15 of the best curling irons and hair wands (2024)

The Hot Tools Professional Marcel Iron is a go-to curling iron for professional hair stylists. Both Le and Bree Rhodes, founder and hair stylist for Just Hair Services in New York, use Hot Tools on their clients.

“For industry types this is good to get that perfect wave allowing you to place bends exactly where you want without having to stress your wrists,” Le said. While the Hot Tools Marcel Iron is typically used among professionals, you don’t have to be a pro to use it. Though some Amazon reviewers do suggest watching tutorials before using the iron as there is a learning curve.

The rotating mechanics of the iron allow you to create twists and curls without getting tangled up in the cord or experiencing any awkward positions with your arms. The Marcel handle is easier to access than traditional clamps because it runs the entire length of the iron’s grip. The handle is also detachable so the tool can be used both traditionally and as a wand.

“It make styling super easy and quick,” Rhodes said.

This iron has a 24 karat gold barrel, which remains hot for longer and can sustain high, constant heat without being damaged. This will make the curling iron last longer than those made with ceramic or titanium.

The Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Marcel Iron comes in three sizes: 1, 1.25, or 1.5 inch. The one-inch barrel costs $49.99 at Amazon.

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Bed Head's Rock N’ Roller Clamp-Free Bubble Curling Wand gives you the option to create two different kinds of curls. Wrap your hair between the curves for natural-looking spirals or place it on top of the curves for big, loose waves. This curler might look like a sex toy, but trust us: It is definitely not.

The tourmaline ceramic barrel distributes even heat that seals your hair’s cuticle for all-day style. The wand heats up quickly and reaches up to 400 degrees to lock in your curl. This curling wand features a cool tip grip and comes with a heat-resistant glove for safe styling.

You can get the Rock N' Roller Bubble Curling Wand for $29.99 at Amazon.

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The T3 Whirl Trio comes with three wand attachments —two straight barrels and one tapered barrel. This gives you a range of styles to choose from, whether you want mermaid waves or spiral curls or anything in between.

The wand has five heat settings — reaching up to 410 degrees — to produce the perfect temperature for any hair type. The ceramic barrel self-regulates temperature to prevent over- or under-heating. It has an automatic shut-off after one hour, which means you won't have to worry about leaving it plugged in. In addition to the three interchangeable barrels that are included with the wand, T3 makes other attachments that you can purchase separately for more styling options.

Though this curling wand is pretty pricey, many reviewers say it’s worth it. The T3 Whirl Trio won Allure’s Best of Beauty Award for Curling Wands in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019.

The T3 Whirl Trio seals your hair cuticles to create a shiny and smooth finished look. You can get the wand from Amazon for $299.99.

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The Paul Mitchell Neuro Angle Rod Curling Iron bends into four different positions at angles from 90 to 180 degrees, so you'll never have to strain your arm to reap the benefits of this curling iron.

In seconds, this curling iron heats up to a maximum temperature of 450 degrees, but is adjustable for hair types that require lower heat. The titanium barrel gets extremely hot while still protecting hair from damage, which is good for thick hair. The extra long 1-inch barrel lets you create both loose and tight curls.

Neuro is a branch of John Paul Mitchell Systems, an established brand within the beauty community, so you can trust that your hair is in good hands.

The Neuro Angle Rod Curling Iron is $150 at Amazon and comes with a free 1.5-ounce bottle of Neuro Protect HeatCTRL Iron Hairspray.

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Similarly to the Beachwaver, the CHI Air Spin N Curl does most of the heavy lifting for you. Unlike the Beachwaver, all the action takes place inside the device. The tool feeds your hair into its center and around an inner ceramic barrel.

With the CHI, you start at the top of your head where you want the curl to begin rather than at your ends. Slip a piece of your hair into the curling iron’s opening and press the button that correlates to the direction you want your curl to face, and that’s all you have to do. The spinning barrel automatically wraps your hair and holds it for an amount of time that you set, then you simply release your hair and it comes out as a bouncy spiral.

The CHI Air Spin N Curl is best if you have longer hair. Because it’s not able to get as close to the scalp, the tool needs some length to grab onto. There’s also limited space inside the instrument, so if you have really thick hair, you’ll have to split it into smaller sections.

