10 of the best curling irons and hair wands for short hair

[NelsonG]

I had long hair for most of my life, but then decided to chop it off to the middle of my neck in the summer of 2018 and have been rocking a bob ever since. Styling my new short ‘do came with a bit of a learning curve because, as anyone who’s gone from long to short knows, curling short hair is a completely different beast.

My favorite hair wand wasn’t giving me the same results anymore, and I needed to find the best curling iron for my short hair. 

How is curling short hair different from curling long hair?

When you have less length to work with, you might have to switch up your preferred hair tool. Depending on how short your hair is, you can’t use some of the more innovative tools, like the self-rotating Beachwaver or Chi Spin N Curl.  Read more...

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IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR SALON-QUALITY CURLS

Hot Tools Professional Marcel iron/wand

A cult favorite among professionals, this iron creates beachy waves and full curls.

• Size: 0.375, 0.5, 0.625, 0.75, 1, or 1.5 inch
• Heat range: 280 to 430 degrees
• Barrel material: 24 karat gold

$49.99 from Amazon

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BEST TRADITIONAL CURLING IRON

BaBylissPro spring curling iron

Used at the proper heat setting, this iron will give you healthy looking curls.

• Size: 0.75, 1, 1.25, or 1.5 inch
• Heat range: Up to 450 degrees
• Barrel material: Nano titanium

$49.95 from Amazon

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BEST FOR CREATING DIFFERENT STYLES

InfinitiPro two-in-one styler

Curl, wave, and straighten your hair with this one tool.

• Size: 1 inch
• Heat range: 320 to 400 degrees
• Barrel material: Ceramic coated interior, stainless steel exterior

$43 from Amazon

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BEST FOR CURL VARIETY

NuMe Octowand

Create tons of styles with eight interchangeable barrels of varying sizes and shapes.

• Size: 13, 19, 25, and 32 millimeters (in varying shapes)
• Heat range: Up to 450 degrees
• Barrel material: Tourmaline infused ceramic

$114.49 from Amazon

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BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION

InfinitiPro nano tourmaline ceramic curling iron

The InfinitiPro covers all the basics and is affordable.

• Size: 0.75, 1, 1.25, or 1.5 inch
• Heat range: 310 to 400 degrees
• Barrel material: Tourmaline ceramic

$24.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Nordstrom

BEST FOR PROTECTING HAIR FROM HEAT DAMAGE

Dyson Airwrap

The Dyson Airwrap takes the place of multiple hair tools — but its hefty price tag reflects that.

• Size: 1.2 or 1.6 inch
• Heat range: Up to 302 degrees

$549 from Nordstrom

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BEST COMBINATION OF QUALITY AND VERSATILITY

T3 Whirl Trio

Three interchangeable wands give you options to create different curls.

• Size: 0.75 to 1.25 tapered, 1, or 1.5 inch
• Heat range: Up to 410 degrees
• Barrel material: Tourmaline ceramic

$300 from Amazon

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BEST FOR REDUCING FRIZZ

Drybar 3-Day Bender

The 3-Day Bender will leave your hair frizz-free and shiny.

• Size: 1 inch
• Heat range: Up to 440 degrees
• Barrel material: Ceramic

$145 from Amazon

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BEST FOR OPTIMIZED HEAT

ghd Curve Iron Curl

With optimized heat settings, this iron gives you consistent curls that last.

• Size: 1 or 1.25 inch
• Heat range: 365 degrees
• Barrel material: Ceramic

$199 from Amazon

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BEST FOR YOUR BASIC NEEDS

Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Gold Curl

This iron doesn't have tons of bells and whistles, but it's a great option for everyday use.

• Size: 1 inch
• Heat range: 280 to 430 degrees
• Barrel material: Gold plated

$60 from Amazon

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