Best Hair Curler 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

A problem with a lot of hair stylers is that the temperature isn’t completely consistent along the entirety of the barrel or plate. With new models of ghds there is temperature control technology, and the Classic Curl Tong is no different.

Tri-zone ceramic technology means that the 185°C temperature is maintained by six sensors in the barrel to give constant, even heat.

With a spring activated lever, you can easily clamp your hair to the barrel to create a wave which will stay in place for hours without any extra effort or styling on your behalf. A cool tip lets you hold the tong in place as it works its magic, and the safety stand enables you to place it down anywhere in between getting each strand ready.

More than just a curling tong, which is great if your bedroom is packed to the brim with a whole host of styling products.

This clever little gadget can wave, curl, smooth and dry, which really does make the ‘complete styler’ name understandable. You can even style and dry at the same time. We have all done it, after all – you go to straighten or curl part of your hair to realise it hasn’t quite been dried thoroughly, so you have to swap your gadget again and it is a never-ending to-and-fro.

It will also cut down on time you spend styling, not just because it can do two things at once, but also because it is incredibly good at doing all of the jobs. It is designed to style your hair from damp, so it is all done in half the time.

The need for extreme heat is also long gone. Sensors measure the air temperature over 40 times every second, cleverly adjusting the levels to protect your hair. It maintains this heat too. When it comes to the drying side of things, it uses Dyson v9 digital motor technology, so there is no denying its power levels.

You also get some handy attachments, our favourite being the smoothing brush. It harnesses the Coanda effect to attract hair to the surface of the brush, propelling air along every strand, to mimic a stylist’s blow-dry technique. This can turn frizzy, unruly hair into sleek, smooth hair in seconds.

The curler also attracts your hair, so you don’t have to wrap manually. This doesn’t only save your effort but also takes away some of the danger. It may cost at least 5x the price of many of the other curlers we have reviewed, but hey – it is pretty magical.

The best choice for versatility, this T3 wand may be one of the most expensive on the market, but it is an incredibly innovative 3-in-1 product.

The three barrels provide three different styles of curls, so if you want large bouncy waves one day, flicked ends the next and tighter, more compact curls the day after that, this product can handle the switch. A locking system makes it easy to switch between the three, ensuring safety and efficient use.

The barrels are a 1″ straight, a 1.25″-1.75″ tapered, and a 1.5″ straight barrel. SinglePass technology means even, consistent heat for faster results – you won’t have to redo the curls for extra definition and hold. A tourmaline ceramic coating means your hair will be conditioned and not suffer from heat damage. Perfect if you struggle to get the shiny, healthy look after using heat products.

Five adjustable heat levels mean you will be able to choose the exact setting for your hair, whether it be the hottest 210°C for thick hair or coolest for your ends or fine hair.

It comes with a heat mat, protective glove and carry case for easy transportation.

Styling your hair with heat can give you great results, until you go to look closer at your hair and see that it has become frazzled and dry because of the constant exposure.

Thankfully, these tongs have ionic steam conditioning to rehydrate and nourish your hair, so no matter how close people look, all they will see is sleek shiny tresses.

The barrel is 25mm wide, which is a great size for relaxed natural waves. When you select your ideal temperature, you can use the lock function to keep it at this level so there are no accidental switch offs. It will go up to 210 degrees, which is a good professional level.

Auto shut off after 60 minutes will save you if you’re a little forgetful before you rush out of the house in the morning. There is also a generous cord length, and it is on the quicker side to heat up. What more could a girl want?

Able to reach a temperature of 200C, which is seen as salon high, this is a very effective beauty product. And it can do so much more than curl your hair, too.

Eight attachable heads give you more choice, whether you want to straighten, crimp, or brush. When it comes to curling, there is the option of a 13 mm tong, 16 mm tong, 19 mm tong. So you no longer have to clutter up your bedroom with several different sized barrels for every occasion.

The plates are all ceramic, so you get an item which glides through every strand without causing too many issues. It also has a comfortable ergonomic handle, so even if you have an awful lot of hair to style, your hand won’t become sore and tired.

It is a bit of a novelty item – the quality is nowhere near some of the other items we have reviewed which only do one job. We also can’t say it would work for thicker hair. But for anyone whose hair always does what you want, and you just want to make life easier for yourself, then it is under £40 so worth a try to see whether it is the styling item you’ve been hunting high and low for.

