Just as hair straighteners have become a must-have tool, curling wands are now an everyday essential – not something to be relegated to the drawer for special occasions. There’s a huge amount of types and technologies at work, too. With everything from conical wands and clamp-free stylers to changeable barrels and ingenious heat control sensors, the best curling wands make it quicker and easier to create natural waves and glamorous curls.
But, just like straighteners, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. Although all curling wands will add more wave to your locks, choosing the right combination of features is crucial to getting the right look - and making sure it doesn’t disappear by the end of the day.
Read on and we’ll walk you through the key things you need to know before splashing out, and select the best curling wands to buy to help you create the hair you want, when you want.
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Curling wand buying guide: How to choose a curling wand
With the right curling wand, you’ll be able to easily mix up your style and create a whole new look in an instant, but there are a few things you’ll want to consider before you choose a styler.
What is the difference between a curling wand and a curling tong?
Where a curling tong is generally used to create super-sleek, Hollywood-style curls, a curling wand can be used to create everything from loose beachy waves to tight ringlet curls. This is because curling tongs tend to have larger barrel sizes while wands have smaller – and usually conical – barrels to achieve a more natural effect. Curling tongs also come with a clamp to hold the hair in place while you curl, but you’ll need to hold the hair by hand (and with a heat glove!) when using a curling wand.
Does the barrel size of the curling wand matter?
In a word: yes! The barrel size is the most important decider when it comes to the finished look. Put simply, the smaller the barrel you use, the tighter the curl will be. Larger barrels are great for achieving a more natural wave or loose-sitting curl, while a skinny barrel of 10mm or less will help you create tight corkscrew curls.
Is a higher temperature better?
It may seem like a good idea to go for the hottest curling wand you can find, but it won’t always give the best results. While a higher temperature will speed up styling, it could also cause more breakage and leave hair looking lifeless – which is not a look you want. If you’ve got short, fine hair, you’ll be able to get away with using a wand around the 140°C-mark, but those with longer or thicker hair will likely need to raise the temperature a little to create curls that last all day and will benefit from multiple heat settings more. Whatever your hair type, it’s best to stick below 220°C to prevent melting the hair’s natural keratin, so we’ve chosen our 5 favourite stylers that fall in this temperature range.
The best curling wands to buy
T3 Whirl Interchangeable Styling Wand: The best all-in-one – if you can afford it
Price at time of review: £125
Why buy several wands when one can do it all? The standard T3 Whirl comes with a tapered 1.25–0.75-inch barrel, which is perfect for creating gently tousled waves, but there are four others to add to your collection, including barrels for defined curls, polished curls, undone waves and loose waves. The only catch is you’ll need to buy these separately, but with all of them around the £50 mark, it’s cheaper and easier than buying a new curling wand for every style you want to create - not to mention the space you’ll save on storage. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you can stretch your budget a bit, the T3 Whirl Trio (£200) also includes the optional 1in and 1.5in barrels.
The T3 Whirl isn’t just one of the best-looking curling wands on the market, though – it combines ease of use with the latest in hair-styling technologies. Its five heat settings range from 127°C to 210°C; the tourmaline and ceramic plates seal cuticles with negative ions (yeah, science); and T3’s Digital SinglePass™ technology constantly monitors and maintains a stable temperature. It’s not a cheap product, but it’s well worth the money if you want maximum versatility in a gorgeous, perfectly-formed package.
Key specs - Barrel size: 32-19mm; Lowest temperature: 127°C; Maximum temperature: 210°C; Cord length: 2.7m; Extras included in the box: Heat-resistant mat and glove.
Trevor Sorbie Keratin and Argan Magnetic Multi Wand: Best for under £100
Price at time of review: £60
Trevor Sorbie’s Multi Wand doesn’t just live up to its name – it also provides flexible styling options at a lower price than many of its rivals. In the box you’ll find a curling wand, waving wand and drop curl wand, all with magnetic attachments that are quick and easy to change. It’s incredible value for a 3-in-1 tool and, unlike some multi-stylers, you’ll actually want to use all three of the barrels included.
