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8 best curling tongs, wands and hair tools for every hair type 2024
Get perfect waves every time
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When it comes to styling your hair, whether you fancy finally treating yourself to some tongs or are in dire need of an upgrade, we’ve rounded up the best hair wands, tongs and wavers that give you failsafe curls every time.
Not sure which ones are worth the cash? We asked our beauty editors to try out the latest models to see which ones you should add to your basket.
Best curling tongs, wands and hair tools
What size curling wand should I use?
The thicker or longer your hair, the bigger the barrel should be. This helps speed up your styling as you can wrap more strands around the wand. Thicker barrels are also ideal for those looking for larger curls, loose waves and a bouncy look. The options on our list go up to 40mm, so if you’ve got XXL lengths like J.Lo, the bigger the better.
On the other hand, if you’ve got fine hair or are rocking a bob, maybe if you want tighter ringlets, there’s no need for the extra space, so opt for a thinner, smaller barrel (the smallest on our list starts from 21mm). These tend to be lighter and more suitable for travel, or for taking with you to the gym for post-workout styling.
Are wands or curling tongs better?
The biggest difference between the two hair tools is the shape. A wand is just as you’d imagine — a wand that can be straight, bubbled or tapered — whereas tongs have a clamp on the side to hold hair in place.
While they both pretty much do the same thing, wands are usually better for beginners who want to keep things simple, as they can give you a bit more freedom in your style. You can also create different-sized curls easily.
A curling tong, on the other hand, can create more uniform curls and tends to provide more of a frizz-free finish, due to the clamp that holds strands in place.
We've also featured a hair waver below, which is a three-barrelled styling tool that's designed to create mermaid or beach waves with ease.
How we test
The curling wand arena is a competitive space, with many tools and brands vying for our attention. So to make this a winning edit of curling tongs, the curler had to be easy and intuitive to use, while offering multiple heat settings for a customisable styling experience – with exception for ghd, which famously sticks to the standard 185°C.
We also looked at how well the tool created the look – whether that's beachy waves or bouncy curls – and how long it lasted. And, of course, add-ons, like a travel pouch, are very appreciated.
Best curling tongs and wands for every hair type
It’s no surprise that ghd's Curve Classic Curl Tong gets first place position. Whether you have short or long hair, the 26mm wand creates effortless curls that are bouncier than your classic blow-out wave.
The tool is also set at the standard 185°C, which ghd recommends being the best temperature to deliver results without singeing your strands.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Tong |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 1 |
| Barrel diameter | 26mm |
If you're after Cindy Crawford, Hollywood-style curls, this is the gadget to take you there. The BaByliss Rose Quartz Curling Tong has a 3mm barrel – which is quite thick in the curling world – to master that XXL blow-out look.
The rose tinge isn't just for the aesthetics either. The barrel is coated in quartz-ceramic, helping to ensure even heat distribution which will result in a sleeker look – oh, and fewer flyways too.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Tong |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 6 |
| Barrel diameter | 38mm |
Those with bobs and lobs don’t need an unnecessarily long barrel, which is where this wand is particularly handy.
Its compact size is perfect for popping in your gym bag and it managed to leave most of our editors with healthier-looking hair. It gives an almost snag-free styling experience too, and comes with a handy travel case.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Wand |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 3 |
| Barrel diameter | 25mm |
Newbies will love Hershesons' The Wand. Firstly, it's one of the lightest tools we've tested, making it incredibly easy to style the back of your head, sans aching arms.
Then, its got a 360°C rotating temperature gauge, ranging from 80°C for fine hair to 210°C for thick or textured hair, so you can personalise your styling experience depending on your hair type.
As for the finish, the 25mm barrel creates different kinds of texture – whether that's beachy waves, loose curls or tousled lengths. The protective pouch is a handy feature for travel, too.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Wand |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | Ranges from 80C to 210C |
| Barrel diameter | 25mm barrel |
Frizz is tough to beat, but this wand manages to minimise flyways, leaving smooth and symmetrical curls.
Quite cleverly, it features Remington's OptiHeat Technology meaning most of the heat is concentrated at the base of the wand (where the thickest segment of hair is) and less at the tip. So, alongside a frizz-free finish, the wand will deliver minimum damage to your precious lengths.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Wand |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 10 (between 120C and 210C) |
| Barrel diameter | 25mm to 38mm |
Dyson Dyson Airwrap multi-styler and dryer
It doesn’t get more luxe than this Dyson treasure chest. Yes, it's a high-end investment, however there's a clear reason why this innovation is loved by editors all over.
The kit is full of attachments which allow you to create whatever curl you desire, from defined ringlets to bouncy blow-out waves.
How's it done? The AirWrap uses the Coanda effect to draw hair to the barrel, dry and set the style in place. With genius heat control technology too, the styler will never reach above 150°C, preventing long-term heat damage.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Wand |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 4 |
| Barrel diameter | 30mm and 40mm |
Helping to declutter your hair tool draw, this device comes with interchangeable heads, so you can create an array of different-sized curls with just one wand.
The various barrels fashion everything from relaxed waves to bouncy curls, without snagging strands. But, above all, our editors love it for creating an effortless beachy look.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Wand |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 5 (127C, 149C, 177C, 199C, 210C) |
| Barrel diameter | 32mm to 19mm, 25mm, 38mm |
This waver works well on all hair types and creates some seriously glam curls. It comes with a mammoth 28 different temperature settings too, making it ideal for those who are conscious of heat damage.
As for the finish, the S-shaped tool creates natural-looking waves, and it delivers on volume that won't deflate by the end of the day.
Key specifications
| Styler type | Waver |
|---|---|
| Number of heat settings | 28 (between 80C and 220C) |
| Barrel diameter | 21mm |
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Clare Stephenson is a Beauty Ecommerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Red and Good Housekeeping, covering all things makeup, skincare and hair care, as well as deals events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Clare has been an ecommerce writer since 2022, writing matter-of-fact such as deep dives into and filled with her favourite products for every budget and need.
Before working at Hearst UK, she received a BA degree in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on the world of magazines and editorial. From there, she worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events like Fashion Week and interviewing reputable brand founders, including Rea Ann Silva creator of Beautyblender.
When she’s not testing the latest and greatest products, you can find Clare sifting through vintage clothing stores in the city or horseback riding in the countryside.
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