Beach waves and soft, loose curls might look effortless, but getting them typically requires a high-quality hot tool — and a decent amount of skill. You can use a curling iron (or even a flat iron!) to achieve gorgeous spirals, but another popular option is a curling wand, which is a clip-less hair tool that can easily create natural-looking curls and waves when you wrap sections of hair around the barrel.
1
Best Overall
CHI Lava Curl Shot Curling Wand
Pros
- Angled configuration makes for foolproof styling
- Top scores in Lab tests for ease of use and look created
- Feels safe to use and doesn’t pull hair
- Ergonomic and lightweight
Cons
- Larger size can be difficult to store
A novel twist on a curling wand and the best in the Beauty Lab’s test, CHI’s tool is angled to easily reach the back of the head. “The handle makes it easy to use it upside-down,” a tester noted. The highest powered of all the wands tested, this single barrel model scored top for creating the desired look, being lightweight and not pulling hair.
It also received the highest scores for being ergonomic and feeling safe to use, with one tester commenting there’s “no learning curve,” even on short hair, which is notoriously difficult to curl with a wand. In addition, experts found the curls the tool created stayed defined, it received the best score for its design and color, and it had the longest cord (professional length) of all those tested.
This wand features a cool shot that blows cool hair onto hair to set the curl more quickly, which one user said made curls “look much more complete… and I don’t have to worry about accidentally disturbing them before they cool down like with traditional irons.” However, note that it is larger in size and though it comes with a protective glove, the glove may be too bulky for small hands.
| Barrel size | 1-inch |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 11 feet |
| Heat settings | Adjustable heat 180ºF to 410ºF, plus cool shot |
| Auto shut-off | 1 hour |
2
Best Value
Conair INFINITIPRO Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand
Pros
- Tapered barrel for natural-looking waves
- Budget-friendly
- Heats up fast
Cons
- Included glove isn’t full-size
Hot tools, including curling wands, can be an investment, but not this bargain buy Conair model, recommended by Beauty pros. Its gradually tapered barrel forms waves that mimic hair’s natural pattern. “This was the first curling wand I ever bought and I still use it when I travel,” said one editor. “It’s inexpensive, so I don’t worry if it gets bumped around in my luggage or accidentally left at a hotel. It’s super no-frills, but it gets the job done!”
Another star attribute besides its less-than-$30 price: its quick preheat time. Be aware that some users complained that the included glove only covers a few fingers so extra care during use or a separate glove may be needed for safety.
| Barrel size | 1-inch to ½-inch taper |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 5 feet |
| Heat settings | 5 adjustable heat settings up to 400º |
| Auto shut-off | 1 hour |
3
Best Tourmaline Cordless
Ion Luxe Cordless Curling Wand
Pros
- Cord-free for easy use and travel
- Heats up quickly
- Creates defined, long-lasting curls
- Comes with a carrying case
Cons
- Doesn’t include a heat protective glove
Ion’s curling wand stands out for its cordless design that lets you easily take the tool on the go. It’s also made with tourmaline technology, which the brand claims boosts hair’s shine. In the Beauty Lab testing, it excelled in several attributes, including its easy-to-use controls, fast heating and forming defined curls that lasted.
While this model doesn’t include a heat protective glove, it does come with a heat-proof carrying case. A tester with thin hair also commented that she would appreciate a “lower heat range” (this has settings from 340ºF to 410ºF).
Overall, it received many positive comments: “I really love that it is cordless and lightweight — I did not get tired doing my hair and it was easy to do the back,” another user said. “The wand heated up so fast; it was very quick to finish my whole head and the curls stayed and did not fall.”
| Barrel size | 1-inch |
|---|---|
| Cord length | N/A |
| Heat settings | 3: 340ºF, 375ºF, 410ºF |
| Auto shut-off | 10 minutes |
4
Best Ceramic
Conair InfinitiPro Curl Secret Automatic Curling Iron
Pros
- Wraps hair around the barrel for you
- Lets you customize the level and direction of curl
- Creates defined curls
- Compact size
Cons
- There may be a learning curve using it at first
Conair’s innovative automatic tool is not your average curling wand: You choose a heat setting, curl type (defined, loose, wavy) and curl direction (right, left or alternating), then place a section of hair into the wand where it wraps around the barrel at the press of a button. You then release when the tool beeps and out pops a shaped curl.
Though some Beauty Lab testers found it tricky to figure out how to use this technology, the wand scored well for being compact and producing well-defined curls. It also rated highly for being gentle — not burning skin or hair — and is made with ceramic material which the brand claims more evenly distributes heat for less hair damage.
