From this season’s must-have gentle and undone “French new wave” to the TikTok favourite mermaid S-shape, there are countless curl styles to choose from to suit every taste and hair type. And thanks to the latest generation of hair curlers, it’s even easier to get creative.
No longer do curlers come in one shape or size to fit all – there are endless choices on the virtual hair tool aisles depending on what kind of kink, coil or curl you’re after. And keeping one on stand-by will ensure you always have a commitment-free way of changing up your style.
Generally, if you’re going for a more traditional wand or tong, the smaller the barrel the tighter the curl. The ghd curve thin curling wand will give you the corkscrew curls of dreams, while the T3 curl ID creates more red-carpet-ready curls that ooze glamour.
For those that can’t get to grips with wrapping hair around these hair barrels, innovative tools like the Dyson airwrap or the BaByliss wave secret air that automatically do it for you by sucking the hair in shape may be a better investment.
And then there are the social media favourites, the oversized three-barrel hair wavers like the Beauty Works professional jumbo waver. These designs work differently, in that you clamp the hair just like an old-fashioned crimper, but instead of zigzags create mermaid-esque waves.
Once you’ve figured out what kind of curler you’re after, consider your hair type. Fine, fragile or over-processed strands will need variable temperature settings to dial down the heat so as not to damage strands while styling. While difficult to style hair types, like thicker or straight styles will need a high temperature so the curls stay in place.
We know it can be confusing finding the curler that’s going to best suit your hair’s wants and needs. So, in the name of beauty testing we’ve done it for you. Read on to find some serious curl-power… .
How we tested
To find the best hair curlers, we put the latest hot tools on trial. All were tested on freshly washed strands, protected with the same all-important heat protection spray. To make this winning line-up, the hair curler had to create long-lasting salon-worthy professional curls. However, they also had to be easy to master and speedy to create. They also had to heat up quickly, and have automatic shut off for peace of mind when not being used for varying periods of time.
Fancy being an IndyBest collaborator? Use #IndyCommunity on social or email indybestcommunity@independent.co.uk with reviews of products you love
The best hair curlers for 2023 are:
- Best hair curler overall – Dyson special edition complete long airwrap: £499.99, Johnlewis.com
- Best ease of use – BaByliss wave secret air: £150, Next.co.uk
- Best budget hair curler – Remington proluxe you adaptive styler: £69.99, Boots.com
- Best for mermaid waves – Bellissima beach waves styler 2 in 1: £59.99, Very.co.uk
- Best for corkscrew curls – ghd curve thin curling wand: £125.09, Johnlewis.com
- Best for loose waves – Beauty Works professional jumbo waver: £56, Lookfantastic.com
- Best for long hair and extensions – Turbo Tong X hair curler: £148, Turbotonghair.com
- Best for thick hair types – L’Oréal Professional steampod 4: £274.99, Justmylook.com
- Best for beachy waves – Beachwaver B1 rotating curling iron: £69, Beachwaver.co.uk
- Best for classic curls – T3 curl ID: £200, Spacenk.com