5 best curling wands: Styling tongs from £20 to £190

CURLERS have always been the beauty tech tool I couldn’t be without, as no other styler compares for creating low effort, high reward looks.

The best curling wands can transform any hair type into bouncy locks or beachy waves while causing minimal heat damage – and I’ve put some of the popular tongs to the test.

Finding the right curling iron for your hair type and desired style is key, so I’ve tried a mix of tongs and wands to see whether they’re really worth investing in.

From large barrels for big curls to chopstick stylers for tight ringlets, scroll on to see the best curling wands for every budget, including GHD’s brand new Chronos curling wand.

Best curling tongs at a glance

• Best for thick hair: GHD Chronos Curve Max Wand, £189
• Best for long hair: Bellissima Glam Waves Curling Wand, £69.99 (was £99.99)
• Best for short hair: Cloud Nine The Curling Wand, £99 (was £139)
• Best for tight curls: Chopstick Styler Classic Curling Wand, £20
• Best for hair extensions: Qute Curling Tong, £59 (was £89)

How I tested

I wear my hair in loose waves almost everyday, so I’ve tried my hair share of curling wands over the years.

My Dyson Airwrap is my other go-to for creating bouncy curls, but I find that a curling iron is the best option when I need the style to last for several days.

For a more detailed look into the viral air styler, read my Dyson Airwrap I.D review.

I tested all of the curling tongs across days and weeks to determine the design, ease of use and key features.

As for the results, I looked at how effectively each one curled the hair, the type of wave it created and how long the style lasted for.

For context, I have hair extensions that are long and relatively thick, but I also considered how well each beauty tech tool would work on different hair types.

GHD Chronos Curve Max Wand 38mm

GHD Chronos Curve Max Wand, £189

Pros: Extra-large barrel for loose waves, fast heat-up time, sleek design, keeps heat damage to a minimum, integrated stand

Cons: Expensive, won’t work as well on short hair or for those wanting tight curls, looser curl means style doesn’t last for as many days

Rating: 10/10

GHD recently released its Chronos Curve range, with five wands for every type of curl.

I opted for the 38mm (GHD’s largest ever barrel), designed for creating voluminous, loose waves.

Like every GHD model, the Curve Max wand has a sleek appearance, and I can confirm that it has the high quality to match.

The large barrel size gave my hair a voluminous wave after holding it in place for roughly 10 seconds – and the results remind me of how my hair looks after using the Dyson Airwrap.

My one issue with my beloved Airwrap is that the curl doesn’t hold for multiple days, unlike the GHD curler.

The styler heats up in 50 seconds, and features an integrated safety stand to prevent surfaces from getting burnt, and an automatic sleep mode that switches the tool off after 20 minutes.

It has an optimal styling time of 185°c, which prevents excessive heat and keeps damage to a minimum.

The barrel is definitely one for long and thick hair, but the full Chronos Curve range has options for shorter hair types.

Best for: Thick hair/ soft waves; Barrel size: 38mm; Temperature settings: 185°c optimum styling; Automatic shut-off: 20 minutes

Qute Curling Tong 32mm

Qute Curling Tong 32mm, £59 (was £89)

Pros: Extra-long barrel is great for long hair, multiple temperature settings, thick barrel for bouncy curls, holds a curl for days, more affordable than competitors, safety stand/ hanging hook, comes with styling clips

Cons: Larger size isn’t ideal for travelling

Rating: 10/10

Qute’s Curling Tong is the beauty tool that surprised me the most.

I love everything about this styler, from the barrel size to the range of temperature setting – and at £89, it’s more affordable than other similar wands.

The 186mm barrel is longer than most, which is perfect for those with long hair or extensions, as I could wrap my hair all the way down the wand for a bouncy curl.

It can be used with or without the clamp (using the clamp helps to distribute heat evenly), and I like that it comes with a built-in stand that could also be used for hooking it on a wall.

For the temperature, it can be controlled with the buttons between 80°c and 210°c, so it’s suitable for all hair types without causing unnecessary heat damage.

Best for: Hair extensions; Barrel size: 32mm; Temperature settings: 80°c to 210°c; Automatic shut-off: 30 minutes

Bellissima Glam Waves Curling Wand 25mm

Bellissima Glam Waves Curling Wand, £69.99 (was £99.99)

Pros: Reverse conical barrel for soft waves, long wand works well on long hair, timer for consistent styling, comes with protective glove, five temperature settings for all hair types

Cons: Not sure if the L-shape barrel made much difference in styling, not ideal for travelling

Rating: 9/10

I was impressed with Bellissima’s hair straightener when I tested it for my best hair straighteners roundup, so I was keen to see if the brand’s curler could follow suit.

The styler has a unique look, with an L-shaped design and a reverse conical barrel.

Like the straightener, it has multiple heat settings, so it has the power to hold a curl on even the thickest hair types.

The wand is easy to use, and I love the soft waves that I was left with (which lasted for several days).

