These Rotating Curling Irons Make Styling Your Hair So. Freakin'. Easy.

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In my time as a long-hair girly, I have learned how to French braid, how to do a smooth(ish) blowout in under 10 minutes (thanks, Dyson!), and how to use a flat iron to best straighten my hair, but one thing that has always been difficult for me to master is using a curling iron, which is why the second I discovered rotating curling irons, I knew this was my hot hair tool soulmate.

Not only do rotating curling irons make curling your hair a million times easier, they also make it more fun! No more obsessing over what direction to curl in (a hair roller user's nightmare), how much heat to use, or how to move your wrist to get that perfect end flick and avoid crimping. A rotating curling iron is essentially the same as a regular curling iron or wand, just with a barrel that rotates separately to do all the work for you. Most rotating curling irons will have barrels that curl in either direction (left or right) at the press of a button, though some are a bit more manual. Some even have timer features so you can get even curls every single time. To help bring you effortless waves, I found all the best rotating curling irons on the market right now with the help of experts like celebrity hairstylist Priscilla Valles, fellow Cosmopolitan editors, and hundreds of online reviewers.

Of course, there are still some things you have to decide for yourself, like what barrel size you're looking for and whether you prefer tight ringlets or beachy waves, so keep scrolling for all the 411. To help you figure it all out, the Cosmo team has tested and reviewed the best rotating curling irons out there so that you don't have to!

Airwrap

The Dyson Airwrap is legendary for many reasons, most notably that it makes curling your hair a breeze. With 1.2" and 1.6" barrel attachments, the Airwrap uses airflow to essentially wrap the hair around the barrel and heat to style. The best part? These barrels can rotate in both directions, so you can style your hair on both sides—no switching barrels required!

• Barrel sizes: 1.2",1.6"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 3 (hottest temp is under 302°)

• Airflow speeds: 3

Glowing Customer Review: "Whether I'm aiming for voluminous curls, loose waves, or a smooth blowout, this versatile tool handles it all with finesse... This has been a game changer for me, as I can now style my hair without compromising its health and integrity."

InfinityPRO by Conair Curl Secret

Cosmopolitan Associate Lifestyle Editor Hannah Chubb loves this InfinityPRO by Conair tool. It might look intimidating, but it is actually shockingly easy to use. All you have to do is place a small section of hair across the top of the barrel, and the iron in the middle will rotate to create the curl.

• Barrel size: 0.75" (also available in 1.25")

• Curl directions: 3 (left, right, alternating)

• Temperature settings: 300 °F, 330 °F, 355 °F, 385 °F, 410 °F

• Curl type settings: Defined, loose, wavy
  

Glowing Customer Review: "Purchased this on a whim and so glad I did! It is a super time saver and my coarse Asian hair holds the curl for days with no hairspray."

CurlWrap

The T3 CurlWrap may be pricey, but there's a reason behind it: with 9 different heat settings and 2 timer settings, you can customize the heat needed to style your hair type. Celebrity hairstylist Priscilla Valles tells Cosmopolitan that she loves the T3 CurlWrap because of the many heat settings, adding that it "delivers consistent curls from start to finish."

• Barrel size: 1.25"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 260°F, 280°F, 300°F, 325°F, 350°F, 370°F, 390°F, 400°F, 410°F

• Timer settings: 5 seconds, 8 seconds

Glowing Customer Review: "The barrel is long which is great for long hair. The clip doesn't pull my hair at all. It will leave a small crease every once in a while, but as soon as I comb out the curls, that goes away."

S.75 Rotating Curling Iron

Beachwaver has a whole line of rotating curling irons with different barrel sizes that are all Cosmopolitan faves, but I picked this 0.75" one because sometimes you just want a tighter curl. I also love that this tool has large arrow buttons to determine the direction of the rotation for easy use.

• Barrel size: 0.75"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 290°-410°F (customizable)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have been searching for a curling iron for a long time. This is the best product that I have ever used. It's easy to use and makes my hair look beautiful!"

Rose Gold Titanium Rotating Curler

The rotating curler from Foxy Bae is great for those who like traditional curling irons, but want to transition to rotating tools. It's got all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a regular curling iron (including a small but effective clamp), but with the added bonus of rotation buttons so your hair can curl itself!

