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This is an excellent solution for quick styling sans hot air—meaning you could use this for touch-ups after air-drying or for on-the-go styling. Unlike many other options, Dyson taps air instead of a heated surface to curl the hair, and to our delight, we experienced zero heat damage, even when we used it several times a week on bonded hair extensions. With the Airwrap, we didn’t have to get super close to our scalp and risk the integrity of the bonds in order to get our extensions to support a curl. It’s also worth noting that we used the second generation Airwrap that comes with barrels that allow you to switch the direction of the airflow. Although it's a small detail, it had a big payoff because it made it super easy for us to ensure our curls were all facing the right direction. Our curls held well, though on finer hair, the larger barrel resulted in more of a bouncy blowout effect than a true curl.
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We also liked that this tool features universal voltage, making it travel friendly. Temperature aside, we liked the clamp’s nice, strong grip that didn’t yank at our hair, but kept it firmly in place as we styled, while the barrel was smooth enough to slide our finished curls right off. Most hot tools will break when used with a power converter abroad, but because this tool offers dual voltage, we were able to safely style our hair while traveling outside of the country. Fancy features, cutting-edge technology, and just about every barrel size you can imagine, we tested them all. "The Lyealion wand wrapped really well; giving me a tighter curl that started close to the root without burning my scalp. The clamp held hair tightly without tugging, too." This can be used on all hair types but our research showed it works best on longer hair.
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For individuals with fine hair, there are fewer layers to protect the strands, so you should use less heat when styling. Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair, recommends lower heat (250F - 300F) for fine hair, as each section will shape much quicker than the same section of denser/thicker hair. “Normal hair is best styled with medium heat of 350F, while thick hair can be styled with 375 F-450F. The thicker the hair, the more heat is needed to penetrate and create shape and curl in the hair,” she adds.
Beachwaver PRO Curling Iron
The products that made this list make curls appear like magic, with little to no effort required. Curling irons offer styling versatility — you can create voluminous bombshell curls, loose beach waves, cascading spiral curls and bouncy ringlets, depending on the type of tool you use and the size of the barrel you utilize. But what are the best curling irons, and what should you look for when shopping for one? To find out, we asked professional hairstylists to share their favorite curling irons, along with tips on how to shop for one and hacks to achieve the look you want. Celebrity hairstylist Nikkia Nelson also likes the BaBylissPRO curling irons, calling the temperature settings “phenomenal” in delivering an amazing curl. It’s made with a titanium barrel to heat the hair from within, creating everything from loose waves to tight curls.
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Lyealion Interchangeable Hair Curling Wand
The size of the barrel, for example, can make a huge difference to the size of the curl and how defined it is. If you have long, thick hair, you’re going to want a styler that offers higher temperatures than someone with thin or fine hair. And if your hair is damaged or brittle, you’ll likely benefit from an iron that’s been infused with oils and proteins, or a styler that curls your hair with hot air rather than hot metal.
There’s no one right way to style hair, but few tools are quite so versatile as a curling iron. Whether you like your curls tight and coily, loose and wavy, uniform and polished, or textured and messy, using a curling iron makes it easy to create a vast array of looks with one simple tool. We also have a panel of testers try them out at home and report back on how well the curling irons create curls, how long the curls last and how easy and comfortable the tools are to use. This sleek one-inch model has universal voltage and earned dozens of raves with reviewers, including those with thin hair. "I have fine hair and it is wonderful to find a curling iron that actually does what I need it to," one Nordstrom reviewer said. We haven't Lab-tested this iron, but it's a consistent top-seller with a cult following (and a GH beauty editor fave!).
The Infinitipro consistently spat out shiny, glossy curls that lasted through the day and beyond, especially on thicker and more textured hair. In fact, we found that our curls lasted up to four days on our very curly hair — no touch-ups required. It scored highest for releasing hair from the clamp without snagging or pulling hair, including a perfect score for its clamp. Though we haven't tested this one in-Lab, the brand claims it heats up in 30 seconds, and we love that it has a swivel cord and adjustable temperature settings.
How to Curl Straight Hair, According to Stylists - InStyle
How to Curl Straight Hair, According to Stylists.
Posted: Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:09:00 GMT [source]
Best for Heat Protection
"Left and right barrels made the Shark really easy to use and it wraps the curls quickly. It dried my hair and created defined, blowout curls in one step." The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is honestly comparable to the Dyson. Our tester, who has owned the Dyson Airwrap for over two years, admits that it works the exact same. To get voluminous, beachy curls, you just grab your hair at the tip, leaving about an inch of hair between your fingers, and the tool automatically sucks it in and curls it.
If you’re looking for a truly high-quality tool that will offer you versatility, this one is worth the investment. If you’re looking for a curling iron that will help you achieve tight, defined curls, the three-quarters-of-an-inch model from Babyliss is a great option. Though it doesn’t have fancy features like a digital temperature display or automatic shut-off, it’s a functional iron that gets the job done at an affordable cost. The clamp is secure which helps you maintain control, but it’s not so tight that it tugs at the hair. It also offers multiple heat settings which you can adjust with the temperature dial, though it’s a bit tricky to select a precise temperature. Titanium irons heat up fast and help retain moisture, preventing hair from becoming dry or brittle.
Then, there's the Marcel iron, which Santiago says is mostly for professionals as it has a manual handle that's not as user-friendly to the masses. Aside from the heat-protecting feature, we really like that it’s a wand-style iron with a cool-touch silicone grip that you can use to secure the ends of the hair to guide you as you style it. Though not necessary, this little feature can be useful, especially for beginners.

If you can’t manage wrangling a round brush and dryer, opt for this large-barreled curling iron instead. The hunt for perfectly spiraled curls can be a long, treacherous journey, but this curling iron makes it easy. It’s affordable, easy to use, and works quickly, so you spend less time styling and more time feeling like Rapunzel.
Either way, this is designed to lock in moisture and create long-lasting curls sans crunchy texture. According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any curling irons from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at and we will evaluate the product ASAP. The best way to use a curling iron is whatever way it feels most comfortable for you.
The two most common materials used to create curling irons are ceramic and titanium. “Personally, I like ceramic curling irons better, as it heats up slowly and steadily and offers a very consistent and gentle heat distribution,” says Marjan. This tool has interchangeable wands to allow you to get different-sized curls and waves. The smallest, cone-shaped attachment accentuates natural curls, while the larger barrels can add bounce and texture to straight hair. Constantly applying heat to your hair, especially daily, won’t help to prevent damage. However, Jagling says using a curling iron weekly is generally okay, since there are so many heat protectant products available, which allows you to safely style your hair more frequently.
Depending on the direction you want the tool to curl in, you’ll hit the corresponding arrow button on the grip of the iron. While this doesn’t sound super complicated (and it’s not), we admit that it does require you to remember if you need to press the top or bottom button to make the curling iron rotate in the correct direction. Aside from that, she was pleased that it comes with a digital temperature display, an anti-scald tip, and a small yet effective clamp.