The Best Curling Irons for People Who Can’t Curl Their Hair

Not to be dramatic, but my life changed when I tried the first generation Dyson Airwrap. At the time, I had just gotten curtain bangs, and the interchangeable attachments made it so easy to switch according to my styling needs, delivering salon-level smoothness and blowouts in less than half the time. I wasn't alone with my obsession—you've probably seen the viral TikTok videos and marveled at it's eye-popping price tag. But the styler is completely worth it, and the latest model only drives the point home. With a whopping 13 styling attachment options and game-changing features like an airflow switch, flyaway smoothing attachment, and extended curling barrels for long hair, my Airwrap love affair is still going strong. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor $600, Dyson. Get it now!

I typically curl my hair with a straightener. My last attempt at using a curling iron (years ago) ended in burning out a huge chunk of hair and a lot of tears. But this iron, which comes at the recommendation of dozens of celebrity stylists, was a 10-out-of-10 experience for me. It's straightforward to use, and it's got even heat and a cool and touchable tip. On day one I attempted a "normal" curling iron experience using the spring lever. My hair was shiny, and the curls were perfect; a girl stopped me on the subway to gush and ask if I was genetically blessed. On day two I used the iron as a wand without the clamp to even greater results: There was a wonderful unfinished quality about the curls, and my hair was so voluminous. As great as that intense heat is though, it's tough on your hair. Invest in a heat protectant. —Meg Adams, contributor $199, GHD. Get it now!

I absolutely love this waver for second- and third-day hair. If I wake up with sections that need a little boost, I just give them a refresh with this tool. It’s like a crimper, but it gives you soft waves without the creasing. And it revives waves in seconds. —Erin Reimel, contributor $85, Hot Tools. Get it now!

The first time you pick up this iron you'll notice something is missing: buttons. That's because the T3 Curl ID is a smart device that uses touch screen technology when you plug it in. It comes with nine heat settings, but instead of making you guess how many degrees is just right for your hair, it uses a complex algorithm based on your hair type, length, and color to automatically determine the best setting for you. All you have to do is input this data the first time you use the iron, and it'll remember it for you. And if you cut your hair or bleach it? You can easily update your profile. On top of that, it uses ion technology to minimize frizz, boost shine, and keep your curls in place all day. In other words, it's genius and it makes curling your hair so much easier. —Lindsay Schallon, contributor $235, T3. Get it now!

My style is really laid-back, so I've struggled to find a wand that doesn't curl hair in a way that looks too precious. Hi, finally found it. I love that this curling wand has interchangeable barrels, so I can easily go back through and add some variance in size to my waves, which make them look more lived-in. The tapered end is also perfect for leaving your ends a bit straighter or less styled for that realistic, effortless flippy-wave look instead of uniform spirals. —E.R. $300, T3. Get it now!

This is a versatile iron. I have fine, kinky, curly hair, and I loved that the lower temperature settings reduce my risk for breakage. My curls were long-lasting, and I was able to comb out the tight curls for a gorgeous wavy look that lasted almost two days. Since I’m a busy physician, the rapid heat-up time was a game changer for my schedule. —Michelle Henry, contributor $199, Sephora. Get it now!

I've never been a curling iron person simply because I find them too hard to use. At least, that was the case until I found this one by Kristin Ess, master of cool-girl messy waves. It has no clamp for looser curls, and the wand pivots to a 90-degree angle so it's easier to use and takes the stress off your arms. I always end up either wrapping my hair too tightly or clamping it in a weird place, resulting in pageant curls or creases. But because of the angle, you’re almost forced to loosely drape your hair around the barrel, creating those cool beachy waves the women on Ess's Instagram always have. Thanks to this thing, I can get a whole head of unfussy waves in 10 minutes flat. And the best part of all? You can get the iron at Target. —L.S. $60, Target. Get it now!

I've never quite mastered the art of curling my hair—especially since my chin-length waves are usually tucked into some sort of three-day-old bun or claw clip type of situation. But I realized the beautiful, beachy waves I so desperately wanted (and constantly went to the salon for) could be done at a fraction of the price and time with this Conair ceramic curling iron. Perhaps when I get much better and my hair doesn't look like it came out of a Shirley Temple machine I'll invest in a high-tech curling iron, but for right now, I love how beginner-friendly the Conair 1-inch barrel is. Plus it's on Amazon. —Ana Escalante, editorial assistant $18.99, Amazon. Get it now!

I always love options, and I've got plenty with this set from Drybar. There are three attachments (a waver, a wand, and a clamp iron) that you can easily swap in and out to create beach waves or classic curls. I'm sometimes a little skeptical of hot tools sets because the options often don't all work equally well, but that's not the case here. Each one is easy to use and heats up to the perfect temperature to keep my waves set for an entire day. As long as I pair it with a good heat protectant, my bleached, highlighted hair stays in healthy shape. —Sarah Y. Wu, contributor $199, Drybar. Get it now!

I gave up on trying to use a curling iron with a clip years ago because they always left dents in my hair, which is naturally thin, flat, and straight—but long. This, however, totally restored my faith. The surface of the wand made my hair really soft and shiny without frying it. It isn’t too heavy for a 1¼-inch barrel, and I love that it has a swivel cord, which makes the whole thing easier to maneuver. Because of the size, the curls are very loose and won’t hold for a big event. But for work it's perfect. You're just left with the nicest, softest waves all day. —Alyssa Fiorentino, contributor $59.99, Hot Tools 24K Gold Salon Curling Iron. Get it now!