• Barrel size: 1.25"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 290°-410°F (customizable)

My Review: I've never been good with curling irons, which is why rotating curling irons appeal to me so much. I was worried that the clamp might cause crimping, but it didn't at all! I got an effortless wavy look in record time.

Spin n Curl

This automatic hair curler beeps when your curl is done, so you can avoid hair damage and style your hair while watching TV. It also works vertically, as opposed to horizontally, which should make it easier for those with limited ranges of motion.

• Barrel size: 1"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 370°F, 390°F, 410°F

• Curl timer settings: 15 seconds, 17 seconds, 19 seconds

Glowing Customer Review: "Not only does this tool feature enhanced safety features and an increased ease of use, it makes your hair look absolutely stunning."

HD430 FlexStyle

Like the Dyson AirWrap, the Shark FlexStyle is a multi-use tool that can be used to dry and style hair all at the same time. The main difference between the two when it comes to curling the hair (aside from the price) is that the Shark barrels can only rotate in one direction, so you'll have to switch barrels as you style.

• Barrel size: 1.25"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 4 (max of 203°F)

• Airflow settings: 3

Glowing Customer Review: "Wow! The time blow drying my hair and curling it went from ONE hour to 17 minutes! Thank you for giving me some of the time back. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone with long, thick hair!"

The Farrah

Made specifically for those with longer hair, The Farrah is a mix of the traditional curling iron and the covered barrel design, with carousel spokes on the bottom for hair placement, as opposed to a clamp, but it is a little more complicated to youse because you have to pay attention to where you place the hair depending on the direction of the curl.

• Barrel size: 1"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 250°F, 300°F, 350°F, 400°F, 450°F

Glowing Customer Review: "Easy to use. Doesn't burn my hair. My very straight hair looks full with beach waves."

Automatic Curling Iron

This automatic curling iron set is perfect for those who love to experiment with different styles and techniques. It comes with three different sized barrels to be used with the automatic function as well as one 0.75" barrel with a full clamp, so you can use it as a regular curling iron if you prefer. We love versatility!

• Barrel size: two 0.75", 1", 1.25"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 320°-430°F (customizable)

• Timer settings: 8 seconds, 10 seconds, 12 seconds

Glowing Customer Review: "There is definitely a learning curve to this, but once you get a hang of it OMG, the results are so good... My favorite feature is that I can long press and set up the timer to hold a curl without actually damaging my hair and applying heat for too long."

Rotating Curling Iron

Most rotating curling irons on the market are automatic, meaning all you have to do is put your hair in the right spot and let the hot tools do the rest. This one from Glamglider is different. The barrel rotates 360°, but it's not automatic. You'll probably need two hands to operate this curling iron effectively, but it does work faster than a regular curling iron because you can rotate your hair around it more quickly.

• Barrel size: 1"

• Curl direction: 2

• Temperature settings: 280°F, 320°F, 360°F, 410°F, 450°F

Glowing Customer Review: "This is the first time I have used a rotating curling iron and I am very pleased. It makes curling my long hair much easier. The controls are easy and modern."

Wavy Professional Rotating Curling Iron

This rotating curling iron has 11 heat settings, which is great for newbies, who should start at low heat to avoid any injuries or hair damage.

• Barrel size: 1"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 11 settings ranging from 250°-450°F

Glowing Customer Review: "The Prizm curling iron is perfect for those with hand/wrist arthritis. The powered barrel smoothly wraps hair with the light push of a button, eliminating most of the repetitive hand movements required with standard wands."

Rotating Curling Iron

This rotating curling iron is made for longer hair; hence the shorter clamp, which leaves space for more to be rotated around the barrel. It's also got 5 different heat settings and a timer so all your curls will come out looking even, if not identical.

• Barrel size: 1"

• Curl directions: 2

• Temperature settings: 280°F, 320°F, 360°F, 390°F, 430°F

Glowing Customer Review: "This really works. I love that it beeps when the curl is done so they all come out even. Takes a few tries to get used to the automatic curl tightener, but then it's so much easier than a traditional iron."

