The world of curling wands is a burgeoning one, with new releases dropping – seemingly – by the month. Great, but each and every one of them serves up a different type of curl – from beach waves and DIY blow-dries or loose waves, to tightly coiled spirals and ‘90s-influenced curls. Thus making each curling wand better suited to a different hair type. With that in mind, finding the best curling wand for the style you have in mind can be tricky.
But fret not: our editors and testers have reviewed all manner of the latest releases, from barrel-shaped curling tongs to tapered wands and even air stylers. For thin hair, thicker hair and everything in between. Ahead, everything you need to create the perfect curls – and if you can't decide what curl is best for you, check out these genius tips for styling curly hair according to a hairstylist.
Best curling wands at a glance 2023:
BaByliss Wave Secret Air Hair Styler, Black
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long in Copper/Nickel
Drybar The 3-Day Bender Digital Curling Iron
ghd Curve Thin Wand
What is the difference between a curling wand and a curling tong?
Curling wands and curling tongs look very similar: they each feature a heated barrel, with a handle, for curling the hair. Curling tongs have clamps at the handle end, to hold the hair in place, while a curling wand doesn't.
What is the best curling wand for everyday use?
The type of curling tool you choose will determine the type of curl you create, so it's important to know what to look out for when searching for the best curling wand. The width of the barrel (and whether or not it's tapered) can change the finished effect dramatically.
Wide wands will create bigger, looser curls, so are best for beach waves, whereas slim chopstick stylers are ideal for tighter ringlets. And you can personalise even further by choosing between tools with a variable heat setting (low, medium or high) to cater best to fine or coarse hair.
There are also the non-traditional curling devices that deliver a variety of waves and curls in novel ways. Take Dyson's Air Wrap Styler, which uses the Coanda Effect (a principle of physics that is to do with air flow) to wrap hair round a barrel and curl with relatively low heat. Elsewhere, there's the BaByliss Wave Secret Air Hair Waver, which sucks the hair up into a spinning barrel to create easy beach waves in seconds. Just don't forget your heat protection spray.
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