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Whether you are after relaxed beach waves for an effortless holiday look, a bouncy blowout for a work event, or defined, ultra glam curls for a girls night out, finding the best hair curler is the key to instantly elevating your look.
But it is not always the simplest task. Not every curler works well on different hair types, and some may produce the most perfect curls only to completely unravel by the time you arrive at your event.
As someone with wavy, frizzy, yet fine hair that can be difficult to style, I have spent countless years testing which products work best – heated rollers, hot brushes, tongs you name it. At the Daily Mail, we’ve reviewed dozens of products like this – from the Shark Glossi to the T3 Aire 360 multi styler but for me, a good hair curler is the best tool.
But buying a curler doesn’t have to be so hard. There are many models that can give you beautiful, lasting locks, whatever your budget and whatever the style you are going for.
To spare you the time, and trouble, I have put six of the best-rated hair curlers through the test myself so that you don’t have to.
Featured in this definitive guide are the top names in the curling game from GHD and Cloud Nine to Hershesons and Babyliss, as well as some iconic multi-stylers with great curling attachments such as Shark and Dyson.
Some stand-out for their simplicity and ease of use for producing uniform, glamorous curls every time, while others are great for creating multiple looks out of one styler.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for the best heatless curlers or the best products for giving your hair some volume, we’ve got you covered there too with our tested guides.
Featured in this definitive guide are the top names in the curling game from GHD and Cloud Nine to Hershesons and Babyliss
Best hair curlers at a glance:
How we test
When testing these products, I used each of them on semi-dried, brushed out hair and used the same hair products and heat-protectant sprays with each curler.
I looked for factors such as how user-friendly they are, how long they take to curl, and the range of curl styles they produced.
I also kept a check on how well the curls held throughout the day, and overnight.
Together with a group of expert reviewers at MailOnline, we collate and compare how well each item performs, so that whether its curlers, or any other gadget you are eyeing up, you can choose the best product for your home.
You can read more about how we test beauty products and our expert reviews team in our dedicated guides.
The best curlers to buy right now
The Dyson Airwrap is our favourite hair curler
A before and after of the Dyson Airwrap which produced bouncy, blowout curls that lasted through the day
Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x Multistyler
What we love
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User friendlyIt is among the easiest to use, with the heated air helping the hair to automatically wrap around the barrel
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VersatilityWith two different barrels and a rounded brush, it can create several looks
Review
Reviewed by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
The Dyson Airwrap came out on top as the best overall curler.
The fact it has two different sized barrels and a rounded brush means it is a versatile styler that can create multiple curl styles.
It was easy to use, and the use of air as opposed to direct heat means it not only limits heat damage, it makes it easier to use. The air pulls in the hair to wrap it around the barrel, making it extremely user-friendly and quick to use.
It is a great product for loose, everyday blowout curls, or for tighter, more defined ringlets.
The larger barrel produced perfect curls and lasted throughout the day and overnight.
The version for curly or coily hair also comes with a diffuser, which means you are able to pick the product that suits your hair type best.
The only downside is that it is the most expensive of the lot. But it is an investment, as you get your hairdryer, straightener and curler all-in-one.
Cloud Nine’s curlers offer great value for money
Cloud Nine’s The Curling Wand was the best value curler and produces defined, glamorous curls each time
Cloud Nine The Curling Wand
What we love
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Value for moneyIt is well-priced and more affordable than most other quality curling brands.
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Travel-friendlyIts compact size means it is easy to travel with for when you want perfect, defined curls when on holiday.
Review
Review by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
Cloud Nine’s The Curling Wand takes the top spot as the best value for money.
It is on the more affordable end while not sacrificing quality.
The wand is easy-to-use and is great for beginners, producing tight, defined curls with a smooth finish every time.
If what you are after is a reliable product to create glamorous curls for any occasion, this the curler to get your hands on.
Its compact size also means that it is great for travelling with, particularly when you consider it comes with a case and a heatproof glove to keep yourself safe from any accidents.
