The luxe Dyson AirWrap comes with reengineered attachments that self-wrap hair both clockwise and counterclockwise with one barrel, according to Courtney Foster, a hairstylist and trichologist. It comes with six attachments, including three brushes for smoothing and volumizing. After sectioning your hair, choose a barrel, wrap your damp strands around it and hold for about 15 seconds to dry and curl your hair. Follow up with a cool shot of air to help lock your style in place and release for curls or waves, says Foster.
Material: n/a | Barrel size: Depends on attachment | Number of heat settings: 3 | Digital display: No | Max heat: 302 degrees Fahrenheit
T3 makes some of our favorite curling irons because they have extra long barrels and leave hair very shiny with curls that seem to last all day, says Michael Dueñas, a celebrity hairstylist, groomer and photographer. This long barrel, which is great for long hair and hard to reach places, styles with ease since it’s held in place by the brand’s ProGlide clip design, which is easy to control and glides easily without snagging hair, according to the brand.
Material: Ceramic | Barrel size: 1.25 inches | Number of heat settings: 9 | Digital display: No | Max heat: 410 degrees Fahrenheit
This curling iron, with its 24K gold iron barrel, heats up to 430 degrees Fahrenheit evenly, allowing you to create uniform curls, according to the brand. It’s also easy to use and evenly distributes heat, which allows for faster styling, says Foster.
Material: 24K gold | Barrel size: 1.25 inches | Number of heat settings: 10 | Digital display: No | Max heat: 430 degrees Fahrenheit
For easy at-home use that’s suitable for all hair types, Foster recommends this option from Babyliss. The nano titanium exterior helps to speed up styling, lock in moisture and reduces frizz for smoother curls. You can achieve this with minimal hassle since the tool is lightweight and equipped with features, like a cool tip, to lower the risk of burning your fingers, according to the brand.
Material: Titanium | Barrel size: 1.25 inches | Number of heat settings: Unlimited between 250 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Digital display: No | Max heat: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
This curling iron has every barrel size you could ever need, and each one distributes heat evenly. Plus, the curling iron comes with a stay cool tip to make styling easier, says Dueñas. This option from Amika also reduces the amount of heat damage since it causes heat to penetrate the cuticle, resulting in faster styling, according to the brand.
Material: Titanium | Barrel size: Depends on attachment | Number of heat settings: Unlimited between 250 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Digital display: Yes | Max heat: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Styling my hair isn’t always easy, and neither is getting the exact curls/waves I have in mind, but I have had the best luck with this interchangeable trio. It comes with three barrels that are easy to swap in and out. Plus, they heat up quickly and always leave me with a shiny and smooth, bouncy curl/wave. If you prefer less of a wave and more of a curl, consider the T3 Switch Kit Curl Trio.
Material: Ceramic | Barrel size: Depends on attachment | Number of heat settings: 9 | Digital display: No | Max heat: 410 degrees Fahrenheit
“It looks strange at first and takes some practice, but the Conair Infinito Pro produces the most uniform curl, like magic,” says Foster. This curling iron automatically draws the hair into its chamber, where it’s rolled into a curl and heated. When your curl is ready to be released, an automatic beep indicator will sound off to alert you. However, you can always adjust the timer to release the hair sooner, according to the brand.
Material: Tourmaline ceramic | Barrel size: n/a | Number of heat settings: Two | Digital display: No | Max heat: 400 degrees Fahrenheit
This L’ange hot tool creates waves that last all day with immense shine, says Dueñas. To help you achieve the perfect look, this waver’s 10-second smart timer will let you know when to move onto the next section of your hair, according to the brand. Overall, this L’ange waver creates cascading and medium waves as opposed to Le Waver (tight, crimpy waves) and Le Tridente (deep beachy waves).
Material: Titanium | Barrel size: Three 16 millimeter barrels | Number of heat settings: Unlimited between 250 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Digital display: Yes | Max heat: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
This curling iron is one of the most user-friendly on our list — to create a curl, simply clamp your hair down and twist the base so that it rolls the hair around the barrel, according to the brand. After curling, your hair is left still feeling soft because the brand’s technology helps seal and lock in moisture throughout the curling process, according to Bio Ionic.
Material: Ceramic | Barrel size: 1.25 inches | Number of heat settings: Unlimited between 140 to 440 degrees Fahrenheit | Digital display: Yes | Max heat: 440 degrees Fahrenheit
This waver is one of my most used hair tools and it goes wherever I go because I truly cannot live without it. The three barrels give my hair perfect waves in just a short amount of time because it heats up so quickly and molds my hair to its shape instantly. Luckily, my thick hair holds styles for a long time so I’m left with sleek beachy waves for days after using this hot tool.
Material: Tourmaline ceramic | Barrel size: Three 1-inch barrels | Number of heat settings: Unlimited up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Digital display: Yes | Max heat: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Unlike other interchangeable irons on our list, this one combines all types of curling irons into one with attachments including a wand, clamp curling iron and waver. Not only can you customize it to how you want your curls and waves, but it’s also suitable for all hair types and textures since you can adjust the temperature and tailor it to your preferences.
Material: Ceramic | Barrel size: Depends on attachment | Number of heat settings: Unlimited up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Digital display: Yes | Max heat: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
In addition to your hair type, our experts say you should consider the following when shopping for a curling iron:
The type of curling iron you purchase will depend on how you want your hair to look. Our experts discuss the different types below.
Curling irons can be made of various materials and, at times, can combine two or more. Below, our experts explain each and how it differs from its alternatives.
Choose a curling iron that allows you regulate its temperature, as opposed to one with a simple on/off switch, says Foster. This is important because your hair density helps determine the appropriate temperature setting, according to Jagling.
Finer hair types benefit most from low heat, while those with thicker hair should aim higher, according to our experts. For example, people with very thick hair, should set their curling iron between 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit, says Jagling. To keep things in perspective, remember that paper burns at 451 degrees, so if your iron is that hot, it can burn your hair just the same, adds Jagling.
According to our experts, barrel size depends on the type of curl you want to achieve. For tight curls, use a small barrel, and for looser ones, consider a large barrel.
To create long-lasting curls with a curling iron,, consider some of Jagling’s pro tips below.
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.
Also, how often you use a curling iron might depend on how often you wash your hair, he says. Generally, his clients follow a routine. Day one involves washing their hair and blowing it out. Day two is using a hot tool, like a curling iron, and molding their hair. If their hair tends to get greasy quickly, by day three, they throw their hair in an updo and apply dry shampoo before washing and repeating the cycle again.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Bianca Alvarez is an associate reporter covering skin care and hair care, whose recent stories include roundups of the best shampoo for damaged hair and dry shampoos. For this story, she interviewed experts and researched highly rated shampoos for curling irons that were in line with expert guidance.
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