If you’re like me and a lot of other gals, you use your curling iron A LOT to give your look and your confidence a boost. Some of us like tight, springy curls and others wear California girl waves like a boss.
Picking the right tool for your hair type and your patience level is super important. What works for your friend with long, thick hair might not be best for your shorter, thinner hair.
Let’s look at how to choose the best curling iron for beginners and hair magic mavens, and review some of my top product picks for creating a look all your friends will crave.
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Features To Look For and Things To Consider
1. Temperature Settings
One of the things I look for in a curling iron is what temperature settings are available and how fast it reaches temperature. Being able to set the temp for my hair type or the curl I want is really important, and I don’t want to wait 15 minutes for my curler to heat up.
2. Ergonomic Design and Ease of Use
Another important factor is how easy the settings are to change. Being able to adjust the temperature or reset the hardware on the device with just my thumb as I’m using it is a huge plus. Curling hair can already be a bit of a pain. Easy to use products get high ratings from me!
3. Barrel Type
Picking a barrel that won’t cause damage to hair as it heats is a must when choosing your next curling iron. Ceramic and tourmaline barrels are the best possible for your hair, as they close your hair shaft instead of opening it like metal barrels will do. Ceramic is an “ok” material, but you want to watch the coating as it can wear off over time.
4. Curling Iron Size
Consider the length of your hair, too. Different sized curling irons create different sized curls. If you’ve got super short hair, even a 3/4″ barrel may be too large to give you anything but a surf-worthy wave that sticks straight up from your scalp. That’s not a good look for anyone.
Now that we’ve armed ourselves with some shopping tips, let’s check out a few of the easiest curling irons to use. These tools have a range of price points and unique features. Remember the tips above when you’re considering which one might be your new best friend.
Top Picks: Easiest Curling Iron For Beginners
The Beachwaver Co. S1 Curling Iron
This automatic rotating curling iron creates long-lasting curls fast. The rotating, 1″ barrel practically does the work for you and gives you the perfect sized curl. An easy to use clamp holds hair in place while you press and hold the arrow button to start and stop the barrel’s rotation. Release the clamp to let your curls loose!
Make your curls as long and wavy or short and tight as you want. The barrel has an adjustable speed switch so that you can choose how fast it rotates. As you get better at using the tool, you’ll find yourself working all the way around your head faster. An integrated “home” button returns the hair clamp to its start position, making placing new sections of hair that much easier. The Beachwaver Co. S1 allows you to curl your hair exactly the way you want, and at the speed you are most comfortable with.
You can adjust the heat setting from 290 to 450 degrees. It’s friendly for all hair types and lengths. The 5.5″ ceramic rod heats to max temperature within 30 seconds. This easy to use curling wand allows you to create mega style mega fast.
CHI Air Spin N Curl
The CHI Air Spin N Curl curling iron has a unique design that is super easy to use. Hair is drawn in to the curling chamber, heated to the perfect temperature and unwound into smooth, shiny curls.
The heat selections are preset to work best with either fine, medium, or coarse hair. All you have to do is pick which setting best fits your hair type and the curler does the rest. The 1″ barrel will give tighter curls with higher temperatures.
Stick with lower temps for looser curls or waves.
The digital temperature display is super easy to read. Adjust the heat with a touch of the buttons located within thumb’s reach on the handle of the device.
Here’s an infographic on how to use it:
Or if you prefer to see it in action, check out the video below!
Video: How to use the CHI Air Spin n Curl
With CHI’s Air Spin n Curl tool, you can even choose which way the curl curves, so your look is customized to you. Easily curl toward your face for a saucy vintage look for date night. Wind curls in the opposite direction for all day waves that take you from office meetings to girls’ night out.
If you’re having trouble getting your curls just right with a traditional curling iron or are prone to burning yourself, this could be a great tool for you.
InfinitiPro by Conair Curl Secret
This curling iron creates shiny, awesome curls without tangling or painful burns! Safety settings only allow the appropriate amount of hair to be “fed” in to the curling chamber, it’s really hard to mess this one up. There are no brushes inside the chamber, so there is nothing for your hair to get tangled in or stuck to.
The tourmaline ceramic chamber protects your hair from damage, and you select the heat setting and curl type you want to create your style. Hair is heated at the same temperature on all sides so your curls come out uniform and smooth. Use this tool for tight, bouncy curls or long loose waves. No need to keep track of time, either. The iron automatically beeps when it’s time to release your curl.
