knots before using the machine. Women with thick, frizzy, or curly hair are also advised to partition their hair in sections before putting them into the hair chamber.

The 20 Best Curling Wands of 2024

When asked which tools they consider to be the best of the best, Courtney told us, “my go-to irons are the tried and true, OG, ‘Hot Tool’s‘ curling irons for clamp irons”. She added that her “wand go-to is the ‘Chameleon 5 barrel interchangeable curling kit’ from Amika”, telling us “it’s perfect for all different hair lengths/densities”. To create long-lasting, frizz-free bouncy curls, all you have to do is clip the end in place and press for it to rotate and wrap the hair around the wand. It’s faff-free, so ideal for beginners, but professionals will love its speediness. We like to set in place with a spritz of hairspray for more glamorous Old-Hollywood waves that last all day or brush-through for more beachy vibes that last until wash day. It heats up in just 30 seconds, even though it’s a larger barrel and it has a variable temperature control – making it a good choice for fragile strands that need the heat dialled down too.

The 10 Best Curling Irons for Bouncy Waves and Curls - The Cut

The 10 Best Curling Irons for Bouncy Waves and Curls.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

conair Unbound cordless auto hair curler

Reviewers unanimously love this easy to use curler for giving them perfect curls every time. If you’re looking to create a variety of curls, this tool that comes with three different-sized barrels is perfect for you. Two of the barrels are actually clamp-less wands, and the one-and-a-half-inch barrel has a clamp that’s easy to use. The smallest barrel creates tight curls, the medium one creates looser but still-defined curls, and the largest barrel creates loose waves.

For curls that look natural (not cookie-cutter uniform), the unique taper on this wand is reversed for curls that bell out at the bottom and are tighter at the top. This one was the quickest to heat up in Lab tests (from 0 to 435ºF in 60 seconds, flat) and it nabbed the best expert score for having easy to use controls, a clear, bright display and being easy to maneuver. Whether your hair is thick or fine, get perfect curls with one of these expert picks.

She has stubbornly straight hair that refuses to hold a curl without aggressive amounts of product, but has found success in using tools from Dyson, Sarah Potempa, and Conair. For this piece, she carefully sifted through the research performed by the InStyle testing team who rigorously tested multiple curling irons to narrow it down to the best devices. She also tapped three stylists — ARKIVE Headcare founder Adam Reed, Vennela Chamarti at Blandi on 5th, and Alwyn DiGregorio — who shared their insights into curling irons and how to get the best curl out of your hot tool. We had almost given up, accepting that our hair would always just slide out of the clamp looking like a wet noodle. Though it’s pretty budget friendly, it comes with pricier features, including three detachable barrels in different sizes, an LED temperature screen, and accessories, like a protective glove, hair clips, and storage bag.

No longer do curlers come in one shape or size to fit all – there are endless choices on the virtual hair tool aisles depending on what kind of kink, coil or curl you’re after. And keeping one on stand-by will ensure you always have a commitment-free way of changing up your style. Suitable for all hair types, this vegan formula focusses on texture, delivering the big volume and body of old school stiff options, but with the lightweight invisible finish we look for today. This flexible hairspray from Living Proof is ideal for days when you're doing multiple styles. It can be used on damp or dry hair and will keep the shape of whatever look you're going for (updos, beachy waves, you name it), but isn't so stiff or strong that you can't switch things up without having to wash your hair first.

The 9 Best Curling Irons That Make Styling Short Hair a Breeze

While natural volume can be the cause of some serious hair envy, styling can be time consuming and arduous, even at a shorter length. The bendable barrel stretches to a 90-degree angle, allowing easy access at the back of your head. This wand ensures you will never get stuck noticing a stray straight piece after you left the house ever again. This does have a higher heat range than many on the list, so definitely don't skip a heat protectant. And I don’t have to worry about accidentally disturbing them before they cool down like with traditional irons."

Most Versatile Curling Iron: Drybar The Mixologist Interchangeable Styling Iron

Don’t worry automatic curlers have built-in anti-tangle features making them even safer to use than curling wands. Automatic hair curlers work by sucking in a section of hair into a chamber. The 32mm deep barrel works to create deep waves that will stay intact all day, and the adjustable heat settings speak to Courtney’s love of temperature control.

And it works in an hour or two, which is also a plus (limiting the amount of time your hair has to spend tightly wound up). Made with a titanium barrel, this curling iron releases negative ions that penetrate the hair, nourishing it from the inside out. These negative ions also seal hair follicles and lock in moisture, ultimately taming and lessening frizz. Aside from the fact that it dramatically reduces static and frizz, we also love that the iron has a handful of great features that make it ideal for anyone to use, from beginners to pros.

Sure, heatless curling hacks on TikTok are entertaining and fun to experiment with, but nothing will help you achieve the perfect curl every time like a really great curling iron. Be it loose waves or tight ringlets that you’re after, there’s a curling iron out there that will help you master the look. The best options are made with high-quality materials, feature ergonomic designs, have multiple heat settings, and are easy to use, but finding one that ticks all of these boxes while giving you the results you crave isn’t easy. All were tested on freshly washed strands, protected with the same all-important heat protection spray. To make this winning line-up, the hair curler had to create long-lasting salon-worthy professional curls.

The basic rule to follow is that the larger the barrel, the more waves you can create, the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl. If you are going for a soft or loose curl, then using a 2-inch barrel would work best. If you want to add more defined curls, then make sure to pick a 1 to a 1.5-inch wand. All girl bosses have a hectic life, and looking good while on the run is a challenge we all want to master.

She said the clamp felt “just right” and shared that she especially loved that it didn’t tug or pull at her hair as it rotated. She also appreciated that it heated up relatively quickly and that the directions provided were really helpful in guiding her on how to use the iron and all its bells and whistles. The only downside is that it turns at one speed, which can be too fast for some. To avoid burning yourself, try practicing the motion on the lowest heat setting to get the hang of it. Some curling irons may have additional perks to consider, especially when it comes to safety features. For instance, most curling irons have kickstands that ensure the iron isn’t in direct contact with your counter (or any other surface) to prevent scorch marks.

“365 degrees is the most respectful temperature to any hair type,” he says. If we could change one thing about this nearly perfect curling iron, it would be the awkward button placement. If you’ve ever experienced the phenomenon of never achieving the same result twice with a curling iron, this tool should be on your radar — especially at such a wallet-friendly price.

We were impressed with how natural the curls looked – the styler automatically alternates the curl direction each time a section of hair is drawn into the chamber to achieve this. It has two heat settings of 210C and 230C and 3 timer settings for different curl effects. Other features we rate include the heat ready indicator and 20min sleep mode function. Plus, you can customize the heat settings – there are four different settings that range from 300 to 400 degrees – as well as the amount of time you want your hair to curl.