The best curling tongs
Beach waves before work, bouncy curls for a night out: tongs and wands that make it quick, even if you've never quite got the knack.
Curling tongs come in two main types. Classic tongs have a clamp that holds the ends of your hair, which suits beginners and polished, defined curls. Wands have no clamp: you wrap the hair round the barrel yourself, which gives looser, more natural waves once you've got the hang of it. Hairdressers have been curling with heated irons since the 1870s, when Marcel Grateau's "Marcel wave" made them famous.
The barrel decides the curl: 25mm and under for defined curls, 32mm for big, loose bounce, and a tapered wand gives a mix of both. If winding hair round a hot barrel sounds fiddly, an automatic curler does it for you.
What matters
- Barrel size: smaller for tighter curls, bigger for loose waves.
- Heat settings: fine or coloured hair needs less heat than thick hair.
- Clamp or wand: clamps are easier to start with, wands give softer waves.
- Safety: auto shut-off, a cool tip and a heat glove or mat.
#1 of 5
Best overall
BaByliss Curling Wand Pro 2285CU (13–25mm)
£20–£30 Price range
The tapered barrel runs from 25mm down to 13mm, giving tight curls at the tip and soft waves at the base, so one wand covers most looks. It's ready in 30 seconds and goes up to 210°C, with five settings to keep fine hair at a gentler heat.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use for curls and waves, say it works well on short and fine hair too, and that the curls last all day.
A closer look: For the most natural finish, hold the wand pointing down and wrap from the wider end towards the tip, as BaByliss suggests. Wear the glove on the hand that winds the hair. The 2.5m swivel cord reaches from the socket to the mirror without tangling.
- 13–25mm tapered barrel
- 5 heat settings, 150–210°C
- Ready in 30 seconds
- Auto shut-off
- Heat glove included
Best for: Everyday waves and curls
- Type
- Wand (no clamp)
- Barrel
- 13–25mm tapered
- Heat settings
- 5 settings, 150–210°C
- Heat-up time
- 30 sec
- Auto shut-off
- Yes
- Extras in the box
- Heat glove
#2 of 5
Runner-up
Remington Shine Therapy Curling Wand CI53W (13–25mm)
£32.99 RRP
Another tapered 13–25mm wand, this one with eight heat settings for finer control and a ceramic barrel infused with argan oil for glossy curls. It's hot in 30 seconds and switches itself off after an hour.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use and say the curls look gorgeous and hold all day, sometimes for two or three.
A closer look: Start on a lower setting for fine or coloured hair and only turn it up if the curls drop. The heat-resistant pouch is handy for packing it away when you travel. Register it online within 28 days to add a year to the three-year guarantee.
- 13–25mm tapered barrel
- 8 heat settings, up to 210°C
- Ready in 30 seconds
- Argan oil-infused ceramic coating
- Glove and storage pouch
Best for: Glossy curls, finer heat control
- Type
- Wand (no clamp)
- Barrel
- 13–25mm tapered
- Heat settings
- 8 settings, 150–210°C
- Heat-up time
- 30 sec
- Auto shut-off
- After 60 min
- Extras in the box
- Heat glove and pouch
#3 of 5
Easiest to use
TYMO CurlPro Automatic Rotating Curler (25mm)
£50–£75 Price range
Put a section of hair in the slot, press the button and it winds the curl for you, then beeps after eight seconds when the curl is set. It's the one to choose if wrapping hair round a hot barrel has always ended in tangles or burnt fingers.
What owners say: Owners say it's the easiest curler they've used, with long hair done in 10 to 15 minutes, curls that last all day and no risk of burns.
Heads up: Use small sections, about an inch wide: bigger ones are what cause tangles.
A closer look: It turns itself off after 10 minutes without use, so it won't sit hot on the dressing table if you get distracted. The rotation turns either way, so you can curl both sides of your face away from it.
- Automatic rotating barrel
- 25mm (1in) barrel
- 3 heat settings, up to 210°C
- Anti-tangle sensor
- Cool-touch casing
Best for: Beginners and quick curls
- Type
- Auto-rotating
- Barrel
- 25mm (1in)
- Heat settings
- 3 settings, 160–210°C
- Heat-up time
- 60 sec
- Auto shut-off
- After 10 min
- Extras in the box
- Curler only
#4 of 5
Best for loose curls
TRESemmé Large Curling Tong 2805DU (32mm)
£20–£30 Price range
A wide 32mm barrel with a clamp, for big, bouncy curls and loose waves rather than tight ringlets. The clamp holds the ends while you wind, which makes it a simple first tong.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use and like the quality for the price.
Heads up: Big barrels give looser curls that drop faster in fine hair, so let each curl cool before you touch it and finish with a little hairspray.
A closer look: Use 160°C for fine or coloured hair and 200°C for thick hair, following TRESemmé's guidance. The 2.5m swivel cord and built-in stand make it easy to use at a dressing table, and once it's unplugged the mat wraps round it to cool.
- 32mm ceramic barrel
- 3 heat settings, up to 200°C
- Ready in 30 seconds
- Auto shut-off after 72 min
- Heat-proof mat
Best for: Big, loose curls
- Type
- Tong (clamp)
- Barrel
- 32mm
- Heat settings
- 3 settings, 160–200°C
- Heat-up time
- 30 sec
- Auto shut-off
- After 72 min
- Extras in the box
- Heat mat
#5 of 5
Best budget
Wahl Ceramic Curling Tong (25mm)
£17.99 RRP
No settings to fiddle with: it heats to 200°C and does one job well, tight and glossy 25mm curls. The clamp and cool tip make it simple to use, and there's a loop to hang it up while it cools.
What owners say: Owners say it heats quickly, is easy to use and gives tight, bouncy curls without frizz, for very little money.
A closer look: Hold each section for 5 to 8 seconds, then release it and let the curl cool, which is Wahl's own advice. Clamp the ends and wind away from your head to keep the hot barrel clear of your ears and neck, and use a heat protection spray, as there's only the one high setting.
- 25mm ceramic barrel
- Heats to 200°C
- Clamp and cool tip
- 2.5m swivel cord
- Switches off after an hour
Best for: Simple, tight curls
- Type
- Tong (clamp)
- Barrel
- 25mm
- Heat settings
- 1 setting, 200°C
- Heat-up time
- 60 sec
- Auto shut-off
- After 60 min
- Extras in the box
- Tong only
How they compare
| Feature | #1BaByliss Wand Pro | #2Remington Shine Therapy | #3TYMO CurlPro | #4TRESemmé 32mm | #5Wahl 25mm tong |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Easiest to use | Best for loose curls | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Price | £20–£30 Price range | £32.99 RRP | £50–£75 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £17.99 RRP |
| Type | Wand (no clamp) | Wand (no clamp) | Auto-rotating | Tong (clamp) | Tong (clamp) |
| Barrel | 13–25mm tapered | 13–25mm tapered | 25mm (1in) | 32mm | 25mm |
| Heat settings | 5 settings, 150–210°C | 8 settings, 150–210°C | 3 settings, 160–210°C | 3 settings, 160–200°C | 1 setting, 200°C |
| Heat-up time | 30 sec | 30 sec | 60 sec | 30 sec | 60 sec |
| Auto shut-off | Yes | After 60 min | After 10 min | After 72 min | After 60 min |
| Extras in the box | Heat glove | Heat glove and pouch | Curler only | Heat mat | Tong only |
| Best for | Everyday waves and curls | Glossy curls, finer heat control | Beginners and quick curls | Big, loose curls | Simple, tight curls |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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