With its ergonomic handle, the Curl Secret is comfortable to use no matter how much hair you have to curl. Your arm won’t feel like it’s going to fall off after 5-10 minutes of use like it can with other curlers.
Conair includes a cleaning kit for the curling chamber to extend the life of this tool. Keeping it clean will keep your hair safe from heat damage and free of dust and fuzz.
Hot Tools Professional Gold Curlbar
Forget struggling to reach the hair at the back of your head! This Curlbar by Hot Tools is designed to give you maximum comfort and uniform curls through all of your hair. The barrel is set at a 45 degree angle from the handle, taking stress off of your wrists and shoulders. If you’ve shied away from curling irons because you just can’t get the hang of it, this tool could be a huge confidence booster.
The Curlbar features a built in timer that beeps and vibrates when your curl is ready. No more counting seconds and hoping your curls turn out the same. You ‘ll always know when to release your hair and get a professional look from your very own vanity.
This iron also comes with a 9′ swivel cord, so you won’t get tangled up and cause crooked curls or painful burns. Use the heat-resistant glove included with the purchase of this styling tool to add extra protection against surprise burns.
You can purchase an entire set of barrels for this product as well. By swapping out barrels, you can have 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/4″ or 1 1/2″ curl sizes. This iron is dual voltage, making it a a great travel companion!
TYME Iron Pro 2-in-1 Hair Curler and Straightener
The TYME Iron Pro 2-in-1 Hair Curler and Straightener was designed with one thing in mind — time. At the most basic level, this tool saves time (and space) packing for travel, organizing your bathroom, and prepping for your day. You won’t need to store multiple tools to get straight, frizz-free hair or big, bold curls.
A unique blend of titanium plates and curved outer housing heats your hair and then molds it in to uniform, shiny curls as it cools. The shape of this iron allows you to make curls of many sizes, so when you’re chucking your old flat iron, throw out that collection of different sized barrels too.
This is your best bet if you’re looking for a 2-in-1 product that can both straighten and curl your hair.
One other cool feature to take note of is temperature memory. When you turn your iron on, it will automatically heat to the last temperature setting used. A set of LED lights on the iron will flash as each temperature is reached. Set heat as low as 300 degrees or as high as 400 degrees depending on the needs of your hair.
To help with the learning curve of this product, TYME does include a how-to video with your purchase. It may be helpful to review that a couple of times and practice creating your curls when your iron has arrived.
Curling Iron Tips For Beginners
Not all automatic curling irons are easy to use. Some definitely have a huge learning curve, especially those fancy schmancy curling tools. Here are some tips for getting started on creating the curls you want without sacrificing time or energy.
1. Watch how-to videos.
Most of these products have tutorials available either from the manufacturer or on YouTube. Look for users with your hair type or length and see how they are using the tool to create the looks you love.
2. Use a heat protectant!
Always use a heat protectant spray before using hot styling tools like curling irons or straighteners on your hair. These keep your hair safe from heat damage and prevent split ends and flyaways. Keep your hair healthy from root to end by consistently using good pre-style products.
3. Practice makes perfect.
Use a day off or down time before bed to practice using your curling iron. These products do so much work for you, but it’s important to use them correctly to get the best results. The more familiar you are with your curler, the faster you create bombshell hair.
4. Keep it clean.
Clean your curling iron or heat tool according to manufacturer instructions. Hair products can cause gunky build up on your barrel and that leads to damaged hair and sad looking curls. Regular maintenance for your styling tools saves you money in the long run.
5. Wear the glove.
Some irons will come with a heat-resistant glove to wear while curling your hair. Put it on! Especially when the product is new to you and your learning the best way to use it. Prevent burns and boost your confidence in your tool.
6. Make your curls last.
Using a high quality setting spray after you’ve curled your hair will add length to the life of your curls. Volume boosting sprays are perfect for plumping your fresh waves. Some of these products can add days of life to your style.
If you’re tired of using your momma’s ho-hum hair curler, upgrade to one of these easy to use irons. These all do some work for you, cutting your curling time and getting you out the door faster. You’ll love the results and be happy to say goodbye to your old school standard issue equipment.
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Featured Image Credit: Deposit Photos