If wrapping hair around a wand feels fiddly, an automatic curler rotates and curls the section for you, foolproof; on a budget a ceramic tong curls for around £12; and a large-barrel wand is best if you only want loose waves. First, understand that barrel size decides the curl, and that using the lowest effective temperature protects your hair, just like straighteners. Below we explain wand versus tong versus auto-curler, barrel sizes, temperature and what to skip.
Last reviewed 14 October 2026
Prices and stock on this page are pulled live from each listing and refresh several times a day. The thing that decides your curls is barrel size, not price: a smaller barrel gives tight curls, a larger one gives loose waves. A tapered wand does a range in one tool. Adjustable temperature protects your hair, and auto-curlers make it foolproof if wrapping hair is fiddly. A BaByliss tapered wand is our pick. How we choose: we compare the live Amazon listings, the makers' published specs and the owner reviews, including the 1 to 3 star ones, and we don't test hands-on, so we never claim to.
The top 4, ranked
★ Our pick · Best overallBaByliss Ceramic Curling Wand Pro (13-25mm Tapered)A tapered 13 to 25mm ceramic wand that does tight curls and loose waves from one tool.£27.99£35.00Save 20%In stockBuy on Amazon
Best automaticTYMO CURLPRO Automatic Hair CurlerRotates and curls the hair for you, so you get even curls without the wrapping technique.£49.99£59.99Save 17%In stockBuy on Amazon
Best budgetTRESemme Defined Curls 16mm Curling Tong (Ceramic)A ceramic-coated 16mm curling tong with a clip for around £12: the cheapest, easiest choice.£11.99£16.00Save 25%In stockBuy on Amazon
Best for loose wavesJAETON 38mm Curling Wand (Adjustable Temperature)A large 38mm barrel with adjustable heat, for loose, relaxed waves rather than tight curls.£22.99In stockBuy on AmazonCompare the specs
| Product | Type | Barrel | Temperature | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BaByliss Ceramic Curling Wand Pro (13-25mm Tapered)★ Best Overall | Tapered wand | 13-25mm | Check listing | Versatile curls and waves | £27.99 |
| TYMO CURLPRO Automatic Hair CurlerBest Automatic | Automatic | Chamber | Adjustable | Easy, foolproof curls | £49.99 |
| TRESemme Defined Curls 16mm Curling Tong (Ceramic)Best Budget | Tong (clip) | 16mm | Fixed | Budget, beginners | £11.99 |
| JAETON 38mm Curling Wand (Adjustable Temperature)Best for Loose Waves | Wand | 38mm | Adjustable | Loose waves | £22.99 |
Prices are live from Amazon and refresh through the day; last page update 14 October 2026.
Barrel size decides your curl
The single most important thing is the barrel size, because it determines what kind of curl you get:
- Small barrel (around 13 to 19mm): tight curls, ringlets and defined spirals. Also better for short hair.
- Medium barrel (around 19 to 25mm): classic bouncy curls, the versatile middle ground.
- Large barrel (around 32 to 38mm): loose, relaxed waves and soft bends, the beachy-waves look. Best on medium to long hair.
A tapered wand (narrow at the tip, wider at the base) gives you a range of curl sizes from one tool, which is why it is our top pick for versatility. If you only ever want one look, buy the barrel size that matches it: small for tight curls, large for loose waves.
Wand, tong or automatic curler?
- Wand (no clip): you wrap the hair around the barrel, which gives natural, un-creased curls with no clip mark, but takes practice and you should use the heat-protective glove. The most versatile and natural-looking.
- Tong (with clip): a clip holds the ends of the hair, which makes it easier for beginners, no wrapping technique needed, though the clip can leave a slight crease. Easiest to learn.
- Automatic curler: draws the hair into a chamber and curls it for you, giving even, repeatable curls with no technique and less burn risk. The most foolproof, but less control over placement and pricier.
Choose a wand for natural, versatile curls if you do not mind learning; a tong if you want the ease of a clip; or an automatic curler if you want foolproof results with minimal skill.
Temperature: use the lowest that works
As with straighteners, heat damages hair, so use the lowest temperature that curls your hair, which is why adjustable temperature is worth having:
- Fine or damaged hair: lower heat (around 150 to 180°C). It curls at lower temperatures and burns easily.
- Normal to thick hair: higher heat holds a curl better, but still only as high as you need.
- Adjustable temperature lets you match the heat to your hair, where a single fixed-temperature curler can be too hot for fine hair.
And always use a heat protectant before curling, it is the cheapest, most effective way to reduce heat damage. Ceramic (or tourmaline) coatings also heat more evenly and are gentler than bare metal.
