Best Hair Curlers And Curling Tongs Reviews

There are many tools you can use to create hair curls.

Heated rollers are the most basic. But they are also tedious to use and take long to set curls. You can also use a flattening iron. Some hair straighteners can curl hair as well as flatten it. Another option is to use a hot air styler. Some versatile hot air stylers can be used for straightening, hair drying as well as curling.

Another alternative, and this is the one we’ll focus on in this buying guide, is a dedicated hair curler. This is a special tool specifically designed to create different types of curls.

Whether you want short springy curls or long wavy ones, a hair curler (also called a curling tong) is one of the best tools to use.

One of the biggest advantages of hair curlers is their versatility. You can create many different types of curls depending on your preferences and the occasion. They also work fast, saving you precious time in the morning. Some even have automatic hair curling mechanisms that get your hair done in no time.

We have scoured around for the best hair curlers you can buy today. We made sure to include only the best ones that are worth your money. They will save you time, make it easier to style your hair and leave you tresses looking fabulous.

1. ghd Curve Classic Curl Tong

If it’s ghd you know it’s good. The Curve Classic is a premium hair curler that is perfect for those looking for smaller curls.

It features a 26-mm barrel that produces medium-size curls. The barrel is designed with tri-zone technology that locks your hair into a tight curl and uses sensors to provide even heat distribution. This reduces the risk of hair damage and results in better looking curls.

For safety, the barrel’s tip remains cool to make sure you don’t burn your ears or scalp. And when you are finished styling your hair, there is a safety stand to secure the curler. Read our full review of ghd Classic Curl Tong.

What we like about it:

• Heats up fast and evenly.
• Spring lever to secure hair tips when curling.
• Easy to use.
• Does not catch on hair.

2. BaByliss Simplicity Curl Secret

If you want to spend less time wrestling with your hair, get this automatic curler.

The main part of this unit is a ceramic chamber, where your hair gets automatically curled using gentle heat.

There are two heat settings to allow you to choose the one that’s most comfortable and safe for your hair. There are also timer settings, letting you determine how long you want your hair to stay in the chamber.

If you have fine hair, you can set a lower temperature and the lowest timer to prevent heat damage.

If your hair tends to get frizzy, turn on the ionic setting when curling. The ceramic chamber releases negative ions to eliminate frizz.

What we like about it:

• Heat and timer settings. This makes the Babyliss Automatic Curler ideal for different hair types.
• Fast and effective curling.
• Ionic treatment available.

3. BaByliss Ceramic Curling Wand Pro

If you are looking for a simpler more basic curler, try this one from Babyliss. It’s a simple wand made from ceramic that you can use to create a wide variety of curls.

The barrel is long enough to be used on short as well as long hair. Depending on your hair type, you can choose among 5 temperature settings ranging between 150 and 210 Celsius.

To use it, just curl a section of your hair around the wand in a spiral formation. The barrel has a special feature to prevent hair from slipping out.

For safety, you’ll receive a heat glove along with the curler. Wear it when curling your hair in case you accidentally touch the barrel.

What we like about it:

• Versatile. You can curl your hair into any style you want.
• Really easy to use.
• Heat protection glove provided.
• Ideal for all hair types and lengths.

4. BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl

This is a salon-quality tool but it’s easy to use at home. It uses a ceramic chamber to automatically create curls within seconds. To prevent hair damage, you can set the best temperature and how long you want to curl each section of hair.

The best part about this curler is its versatility. You can create just about any style of curls from short boyish ones to gentler sensual waves. You just need to tweak the temperature and timer settings. You can also set the direction of the curl with a just a press of a button. Read our full review of BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl.

What we like about it:

• Highly versatile.
• Quick and effective styling.
• Heat-ready indicator, swivel cord and auto-shut off for easier use and safety.

5. Cloud Nine The Curling Wand

This curler has an extra-long 25mm wand that makes it easy to style both long and short hair. The curling barrel is mineral-infused and coated with ceramic to give your hair a sleek glossy finish.

To protect your hair, there are three heat settings to choose from: high, low and medium. The temperature ranges between 125 to 175 degrees Celsius.

When curling your hair, remember to put on the heat glove (included with the curler) to protect your hand. And when you finish, use the kickstand on the barrel to rest the curler without the barrel touching and potentially damaging your surfaces. Read our full review of Cloud 9’s The Curling Wand.