44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray

As Franck Izquierdo, co-founder of IGK Hair Care, tells Cosmo,"Always use a heat protectant!" Per Izquierdo, heat protectants "help reduce damage and breakage by sealing and protecting the hair."

This heat protection spray can be used on both wet and dry hair, so you can use it pre-blow dry and pre-heat styling. If you prefer something a bit more moisturizing, Valles recommends using heat protecting leave-in conditioner before blow drying to smooth out your hair before you style.

Glowing Customer Review: "This does not weigh your hair down. It smells amazing and is an affordable salon quality product. Perfect size for traveling, and the pump makes it easy to apply to your hair."

Peach Black Tea & Vitamin Fusion Anti-Shedding & Intense Volume Therapy Hair Spray

No matter how good your curling iron is, odds are you'll need hair spray if you want the style to last. "In addition to using heat protectants on the hair to prevent breakage, it is also important to use hairspray—either before curling the hair to add hold, or after curling the hair to lock in the style," Izquierdo explains.

This hair spray from The Mane Choice features aloe vera and rosemary extract, moisturizing properties that'll help your hair stay soft even as it holds a style. (In other words, no crunch!)

Glowing Customer Review: "It's lightweight and smells subtly delicious. It doesn't leave my hair sticky or crunchy and yet somehow keeps my flyaways down where they belong! It lasted all evening!"

Are rotating curling irons worth it?

Rotating curling irons are definitely worth it, both as a time saver and a beauty hack for those who might not be so great at doing our own hair or are just beginning on their hot hair tools journey. As Valles puts it, "It's an easy-to-use tool that creates amazing curls! They rarely cause any dents or creases."

As someone with an extremely small success rate with regular curling irons, I can 100% say that rotating curling irons are worth it, especially if you have a hard time getting consistent curls with your current tools.

How to use a rotating curling iron:

Using a rotating curling iron is relatively simple, especially if they're automatic, like the majority on this list. That said, every rotating curling iron is different, so you should read the instructions for your tool before diving in. When it comes to curling your hair in general, Valles recommends dividing your hair into 4 or 5-inch sections and brushing those sections before using the curling iron (after heat protectant has been applied, of course). "Always curl away from the face and let the curls sit for 15 minutes before brushing them through," she advises.

How to find the best rotating curling iron for you:

Finding the best rotating curling iron for you will depend on your hair type. For example, curly, thick hair takes more heat to style than thin, straight hair, so those with coarser hair will want to look for higher temperature settings. Overall, there are three things to consider:

Consider temperature setting.

Temperature is key when it comes to rotating curling irons. "You want to make sure you aren't completely damaging the hair," Valles notes. If you already have damaged hair (from coloring or other treatments), Valles suggests trying lower heat levels.

A general rule of thumb is to start at a lower temperature setting and move up as needed, depending on your hair type. "I typically recommend starting at 350 and going no higher than 380 for fine, thin hair types," says Izquierdo. "I recommend starting at 400 and going no higher than 420 for coarser, thicker hair."

Do you want perfectly consistent curls?

Consistent curls depend on heat but also on time. If you curl your hair, you know that hair wrapped around the barrel for 5 seconds will be less curled than hair held there for 10 seconds. This can contribute to uneven curling, which isn't exactly ideal. If you're worried you might lose track of time or struggle with consistent heating times, pick a rotating curling iron with timer settings to tell you when it's time to move on. Not only will this help prevent overheating, but it'll keep that heat nice and consistent on every hair section.

Determine which barrel size is best for you.

When it comes to curling irons, size really does matter. The thicker the barrel, the looser the curl. Before you purchase, think about what style you like best.

Meet the experts:

• Frank Izquierdo is a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care who has helped launch salons in LA, NYC, and Miami, where he currently co-runs the city's IGK's hair salon.

• Priscilla Valles is a hairstylist with an expertise in hair extensions. She has worked with various celebrity clients, helping create looks for Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox, and more. And she recently launched a hair extensions collaboration with Glam Seamless.

Why trust Cosmo

Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan with 10 years of experience writing about culture and beauty. She loves to research and learn about different hair products so she can track down the very best, including the best volumizing hair products or the best natural hair dyes.

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