Our picks in detail
BaByliss Ceramic Curling Wand Pro (13-25mm Tapered)
A tapered 13 to 25mm ceramic wand that does tight curls and loose waves from one tool.
A best-selling tapered wand.
The BaByliss Curling Wand Pro is the curler most people should buy. Because the barrel tapers from 13mm at the tip to 25mm at the base, you can create a range of looks from one tool: tighter curls using the narrow end and looser, relaxed waves using the wider end, which is far more versatile than a single fixed barrel. The ceramic coating heats evenly so the hair glides and curls smoothly without snagging, and it comes from a trusted hair-care brand at a sensible price.
As a wand it has no clip, so you wrap the hair around it and should use the heat-protective glove provided, which takes a little practice. But that clip-free wrapping is what gives the natural, un-creased curl that wands are loved for. If wrapping feels fiddly, an automatic curler is easier; if you only want loose waves, a bigger barrel suits. For the most versatile everyday curler, the tapered BaByliss wand is the pick.
TYMO CURLPRO Automatic Hair Curler
Rotates and curls the hair for you, so you get even curls without the wrapping technique.
If wrapping hair around a wand is fiddly or you want consistent results with no technique, the TYMO CURLPRO automatic curler does the work for you. You feed a section into the chamber and it draws the hair in, heats and curls it automatically, then releases a ready-made curl, so you get even, repeatable curls without learning to wrap, and with less risk of burning your fingers. For beginners, the less dextrous, or anyone who wants curls fast and foolproof, it is genuinely easier.
It costs more than a manual wand, and the curl shape is set by the machine rather than your technique, so you have less creative control over placement than with a wand. But for easy, consistent, hands-off curls it is a real convenience, and the automatic mechanism takes the frustration out of curling. If you want full control or versatility, a tapered wand suits better; if you want foolproof curls with minimal skill, this is the pick.
TRESemme Defined Curls 16mm Curling Tong (Ceramic)
A ceramic-coated 16mm curling tong with a clip for around £12: the cheapest, easiest choice.
If you want a curler for as little as possible, the TRESemme Defined Curls tong does the job for around £12. Its 16mm barrel creates defined curls, the ceramic coating heats evenly for a smooth result, and crucially it has a clip to hold the ends of the hair, which makes it easier for beginners than a clip-free wand, no wrapping technique or glove needed. For a cheap, easy way into curling, from a trusted hair-care name, it is honest value.
At this price it is a single fixed 16mm barrel, so it does one curl size rather than a range, and the controls are basic. But for defined curls at a low price with the ease of a clip, it covers the fundamentals well. If you want versatility across curl sizes or adjustable temperature control, the BaByliss wand or an adjustable model are worth more; as the cheapest, most beginner-friendly curler here, this is a sensible pick.
JAETON 38mm Curling Wand (Adjustable Temperature)
A large 38mm barrel with adjustable heat, for loose, relaxed waves rather than tight curls.
If the look you want is loose, relaxed, beachy waves rather than tight curls, barrel size is everything, and the JAETON's large 38mm barrel is made for it. A wider barrel wraps the hair in a bigger, gentler curve, producing loose waves and soft bends, and the adjustable temperature lets you use the lowest effective heat for your hair type, which protects it. For soft waves on medium to long hair, it is the right tool.
A big barrel is not for tight curls or ringlets, so if you want defined curls this is the wrong size, and it is a budget-brand wand rather than a premium one. But for the specific look of loose waves, the large barrel and adjustable heat deliver it well and cheaply. If you want versatility or tight curls, a tapered or narrower wand suits; for loose, relaxed waves, this large-barrel wand is the pick.
Getting curls that last
- Curl dry hair, never wet, which high heat damages, and use heat protectant first.
- Work in small sections. Smaller sections curl more evenly and hold better than big chunks.
- Let each curl cool in your hand (or pinned up) before letting it drop, cooling sets the curl, so it lasts far longer.
- Curl away from your face for a flattering, uniform look, or alternate directions for a more natural, tousled finish.
- Finish with hairspray once the curls have cooled, not while hot, to hold them without stiffness.
- Use the lowest effective heat and do not go over the same section repeatedly, which bakes the hair.
Common myths, corrected
- "A bigger barrel gives tighter curls." The opposite. A smaller barrel gives tight curls and ringlets; a larger barrel gives loose waves. Match the barrel to the look you want.
- "Hotter curls last longer." No. More heat damages hair without necessarily holding curls better. What makes curls last is curling in small sections and letting each curl cool before it drops.
- "Expensive curlers curl much better." Up to a point. Beyond even-heating ceramic and adjustable temperature, extra money buys brand and features. A good mid-price wand curls just as well.
