The 10 Best Curling Wands for Every Type of Hair

Kayla Blanton
·7 min read

In 2020, the term “curling iron” feels a bit antiquated. Doesn’t it? Sure, everyone is entitled to their own personal tastes, but ever since the emergence of the modern, clampless curling wand, the iron has, admittedly, taken an old-school backseat.

RELATED: The Best Hair Straighteners of 2020, From Flat Irons to Brushes

Speaking of burning yourself, most wands also have adjustable heat settings. Gone are the days of the on-off switch, we are now in an era of not frying away your precious locks. It may not summon a fluffy, white rabbit from a random man’s tophat (let me know if you find one that does), but the curling wand is nothing short of magic. As long as you find the right one, that is.

Maybe you’ve already ventured into the world of wands and are looking for an all-time favorite. Or maybe you’ve finally decided to retire your mom’s well-loved Conair and invest in a much-needed upgrade. Regardless of why you’re here, you need to know that functionally, curling wands are simple. But when it comes to the array of options out there, your search could potentially get complicated. That’s why we’ve curated this list; it addresses every shopping criteria, from hair type to budget to composition. So, without further ado, here are the 10 best curling wands on the market.

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Best Curling Wand for Thick Hair: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Conicurl Iron

Reviewers with thick, coarse hair love this wand from BaBylissPRO. Its titanium metal that heats up to 450 degrees is perfect for penetrating and holding style in stubborn strands. Its tapered barrel doesn’t make you choose between tight or loose curls — you can have both. “I have thick, coarse, textured hair that is super hard to curl,” one customer claimed. “I tried a half dozen shortcuts using hot rollers, pin curls, and flat irons, but none of those products achieved the look I wanted.” But the BaBylissPRO did. “It’s very easy to use,” the reviewer wrote. “The curls stayed for two days.”

Shop now: $50; amazon.com

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Best Curling Wand for Fine Hair: Remington CI96W1B T|Studio Silk Ceramic Slim Styling Wand

It is possible to curl fine hair. You just have to use the right tool. This Remington wand is coated with a high amount of ceramic that’s infused with silk proteins, which means a longer hold, even heat distribution, and improved management of frustrating flyaways. “I tried out several other curlers that did not work at all,” an Amazon reviewer wrote. “By noon all my curls would have fallen out. This wand is super easy to use and my curls will stay until I wash my hair!” It heats up in 30 seconds and also has a 60-minute shutoff feature, giving it a zero percent chance of burning your house down if you happen to leave it on before running out the door.

Shop now: $28 (Originally $30); amazon.com

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Best Curling Wand for Long Hair: GHD Curve Wand

This wand’s medium-sized barrel is ideal for tackling a head of long hair in a reasonable amount of time. If you’re not into wearing a protective glove, this one’s ideal. It has a cool, protective tip for holding while you curl. It also has “ultra-zone technology” that creates consistent, homogeneous heat throughout the entire wand, which allows you to create waves in five to eight seconds. Goodbye, mid-styling arm cramps.

Shop now: $199, amazon.com

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Best Cheap Curling Wand: InfinitiPRO by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand

I take back what I said about your mom’s Conair iron. Perhaps you just need a new one. The InfinitiPRO is an ideal upgrade to a classic styling tool, and it’s very affordable. “Chose this wand based on price and brand name,”a Walmart reviewer wrote. “Was not disappointed! Heats up quickly and easy to use.” Due to its low price tag, there are really no frills attached. Just turn it on, wrap, release, and go.

Shop now: $19, walmart.com

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Best Interchangeable Curling Wand: T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand

There’s a good chance you’ve seen this rose gold-accented beauty floating around Instagram. That’s because it’s really, really good. The T3 Whirl Interchangeable Styling Wand includes a barrel style for every mood — a tapered one-inch straight barrel, a 1.25-inch round barrel, and a 1.33-inch round barrel. It also comes with a travel tote that conveniently fits and carries all of its pieces. No need to buy multiple wands when everything you need is right here.

Shop now: $270, amazon.com

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Best Curling Wand for Waves: Drybar The Wrap Party Curling and Styling Wand

This reverse-tapered wand will leave your hair looking wind-blown, in the best way. It’s thick at the top and tapered at the bottom, which provides the volume at the root that everyone loves. “It worked for the beachy, casual, slightly undone look I was going for,” one Nordstrom reviewer wrote. A special tip from Drybar: always hold the wand upside-down during use, and if you want super loose waves, hold your ends free from the barrel — don’t wrap them.

Shop now: $165, nordstrom.com

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Best Ceramic Curling Wand: Remington Ceramic Curling Wand

If you’re worried about heat damage, elect a wand with a sturdy, ceramic barrel. This one is ceramic-coated for even heat distribution, and it’s also infused with crushed pearls, which will make your curls shine bright. Of nearly 10,000 reviews on Amazon, almost 6,500 on this wand are positive. Customers say it’s ideal for extending your style into second and third-day hair. “I am going on three days of sleeping on my curls and they still look great!” one wrote. Its adorable pinkness comes in either a tapered one-inch or 1.5-inch barrel.

Shop now: $24, amazon.com

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Best Tapered Curling Wand: Hot Tools Professional Nano Ceramic Curling Iron

Some tapered wands are more dramatically shaped than others, and this one has a good middle-of-the-road design. The barrel’s bottom, thickest portion is 1.25 inches and its top, thinnest area is .75. Many first-time wand owners have purchased this and praised it for its easy use. “I love that I can vary my look,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “I get tighter, more defined curls by curling and leaving as-is, I can run my fingers through for a slightly more relaxed look, comb through with a wide-tooth comb for beachy waves, or brush out for a loose, wavy look. It’s easy to use and I learned quickly!” Bonus: it has a safety kickstand to protect your vanity or bathroom counter — a feature that, unfortunately, many wands don’t include.

Shop now: $60, amazon.com

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Best Bubble Curling Wand: Bed Head Rock N’ Roller Curling Wand

If you’ve never seen a bubble wand before, it might seem a little intimidating at first, but it’s actually supposed to be the opposite. Its knotted texture acts as a placement template for your strands, ultimately keeping them from sliding off the barrel. The end result is effortless, tousled waves. “About five minutes tops to do my shoulder length, medium-fine hair,” an Amazon reviewer wrote. “Love it.”

Shop now: $25, amazon.com

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Best Curling Wand for Natural Hair: Herstyler Baby Curls Mini Curling Iron

If you already have curly hair, some mornings, you might just need help perking up a few sleepy ringlets. This super-tiny, half-inch curling wand will perfectly target your problem strands without disrupting that au naturel look you already have going. “This is every curly haired girl’s wet dream,” an Amazon reviewer wrote. “I use this product not only on my natural curls, but also to enhance them to keep that curly-fresh hairstyle all week long.” Brush through new curls to blend them with the rest, and it’s like they were awake the whole time.

This wand is also great for curling short hair — its small size doesn’t get in its own way as you work through your mane, section by section.

Shop now: $23, amazon.com