13 Best Hair Curlers & Wands 2024 | Top-Reviewed Hair Tools
When it comes to hair tools that deserve a spot in your arsenal, hair curlers are up there with straighteners.
Perfect for creating everything from tousled curls to subtle waves, a hair curler or wand is a worthy investment. And if you struggle to create the perfect wave at home, leading Australian hair stylist and creator of his eponymous award-winning haircare brand, Kevin Murphy, says there’s a trick.
“You really want to try and avoid curling the roots or the ends, this is really important if you want to create a modern wave,” Kevin tells news.com.au.“Stick to the mid-lengths for a contemporary look.”
From the big brand names like ghd to the newcomers on the scene like Mermade Hair, we’ve rounded up the very best hair curlers to help you get the hair of your dreams including the new Mermade Hair Double Waver, which is a “game-changer” for hair novices.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of models available, it’s impossible to test every model out there. To help you find the best hair curler, we tested well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best hair curler from premium to budget to help you achieve the curls of your dreams. We also asked leading Australian hair stylist, Kevin Murphy for his expert tips on how create the perfect wave at home.
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In this article
BEST HAIR CURLER FOR BEGINNERS
Mermade Hair Double Waver, $99 at Adore Beauty
Tried and Tested by Melody Teh, news.com.au checkout Deputy Editor
Let me preface this by saying I am not good with hair. I am fortunate thanks to my Asian genes that I have fine, dead straight hair that’s very low maintenance. I rarely do anything with it and it’s served me well enough but don’t think I haven’t tried. You want what you don’t have after all. Over the years I have struggled with all manner of tools – straighteners, wands, curlers – in an attempt to get those chic effortless curls but it always ended up being too time-consuming and difficult. As a lazy gal, I made peace with the fact it just wasn’t for me.
Enter Mermade’s Double Waver, a game-changing new tool by the cult hair brand that promises soft glamorous waves that even the most inexperienced beauty novice (me) can master. And after trialling the Double Waver a number of times, I am happy to report that it is indeed very simple to use and has given me the dreamy soft waves that I so desperately seek.
When I say the Double Waver is easy to use, I mean it. Here’s what I did: After spraying with a heat protection spray (don’t skip this step! I’m currently using Schwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel Heat Spray), I clipped the top section of my hair up and then worked from the back of my head forwards. In each section, I simply clamped a small section of my hair with the tool, starting from the top near my scalp, working downwards, and making sure I overlapped the previous curl for a seamless wave. Once the bottom half was done, I repeated the process in the top half. That it is. And it was so fast – I’d say I clamped my hair for a couple of seconds each time. For my whole head, it took me a maximum of 10 minutes I’d say – not bad for a whole head of beachy effortless waves.
After shaking out my curls, I was so happy with the results after using it for the first time. No practice or trial runs needed at all! And I got so many compliments when I rocked the hair for the first time, which is all a girl can ask for. And these waves hold. They lasted all day and did not drop at all. The next day I brushed it out, giving me another day of softer waves. The day after that, I pulled it back in a high pony and I still had a voluminous wavy ponytail.
Since the first run, I have used the Double Waver when I’ve been in a rush and clamped my hair quite haphazardly (I definitely did not overlap the curls) but once I shook out the waves, you could not tell that some of the sections were uneven. For a girl who’s looking for a no-fuss quick way to style my hair, this is exactly what I am looking for.
You may be wondering how different this is to Mermade’s wildly popular OG Pro Hair Waver. Good question. While I don’t own the Pro Waver or the Pro Mini Waver, I’ve tried a friend’s one a couple of times before. The Double Waver is more compact, lighter, and waves hair faster. For me, I prefer the double waver with its smaller barrels (25mm) as I find the tool lighter to hold and easier to manoeuvre around the head. You have much more control with this. I’m also a big fan of the protective anti-scald outer plates, which means the exterior does not get super hot, making it easier and safer to handle. Compared to the triple barrel, I find the Double Waver gives you a more natural-looking, beachy wave which I’m a big fan of!
So if you’re looking for a hair tool made for people who cannot for the life of them style their hair, this is for you. I cannot recommend it enough for finally giving me long-lasting soft waves with very minimal work (and skill) required. It’s my new favourite hair tool!
ghd Curve Classic Wave Wand, $270 at ghd
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
As a loyal member of the heatless curls club, curling irons, wands and the like just weren’t something I felt was necessary for me to have.
But when the opportunity to try out the ghd Curve Classic Wave Wand came up, I decided to give it a go and to say that I was impressed is an understatement.
It features a 38mm – 26mm straight oval shaped barrel that doesn’t taper in, so you won’t be getting super tight curls – just stunning effortless waves.
It was actually easier to use than expected – especially for a newbie like me, and while I did have to do a few practice runs, I got the hang of it quite quickly.
The tricky part was getting a comfortable grip and knowing which direction to curl my hair, so like always, I took to TikTok for guidance and watched how @sophadophaa did her hair with the same wand – outwards and away from the face seemed to do the trick.