Sometimes, you just want an affordable styling product which you can use when you need to add a bit of volume to your hair or before a night out. This is a cheap, cheerful and easy to use curling tong.

There is a maximum temperature of 185°C, so it doesn’t get too extreme yet will still make an impact on thicker hair. An LED indicator will let you know which temperature it is on, so you are always in charge of the outcome and can care for your hair.

An integrated heat stand is great if it takes you a little while to get each strand of hair ready in between curls and you don’t want to risk placing it directly on the surface. The lever is also a really great size to press and lift the clamp up, so you don’t have to risk losing all of the hair while you are sorting everything out.

It takes quite a while to heat, and the cord isn’t a great length. But for the cost, if you’re only using it every so often anyway, you should be safe.

Featuring a conical barrel for cascading curls, this Andrew Barton model is great value for how well it handles your hair.

Thanks to the ten heat settings, you can adjust the temperature to suit both your hair type and the style you are after. Thinner hair or shorter styles will only need a low setting, but thicker hair or tighter more set curls will need higher. The hottest is also plenty to tackle the most unruly of barnets, too.

This flexibility doesn’t only mean you can design as you wish, but you can care for your hair too. If you are wary about exposing it to heat, simply turn the temperature down.

There is an automatic shut off after 72 minutes, so if you occasionally leave the house without turning everything off first, this should stop any accidents. It will also help to save a little bit of electricity as it won’t be left on all day.

A heat ready indicator lets you know when it is up to the right temperature, and the included heat protection glove will give you a bit more control over the style.

For the price, it is a really powerful item. It even tackles long, thick hair reasonably well, which some of the models over three times the cost can’t really handle. Worth the purchase if you don’t want to splash out or are concerned about how to use a curling iron.

The 28mm barrel of this TRESemme wand is perfect for creating loose, beachy waves and curls. As it is extra long, it can accommodate longer styles with ease. It leaves hair looking natural without being over styled, and depending on your hair type the curls can last up to 2 days.

A maximum temperature of 200°C is ideal for hair which is a lot more difficult to style, but there is also the option to change this temperature if your hair is finer. The automatic shut-off feature means it will turn off after 72 minutes even if left.

The safety stand means you can place it down anywhere without risking burns to your surfaces, and the heat up time is pretty good for the temperature it reaches. There is fast heat recovery too, in case you turn it off then realise you’ve missed a bit of hair and it’s glaringly obvious. A heat protective glove will keep your hands safe from any hot hair.

Nice and quick to heat and ever so easy to use, this is a wand which really does take the effort out of the curling process.

Just place your hair through the barrel, and watch it twist automatically, saving your wrists from manually doing the work. All you need to do is press the switch when you are ready. You can choose to either curl randomly for a natural look, or all in the same way for a perfect uniform style.

It also protects your hair, thanks to four layers of protective tourmaline coating. The ceramic barrel is also static-free, so if your hair usually goes a little flyaway with heat and ends up looking less than perfect, you don’t have to worry about having that issue this time.

Heating time is just 15 seconds, which makes it an ideal morning styling product. There are also five heat settings, so it will suit styling any thickness of hair. If you often struggle with getting a good grip and inadvertently turn your stylers off/change the temperature when in use, then the locking system will prevent this.

It is great for beginners as it is so easy to use, but also for anybody who has regularly used curlers over the years but needs something a little easier. Because it takes in your hair, it is best for longer styles as opposed to shorter bobs or shoulder length but is still able to add a little bit of a curl to the bottom of the hair if you wish.

A product which makes you wonder why nobody ever thought of it before. The BaByliss 2667u is excellent for those people who love to curl their hair but cannot operate a curling wand or tongs, as much as they try.

Pioneering Auto-Curl technology lets you simply automatically draw your hair into the curl chamber, and the machine does all of the hard work for you. Free flowing, they look perfectly natural and have a lasting effect.

The chamber softly holds and heats the hair thoroughly from all directions, so you don’t have to worry about any bits being missed. Three timer settings let you choose how long your hair needs to curl for, whether it be frizzy or fine.

All you have to do is place a section of your hair into the product and re-release it once it is ready.

It isn’t designed for very long hair, or for extensions, so if you fit in this category then stick to ordinary curlers which are appropriate.