- "Curls dropping out means a bad curler." Often it is technique. Letting curls cool before dropping them, and using heat protectant and hairspray, makes them last far longer whatever the tool.
What we’d skip
- Buying the wrong barrel size for the look you wantA smaller barrel gives tight curls and ringlets; a larger one gives loose waves. Match the barrel to your desired look, or buy a tapered wand that does a range, rather than discovering it only does one curl size you did not want.
- Cranking the heat to maximum, especially on fine hairMore heat damages hair without curling it better. Use the lowest temperature that holds a curl for your hair type, which is why an adjustable-temperature curler is worth having over a single fixed-heat one.
- Skipping heat protectantIt is the cheapest, most effective way to reduce heat damage from curling, so always apply it to dry hair first, and never curl wet hair, which high heat seriously damages.
- Expecting a clip-free wand to be easy from the startWrapping hair around a wand takes practice and needs the heat-protective glove. If you want foolproof curls with no technique, a tong with a clip or an automatic curler is easier.
- Letting curls drop straight awayLetting each curl cool in your hand or pinned up before releasing it is what makes curls last; dropping them while hot makes them fall out quickly. It is technique, not just the tool, that gives long-lasting curls.
Frequently asked questions
What size barrel do I need for the curls I want?
Barrel size decides the curl type. A smaller barrel of around 13 to 19mm gives tight curls, ringlets and defined spirals and suits shorter hair, a medium barrel around 19 to 25mm gives classic bouncy curls, and a large barrel around 32 to 38mm gives loose, relaxed waves on medium to long hair. A tapered wand covers a range of sizes in one tool. So decide on your look first, tight curls or loose waves, and choose the barrel size to match.
Wand, tong or automatic curler, which is best?
A wand has no clip, so you wrap the hair for natural, un-creased curls, which is versatile but takes practice and needs a heat glove. A tong has a clip that holds the hair, making it easier for beginners, though it can leave a slight crease. An automatic curler draws the hair in and curls it for you, giving even, foolproof results with no technique, but with less control and a higher price. Choose a wand for natural versatile curls, a tong for ease, or an automatic curler for foolproof results.
What temperature should I curl my hair at?
Use the lowest temperature that holds a curl for your hair, because more heat just damages hair. Fine or damaged hair curls at lower temperatures, around 150 to 180°C, and burns easily, while normal to thick hair can take more heat to hold a curl, but still only as high as needed. This is why adjustable temperature is worth having, so you can match the heat to your hair, and always use a heat protectant first to reduce damage.
How do I make my curls last longer?
The key is to let each curl cool before releasing it: curl a small section, then catch the curl in your hand or pin it up and let it cool, which sets the shape so it lasts far longer than dropping it while hot. Also curl dry hair in small sections, use a heat protectant, and finish with hairspray once the curls have cooled. Curls dropping out is usually technique rather than a bad curler, so cooling the curls makes a big difference whatever tool you use.
Are automatic hair curlers any good?
Yes, for easy, consistent curls with no technique. An automatic curler draws a section of hair into a heated chamber and curls it for you, so you get even, repeatable curls without learning to wrap hair around a wand, and with less risk of burning your fingers, which makes them great for beginners or anyone who finds manual curling fiddly. The trade-offs are a higher price and less control over exactly where and how the curl sits compared with a manual wand.
Do you need a glove to use a curling wand?
It is strongly recommended with a clip-free wand, and most come with a heat-protective glove for the hand holding the hair ends. Because a wand has no clip, you hold the ends of the hair as you wrap it around the hot barrel, so the glove protects your fingers from the heat. Tongs with a clip and automatic curlers do not need a glove, as you are not holding the hair against the barrel. If a wand does not include a glove, it is worth buying one.
Does curling damage your hair?
Heat styling can damage hair if done at high temperatures or too often, as with straighteners. You can minimise it by always using a heat protectant on dry hair, using the lowest temperature that holds a curl for your hair type (which is why adjustable temperature helps), not going over the same section repeatedly, choosing a ceramic-coated barrel that heats evenly, and giving your hair heat-free days. Curling dry hair rather than wet is essential too, as high heat on wet hair is especially damaging.
Can you curl short hair?
Yes, but a smaller barrel works best. Short hair suits a narrower barrel, around 13 to 19mm, which can grip and curl shorter sections to create tight curls or waves, whereas a large barrel needs more hair length to wrap around and gives looser results that may not hold on short hair. A tapered wand with a narrow tip, or a small-barrel wand or tong, is the right choice for short styles. Work in small sections for even curls.