Now if you’re worried about burning yourself, this wand has a protective cool tip which allows you to hold your hair in place safely, a built-in safety stand and a protective heat glove.
I prepped my hair with the TRESemmé Hair Styling Thermal Protection Spray 300ml ($5.60 at Amazon Australia) and began curling away with care at 9am and finished roughly at about 9.30-45am (not too shabby for a beginner tbh), and topped it off with the O & M Original Queenie Mini 100ml Hairspray ($19.95 at Adore Beauty) so the curls last longer.
And with weekend plans of brunch and Barbie, it was the perfect opportunity for me to put the curler to the test. I wanted to see if the curls would last especially on a cold, windy day and I was not disappointed.
After a whole day of walking around, eating and sitting in a cinema, the curls had loosened up a tiny bit but there was no insanely dramatic difference, in fact they honestly still looked as fresh as they were that morning which was super impressive.
Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro, $549 at The Iconic
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Give me a multi-step skincare routine and a flawless base makeup look, but when it comes to styling my hair, I get super lazy. That’s why I was pretty excited to try the 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro from Cloud Nine.
This brand new styling tool is designed with curved plate technology, making it so much easier for users to curl, wave or straighten their hair.
If you’ve used your average hair straightener to curl your hair, I think we can all agree it’s not always an easy task. Sometimes you’ll get weird kinks in the hair, or your locks might get caught and pulled in the plates. That’s why I’m a big fan of these curved plates from Cloud Nine as I feel it makes the whole styling experience super enjoyable and just easy.
I’ve always struggled with curling my own hair, but this unique hair tool makes it so much easier and is an absolute game-changer to my hair styling routine.
The tool itself is also small and compact, which not only made it super easy to travel with, but also easy to manoeuvre around my head.
Another one of my favourite things about this hair tool is that you get to choose the temperature setting – and it goes all the way from 100°C to 200°C, depending on how much heat your hair can tolerate.
While I will say the $549 price tag is a little steep, I do see it could be worth it considering you’ve essentially got two hair tools in one.
BEST WAVE HAIR CURLER
Mermade Hair PRO Waver 32mm, $109 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Perth mum and businesswoman Tara Simich came up with this unusual looking triple barrel hair waver when she realised how hard it was to get the perfect “mermaid wave” that’s all over Instagram.
The larger PRO 32mm is ideal for big and bouncy waves, and if you’ve got shorter hair or prefer a tighter wave, the Mermade Hair Waver Mini 25mm is ideal.
The editor of news.com.au’s Beauty Diary, Rebekah Scanlan, put the waver to the test on her own super fine hair for a day at the races.
After a few practice runs and some help from the experts this was her take on the Mermade Waver: “I’m not going to lie, I absolutely loved the finish of this product. It looked just like it did on Instagram and was also like nothing I’ve ever rocked before:” she wrote.
“I was headed to the races — so it was the perfect place to put my waves under some stress. And I am thrilled to report back that after hours standing outside in the elements, the waves lasted. Even the next morning they were still locked in, albeit a bit looser and softer, something I was still digging.”
Backed by modern beauty muses including Sofia Richie and Rita Ora, and used by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin to create Hailey Bieber’s laid-back waves at the 2021 Met Gala, adding something to cart has never been more of a no-brainer.
BEST GHD HAIR CURLER
ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand, $270 at ghd
What You Need To Know
It features a revolutionary round 28mm to oval 23mm tip to give you the most effortless, natural, “woke up like this” waves.
The ultra-zone technology helps to lock in those curls for longer while preventing damage, and it’s super quick to use. The sleep mode switches the device off if not used for 30 minutes (great for the forgetful among us), and the ergonomic cool tip ensures you won’t burn your fingers.
Reviewers say that despite the higher price tag, it’s definitely worthwhile, with one calling it the “perfect wand”.
“This curler is amazing, was so surprised at how easy and quick it was to curl my hair!” one reviewer wrote.
“Curls lasted three days without hairspray, so many different ways to curl and brushing the curls out changed the look too, I love the beach wave style!”
BEST ADJUSTABLE HAIR CURLER
Muk Curl Stick V2.0, $179.95 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
The Muk Curl Stick V2.0 comes with four removable wand attachments of varying sizes, offering a multitude of curl styles to suit your mood.
The adjustable temperature option means you can use the heat needed on your hair type – avoiding excess damage from overheating – and the titanium-finished barrels mean static-free, smooth curls.
BEST PREMIUM HAIR CURLER
Dyson Airwrap multi-styler and dryer, $949 at Dyson
What You Need To Know
The Aerodynamic Coanda effect attracts, wraps and curls hair in one swift motion and the clever heat control checks the air temperature over 40 times every second to ensure it stays below 150°C, protecting hair from heat damage.
Perfect for those who love big, bouncy curls (think Kate Middleton’s signature wavy blow dry), this tool comes with 30mm and 40mm curling barrels, as well as a firm smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumising brush, and pre-styling dryer – so you’re really getting your money’s worth.
Reviewers on the Dyson website agree that it’s pricey, but well worth the investment, with one raving: “After years of wanting the airwrap styler I finally took the plunge and am so glad I did … it feels super soft, shiny and not frizzy at all. The curls also last in my hair which is great”.