What we like about it:

• Ideal for all hair types and lengths.
• Mineral and ceramic infused barrel for shiny hair.
• Easy to use.
• Heat proof glove and surface-protection kickstand included.

6. Nicky Clarke 19mm Digital Pro Ceramic Curling Tong

This is another simple but highly effective and versatile hair curler. It uses a 19mm ceramic barrel that heats up quickly and evenly for long-lasting curls. The barrel is shorter than in most curlers but it’s still long enough for most hair lengths.

There are 7 heat settings, making this tong ideal from different types of hair from thick to fragile. A digital display in the handle tells you what temperature you have chosen.

For a glossy finish, this curler uses Ionic and Tourmaline technology that emit negative ions. It also uses far infrared rays (totally safe) to lock in moisture in your hair to keep it soft and shiny.

What we like about it:

• An extra-long 2m swivel cord for effortless curling.
• 60-minute auto shutoff for safety.
• Doesn’t catch on hair.

7. Remington CI96W1 Silk Curling Wand

It is not an automatic curler but this wand is just as good, albeit with just a little bit more work involved. But rest assured that your curls will still look as glossy and fabulous as ever.

One of the best features of the Remington curling wand is the silk ceramic coating. It provides even heating and leaves your hair looking all glossy and bouncy.

The wand can heat up to 220 degrees, so you’ll need to use the glove (provided) to prevent accidents. The lowest heat setting is 120 degrees. Using buttons on the handle, choose the best temperature level that will produce long lasting curls without causing heat damage.

What we like about it:

• Ideal for all hair types and lengths.
• Heat protection glove and luxury storage/travel pouch provided.
• Silk ceramic coating for a glossy finish.
• Easy to use.

8. TRESemme Defined Curls Curling Tong

This tong heats to a slightly lower 185 degrees. This is still hot enough to curly most hair types. It uses a ceramic barrel to provide fast and even heating and make sure the wand doesn’t catch on your hair.

The short (16mm) curling wand creates gentler wavy curls.
One of the unique features of this curler is the brush attachment. It allows you to use the wand both as a curler and a hot brush.

What we like about it:

• Versatile.
• Curls hair quickly and with minimal heat damage.
• Can be used worldwide, making it perfect for travelling.

Considerations when buying a hair curler

Before you go shopping for a hair curler – or any other hair styling tool – make sure you know your hair needs. That includes things like thickness, sensitivity and length.

The wrong tool will not only be ineffective in styling, it can also cause serious damage.

For instance, if you have damaged hair, you need to be extremely careful with a heat-based tool such as a curler. Make sure the one you buy allows you to set a low heat level.

Here are other factors to consider.

1. Ease of use

When talking about method of use, there are two general types of hair curlers: automatic and mechanical.

Automatic hair curlers are the easiest to use. You don’t have to wrap your hair around a barrel. Instead, your hair is pulled into a chamber that automatically creates curls using heat. Most automatic curlers have timers to remind you when to remove the hair to avoid heat damage.

Mechanical hair curlers also use heat but require the user to do a little bit more work. You have to wrap sections of your hair around a barrel. The hot barrel then sets the curls in place.

While automatic curlers are easy to use, they tend to sometimes trap your hair. This can be painful especially if you have a sensitive scalp.

Mechanical curlers often have a smooth ceramic wand on which hair cannot get caught on. If anything, the wands have to add anti-slip features.

Both types of curlers, while they have vast price differences, are equally effective at styling your hair. If you want to save time, go with the automatic one. If you want more control over the styling process and you don’t mind the extra work, opt for the mechanical curler.

2. Temperature settings

Curlers depend on heat to change your hair’s shape and structure. So the temperature settings are really important.

Make sure the curler you plan on buying has at least three heat levels. Others can have up to seven. This allows you to set the safest temperature.

For those with thick hair, you can gradually raise the temperature level until you find the ideal one that can curl your hair well.

Also check the temperature range. The higher the range, the better. I recommend a maximum temperature of around 220 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of around 175 degree Celsius.

3. Length

Curlers can be as short as 10mm and as long as 26mm or more. Others have a retractable wand that can be reduced in length when styling short hair and lengthened when working on long hair.

If you have medium to long hair, look for a curler that is at least 19mm long. If you have short hair, you have more choices since most wand lengths will style equally well. Just make sure it’s not too long.

4. Travel-friendliness

If you want a hair curler to add to your beauty travel kit, make sure it is right for the road.

