Topic
Curling wands and tongs
Wands have no clamp and are often tapered; tongs have a spring clamp. Barrel size, in mm with inches in brackets, decides how tight the curl is.
- Tight curls
- 13 to 19 mm (½ to ¾ in)
- Loose waves
- 32 to 38 mm (1¼ to 1½ in)
Common barrel sizes are 13, 19, 25, 32 and 38 mm, which correspond to ½, ¾, 1, 1¼ and 1½ inches. Smaller barrels give tighter curls; larger ones give looser curls and waves.
A wand is clipless: you wrap the hair around it, so most come with a heat-resistant glove. A tong has a clamp that holds the end of the hair. Wavers have two or three barrels that press an S-shaped wave.
US listings give barrel sizes in inches. Our size converter shows the millimetre figure and the nearest common size.
Guides on this topic
- What is a hair waver and how does it work?What is a hair waver? How two and three barrel wavers press hair into S-shaped waves, what they suit, barrel sizes, heat settings and whether one is worth it.Guide
- Tapered vs regular curling wandTapered vs regular curling wand: a cone gives natural curls that loosen towards the root, a straight barrel gives even curls. Shape, ease and hair length.Comparison
- How to use an automatic hair curlerHow to use an automatic hair curler such as the BaByliss Curl Secret: prep, section size, direction, timer beeps, avoiding tangles and making curls last.How-to
- How to use a curling wand without burning yourselfHow to use a curling wand without burning your fingers, neck or forehead: heat gloves, cool tips, hand position, stands and alternatives if you have no glove.How-to
- How to get beach waves with a wand or straightenersHow to get beach waves: which barrel size to use, leaving the ends out, alternating direction and breaking waves up, with a wand, tongs or straighteners.How-to
- How long should you hold a curling wand?How long to hold a curling wand or curling iron on each section by hair type, how long wands take to heat up and why letting curls cool makes them last longer.Guide
- Hair waver vs crimper: what is the difference?Hair waver vs crimper explained: barrel wavers make big S-shaped waves, crimpers press tight zigzags. How each works, the look, hair types and safety.Comparison
- Curling wand vs Dyson AirwrapCurling wand vs Dyson Airwrap: a hot barrel you wrap by hand or an air styler that wraps for you. Curl hold, heat, speed and which suits your hair.Comparison
- Can you curl a synthetic wig with tongs?Can you use curling tongs or a wand on a synthetic wig? Heat-friendly vs standard fibres, safe low temperatures, steam and rollers, and why curls may not hold.Guide
- Automatic curler vs curling wandAutomatic curler vs curling wand: a chamber that winds hair for you or a barrel you wrap by hand. Ease, curl type, hair length, tangles and safety compared.Comparison
- What size curling wand should I get?What size curling wand should you get? Barrel sizes from 13 to 38 mm (half to one and a half inches) matched to curl type and hair length, in plain terms.Guide
- How to use curling tongsHow to use curling tongs: clamping at the ends or mid length, rolling up to the root, releasing without a crease and setting curls so they last.How-to
- How to use a hair waverHow to use a hair waver: how wavers work, clamping from root to tip with even spacing, and getting mermaid waves on long and short hair without gaps.How-to
- How to use a curling wandHow to use a curling wand: wearing the heat glove, wrapping away from the face, holding times by barrel size and how to finish curls so they last all day.How-to
- How to curl hair with straightenersHow to curl hair with straighteners: the half twist and glide method, section sizes, twist direction and glide speed for loose waves or bouncy curls on any length.How-to
- Curling wand vs straighteners for curlsCurling wand vs straighteners for curls: defined ringlets against loose bends, how long each takes, and when a wand is worth adding to your straighteners.Comparison
- Curling wand vs curling tongsCurling wand vs curling tongs: clamp or no clamp, the curls each one makes, how easy each is to learn, and which suits short, long, fine or thick hair.Comparison
Buying guides on this topic
- Best curling tongs for short hairSmall-barrel curling tongs, a thin wand and air stylers compared for bobs and short layers on barrel size, type, stated heat and short hair use.Buying guide
- Best curling wands for beach wavesLarge and tapered curling wands, tongs and Airwrap stylers from ghd and Dyson compared on barrel size, tool type, stated heat and hair length.Buying guide
- Best curling wands and tongs for beginnersAuto-wrap air stylers and clamp tongs with cool tips and gloves compared for beginners on how they curl, listed aids, barrel size and type.Buying guide
- Best curling wands and stylers for hair extensionsAir stylers and curling tongs compared for use on extensions by stated maximum heat, whether heat adjusts, barrel size and tool type.Buying guide
- Best curling tongs and wands for fine hairSmall-barrel ghd and BaByliss curlers, Dyson and Shark air stylers and a volume hot brush compared on barrel size, stated heat and heat control.Buying guide
- Best curling wands and tongs for long hairLong and wide curling barrels from ghd and Dyson compared on barrel size, tool type, stated heat and the hair lengths each listing names.Buying guide
- Best curling wands and tongs: premium picksPremium curling tongs, wands and an air styler from ghd, BaByliss and Dyson compared on type, barrel size in mm, temperature and listed weight.Buying guide
- Best hot air brushes and hot brushesHot air brushes and heated hot brushes from ghd, Dyson and Shark compared on wet or dry use, stated heat, brush head and power.Buying guide
- Best straighteners for curling and waving hairStraighteners that also curl and wave, from ghd, L'Oréal and Shark, compared on body shape, plate type, heat settings and listed weight.Buying guide