Most of us don't wake up with perfect beach waves or curled hair (sad but true), which is where the best curling wands and curling tongs come into play. But if you're not sure what the difference is, how to decide between the two, and how to use them to get your desired style, you're in the right place.
“Choosing to use a curling tong versus a styling wand depends on the desired style or overall finished look,” says Anna Kimble, director of product education and events at Drybar. “A curling tong creates classic, bouncy curls, while a styling wand can create a variety of wave styles.” That's because, she explains, “curling tongs form a spiral pattern in the hair, while a styling wand creates more of an 'S' pattern.”
For more tried and tested hair tools: Best hair straighteners | Best hair dryers | Best hot brushes
But, there's just the tip of the, well, curling tong. Here's everything you need to know about when to use each tool, the pros and cons of each, the best buys, and tips on how to curl, short and medium lengths with your tool of choice.
What's the difference between a curling wand and a curling tong?
A curling tong has a clamp to hold hair flat against the tool, creating curls that are typically polished, precise and long-lasting. “Clipping the hair before curling provides the necessary tension needed to create tighter and defined spiral curls,” explains Sabina Wizemann, a senior chemist from our Good Housekeeping Institute sister beauty lab in the US.
“Curling tongs tend to be more versatile as they can also be used as wands by wrapping hair over the clip to produce loose curls and waves, rather than tight curls,” she notes.
Plus, if the tong has a clip that extends the full length of the barrel, it can also be used to straighten hair.
- Curling tongs are best for: Anyone looking for defined, uniform curls on all hair lengths, types and textures.
- Pros: Resulting curls tend to be longer-lasting than wand curls. They're also more versatile since they can be used as wands and/or straighteners.
- Cons: Curling tong results can often look pageant-y perfect, and hair's extended close exposure on the hot tool subjects it to damage more quickly.
We've tested a wide range of curling tongs and wands in our Good Housekeeping Institute UK beauty lab – we've included our experts' and at-home panellists' favourites below, along with some of our beauty team's top picks. But head to our roundup of the best curling tongs, wavers and wands for the full reviews and more options for every need and budget.
A curling wand lacks a clamp, so hair is instead manually wrapped and twisted around the hot barrel then held in place with fingers. These wands or rods usually produce looser, flat curls and beach waves as the hair is curled with less tension than a traditional curling tong, says Wizemann.
With a curling wand, you can start styling hair mid-strand instead of pressing the entire hair shaft into the same shape, as you do with a curling tong clamp. This means hair styled with a wand retains more of its natural texture, especially at the ends, which gives that effortlessly beach-y look instead of one that's super coiffed. Plus, there's no risk of dents from styling, since there's no clamp. This also makes wands great for fine-tuning naturally curly styles, as you can curl small or partial sections of hair.
- Curling wands are best for: Anyone with medium-length hair or longer looking for beach-y waves, or naturally curly-haired folks who want to touch up curls.
- Pros: Perfect for messy, undone waves for many hair textures. Plus, because hair isn't clipped to a hot barrel, wands are less likely to damage strands, says Wizemann.
- Cons: Wands are one-trick ponies, and are challenging to master on short hair since they require the use of both hands. There's also a higher burn risk.
How to use a curling tong
These tips will guarantee perfect curls every time, according to GH beauty lab experts and pro stylists.
- “Section hair into clean, two-inch sections and begin styling at the front,” says Kimble.
- Grab a piece of hair that's no wider than the width of your tool. Near the roots, clamp the curling tong down with the clamp pointed downward and facing you in the mirror.
- “Pull the tong through to the end of the section to create tension and roll upward, holding the tong horizontally and wrapping the hair evenly around the barrel,” advises Kimble. Twist the barrel away from your face, pulsing the clamp lightly to make the process easier.
- Hold for 10 seconds, “then holding the tool vertically, gently open and close the clamp and pull downward to release the section,” says Kimble.
- Release and let curl cool to set, then repeat on the remaining sections.
Pro tip: “Choose the right barrel size for your desired style,” says Kimble. For a tighter wave/curl, use a smaller barrel (1-inch or smaller). For a looser wave/curl, grab a larger barrel (1.25-inch or larger).
How to use a curling wand
Using a curling wand can be intimidating at first (hi, burn risk!), but these pro tips make it simple.
- “Section hair into clean, two-inch sections and begin styling at the front,” says Kimble.
- Hold the tool vertically and “point the tip of the wand downward. Starting at the root, wrap the hair around the barrel, leaving about one inch at the end of the hair section free to hold on to with your fingers.”
- “Hold in place for several seconds and release hair by pulling the tool upward,” adds Kimble. “For hair that doesn't hold curls well, allow the curl to set and cool off in the palm of your hand before releasing.”
Pro tip: Practise curling with the hot tool turned off. This helps get the technique down before heat styling.
Tips for using curling tongs and wands based on hair type
- Fine hair: The most important thing is to protect your hair. “Use a curling tong or wand with a digital temperature control to allow for customised styling,” suggests Kimble. The beauty lab pros suggest setting the temperature between 82ºC to 187ºC, and Kimble recommends holding hair on the barrel for 3-5 seconds, max.
- Thick hair: First and foremost, says Kimble, “be sure that hair is completely dry prior to curling to help prevent curls from falling.” Then, “work in small, manageable sections and hold the section for a few seconds longer to ensure hair is heated thoroughly and evenly.” The beauty lab pros say you can power the tool up to 204ºC to 215ºC on this hair type.
- Short hair: To avoid an overdone style, Kimble suggests using “a smaller barrel size and work from mid-shaft to ends.” Otherwise, “starting the curl at the ends can cause hair to be too curled and appear shorter.” She adds that you can achieve a single wave look (perfect for this length) by wrapping hair around the barrel of a styling wand just once.
- Long hair: If your hair is lengthy, you'll want to make the process as fast as possible. To do so, “curl your hair in a while it is in a high ponytail,” says Kimble. “Release the ponytail and touch up the curls where needed.” Another pro tip: “Hold the barrel of the tong vertically. This helps create longer-lasting, bouncy curls!”
Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today's Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