I didn’t find the L-shape design to make much of a difference to its performance, but I like that the barrel made my curls look natural and effortless.

I also found the timer to be super handy for styling (there’s options for eight and 12 seconds), as it saved me from counting how long I was holding the hair in place for.

As for the results, I love how the Glam Wand left my hair looking, and it’s one I’ll be reaching for on the regular.

Best for: Long hair; Barrel size: 25mm; Temperature settings: 160°c to 210°c; Automatic shut-off: 30 minutes

Cloud Nine The Curling Wand 25mm

Cloud Nine The Curling Wand, £99 (was £139)

Pros: Creates defined curls, would work well on short and fine hair, small size is great for travelling, comes with zip-up carry case

Cons: Expensive, small barrel wouldn’t suit those wanting loose waves

Rating: 8.5/10

If you’re looking for a curler that’s perfect for travelling, Cloud Nine’s tong is it.

It comes with a heat-resistant carry case and a protective glove, while the wand is compact, it has a medium-sized barrel for creating defined curls.

The styler features four temperature settings, and it styles the hair easily without feeling harsh or damaging.

The 25mm barrel creates tighter curls than I would usually go for, but I liked how bouncy they were and that they stayed in place all day.

I can see the tool working really well on short and fine hair types due to the smaller barrel, and I’ll be taking it away with me on weekend trips due to the travel-friendly design.

You can also read Sun Shopping’s roundup of the best hair straighteners for short hair.

As for the price, it’s one of the more expensive options, but it’s currently on sale on Amazon for less than £100.

Best for: Short hair; Barrel size: 25mm; Temperature settings: 125°c to 175°c; Automatic shut-off: 30 minutes

Chopstick Styler Classic Curling Wand 10mm

Chopstick Styler Classic Curling Wand, £20

Pros: Curls last for days, very cheap, long lead 

Cons: One temperature setting, only suitable for creating ultra-tight curls, no automatic shut-off

Rating: 8/10

If tighter, corkscrew curls are more your bag than the looser wave curls that barrel ceramic wands offer, then this wand is definitely for you. 

It’s cheap, it’s effective, and the curls last for at least three days, offering volume and a standout vintage look.

If the extreme tight curls aren’t for you, after curling, you can brush through a few times and apply oil to get more of a salt-spray beachy look. 

The only drawback to the chopstick curler is that there’s only one temperature setting, and it does take a bit of an age to do a full head, so if you’re going for this look, definitely pencil in at least an hour for your hair before any event. 

A cost-effective, simple option that won’t break the bank and will keep your curls in place for days at a time!

Review by Lucy Powell

Best for: Tight curls; Barrel size: 10mm; Temperature settings: 200°c; Automatic shut-off: None

Best curling wand FAQs

How to curl hair with a tong

The difference between a curling wand and a tong is that a tong has a clamp, making it slightly more complicated to use than simply wrapping the hair around the barrel. 

For the most effective results, clamp a small section of hair with the barrel facing forward, then twist the tong away from the face while wrapping the section around the barrel. 

Hold the hair in place for a few seconds, before opening the clamp while pulling the tong down and releasing.

To keep the style in place for as long as possible, it’s recommended that beauty fans allow the hair to cool before brushing it through, and apply some hairspray to set the curl.

What size curling tongs should I use

Curling tongs come in a range of sizes, and choosing the barrel width is largely based around hair type and your desired look.

The smaller the barrel the tighter the curl, so if you want subtle, loose waves, it’s worth looking out for a chunky curling tong (like the GHD Curve Max Wand).

Barrels that are 25mm in width are the most common, as they can create classic curls on both thick and fine hair types.

Separating the hair into smaller sections is the best way to get a tighter curl with any barrel, while curling larger sections of hair at once will create a looser wave.

What’s the difference between curling wands and curling tongs?

While curling tongs and wands are generally similar, the main difference is that a curling tong has a clamp.

Clamping the hair makes it easier to create curls that are consistent in appearance, and they require less wrapping around the barrel.

That being said, there is knack to using a curling tong, while curling wands are easy for beginners.

Curling wands tend to be more popular for creating loose, bouncy waves, while curling tongs work well for creating defined curls.

It’s recommended that beauty fans wear a glove when using a curling wand (some of them come with one), as wrapping the hair around the barrel requires close contact with the skin.

How to preserve wand curls overnight

It’s inevitable that curls will drop slightly overnight, but there are a few methods that will help to keep them as intact as possible.

A popular method is sleeping in a satin bonnet where you can either put the hair in a loose bun before putting on the bonnet, or gently tuck the hair inside.

Satin bonnets are also designed for minimising frizz, particularly for frizzy and curly hair.

Another method for maintaining a hair style overnight is tying it up in a loose ponytail (ideally with a satin hair band to prevent kinks).

The ponytail being high is to keep as much of the hair away from the pillow as possible to avoid flattening the curl.