Finding the best hair curlers isn't as simple as choosing between a tong and a wand. While multi-stylers such as the Dyson airwrap and Shark flexstyle have changed how we style our hair, you can use straighteners and hot brushes to create curls too, so there's still plenty to be said for a dedicated curling tool.
As celebrity hairdresser Samantha Cusick explains: “In professional settings like runway shows, shoots and red carpet styling, curlers are used to build volume, create structure and help hair hold its shape for longer.” At home, she calls them “a simple way to switch up your look, whether that’s loose waves, polished curls or just a soft bend to make hair feel more styled and intentional”.
I've tested the best curlers across a range of prices, comparing ease of use, styling time and, crucially, how well the results hold up throughout the day. Here's what I'd recommend.
Read more: Best hair wavers, tried and tested
The best hair curlers of 2026 are:
- Best hair curlers overall: Hershesons the wand
- Best budget hair curlers: Babyliss curl and wave trio styler
- Best curling wand: Mdlondon four-in-one right-angled curling wand
- Best curling tong: T3 singlepass curl professional curling iron, 25mm
Read more: Best hair dryers, reviewed
Hershesons the wand
Best: hair curler overall
Why we love it
- Beginner-friendly curling
- Barrel size suitable for long and short hair
- Curls last all day, even after brushing
- Heats up fast
Take note
- Easy to burn fingers on tong, might be worth buying a heat-proof glove
Hershesons’ the wand came highly recommended by IndyBest’s Daisy Lester and, as someone whose curls usually drop within the hour (especially with a wand), I’ll admit I had doubts.
However, it won me over almost immediately. Thanks to its ceramic barrel and slightly slimmer 2.5cm width (most are 3cm or more), it creates defined curls that genuinely last. The narrower shape means you can form tighter curls that hold their shape for hours, then brush them out into soft, old-Hollywood waves without everything falling flat – a small miracle in my book.
The long barrel is brilliant for styling larger sections, but it takes a little care. I’d recommend a heat-proof glove if you’re prone to the odd singed finger. And it’s worth playing with the temperature settings to suit your hair type. But once you’ve got the hang of it, this is easily one of the most reliable and impressive curlers money can buy.
Key specifications
Buy now £131.99, Amazon.co.uk
Babyliss curl and wave trio styler
Best: budget hair curler
Why we love it
- Affordable
- Ceramic-coated barrels reduce snagging
- Easy to use
Take note
- Lower 180C temperature setting is still quite high for damaged or fine hair
In a world of Dyson airwraps and Shark flexstyles, BaByliss’s trio styler is a more budget-conscious option for anyone curious about interchangeable barrels. The set comes with three wands – an oval, a tapered conical, and a twisted ‘bubble’ barrel – that click into place and reach temperature (your choice of two settings: 180C and 210C) quickly.
As well as boasting a playful baby pink hue, the trio styler is coated in a silky ceramic that helps to prevent snagging. Though, this less-grippy design means layered hair can slip off a little more easily, so you might need to hold strands in place as you curl. Just make sure to use the included heat-proof glove, lest you end up with burnt fingers like me.
The oval barrel was my favourite, delivering soft, loose waves rather than tight ringlets. The conical wand creates a more classic curl, while the twisted ‘bubble’ barrel is a touch gimmicky. When curling the back of your head (where you can’t see exactly what you’re doing) some strands naturally sit in the narrower dips and others around the wider sections, which can appear uneven. That said, there’s a certain charm to this undone, more natural finish.
My curls didn’t last as long as with some of the more premium tools I tested (Hershesons, for example), but considering the price, the results were more than reasonable. It’s a solid choice for styling newbies or anyone who curls their hair occasionally rather than every day.
Key specifications
Buy now £32.41, Amazon.co.uk
Mdlondon four-in-one right-angled curling wand
Best: hair curling wand
Why we love it
- Right-angled barrel fixing makes it easier to curl from the root and reduces arm ache
- Great value
- Excellent for shaping face-framing pieces
- Reverse conical attachment creates beautifully big, bouncy curls
Take note
- No rest on handle/barrel to lay down curler without included heat mat
I was first introduced to Mdlondon’s 4-in-1 curler in the salon chair, with founder Michael Douglas at the helm. Douglas is the stylist behind Davina McCall’s consistently glossy, camera-ready hair (and now her fiancé), so expectations were understandably high. As he worked the tool through my lengths, creating loose, undone waves, he explained the design in real time, from the sturdy lock mechanism that keeps each barrel securely in place to the cleverly engineered reverse conical wand.