My hair is really thick and has a lot of volume, but because it's also so straight, I have a hard time finding irons that'll hold a curl—except for this. Thanks to the titanium barrel, which helps distribute heat evenly, it was the quickest, easiest experience I’ve had in doing my full head of hair. The iron has a second flexible handle, which made it easier to style one-handed. And no sizzling or excess steam came off my hair, even at 430 degrees, its highest heat setting. I was able to give myself the exact look that I would have gotten if I paid a professional stylist: loose, natural-looking curls. —Smriti Sinha, contributor $75, Amazon. Get it now!

I've been using this set for years now, and I love how it comes with a range of barrel sizes that give different looks. To touch up face-framing curls that are being uncooperative, I use the smallest one to blend in with my natural texture (which is a 3B-3C curl type). But when I'm going for a '70s-inspired moment, I'll size up and brush it out a bit to channel Donna Summer. —Erin Parker, contributor $40, Amazon. Get it now!

I've used this rotating curling iron a few times before and my life has become so much easier. If you're like me and lack basic hand-eye coordination, the rotating curling wand does everything for you. Simply stick your hair in the clamp at the bottom and press the button—honestly, I don't even think about it. The results are pretty spectacular and I find myself getting the softest barrel curls without the hassle of feeling like I'm going to dislocate my wrist every time I move onto a new hair section. —A.E. $149, The Beachwaver Co.. Get it now!

The number of times I've seen stylists whip this iron out on set is well into the dozens. That's because nothing helps define tight spirals and coils like it. The ceramic barrel heats up quickly, comes with a styling glove to prevent burns, and because the wand is extra long, it's great for working with both cropped and longer lengths. —L.S. $68, Amazon. Get it now!

As someone who came of age in the early aughts, I never in my life would think that I'd let something called “crimper” near my head again. But this wand doesn't leave you with the awkward zigzags you remember. Instead, it creates the most effortless boho, ’70s-style waves that look like you truly woke up with them. The trick is to start a few inches down from your roots—right at your earline—so your waves look lived-in and not poofy. (See it in action here.) —L.S. $120, Amika. Get it now!

This thing looks intimidating as hell, but it's surprisingly easy to use. All you do is section your hair into one-inch pieces (smaller sections is key), feed it into the chamber, press a button, and—boom—curls. (See it how it works, here.) It's a little heavy and clunky-looking, but the design is great if you're someone who always burns yourself, since the outside chamber stays cool. The lasting results were what really sold me, though. I purposefully tested the iron right before bed to see how the curls would match up against a night of sleep. The next morning I woke up to see that my hair still had modern, thick waves. —Halie LeSavage, contributor $130, Chi. Get it now!

The first time I learned to curl my hair, I used an iron instead of a wand, so I've always been a little biased toward this style of hot tool. Amika's titanium barrel edition is kind of the ultimate. The material is super lightweight, which makes the iron easy to maneuver around my head, and it makes my waves look extra shiny and smooth. It's got all the features I could possibly want too: a rotating clip handle, ionic technology for less frizz, precise temperature controls, a rotating cool tip, and a heat-proof swivel cord. Whether I'm currently in a short hair phase or growing out a longer style, this is the best for creating loose curls and waves. —S.Y.W. $104, Amika. Get it now!

I'm practically a sales woman for the Beachwaver at the point. I'll seriously tell anyone who will listen about this incredible self-rotating wand. It's tricky to figure out at first: The clamp is tiny, so it doesn't leave dents, and it takes some practice to learn which way to clamp. But the tool has arrows that make it easier to figure out which direction to curl, and once you get over the learning curve, it's a game changer. It has cut down the time and effort I spend on my hair and has yet to surprise me with any burns. To keep it all from looking too uniform, I like to randomize wave directions and leave out a couple inches or so at the ends so it's not too perfect. No wonder the Victoria's Secret girls love it. —L.S. $130, The Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver S1 Curling Iron. Get it now!

I've got coarse, frizzy curls, so what I need from an iron is definition. Most aren't powerful enough, so I usually just get a weird bump in my hair. This thing looks strange, but it actually produced a curl in my hair—more than one, in fact, it made many curls! It's also more intuitive than it seems since you don’t have to guess which direction you should be curling your hair—you just hold the iron so the bar is straight and wrap your hair around it. Using it was a little awkward at first, but it got easier. —Sara Gaynes Levy, contributor $99, Hot Tools Curl Bar. Get it now!

Marcel irons are definitely not for the curling iron novice, since they require more coordination to use. But the on the flip side, hairstylists love them because they give you more control to manipulate your hair exactly how you want it. This iron designed by Gisele Bundchen's mane man gives you the best of both worlds. The clip detaches easily from the barrel, so you can experiment with both to see which delivers your favorite curls and waves. Bonus: The longtime fave recently underwent a makeover and now delivers more even heat throughout, so your curls will hold longer. —S.Y.W. $185, Dermstore. Get it now!

While I feel fairly comfortable with a regular curling iron, using an automatic one is not something I’ve done before, so it really was like learning a new skill. I was expecting my hair to get caught in the spinner or tangled at least once, but that didn’t happen. It took a few tries to get the hang of it, but if you put your hair anywhere near the iron, it’ll starting wrapping your hair once it starts spinning. It heated up very quickly, and I didn’t have to work very hard to get good curls. Really, it's pretty mindless, and fast—I did my whole head in 10 minutes!—which is great for hectic mornings. —Maggie Burch, contributor $40, Kiss Professional. Get it now!