The keratin– and argan–infused plates do their bit to prevent hair damage and leave locks looking healthy and shiny. They’re effective on all hair types and create curls that last all day – even on long, thick hair and hair extensions. If there’s one downside to the Multi Wand, it’s the size: despite coming with a British/European travel adaptor, it’s a little too hard to justify the space in the suitcase. That said, if you like the idea of mixing up your style without spending a fortune, the Multi Wand is hard to beat as an affordable all-round tool.
Key specs - Barrel size: curling wand - 38mm, waving wand - 25-16mm; drop curl wand - 32-19mm; Lowest temperature: 150°C; Maximum temperature: 200°C; Cord length: 3m; Extras included in the box: Heat-resistant storage bag.
Remington Ci96W1 Silk Curling Wand: The best budget curling wand
Price at time of review: £20.99
When a product claims to achieve salon-worthy results at home, and for only £20, it’s difficult not to be a tad cynical. Remington’s Silk range, however, really can create waves and curls that could have been styled by a pro – well, with a little effort on your part anyway – and the silk-infused ceramic plates help to eliminate frizz and give an all day shine.
Despite the Remington Silk’s budget price, it has one of the broadest temperature ranges on the market. Starting at 120°C and reaching up to 220°C, it’s possible to get just the right temperature for a wide range of hair types and conditions, and you won’t have to worry about causing any unnecessary heat damage to your hair. Plus, the digital display comes with a heat lock function so you can’t accidentally change it while styling. With a 30-second heat up time, 60-minute automatic shut off and worldwide voltage compatability, the Remington Silk is a great styling tool for everyday use, and for an amazingly low price.
Key specs - Barrel size: 25-13mm; Lowest temperature: 120°C; Maximum temperature: 220°C; Cord length: 3m; Extras included in the box: Heat protection glove and heat proof pouch.
Babyliss Curling Wand Pro: Best budget wand for long hair
Price at time of review: £18
While there are plenty of budget curling wands out there, finding one that works well on long hair is no easy task. Thankfully, the Babyliss Curling Wand Pro has been designed with this often overlooked market in mind. Its extra long barrel has space for even the longest locks, and if your hair’s on the shorter side you can use the conical barrel to create tighter or looser curls and waves.
The frill-free Curling Wand Pro concentrates on making everyday styling as easy as can be, with a heat-up time of just 30 seconds and five digital temperature settings ranging from 150°C to 210°C. Its ceramic plates spread heat evenly to help give consistent results and prevent heat damage, while Babyliss’s Wrap Control™ technology does a great job of holding hair in place to create picture-perfect curls. Unlike some similarly-priced curling wands, the Curling Wand Pro won’t leave you going back over strands that slipped the first time around.
Key specs - Barrel size: 25-13mm; Lowest temperature: 150°C; Maximum temperature: 210°C; Cord length: 2.5m; Extras included in the box: Heat protection glove.
Lee Stafford Original Chopstick Styler™ hair wand: Best for corkscrew curls
Price at time of review: £18.99
Don’t be fooled by its small size and even smaller price tag - Lee Stafford is a hair brand that’s become known for its bold personality and the Chopstick Styler™ is no exception. It heats up to 200°C in 10 seconds and transforms hair into tight ringlets that will last for days, no matter how long or thick your tresses.
Where other curling wands struggle to achieve consistent results on different hair types and lengths, the Chopstick Styler creates the same corkscrew curls whatever your hair’s natural state and texture. The tiny barrel has only one heat setting and creates just one style, but it does so with perfect precision every time - and is ceramic-coated to keep hair looking healthy and smooth all day. The only major moan is that the 1.8m power cable is much shorter than the rival wands here.
You can get more feature-packed curling wands for a similar amount of money, but if you just want perfect corkscrew curls every time, this is the one to buy.
Key specs - Barrel size: 10-7mm; Lowest temperature: 200°C; Maximum temperature: 200°C; Cord length: 1.8m.