It’s one thing watching a seasoned pro make it look effortless, it’s quite another attempting to replicate that finish in your own bathroom mirror. Naturally, I wanted to know whether the results would hold up once I was left to my own devices.
They did. The reverse conical barrel quickly became my favourite attachment. Unlike traditional wands that taper towards the tip, this design widens as you move down, creating a firmer curl at the root that relaxes into softer bounce through the lengths – a clever fix for the way long hair tends to drop at the crown first.
The right-angled shape also makes root work and face-framing pieces far easier to tackle, without contorting your arm. The result was voluminous, with glossy curls and impressive staying power. It’s a tool I’ve reached for regularly ever since.
Key specifications
Buy now £86, Boots.com
Ghd chronos curve conical wand
Best: hair curler for short hair
Why we love it
- Anodised coating ensures friction-free styling and a glossy finish
- Non-spherical, tapered barrel creates more movement and less uniform results
- Heats up in 25 seconds
- Great for beginners
Take note
- Not everyone will like how uneven the curls are
Much like the Beachwaver above, Ghd’s conical wand is refreshingly straightforward to use. Take a small section (around 1cm), wrap it from the wider base down towards the tapered tip and hold. On my uncoloured, medium-thickness hair, 10 seconds was plenty to set the curl; those with finer, damaged or colour-treated strands could easily need less.
The slightly oval barrel gives the curls a more relaxed, imperfect finish that works particularly well on shorter styles. The tapered end also means you can even add texture to ultra short styles (e.g. chin-length bobs), wrapping those fiddly fringe pieces with ease.
By the end of the day, my curls had softened into loose, feathered waves, but they never dropped out completely (despite the wind and a fair amount of absent-minded hair twirling). It’s not the tool for ultra-polished, prom-style ringlets, but for effortless texture and modern waves – especially on shorter hair – it’s hard to beat.
Key specifications
Buy now £189, Johnlewis.com
Cloud Nine the curling wand
Best: basic hair curler
Why we love it
- Packs up smaller than most curlers
- Curls last well
- Fitted with a rest to protect your counters
Take note
- Lack of heatproof tip makes it easier to burn yourself
- No universal voltage
Cloud Nine’s curling wand is exactly what you think of when you picture a curling wand and, given it’s almost always on offer for less than £100, it’s one of the best basic curlers. That said, it’s also an incredible pick for anyone who travels the UK frequently as it’s quite small. The only caveat for travellers is it doesn’t have universal voltage, which is a pain for US visitors.
Even the included carry case skews similar to a pencil case than a sizeable styling tool and, on my hair, it did the job just as well as the Hershesons wand, which is 2cm longer.
The curling process is simple: wrap a lock of hair approximately 2cm in length around the barrel and wait 10 seconds before letting the curl fall into your hand to cool. The barrel is infused with sericite, which, in theory, promotes more hydrated hair during curling and ensures even heat distribution. Each weft of my hair left the barrel looking evenly curled and – another perk of the sericite – there was zero friction for the strands to catch on. My one bugbear was the lack of a heatproof tip at the end of the barrel, which all of the other curlers in this guide have. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s definitely easier to hold the barrel without burning yourself when you’ve something else to grip onto.
Key specifications
Buy now £99, Amazon.co.uk
Dyson airwrap co-anda 2x multi-styler and dryer
Why we love it
- Not just a curler but a blow-dryer, hot brush and hair straightener, too
- Gives hair volume from the roots
Take note
- Expensive
- Time consuming
Having tested every generation of the Dyson airwrap, I can confidently say the co-anda 2x is the easiest to curl with. Its upgraded motor generates enough airflow to wrap larger sections around the barrels, something I often struggled with on previous models.
Now that Dyson has upgraded the attachments on the co-anda 2x (you can buy it with the old attachments for £90 less, Johnlewis.com), there are two barrel sizes to play with: a conical 2cm to 3cm barrel for more defined curls and a 4cm one for a looser, bouncier finish. My favourite feature, though, is the Bluetooth connectivity. Once you've entered your hair details into the MyDyson app, the tool automatically times the wrapping, heating and cooling stages. I found the suggested cycle a little short for my naturally straight, curl-resistant hair, but you can adjust it to suit.
I've now been using the co-anda 2x for more than a year, including for weddings and other special occasions. The resulting curls are noticeably softer and silkier than those I've achieved with traditional heated tongs – though you’ll want to pin curl your efforts to ensure everything stays put.
Admittedly, styling my hair from wet takes upwards of 90 minutes, and the £579.99 price is steep. Still, considering I've also swapped my usual hairdryer for its fast-drying attachment, I think the versatility makes the investment easier to justify.
