Curling Iron: Which One Do You Need?

Buying a curling iron can be tricky. There are so many different styles to choose from.

New shapes of barrels, new materials for minimizing damage, and some downright crazy looking contraptions.

How on earth do you figure out which one to get?

That's what this page is all about. Check out all the different styles of curling iron available and learn which is the best one for your needs.

See the Top 10 Curling Tools on Folica.com

The first, most important thing to know is what kind of curl you're looking to create. That will help you narrow down which type of iron will give you the results you want.

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Curling iron features

DIAMETER OF BARREL

The diameter of the barrel determines the size of the curl. Barrel size ranges from 1/2 inch to 2 inches.

SMALL barrel diameters (1/2-3/4 inches) are best if you have very short hair or if you wish to create a tight spiral curl.
MEDIUM width barrels (1 inch) allow for maximum versatility. Ideal for short to long hair, this mid-range diameter is perfect for creating a spiral curl on medium to long hair and a nice, lasting curl on shorter hair.

Up to 2 inch curling
irons by Hot Tools

LARGE barrels (up to 2 inches) will create a loose wave on long hair. They also work nicely to give a gentle curve to the ends of a medium length bob.

And can be used on short hair to add volume and create a large, "barrel rolls" which can then be separated by running fingers through the hair with a wax or putty product.

TYPES OF HANDLES

There are a few options for curling iron handle mechanisms. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages...

Spring loaded handle

This is the most common for home use. The clip is operated by a simple spring handle which is more user-friendly than the Marcel irons (below). However, spring handles (especially on inexpensive models) are prone to breakage. Also, they can be set too tight so that the clip clamps down on the hair too hard, leaving a visible mark where the hair was grasped.

Hot Tools Professional
Ceramic Marcel Curling Iron

Marcel handle curling irons

Named after inventor of the curling iron back in 1890, Marcel Grateau.

These irons can be tricky to use on your own hair and are most often used by professional stylists in the salon.

Because there is no spring, the firmness with which you clamp down on the hair is completely controlled by you.

Clipless

Enzo Milano Reverse Conico Curling Iron

Enzo Milano Conico 18/9mm Curling Iron

Enzo Milano Clipless Curling Iron 3/4" Round

New style curling 'wands' don't have a clip to hold the hair in place. They're simply a heated rod in a specific shape, which you wrap the hair around.

These wands take a bit of getting used to because they are held differently than traditional curling irons.

Hold the tool at the base of the hair (near the scalp) with the barrel pointing downward and wind the hair around the barrel, starting nearest the handle.

Most clipless irons come with a kevlar glove so that you can wrap the ends around the barrel of the iron for a finished looking curl.

Don't worry too much about it though, the casual waves that are so hot right now are purposely not curled all the way to the ends. These irons are perfect for creating that look.

There are a few manufacturers, but the best selection by far is the Enzo Milano Collection.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Curling irons are made out of a number of different materials - most of the time, a few of the following in combination...

TRAVEL CURLING IRONS
A Conair cordless curling iron can be your best friend. Simple to pack for any trip... even if it's just a late night out that might require a touch-up.

Teflon - ensures that hair slides around the iron smoothly and product isn't as likely to build up on the barrel.
Ceramic - gentle, even heat which helps to minimize dryness and breakage from heat styling.
Tourmaline - finely ground precious gem oozing with negative ions which help to smooth and defrizz hair.
Metals (i.e., gold, aluminum) - used for curling iron barrels due to their heat conducive qualities.
Titanium - notoriously strong but lightweight metal, perfect for hand tools of many descriptions.

SHAPE OF BARREL

There are several shapes to choose from, depending on the type of curl you want to create...

cylinder - typical spiral curl
conical - wider near the scalp, slightly tighter toward the ends
reverse cone - tighter near the scalp, slightly wider toward the ends
brush attachments - soft waves
double barrel - wide waves
triple barrel - repetitive wave pattern

Most models are quite versatile to use. The more specialized barrels (triple barrel, triangle) are less flexible. They create a specific kind of curl pattern. Having a few different sizes/shapes of irons will give you lots of options when you want to create curls.