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The Best Curling Wands for Bounce
There’s something about curly hair that makes you feel flirty, cute, and confident. Curls are a bouncy, vibrant, and voluminous style. When paired with the right outfit, curly hair work on pretty much anyone. There are a few methods to curl hair, and curling wands are one of the most efficient for tight, bouncy curls.
As the name suggests, curling wands are wand-like devices that curl your hair through heat. They’re very easy to use and require little technique or experience. The best curling wands of 2023 are great to have for events or daily use.
What Is a Curling Wand?
A curling wand is a device that lets you curl your hair in various ways. Curling wands feature a ceramic barrel and a heating system that is usually connected to a power outlet. The heating system heats the ceramic barrel, and the user then wraps or curls their hair around the barrel once heated up. After leaving the hair on the barrel for a short amount of time, the hair will stay curled, hence the name.
Curling Wand vs. Flat Iron
Something to note in regards to curling wands is that they’re different from another type of curling device known as a flat iron. While the term “flat iron” may allude to the fact that it’s often used to straighten hair, you can use flat irons to curl your hair, too. In terms of effectiveness, however, curling wands are much better at curling.
The reason for this is that flat irons are made for more general use. You can curl, flatten or straighten hair depending on your goals, whereas curling wands are meant specifically for curling your hair. You can’t do much with a curling wand other than, well, curling, and this can be either a good or a bad thing depending on what you’re looking for in a hair styling device.
At the end of the day, it’s best to choose the product that you’ll get the most use out of. If you think that you’ll be straightening your hair just as often as you will be curling it, a flat iron may be the better choice. But if you want better curls and only curls, then a curling wand is the way to go.
Important Considerations
Barrel Width
A curling wand relies on a ceramic barrel to heat your hair. Ceramic barrels transfer the heat from the wand onto your hair without damaging your hair too much in the process. Depending on the manufacturer, barrels can vary in width or shape, with some that are inches thicker than others.
The thickness and shape of the ceramic barrel can heavily affect your results with the wand. A thicker barrel, for example, is perfect for larger curls, whereas a thinner one is more suited for finer and smaller ones. There are also barrels with varied shapes that result in more dynamic curls.
Heat Damage
Did you know that overexposure to heat can damage your hair? Heat can damage your hair by changing the shape of your keratin strands, resulting in overall weaker hair. So, while styling your hair with heat is convenient and effective, your hair may become more brittle due to it.
To make things even worse, heat can dry out your hair as well. As such, you’ll want to avoid using curling wands that are too hot for your hair to handle, especially if you have fine hair that’s sensitive to these sorts of things.
Styling Accessories
Some curling wands come with additional accessories that you can use alongside the curling wand itself. The most common of these is the glove — since there is a real risk of scalding yourself or burning your skin, the glove is there to protect you if your fingers slip by accident.
Aside from gloves, you may also get hair clips, carrying cases, or even additional ceramic barrels for wands with detachable barrel designs. Other than the extra barrels, these accessories don’t change all that much, but they’re nice to have as a bonus.
Comparing the Best Curling Wands of 2023
Bed Head Curling Wand
Pros
- Multiple barrel size options
- Comes with a glove for safety
- Clamp-free design
Cons
- Material quality could be better
L’ANGE Hair Curling Wand
Pros
- Comes with a warranty
- Creates long-lasting curls
- Great for thick hair
Cons
- Little pricey
CONAIR Curling Wand
Pros
- Clamp-free ceramic design
- Features frizz control
- Great material quality
Cons
- Color of the wand may vary
- Could be easier to use
Ohuhu Curling Wand
Pros
- Includes five different ceramic barrels
- Adjustable temperature control
- Three color options
Cons
- Not always in stock
- Changing barrels can be difficult
Duomishu Curling Wand
Pros
- Comes with six barrels
- Includes hairpins and glove
- Available in four colors
Cons
- A bit on the pricey end
Xtava Curling Wand
Pros
- Sleek, futuristic design
- Simple controls
- User-friendly layout
Cons
- No accessories included
People Also Ask
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Q: Are curling wands the same as flat irons?
A:No. Curling wands typically refer to a non-clamping curling device, whereas a flat iron refers to the clamping hair device that you can also use for straightening your hair.
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Q: Are curling wands safe to use?
A:Not exactly. Curling wands can cause damage to your hair, and as such, you’ll want to use them sparingly to avoid any long-term damage. They also heat to high temperatures, up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so adult supervision is required.
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Q: When should I use a curling wand?
A:It’s best to use curling wands occasionally, such as when you’re attending a party or event.
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