Key specifications
Buy now £579.99, Dyson.com
T3 singlepass curl professional curling iron, 25mm
Best: curling tong
Why we love it
- Hair glides easily through clamp, even when closed
- Creates blow-dry bounce if you wrap the curls vertically (vs. at an angle) and brush through once set
- Cool-touch tip allows for better control
- Creates silky, non-brittle curls
Take note
- Harder to wrap hair at the base of the scalp without risking burns
The T3 singlepass tong has been the star of pro and enthusiast kits alike for close to half a decade. I went with the 25mm barrel, though there’s a 35mm option, too. For shorter hair, the narrower barrel is ideal because it lets you wrap each section a few extra times. The curls start off a little tighter than you might expect, but they soon relax into bouncy, long-lasting ringlets. Now that the rose gold obsession has died down, the metal accents might come across as dated, but I’d say the white ceramic still errs on the side of chic.
Much like the Ghd soft curl tong below, the easiest way to use the T3 curler is to wrap the hair around the barrel like a wand, lower the clamp and gently pull and twist the section out. The ceramic is nice and slippery, so I like to work in sections – roots first, then mid-lengths, then ends. If your hair struggles to hold a curl, try rolling the barrel back down on itself before letting the ends slip out of the clamp. Wind it gently back towards the root (not so close that you catch your scalp), hold for a few seconds, then release. It’s a bit like the motion a hairdresser uses with a round brush and hairdryer, and it really helps the curl set.
The only real challenge is the nape of the neck because it’s awkward to manoeuvre around. It’s a tight spot and I’ve come close to clipping my skin a few times while adjusting the clamp, so the curls at the back can turn out slightly uneven at first. That said, it’s something that improves quickly with practice, and the payoff is well worth it.
Key specifications
Buy now £179.99, Boohoo.com
Beachwaver hair curler
Best: hair curler for beginners
Why we love it
- Barrel rotation speeds up process and minimises burn risk
- Reduced-size clamp prevents tangles
- User-friendly first curler
Take note
- Not enough barrel length for long hair
- Can leave clamp imprint
I’d heard a lot about the Beachwaver over the years, so I was keen to see what the hype was about. Its standout feature? A clever two-way rotating function that tackles the all-too-familiar struggle of curling-induced neck strain and bicep ache. The process is simple: clip the end of your hair into the short clamp, press the left or right button to rotate the barrel toward or away from your face, and hold while the strand wraps itself around the wand. After a few seconds – depending on your hair’s thickness – release the clamp and a neat ringlet should fall from the barrel.
The process was as fuss-free as promised and I’d highly recommend it to beginners. Though there are a few tips worth noting. First, the Beachwaver performs best with small sections of hair, creating consistent curls with clumps around 1cm in diameter. You’ll also want to insert your hair into the clamp at a 45-degree angle to avoid imprints and, lastly, while the wand works brilliantly on short to shoulder-length hair, it might struggle with longer lengths.
My hair was left somewhere between a beachy wave (true to its branding) and a soft ringlet. With a bit of practice and more precise sectioning, you could easily dial the look up or down to suit either style.
Key specifications
Buy now £99.99, Amazon.co.uk
Ghd curve soft curl tong
Best: hair curler for waves
Why we love it
- Results are big and bouncy
- Relatively quick once you get the hang of it
- Ceramic coating leaves hair soft and prevents crispness
Take note
- Curls drop to loose wave
- Hard to get to grips with
- Can leave clamp mark if not careful
Ghd’s soft curl tong has long been a salon staple and, since its launch in 2014, it’s earned a permanent place in my own styling routine. There’s a slight learning curve with this device, and a quick scroll on YouTube or TikTok will reveal the pros demonstrating a particular wrap-and-glide technique that can look a little intricate at first. If you’ve ever watched and thought, “Wait, what?” – same. But once it clicks, it’s a breeze.
After more than a decade of using it, I’ve found the simplest method is to wrap a section of hair around the barrel and lightly squeeze the lever so the clamp lifts just a touch. Then gently pull and twist the hair through, almost like rolling a rolling pin up and away from your face. It sounds fiddly written down, but in practice it becomes second nature.
There may be more straightforward curlers out there, but for big, soft waves with plenty of volume and that slightly undone, effortless finish, this one delivers every time. An added bonus: by leaving the ends out of the clamp, you’re less likely to overheat the more fragile tips.
