One thing to consider? While it does work on all hair types, if you have short- to medium-length hair, you won’t likely see those same salon-quality results. It’s better on longer, and especially thicker, hair. “I have fine, shoulder-length, naturally curly thin hair, and it was hard to get a good curl from the Airwrap since the wand is so long,” says Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz.
Best for Thick Hair: GHD Classic Wave Oval Curling Wand
Original video by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle using GHD curling wand
GHD Classic Wave Oval Curling Wand
Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
Original image by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle
- What we love: Heats quickly; automatic shut-off after 30 minutes; two ways to style
- What could improve: Only one heat setting
While an oval barrel takes a bit of getting used to, it’s a great option for natural, undone waves, adding volume without sacrificing length. We love that GHD’s curling iron has an optional spring clamp and a shut-off feature that kicks in after half an hour of nonuse—no more worrying that you left your curling iron plugged in. Just note that it’s preset to 365°F, which might be a touch hot for finer hair.
“This iron, which comes at the recommendation of dozens of celebrity stylists, was a 10-out-of-10 experience for me,” says Glamour contributor Meg Adams. “It’s straightforward to use, delivers even heat, and has a cool and touchable tip so you’re less likely to burn your fingers.” In evaluations, the results were some of the more impressive. “After I styled with the spring clamp, my hair was so shiny and so perfect that a girl stopped me on the subway to ask about my style,” says Adams. “When I used the iron as a wand without the clamp, the results were—unbelievably—even greater. I loved the unfinished quality about the voluminous curls.”
Best Multistyler: Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
Original video by Glamour reviewer Alanna Martine Kilkeary using Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
Shark Beauty FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System for Straight & Wavy Hair
- What we love: Very versatile styling tool; four heat settings; works quickly
- What could improve: Barrel is shorter than other options
Though it’s known as another dupe for the Dyson Airwrap, Shark’s FlexStyle is quickly gaining its own very dedicated fan base. The air-powered styler comes at a fraction of the price—more comparable to our top overall pick—but delivers beautiful curls or a sleek blowout, depending on which attachment you choose. The five attachments are: a drying concentrator, two 1.25-inch curlers (one for each side of the head), and two brush attachments. No matter which one you use, you’ll have your choice of four heat and three airflow settings to personalize your styling session. There’s also a cool-shot button to help curls go the distance. “This is a really solid styling tool that gave me enviable curls,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “I love how customizable it is, and how easy it is to style very curly strands or loose waves. My hair is very long, though, so I do wish the barrel was a little bit longer.”
Best for Hard-to-Curl Hair: Hot Tools Pro Artist 24k-Gold Long Curling Iron
Original video by Glamour contributor Brigitt Early
Hot Tools Pro Artist 24k Gold Collection Extended-Barrel Curling Iron
Original image by Glamour contributor Brigitt Early
Original image by Glamour contributor Brigitt Early
- What we love: Long barrel; five temperature settings; long power cord
- What could improve: Heavier than some others we tested
Hot Tools just launched an update to its award-winning Pro Artist 24K Gold Curling Iron Collection, and it’s so good that it’s worth swapping yours out if you already own one. The new iteration has a longer barrel, so it’s suitable for a wider range of hair lengths—including those who have nearly waist-length hair. It also heats up faster to more precise temperatures so you can better customize your styling session to suit your hair type, whether fine or coarse.
“This curling wand feels a little heavy in hand, but it’s an OG for good reason,” says Earley. “The clamp is easy to use, and the new extended barrel allows me to wrap more of my very long hair around the wand, so it curls on the first pass.” We also like the expanded heat settings, which range from 250°F to 480°F, and the eight-inch swivel cord, which gives you plenty of room to maneuver.
Best for Fine Hair: T3 SinglePass Curl X
Original video by Glamour reviewer Alanna Martine Kilkeary using T3 SinglePass Curl X
- What we love: It’s lightweight and easy to maneuver
- What could improve: The heat settings don’t actually tell you what temperature the barrel is
This slick ceramic curling iron is another love child of T3’s that won’t leave your hair looking frizzy post-curl. The extra-long barrel (6.5 inches) is great for longer hair. We like that the ceramic clamp nicely grips hair without pulling and that the barrel retains enough heat to style wide sections of hair.
After all the curling irons she’s tried throughout her nearly seven-year beauty career, Glamour’s Kilkeary says this is one of the best. “It’s quite ergonomic and allows you to curl hair from its root to its tip with little finesse or constant adjusting,” she says. It also gave Kilkeary frizz-free curls that lasted for a full day—an impressive feat for her very straight, typically hard-to-curl hair. We love that the brand also makes a tapered version of this curling wand if you like waves that are looser on the top, tighter on the bottom.
Best for Beginners: Beachwaver B 1.5
Original video by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
- What we love: Easy to use; curls hair quickly; curls last a long time; brand’s largest barrel size for voluminous curls in long hair
- What could improve: Doesn’t feel as durable as some others we tested