If the thought of letting a spinning barrel essentially vacuum up your hair terrifies you, no worries; the CHI has a safety feature to prevent tangles. If your hair starts to wrap weirdly, the tool automatically stops and allows you to pull your hair out.

This curling iron is designed to reduce frizz and boost shine. Because your hair is heated evenly, you should experience less damage to your ends. The CHI Air Spin N Curl is available at Amazon for $109.99.

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Dual ceramic heaters allow the Drybar 3-Day Bender to create even, steady heat within 60 seconds. Its infrared technology heats hair from the inside out to help maintain your hair’s health and shine. The curling iron also prevents frizz. The 3-Day Bender heats up to 440 degrees and the digital temperature control allows for custom styling on all hair types.

This iron was designed to be used by stylists at Drybar shops across the U.S. It’s professional-grade, but easy enough for the average consumer to use. 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.

A 1.25-inch barrel equips you to create an array of styles with your hair. You can get tight spiral curls or brush them out to create loose waves. For safety, this curling iron shuts off after 60 minutes.

You can get the Drybar 3-Day Bender for $149 at Amazon.

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The Dyson Airwrap has been the center of a ton of buzz in the beauty world for ages, and rightfully so. This innovative curler uses hot air instead of a hot surface to create styles. The Coanda effect attracts hair to the Dyson’s barrel then wraps it into a coil for you. The coolest thing about this device is that you don’t have to fiddle with getting your locks to hold in place: the Airwrap does most of the work for you.

Because this tool uses air to create curls, you can style your hair while it is still damp and let the Airwrap dry it while it curls. Intelligent heat control technology measures airflow temperature more than 40 times per second, ensuring that it never reaches more than 302 degrees. (This prevents excessive heat damage.)

The Dyson Airwrap is so popular that it’s been sold out everywhere for months, but it's such an incredible product that we still had to include it. If you can’t wait to purchase until it’s back in stock, you can turn to third-party sellers, but note that the prices have been inflated because of the demand. The Dyson Airwrap is available at Amazon for $599. (Yikes.)

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Take control of your waves with the Bed Head A Wave We Go hair tool. The adjustable waver allows you to set the style of waves you want. Choose from tight, defined, loose, or tousled looks. The middle piece of the tool moves in and out depending on the style you’re going for. For a more crimped look, you’ll want to bring the piece to its innermost setting. Push it to its max for big, loose waves.

The barrel heats up to 400 degrees and has an automatic shut-off feature. You can set the heat to multiple temperatures and the waver’s instant heat recovery will make sure you get consistent results.

Styling with a waver might take longer than with a curling iron because you have to hit every inch of your hair individually rather than wrapping larger portions of it around a hot iron. This kind of styling tool creates different types of waves that a curling iron cannot. Your hair will boast kinky waves rather than looped or spiraled ones. The tool works on most hair lengths and types.

The Bed Head A Wave We Go is available at Amazon for $44.99.

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Created by celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa, the Beachwaver is meant to make curling your hair easier. To use, section your hair and place the clamp toward your ends. Press one of the arrow buttons depending on which direction you want your curl to go and let the Beachwaver do the rest. As you push the button, the curling iron rotates itself to curl your hair at two different speed options. The home button brings the rod back to its starting point.

Unlike standard curling irons, the Beachwaver’s clamp is small and doesn’t leave telltale kinks in your hair. The temperature ranges from 290 degrees Fahrenheit to 410 degrees and the barrel heats up in just 30 seconds. Don’t worry if you forget to turn the Beachwaver off; it has an automatic shut-off after 30 minutes.

Many users have written rave reviews about the Beachwaver, with lots of people saying that the curling iron makes it exponentially easier to style their hair. However, one common negative review is that some users have had their Beachwaver stop working within a year of owning it.

The Beachwaver S1 is a 1-inch iron, though other models in different sizes are available as well. This innovative iron will run you $129.

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If you can’t afford to dish out $200 for the Good Hair Days Curve Soft Curling Iron, Le says the BaBylissPRO has the same great qualities but at a more affordable price point. “This one also gets hot fast and has a smooth glide that won’t snap the hair,” she says.