Key specifications
Buy now £159, Johnlewis.com
Beauty Works professional styler
Best: hair curler for long hair
Why we love it
- Option to tailor heat to suit hair texture (lower for fine, higher for coarse)
- Extra length barrel accommodates long hair
- Extra length barrel accommodates long hair
- Includes glove, heat mat and carry case
- Result is a lived-in, tousled wave
Take note
- Doesn’t work well with short hair
- Heat doesn’t effectively penetrate large sections of hair
- Heat penetrates through included glove
The Beauty Works Styler is a solid pick for those with a mid-range budget. The design of the styler pictured is an updated version of the one I tested, but, far more importantly, the settings and coating remain the same.
On paper, it offers plenty: precise temperature control (degree-by-degree from 80C to 220C), a longer-than-average barrel and a gloss-boosting ceramic coating. It also comes with thoughtful extras – a heat-protective glove, mat and carry case – to help keep things tidy and burn-free.
In practice, it had a few minor hiccups. The heat does transfer through the glove at higher settings (I tested at 180C), which feels counterintuitive. Then again, replacing the glove is easy enough and costs just a few pounds online.
The brand recommends smaller sections for tight curls and larger ones for looser waves. I used medium sections (1cm to 2cm in diameter) and got mixed results: some pieces curled into soft waves, others into more subtle flicks. Though my shoulder-length hair only wrapped around the barrel twice, so it's understandable that the curl pattern was looser.
After about 15 minutes of styling, the result was feathery and tousled, and added just the right amount of interest to my locks.
Key specifications
Buy now £89, Lookfantastic.com
Your questions about hair curlers answered
What is the best hair curler?
After months of testing, there was one curler that stood out from the rest and that was Hershesons’ the wand. In my experience, wand stylers have always been the more user-friendly pick, but I’ve often struggled to get my curls to hold when using them. However, this one is an exception to that rule. The long barrel is versatile for all lengths, while the numerous heat settings allow you to tailor the temperature to suit your hair’s thickness, damage (if any) and general ability to hold a curl. I’ve used it numerous times since my first test and been wowed by the results with each subsequent use.
Mdlondon’s right-angled curling wand was a close second with its four attachments and nifty reverse conical barrel, while T3’s singlepass tong was amazing for a more bouncy, blow dry-esque finish. As for the hair enthusiasts on a budget, Babyliss’ trio styler makes an excellent introduction to curling and looks cute as a button while doing so.
How I tested hair curlers
As with all IndyBest reviews, I test against a clear set of criteria, so every tool earns its place on performance, not promises. I spent several months putting the best hair curlers through their paces, including some that didn’t quite make the cut, so you’re seeing the best of the bunch. I styled each tool exclusively on freshly washed hair – the fluffy, hard-to-manage kind – to really test how well the curls would hold. To separate the wheat from the chaff, here’s what I assessed:
How do you use hair curlers?
If using a more traditional clamp curler, Samantha Cusick (stylist to YouTube’s Zoe Sugg, Broadway’s Kristen Chenoweth and more) explains: “Use the clamp lightly to guide the hair around the barrel, then loosen it slightly so the hair wraps smoothly.” Though, she caveats, “They do take a bit more practice. A common mistake is clamping the ends and rolling straight up to the root. The ends of the hair curl much faster than the mid lengths and roots, so this can overheat the most fragile part of the hair and leave clamp lines.”
For those who’d prefer to use a curling wand, Cusick suggests: “Simply wrap the hair around the barrel, leaving the ends out if you want a softer, modern curl.”
How to curl short hair
“Wrap small sections away from the face and leave the ends out for a modern finish,” advises Cusick. She adds: “You don’t need to curl every piece either. Adding texture just through the top and front sections can make short hair look fuller and more styled without feeling overdone.”
Can you curl hair with a straightener?
“Yes, and it’s one of my favourite ways to curl hair,” Cusick tells me. She instructs: “Gently rotate the styler as you glide it down the hair rather than clamping and stopping. It takes a little practice, but once you get it, it’s one of the most versatile tools you can own.”
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews:
As a senior shopping writer at IndyBest, Lucy Smith has heaps of experience using, learning and writing about hair styling tools. Not only has she had her hair styled by a sweep of celeb-loved industry professionals (Michael Douglas and Jordanna Cobella, to name a few), but she’s interviewed a number of leading trichologists about all the science involving healthy hair. What’s more, Lucy is familiar with all the latest and greatest hair brands, having covered the best hair dryers, the Dyson airwrap co-anda 2x and the best hair brushes. With that in mind, when the opportunity to track down the best hair curlers presented itself, Lucy was just the person for the job.
Looking for more recommendations? Here’s our pick of the best hair straighteners, tested by a beauty writer