Our Top-Tested Curling Wands Create Salon-Level Curls and Waves (2024)

A novel twist on a curling wand and the best in the GH 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.

Hot tools, including curling wands, can be an investment, but not this bargain buy Conair model, recommended by GH 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 GH 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.

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 GH 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."

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 GH 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."

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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."

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 GH 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.

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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.

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 GH 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."

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An editor favorite for waves and curls, not only is this GHD curling wand tapered in size, but its shape graduates from circular to oblong for perfectly tousled waves and curls. Its silicone tip stays cool to mitigate the risk of burns. The brand is known for hair tools that heat up quickly and maintain a constant temperature of 365ºF, which the brand claims is safer for hair: The trade-off is that you can't adjust the settings for finer or thicker hair types if needed.

That said, one user called it "the best curling iron I have ever had." Another raved: "This curling iron effortlessly transforms my hair into stunning, voluminous curls that last all day."

This revolutionary Dyson multi-use styling tool acts as a curling wand, a hair dryer and a smoothing brush and is unlike any other before it, utilizing air rather than heated barrels to shape and set hair. Our Beauty Lab pros admire the "genius" air jet design, which makes hair strands, as if by magic, wrap themselves around the curler attachment.

Although it is pricey, the tool comes with five attachments, including two sizes of wands and three brushes, and creates bends that rival a professional blowout. It gives salon-level styling using lower heat, which can minimize damage as well (it may not provide enough heat to set curls if your hair doesn't hold curl well, though).

You can use this smart tool as a traditional curling iron by wrapping hair from the ends and working upward, or you can manually wrap hair around the shaft like a curling wand for a more beachy effect.

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If you've ever had A+ waves on one side of your head and so-so waves on the other, you're not alone. The wand on this Kristin Ess hot tool helps fix that with a pivoting barrel that rotates between 180° and 90° to easily reach every strand and solve a common beginner gripe.

When it was tested in the GH Beauty Lab, it scored well for its light weight (0.8 pounds.), not tugging hair or burning skin and forming curls that stayed defined through the day.

Lab pros noted that the rotating mechanism was a bit difficult to use, though, remarking that the "barrel felt wobbly in both the 90º and 180º positions." They did like that it was "suitable for both long and short hair" and included protective glove that "was comfortable and not too bulky to wear."

With adjustable temperature that goes all the way down to 160ºF, this Paul Mitchell titanium wand is ideal for fragile, fine hair. The tool has a retractable comb attached that grips hair and evenly lays it onto the barrel, which created curls that look "nice and soft right away." One tester noted, "I didn’t think I would care for the built-in retractable comb, but I find it very useful."

In addition, this iron scored best for forming lasting curls and highly for having simple-to-use controls, easily curling hair at the back of the head and releasing without snagging strands. The brand claims the titanium material helps smooth hair.

Testers loved that the digital display shows the temperature and type of hair it's suitable for and also reflects any changes in temperature during styling. They also praised its "small but useful safety stand." It wasn't as compact as other models, however, and the cord is on the shorter side.

✔️ Heat settings: Seek out adjustable heat options when shopping for a curling wand, advises Eugene Toye, a hairstylist at Blandi Salon at The Plaza in New York City. This allows you to tailor your heat to varying hair thicknesses not only across users, but on your own head. If the heat is too low, hair won't curl; too high and you risk damaging your hair. For example, you may want to dial down the temp on the fragile pieces along your hairline, but turn up the heat on the thicker hair at the middle of your head.

"The two terms are often used interchangeably since both categories of tools don't have a clamp and are designed to create more relaxed hair shapes such as waves," Wizemann explains. "The primary difference between the two is that the barrel of a wand is usually tapered and shapes hair into spirals with varying circumferences along a single strand of hair."

Note however, that some products called curling wands can also have straight barrels like curling rods. "Curling rod" can also refer to non-heated tools, like foam rollers, used on wet hair, she adds.

Curling your own hair at home can actually be super simple once you get the hang of it. First, you'll want to prep hair: "When your hair is completely dry, use a heat protectant spray before using the tool on hair," Toye advises. "This helps protect the cuticle from excessive heat." He adds that your hair texture will dictate the temperature you should use.

GH Beauty Lab pros suggest 180°F to 370°F for fine or damaged hair; 375°F to 395° for normal thickness or generally healthy hair; and 400°F to 420°F for thick hair.