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron comes in three different sizes, so you can choose based on the style you want for your hair. The handle rotates to help ease your styling process and prevent awkward arm positions.

You have the option of 50 heat settings going up to 450 degrees. The turbo button instantly boosts the heat to its highest setting. The iron utilizes infrared technology to heat your hair from within, minimizing damage. However, because it can get so hot, you might want to use heat protectant spray before styling with this iron.

This iron is slick, so it doesn’t work perfectly with all hair. 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.

You can get it for $59.99 at Amazon.

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If you’ve watched TV in the last decade, you’ve likely seen an InStyler infomercial. This tool is able to straighten or curl your hair while adding volume and smoothing your strands. Unlike the original InStyler, the Max has two-way rotation, so you’re able to control the direction of your curls.

InStyler MAX’s brush smooths your hair while the rotating iron adds your desired texture. The tool is versatile enough for any hair type and its four different heat settings work with any hair whether it’s thick, thin, long, short, straight, or curly.

Because there are so many parts to this iron, some reviewers have said that the InStyler pulled their hair during some uses. So be aware of the moving parts when operating the curling iron. There is a bit of a learning curve when first using the InStyler.

The InStyler MAX is available for $99.99 at Amazon.

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Large barrels are ideal to get big, soft curls. The ghd Curve Soft has a 1.25-inch rod that creates voluminous, Hollywood-style curls. (Worth noting though that these results will not be the same for all hair types.) This type of iron is best for thick, long hair but other hair lengths and types will still get volume and a soft wave.

The Curve Soft’s barrel is loaded with sensors that make sure the heat stays at a consistent 365 degrees Fahrenheit —a temperature that, according to ghd, is ideal for styling.

Le recommends this iron to her clients because it gets hot enough, but not too hot to damage the hair. She said the spring clip is easy to work with and the heat-protected tip of the iron helps prevent accidental burns.

This iron will help you look like you just got a blowout at a salon, but that kind of style does not come cheap. The ghd Curve Soft iron costs $199 at Amazon.

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Even if you have naturally beautiful curls, you can still use a curling iron. The tiny half inch Curlipops wand from Bed Head is meant to enhance and define any flyaways or baby hairs that maybe don't hold your natural shape as well as they should.

You technically could use this iron on your whole head if you don't have naturally curly hair, but it would take a really long time. So, if you do decide to give yourself spiral curls with this bad boy, more power to you.

Because of its clamp-less design, the Curlipops is great for creating random textured pieces throughout your hair. You won't get any creases, plus the tourmaline ceramic will reduce frizz and boost shine, so you'll be looking top notch.

Grab the Bed Head Curlipops iron for $29.99 at Amazon.

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We can always trust Conair to give us a good product at a decent price. If you just want a standard ceramic curling iron but don't want to drop a ton of money on one, the InfinitiPro iron is probably the best choice for you.

This curling iron comes in four sizes, giving you options for different styling. Once turned on, the iron heats up to 285 degrees in just 30 seconds. From there you can boost the heat up to 400 degrees depending on your needs. Pro tip: Don't turn this iron on until you're ready to use it because you will get burned if you accidentally touch the barrel.

There are some precautionary features to combat the iron's heat — it has an auto-shutoff that kicks in and comes with a protective heat shield to slip around the barrel. Overall, for $25 this is not a bad iron. Cop the Conair InfinitiPro curling iron for $24.99 at Amazon.

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So, you've tried to curl your hair using your straightener, but it's just not coming out like the YouTube tutorials. That's the exact reason the Tyme Iron Pro two-in-one curler and straightener was invented.

With this tool, you can create perfectly straight hair, ribbon curls, and anything in between. The internal titanium plates heat your hair while the round outside of the iron cools and styles each strand.

With your purchase you receive a free video chat with a virtual stylist to learn how to best use the Tyme Iron Pro. Even though the design is more intuitive than a standard straightener, there could still be a learning curve.

If you're willing to take the time to figure it out, the Tyme iron should give you some good results. Get the Tyme Iron Pro for $189 at Amazon.

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