Several testers marveled at how “quickly it curled hair” and one reported that her “curls lasted multiple days, which has never happened before.” Another enthused: “I was so happy with the result of the curls and the different types of curls you can do with it — I will use this over a normal curling iron every time.”
| Barrel size | 3/4 inch |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8 feet |
| Heat settings | 5 settings: 300°F, 330°F, 355°F, 385°F, 410°F |
| Auto shut-off | 60 minutes |
5
Best Gold-Plated
Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Tapered Curling Wand
Pros
- Easy to use
- Forms natural-looking curls
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a heat protective glove
This gold-plated Hot Tools model was the best tapered curling wand in the Beauty Lab’s test — and great for creating relaxed curls and waves.This tool’s barrel graduates from 1 inch to 1 1/2-inches for an undone look. Lightweight at just 0.73 pounds, expert evaluators gave the wand the top score for being compact and easy to operate and maneuver, even on the back of the head. One drawback is that it doesn’t include a heat protective glove.
“I’m not very skilled curling my hair with a wand but this one gave me nice, natural-looking curls and it was easy to use,” an expert evaluator said. It earned even more raves: “I love how comfortable it is to hold, the slimmer handle, that the cool tip stays cold and the length of barrel feels just right,” another commented. “It is light and I can control it really well.”
| Barrel size | 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch taper |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8 feet |
| Heat settings | Adjustable temperature 280ºF to 450ºF |
| Auto shut-off | 2 hours |
6
Best for Damaged Hair
Drybar The Wrap Party Styling Wand
Pros
- Didn’t cause visible hair damage
- Reverse taper gives a unique curl
- Fastest preheat time for quick styling
- Simple to operate
Cons
- Doesn’t include a heat protective glove
The unique taper on this Drybar wand is reversed for curls that bell out at the bottom and are tighter at the top, giving a less uniform and more believable effect. Even better: It’s gentle on strands, earning the highest marks for not visibly burning or damaging hair in the Beauty Lab testing.
The tool was also the fastest to heat up in Lab tests (from 0 to 435ºF in 60 seconds) and it nabbed the best expert score for having simple controls, a clear LED display and being easy to maneuver. (Note that it doesn’t come with a heat protective glove.) “I like that the inverse tapered shape allows for different size curls, which looks natural,” an expert tester revealed.
| Barrel size | 1- to 1 ¼-inch reverse taper |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 9 feet |
| Heat settings | Adjustable temperature up to 450ºF |
| Auto shut-off | 1 hour |
7
Best for Long Hair
BabylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Wand
Pros
- Extended 16-inch barrel for long, thick hair
- Intuitive to use and maneuver
- Heats up quickly
- Lightweight
Cons
- Heat protective glove not included
The extra-long 16-inch barrel on this BabylissPro one-inch wand makes it perfect for even super-long hair that has a tendency to wrap around itself on traditionally-sized curling wands and irons. Despite its length, it was the lightest among the GH Beauty Lab test winners at only 0.7 pounds. GH Beauty Lab experts gave it the highest marks for its speedy heat-up time, being easy to maneuver and having intuitive controls.
The length of this wand takes some getting used to, the cord can tangle easily and it doesn’t come with a heat protective glove, though, so be particularly careful when operating it at first. “The long barrel is great for wrapping hair around,” a user reported.
| Barrel size | 1-inch |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 8 feet |
| Heat settings | 5 settings up to 430ºF |
| Auto shut-off | None |
8
Best for Short Hair
Bio Ionic 3-in-1 Styling Iron
Pros
- 3-in-1 curling wand, curling iron and flat iron
- Created long-lasting curls
- Large temperature range
- Works on short hair
Cons
- Switching between mechanisms can take getting used to
A novel design that incorporates a flat iron mode along with a curling wand and a curling iron, this Bio Ionic 1 ¼-inch rod scored well across the board in the Beauty Lab testing from ease of operation to performance to user satisfaction on various hair lengths.
It scored high for having a wide temperature range, plus got perfect marks for curls that lasted throughout the day, making it ideal for thick, coarse or coily hair that tends to frizz. The model was also ergonomic, heated up quickly and had a long cord for maneuvering. (Although overall users found it “easy to operate,” switching between the modes can be tricky.)
Even short-haired testers loved its versatility, praising that “it was the safest curling tool I used: Easy to maneuver and keep from touching the face or scalp.” Users also loved its “compact size” that makes it “great for travel.”
| Barrel size | 1 ¼-inch |
|---|---|
| Cord length | 9 feet |
| Heat settings | Adjustable temperature 240ºF to 430ºF |
| Auto shut-off | 1 hour |
