The 10 Best Curling Wands of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Table Of Content

• Best Multi-Barrel Curling Iron: Hot Tools Pro Artist Gold 3-Barrel Hair Waver
• Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Gold Curl Marcel Curling Iron
• Best Overall: Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Marcel Curling Iron
• Best for a Silky Smooth Finish: T3 SinglePass Curl Professional Ceramic Curling Iron
• Best For Textured Waves

After compiling and evaluating all the testing data, we ranked each curling iron, and the highest scoring tools are featured on this list. Everyone needs a lineup of great hair tools, regardless of hair type, texture, length, or color. The universe of hair tools has expanded in the last several years beyond the usual suspects like the hairbrush, blow dryer, curling iron, and straightener, and some of these new additions are game changers for your hair routine. Whatever you’re looking to add to your hair tool kit, we’ve rounded up the best of the best, from hot tools to brushes to heatless curl kits, so you’ll have everything you need for the perfect styling job at your fingertips. Plus, we consulted with celebrity hairstylist Joseph Maine and Nelson Solivan, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, to share their expert picks as well. If you’ve got thin or fine hair, you’ll want an iron with low heat settings so as to not burn your hair.

Best Multi-Barrel Curling Iron: Hot Tools Pro Artist Gold 3-Barrel Hair Waver

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]

But if that won’t quite cut it, you can also choose from options with additional rollers. As for which size roller to use, the stylist recommends getting a set with different ones so you can find the right shape for your length and desired style. “Larger rollers will create less volume, while smaller will create more volume,” he says. I love to shop, and I'm obsessed with finding the highest-quality item at the best price. I want my products sustainably made with fair labor practices, and built to last, so I don't have to replace them every two years. That’s why it’s important to never use a curling iron in the bath or near water.

Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Gold Curl Marcel Curling Iron

We tried three different sized barrels — 0.75-inch, 1.25-inch, and 1.5-inch —  and we found that each one delivered on their styling promises (beachy waves for larger sizes, tighter curls for smaller). Not only did our curls look great immediately after styling, but they also held their shape for the rest of the day, and even sometimes the next morning. Parker says a wand creates “more beachy” waves than the defined look you’ll get with a curling iron. Marquette, an expert in hairstyles across the decades, says contemporary hairstyles are “more carefree and undone”—a style curling wands are known to achieve.

Best Overall: Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Marcel Curling Iron

Although the Shark looked intimidating, we got the hang of it quickly and were styling our hair like pros within minutes. While the tool does heat up, it never reached a temperature that scorched our hair or scalp, instead producing a lasting curl that required few, if any, touch-ups. We were never able to master a tight ringlet; we’d compare our final look as model off-duty beach waves, which is perfectly fine by us. Angela has fine but dense hair that’s somewhat porous because she highlights it. When the iron is hot, do not touch the barrel with your hand and avoid touching your scalp or face. Ensure that the heated part does not touch any surface when the iron is on and hot.

We curled our almost waist-length strands in one go, never needing to go over the same section twice. We just kept wrapping our hair around the barrel until we reached the end. We bet even those with shorter hair will find the barrel length helpful to grab the hard-to-reach pieces in the back.

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System

Automatic curling irons are relatively user-friendly (but read the instructions, no matter what!) and have small springboard clamps that wrap the hair for you. Then, there's the Marcel iron, which Santiago says is mostly for professionals as it has a manual handle that's not as user-friendly to the masses. It may seem that curling irons are all created relatively equal, but depending on what style you’re after, your hair type, skill level, and budget, they can vary wildly.

The 17 Best Curling Irons, According to Celebrity Hairstylists and Vogue Editors - Vogue

The 17 Best Curling Irons, According to Celebrity Hairstylists and Vogue Editors.

Posted: Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Best Gold-Plated: Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Curling Iron

Pillow curlers are like mini versions of the heatless headband curler; rather than wrapping all the hair around a single rod, they’re wrapped in small sections for more control, then secured overnight. "Easy to use, very soft on my head when laying down. I use this every night now. It’s the perfect way to curl my hair without using heat." Most importantly, remember that rollers are always used on dry hair—especially hot rollers.

Best for a Silky Smooth Finish: T3 SinglePass Curl Professional Ceramic Curling Iron

One small but mighty detail we loved was the generously-sized cool tip at the end of the barrel, so we could control the iron without burning our fingers. We were able to craft loose, beachy waves without much effort — we didn’t even need to brush our hair once we were finished because this iron produced such natural-looking waves. It’s rare to find a curling iron that delivers a solid curl across all hair textures regardless of the size of the barrel, but this one from Hot Tools did just that.

If these curls are too tight compared to your natural hair, just run your fingers through them once they cool down. It’s worth noting that this curler only has one heat setting (392 degrees), so be sure you’re using a good heat protectant. Some reviewers with fine or thin hair reported their hair slipping out of the iron’s clamp, resulting in troubles achieving a desired curl. However, reviewers with thick hair wrote that the heat and the smoothness of the barrel worked perfectly for their hard-to-curl hair. This iron was designed to be used by stylists at Drybar shops across the U.S. The 3-Day Bender’s handle rotates and the clamp is designed to hold your hair in place while styling, although some reviewers reported it being too loose to properly secure their hair.

“Redken Hot Set 22 Thermal Setting Mist or Redken Iron Shape 11 Heat Protectant Spray are my favorites but there are many other brands to choose from,” DeCosimo says. She recommends the Redken 22 for more hold and the Redken 11 for finer hair types. For a tool your stylist would use during your routine blowout appointment, consider the Drybar The Wrap Party Styling Wand. Not only does the professional wand feature a no-slip barrel, but it also uses technology to reduce frizz and boost shine. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories.

On the flip side, if you have thick hair, you might have to kick the heat up to around 350 to 450 degrees to ensure your curls stay. You’d be amazed by how much the size of a curling barrel can change the look of your curls. With the Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold 2-in-1 Curling Wand, you don’t have to torment yourself over which size curling wand to purchase—this pick allows you to benefit from both. What we really love about this wand is that it creates small, tight ringlets that last for hours.

You might also want to consider a more traditional curling iron as your hair might slip out of some of the self-rotating options, especially the ones without a clamp. For those with thick hair, you’ll need a curling iron with higher heat options to ensure your locks get hot enough to hold their shape. This pick is affordable and accessible at most drugstores, and we were really impressed by it during our testing process. It comes in multiple sizes, has a digital temperature display with five heat settings, and has an automatic shut-off feature.