The best hair curlers for short, long and thick hair
A hair curler is an easy way to experiment with different hairstyles so if you're in the market for a new one, allow us to help you find the perfect styling tool.
The size and shape of a barrel will impact whether a curler creates tousled, beachy waves or tight, voluminous coils, and thanks to advancing technology, there are now convenient cordless options too.
We've handpicked the 12 best, from big-name brands like Dyson, ghd and Babyliss, all of which span a range of budgets, from £16.99 to £240.
In our shopping edit, we've also found tools with speedy heat-up times, interchangeable barrels and added features such as heatproof travel cases and mats. We even have a heatless hair curler.
Whether you have long, short, fine or thick hair, there’s a perfect curler for you in our guide below. Our top tip? Always use heat protection spray to keep your tresses in tip-top condition.
The best hair curlers for all hair types
ghd Curve Thin Curl Wand | £139 from John Lewis
For speedy, tight curls that hold for hours, ghd's curve thin curl wand is the best money can buy. The chopstick-style wand heats up in less than 10 seconds and takes just three seconds to create the perfect curl at the optimal temperature for hair without causing damage.
BaByliss 9000 Cordless Waving Wand | £180 from Lookfantastic
For voluminous, tousled waves and a freshly blowdried look, Babyliss' cordless wand is a game-changer. It takes three hours to fully charge with a battery life of 30 minutes and three heat settings. There are no cords to get tangled and the heatproof case keeps it from burning surfaces.
Dyson Airwrap Complete Multi Hair Styler | £479.99 from Dyson
For an investment hair styling set, Dyson has everything you need in its Airwrap. It comes with a blowdry attachment, two curling wands that uses air pressure rather than heat to curl hair, and three hot brush heads. Nothing will give you a curly, bouncy blowdry faster.
Mark Hill Pick 'N' Mix Glam Waver Barrel | £16.99 from Boots
Mark Hill's Pick 'N' Mix range comes with various barrels to choose from once you have the Pick 'N' Mix handle (£17.99, Boots). We love this glam weaver for its oval-shaped barrel which delivers classic Hollywood waves.
Cloud Nine The Curling Wand | £119 from Very
We love the shorter ceramic barrel from Cloud Nine which works great for shorter hair and it conveniently comes in a portable, heatproof zipped case. Heat-up time takes seconds and it has variable temperature control too.
Amika High Tide Deep Waver | £90 from Cult Beauty
For mermaid waves, you can't go wrong with Amika. The trio of barrels creates an S shape on strands with a frizz-free finish, and despite its size, is surprisingly lightweight.
T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand | £240 from Net-A-Porter
This versatile, multi-purpose curling wand allows you to experiment with different hairstyles, thanks to the three interchangeable barrels. The set also comes with a heat-resistant glove and mat to protect your surfaces as well as a useful travel bag.
George Northwood Curl It Tongs | £65 from George Northwood
If you didn't know, George Northwood is a hairstylist to the stars, with a Hollywood clientele including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Meghan Markle. His affordable range of styling tools is a surefire way to add some glamour into your beauty routine. These tongs have a 26mm barrel, an in-built LCD display and will shut off when not being used for 60 minutes.
Beauty Works X Molly Mae Curl Kit V2 | £94.99 from Boots
This extra-long barrel is perfect for curling long hair and extensions. It's an extensive kit too, coming with a paddle brush, 10 sectioning clips and a pin tail comb so you can master a soft, wavy look.
ghd Creative Curl Wand | £139 from Lookfantastic
Appearing for the second time on our list is ghd with its creative curl wand, a barrel-shaped tool that delivers a soft but defined curl that's long-lasting. It works brilliantly on all hair types, no matter how fine or thick and boasts an extra-long swivel cord and cool tip to save any burnt fingers.
Remington Curl Revolution Automatic Hair Curler | £41.50 from Amazon
One happy shopper of this Remington curler had a glowing review: "Bought this as I have long thick hair and struggle to curl with a wand. The curls tend to drop out and my arms feel like they’re going to fall off while I'm curling my hair! I am amazed at how easy and quickly this curls my hair and how well the curls stay in."