Top 5 Best Curling Irons & Wands for 2022

When it comes to styling your hair, just as it’s important to invest in a good flat iron or hair dryer, you shouldn’t disregard quality when buying a curling iron or wand, thinking that they’re all the same. Although it may be tempting to pick one up at a convenience store, many of the cheaper models can cause significant damage to your hair. Lower quality curling irons may also begin to deteriorate, causing snagging or burning of your hair as well. A quality curling iron or wand will allow you to have more control over styling your hair as well as provide temperature controls to ensure that you are able to achieve the style and texture you desire without damaging your hair.

With so many different makes and models of hair curlers on the market today, we know just how difficult it can be selecting just one out of the bunch. So in order to help you choose one that’s right for you and your budget, we thoroughly researched and compared 50 different curling irons to create this buyer’s guide. Below are our top five picks.

Understanding what kind of hair you have and what kind of look you want is important before selecting a curling iron. You will also want to understand the different products on the market today, what makes them unique, and what features they deliver.

Barrel Size

One way you can control the size of your curls and the look you want to create with your hairstyle is by varying the barrel size of your iron. That’s why several products offer interchangeable barrels so you can swap out thinner barrels for thicker ones when you’re trying to create a different kind of curl. Professionals use thinner barrels to achieve tight, small ringlets and thicker ones to create loose, bouncy curls.

Heat Options

Another way to control the style is by selecting specific heat settings. The lower the heat setting, the more relaxed the curl. In addition, you may need to adjust your heat setting depending on the type of hair you have. Thicker, coarse hair requires a higher heat setting to result in long-lasting curls. A lower temperature will work for finer hair and cause less heat damage. Many styling sets allow you to adjust the temperature so you can experiment and find the best heat level for your hair and style.

Materials

Most professional stylists use ceramic and tourmaline irons to ensure healthy hair in the long run. This material helps distribute the heat more evenly through your hair. The negative ions released by tourmaline help protect against damage, hold moisture in your hair and prevent frizzing. Some curling irons are made of gold or titanium, which conduct heat well, but may result in frizzing or damage. These irons may be fine to use if you style your hair very rarely.

Differences Between Curling Wands and Irons

Many product descriptions often use the terms curling wands and curling irons interchangeably. However, there are subtle differences between the two. They each have advantages and disadvantages. Stylists use one over the other for particular reasons that you may want to understand.

The Curling Iron

The curling iron usually has one average-sized barrel with a clip to hold your hair. Some irons may have a single heat setting instead of variable, and they are more likely to come with a heat insulated tip to add control without accidental burning.

If you’re looking for a smooth, shiny, formal look, a curling iron may be the better tool than a wand, which doesn’t give you that shine.

To curl your hair with an iron, you’ll place your hair in between the barrel and the clip, slide it down to the end of your strand, roll it up, and hold for at least 10 seconds. You can also slide the iron to the middle of the strand, twist the remaining hair around the barrel, and clamp the end.

One minor disadvantage is that the clamp can leave a small, unnatural flattened mark on your hair. The very tips of your hair may also remain straight because they are not curled around the iron as evenly as with a wand.

The Curling Wand

The curling wand is basically a barrel without a clip used for styling your hair. Most wands heat extremely quickly to high temperatures. They are usually sold with a special heat-resistant safety glove to prevent burning since many do not have a cool tip. The high heat creates durable curls that can last all day.

Tapered from one end to the base, the curling wand allows you to casually control the size of your curls by positioning your hair along the wand. The absence of the clip means no noticeable creases in your hair, resulting in a more natural look.

Styling with a wand is easy and fast because the unit heats up so quickly. It creates casual, bouncy curls. The typical way you use a wand is to hold the wand in one hand and use a gloved hand to wrap your hair from root to tip around the wand. Since the heat is so high, you only need to hold your hair against the wand for about five seconds to achieve a curl. Then, gently remove the wand from the curl.

Whether you choose a curling iron, a curling wand, or both or select a styling tool that has one barrel or interchangeable ones will depend on your personal styling goals. If you are looking for a new curly look every day, you may want to invest in a high quality, interchangeable set with variable temperatures to give you the most control and variety. If you are looking for a styling tool to be used only occasionally for special events, a less expensive, simple model make work just fine.

Regardless of your choice, you’ll want to select a styling set that is designed to protect the long term health of your hair.