I recommend a compact curler, around 16mm, that can easily fit in your purse or travel bag. You can also check whether the curler comes with a travel pouch (should be heat proof) of its own.

Most importantly, make sure it is a multi-voltage curler. This ensures you won’t have trouble using it whichever country you travel to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why buy a hair curler? Can’t I just use a flat iron?

Flat irons that can curl are great but not the best if you want to curl your hair frequently. A dedicated hair curler provides precision, efficiency and versatility that you can’t get with any other tool.

Q: Will a curler damage my hair?

All heat-based hair care tools cause some degree of damage to hair, especially if you use them often. The trick is to find the one that causes minimal damage. Look for a curler with variable heat settings and an even heating ceramic barrel.

Q: How long will the curls last?

This will depend on the curler you have used. Some good ones create curls that can last for days. Your hair type and the heat level of the barrel also determine the longevity of your curls. They can last between a few hours to several days.

Q: How to curl hair with a curling tong?

You can achieve different types of wave with a curling tong, depending on the length and thickness of your hair and the type of curl you want.

1. The first step is to turn on the curling tong and heat it to 320 degrees for finer, and 430 degrees for thicker hair (you should always start on the lowest heat setting and build your way up, to avoid damage to your hair).
2. Wash, dry and brush your hair thoroughly before you start curling.
3. Apply a heat protecting spray to your hair from roots to tips.
4. Separate your hair into sections between 2-3 inches thick, and hold the sections away from the area you are about to curl using clips.
5. Wrap your hair around the barrel of the tong (avoid using the clamp for now). Don’t overlap the hair as this will cause limp sections where the heat is reduced.
6. Alternate the curling direction between clockwise and anti clockwise for natural-looking curls.
7. Pin the curl to your head using a bobby pin, then continue till all the sections are curled and pinned up.
8. Take out the pins and shake down your hair, giving it a bit of a tousle with your fingers if you want to create looser waves.

For spiralling curls, take a section of hair and wrap it round the barrel of the tong, keeping the clamp open. When you have wound all the hair around, release the clamp and hold in place for around 10 seconds. Repeat for the rest of the hair.

For tube curls, take a section of hair and clamp it at the very end, then wind the rest of the section around the tong until you get to the top. Hold in place for about 10 seconds, then release and repeat for the rest of the hair.

Q: How to use a curling tong on short hair?

1. Start by spraying your hair with a curl hold product – this will enhance the finished result. Section your hair ear to ear, then gather the top bit on top of your head and section the back into four.
2. Place the tong at the top of the hair near the roots (be careful that it doesn’t touch your skin as it will burn) then wrap the hair around the barrel.
3. Hold it for between 5 and 8 seconds, then repeat on all the other sections.
4. Release the uncurled top layer of your hair, section it, then repeat the curling process. You can alternate the direction you wrap the hair around the barrel for a more natural look, and make sure that you curl the front sections away from your face.
5. Shake the curls out, then add a light spray of hairspray to hold the look.
6. Finally, massage the roots of your hair to add a bit more volume.

Q: How to use a curling tong on long hair?

Firstly, wash and condition your hair – you can use a volumising shampoo and conditioner to create more of a curl. (If your hair struggles to hold a curl, then skip washing for a day or two before you curl it.)

Apply some heat protectant spray and a strong hold mousse. Plug in the tongs and let them heat up – you want a temperature under 200 degrees if your hair is damaged or fine; between 200 and 300 degrees for medium textured hair, and between 300 and 400 degrees for thick or curly hair.

1. Separate the top layer of hair on the back of your head, about 1-2 inches wide and 1-1.5cm deep. Comb it well and mist with hairspray.
2. Wrap the hair around the barrel of the curling tongs, starting at the bottom and working your way up to the top.
3. Hold for 10-20 seconds, depending on the thickness of your hair – for thicker hair hold it for longer, for medium hair stick to around 10 seconds.
4. Unwind the tong gently, the clip the curl to the top of your head using a bobby pin.
5. Repeat until all of your hair is curled.
6. Release the hair from its pins, then tease the curls to create the look you want – for a more formal look then leave them alone; for looser, more natural waves then finger comb your hair gently to break up the ringlets.

For loose waves, start the curl an inch or two above the ends of your hair and hold the barrel in a vertical position as you roll up the hair.

If you are using tongs without a clamp, start at the roots of your hair and hold the tongs vertically, and wind the hair around them in a spiral from bottom to top.