BEST AUTOMATIC HAIR CURLERS
VS Sassoon Unbound Cordless Auto Curler, $179 at The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
This one from VS Sassoon is cordless and rechargeable, making it great for on-the-go use. It has three heat settings, and all you need to do is insert a small section of hair, hit one of the multi-directional curl buttons, and release to reveal your perfect curl.
Not only does it take all the hard work out of hairstyling, it also speeds up the process so you can get out the door quicker – winning!
Reviewers have proven that it’s not just a gimmick, with one leaving a five-star rating and commenting: “Love the product! I have never been able to curl my hair with a curling iron or straightener and when I’ve got it done professionally it has never lasted more than a couple of hours, where as this product was so easy to use and I could curl it to my liking and to make things better these curls lasted the whole night and I still had a slight wave the next morning.”
BEST CURLING WAND
CLOUD NINE The Waving Wand, $249 at Shaver Shop
What You Need To Know
If you’re after glam loose waves, this wand is perfect for you. It features a four inch ceramic barrel making it ideal for those with longer hair.
“I have the ghd wave wand and this is easily ten times better – the curl holds better and something about the design makes it easier to hold and wrap hair too. Recommend the Kevin Murphy pin clips to hold curls for a good ten minutes once they’re done – minimal hair spray needed,” said one five star review.
BEST CONICAL WAND HAIR CURLER
Babyliss Pro Glam Titanium 32-19 mm Ceramic Conical Wand, $114.95 at Oz Hair & Beauty
What You Need To Know
The tapered 32mm to 19mm barrel wand offers you plenty of choice when it comes to what curls you want to achieve on any given day.
It comes with a heat-proof glove to protect your fingers, and its ceramic coating means that you’ll protect your hair from heat damage and enhance shine. Win-win.
Five-star reviewers commented “I am so impressed with this wand – it is such great value and does exactly what it should!” and “This gives super natural, almost ‘beachy’ curls, love it! And it’s super easy to use”.
BEST HAIR CURLER FOR DAMAGED HAIR
Remington Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish Hair Wand, $39.95 at Myer
What You Need To Know
If you’re attached to the curly look but you’ve got bleached or damaged hair that’s not quite up to the intensity of heat styling, this oil-infused Conical Curl Styler is for you.
There are variable heat settings to suit your hair type, and an automatic shut-off as well as a heat protective glove for safety.
“The added touch of Keratin and Argan oil leaves my hair feeling so soft,” wrote one reviewer.
“The curler is by far the easiest to use and provides curls based on your needs – you can have the tight curls or the beautiful beach waves.
“This curler is my go to and always get compliments on my hair when I have used this amazing curler. Best money a girl can spend!”
BEST 2-IN-1 HAIR CURLER AND STRAIGHTENER
VS Sassoon Straight to Curl Brilliance Hair Styler, $139 at Myer
What You Need To Know
If you like to alternate between silky straight hair and luscious loose curls, a straightener like this one that can double as a curler is your best bet.
The heated and contoured tongs create flawless waves or curls, and with the unit’s ability to heat up in just 15 seconds, you won’t have to wait long to get styling. There are five heat settings, and a hinge lock and automatic shut-off for safety.
A five-star reviewer said “Creates a curl easily and it holds. I use as a straightener and a curler and it’s great for both”.
BEST BUDGET HAIR CURLER
Remington Pro Curl Wand, $19 at Harvey Norman
What You Need To Know
The 19mm barrel tong design makes it easy to clamp, twist and curl. The unit heats up to a maximum of 200°C and takes only 30 seconds to do so, and there’s two variable heat settings to suit your hair type.
It also comes with a brush sleeve attachment for creating volume.
Reviewers say it’s surprisingly good for the price, with one writing: “Was buying this one as a make do till getting a good (expensive) one, but it works really well and I don’t see the need to spend more when I am happy with the results this one is giving me.”
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A HAIR CURLER?
“The most important thing to look for when purchasing a curling iron is that it has a high to low heat variant,” Kevin advises.
“Using high heat on fine or dry hair can snap the cuticle so it’s important to change the level depending on your hair type.”
WHY DO YOU NEED A HAIR CURLER?
“Hair curling irons are a really good tool to have – not only do they cut down on the time it takes you to get through your early-morning styling routine, the heat is going to give you longevity and create curls that aren’t going to drop by the time you get to the office (or zoom meeting),” says Kevin.
“The high heat distribution diffuses quickly into the bonds of the hair to help seal the cuticle for all-day, salon-quality waves.”
HOW DO I USE A HAIR CURLER?
“The best way to use a hair curler is to wind it back and away from the face to give you nice framing,” says Kevin.
“This isn’t only the most simple way but will also give you a modern wave. When you are styling the sides of your head, hold the tong in a vertical direction but when you are styling the front or back of your hold the tool in a horizontal direction and always avoid the roots.”
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Originally published as Best Hair Curlers & Wands 2024 | Top-Reviewed Hair Tools
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