The barrel is also sericite-infused, which improves hair health when using heat on your hair.
The only con is that the compact size can mean the barrel is not long enough for longer or thicker hair types.
These created auto curls easily
The Babyliss auto curler was easy to use and created beautiful curls every time. The adjustable setting means you can choose whether you want a defined look or loose curls
Babyliss Style Secret Auto-Curler
What we love
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Ease of useIt’s an auto-curler so it sucks in your hair and does most of the work for you!
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Great featuresYou can adjust the heat and the amount of time the hair is held in the barrel for to create your desired look.
Review
Reviewed by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
This auto-curler is an extremely clever creation and adds a bit of fun to the curling process.
You essentially let the curler do all the work, and save your arms any pain! The curler sucks in your hair, at the temperature and styling option set by you, for a number of seconds (also set by you), and produces perfect curls every time.
You do have to do it in small sections to prevent any hair getting stuck, but it is still extremely quick and only took around 15 minutes to do.
It can be a little frightening to use as it is works very differently to the conventional curler and there is a fear your hair may get tangled as it is sucked in.
However, the technology is super smart and as soon as it seems like it might tangle, it detects it and turns itself off.
Slim and simple to use
The GHD Chronos Curve for Beach Waves works great as an everyday curler for relaxed, beachy waves. It is also fast and beginner-friendly
GHD Chronos Curve for Beach Waves
What we love
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Ease of useThere are no settings to worry about, you simple switch it on and curl.
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Everyday curlerIt can be used for everyday natural looks, but can also be used to create loose waves for a going-out look.
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No settingsThe fact it has no settings can be a con for longer or thicker hair types as there is only one temperature setting.
Review
Reviewed by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
This one won the spot for the best everyday curler and is generally just a great buy.
It is extremely quick to use and creates those perfect, relaxed beachy waves that you can use for any occasion, or on any normal day.
It creates loose, beachy waves, in a non-crimped style, making it look much more natural.
It also quite sleek in design and fairly compact making it a great addition to take on your holiday.
It couldn’t be more simple to use, there is simply an on and off button, with no other settings to worry about.
This can also be a bit of a con in some cases as it is just the one setting with the temperature at 185C. Most hair types should be fine for this, but it does mean it is harder to tailor for different hair textures.
The Shark Glam was the quickest to create curls
The Shark Glam created perfect, uniform curls and took less than 15 minutes to use
Shark Glam Multi-Styler
What we love
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SpeedThe curler is extremely quick and easy to use, and takes less than 15 minutes to finish styling your entire head of hair
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Everyday useIt create natural, loose curls for an everyday look.
Review
Reviewed by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
This is another one that is perfect if what you are looking for are slightly defined, yet gentle curls.
It took less than 15 minutes to use, and could probably be done even quicker.
Again, due to the airflow technology, it helps to wrap the hair around barrel and also means heat damage is limited. There is definitely also an added shine to your hair when you are done with styling.
The fact it is a multi-styler means it can also be used on wet or partially wet hair, and in fact works slightly better with a bit of moisture.
The two barrels which curl in different directions is also a brilliant add, and quite unique.
The only downside is that it is extremely noisy, meaning if you’re looking to style your hair late in the night without waking up your family or housemates, it can be a bit of a problem!
We love the look of these ones and they’re easy to use
Hershesons’ The Wand is perfect for beginners with its adjustable heat settings and simplicity which create stand-out curls
Hershesons The Wand
What we love
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Beginner-friendlyIt’s a straight-forward easy to use product that can be used by beginners.
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Heat settingsThere is a dial at the bottom where you can adjust the heat to exactly the right temperature for your hair.
Review
Reviewed by Piriyanga Thirunimalan
The Hershesons Wand is the top choice for any beginners who want a simple, go-to option for guaranteed tidy curls every time.
You can create even curls regardless of whether you are a pro or trying your hand at curling for the first time.
The snazzy blue design does not go unnoticed and makes sure it is a statement product in your hair styler collection.
The heat settings are adjustable allowing you to find the right temperature that works for you, and the stylish pouch is a lovely addition.
The tapered barrel also means can experiment at getting different curl styles from the one barrel. However, the fact it is the one barrel does mean it does not work to create everyday, loose waves.
I did struggled though to get it to curl higher up close to my roots, and found it created more even curls when curling from about midway down.
Our verdict
All the curlers tested in this guide serve different purposes.
If you simply want a go-to option that creates tight, defined curls every time that do not lose their hold and look salon-quality, I would go for either the Cloud Nine or Hersheson’s curling wands.
For a more natural, everyday look, that works perfectly for a workday or a holiday, the GHD Chronos Curve for Beach Waves is the stand-out option. The curls turn out a lot smoother than a crimper but still give that relaxed, beachy look.
If you are always in a rush and need a styler that gives you beautiful locks in a matter of minutes, the Shark Glam is a no-brainer. It took just 10-15 minutes to style, and that was at a fairly leisurely pace.
The Babyliss Auto-Curler is again great for those who want an easy-to-use product that essentially does the work for you! Its also extremely versatile in that you can adjust the settings to produce tight curls or a more laid back hairdo. The technology is also exciting to use and extremely clever – and the second you think it may get tangled, it automatically stops and releases the strands.
Our absolute winner though is the Dyson Airwrap. With the latest Co-anda 2x technology, it is extremely fast and gives you that sought-after salon look. There are two different sized barrels to give you your desired style, and there is undoubtedly an added shine to your hair. It helps also that the curls hold right through the day, and were still somewhat in shape even after I’d slept on it.
Why trust us
Our team of trusted reviewers have been testing and writing about beauty products for many years.
We spend hours trying out products to find the ones that are right for you, so that you don’t have to waste your money purchasing the wrong items.
We test whether the items live up to their claims, we look at their everyday performance, user friendliness, and importantly value for money.
The most expensive items don’t always mean that they are the best quality, and that they are the best product for you.
And the best beauty products also don’t need to cost a fortune.
Our reviews are honest, impartial and based on real-world testing.
We take into consideration all budgets and lifestyles when reviewing products to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.
FAQs
What barrel size should you use?
Barrel sizes can be hard to pick if you don’t which kinds are needed for which styles.
Generally speaking, thinner barrels of around 26mm create tighter, defined curls, while larger barrels of 32mm produce loose waves.
If you want to go even bigger, around 38mm, these are the barrels that create those timeless Hollywood waves.
The length of the barrel can also matters based on the length of the your hair and the thickness of your hair.
If you have thin, short hair then a short barrel will do just fine to wrap your hair around.
However, if you have long hair, or are lucky enough to have a particularly thick head of hair, it may be difficult to wrap your hair around the barrel. It could mean you’ve got to do much smaller sections of hair at a time, and can take much longer than necessary.
So if this is the case, a curler with a longer barrel is a good feature to look for.
What are the best hair curlers for all hair types?
A lot of the time it is not that any given hair curler does not work for your hair.
Depending on the texture of your hair, it may require more heat, or for the barrel to be slightly larger, to produce your desired locks.
So getting a curler with adjustable heat settings offers a great solution, as you can tailor the heat to the needs of your hair type. Thick, coarse hair requires more heat, whereas fine, thin hair can do with lower heat.
Some stylers, such as the Dyson, have features such as the ‘cold shot’, a quick burst of cold hair. This can help with the longevity of your curls if your hair tends to lose its style quickly.
Ceramic curling barrels also work well for most hair types as the heat is spread evenly and can do wonders to help with frizz and leave you with a shiny and smooth finish.
What curlers cause the least heat damage?
Dyson Airwraps are among the best options for causing limited heat damage to your hair, as it uses airflow technology as opposed to direct heat. The temperature also stays under 150C, while traditional curling irons can use significantly more.
This is also the case with the Shark, which uses only heated air to curl your hair.
If you are after a more traditional curling wand, then those with ceramic coatings are the best options as they ensure even heat distribution and reduce the risk of burning and damage.
