What type of curler is best for beginners?

Read on for the best rotating curling irons of 2024 that PEOPLE Tested.

We tested 21 of the best rotating curling irons — looking at temperature settings, overall performance, and curl results, and found 12 that we would recommend to our own family and friends no matter their experience level.

To Sarah Potempa , celebrity hairstylist and founder of The Beachwaver Co., rotating curling irons will always be a better investment than regular curling irons. “Using a rotating curling iron makes curling the back of your hair as easy as the front,” she says. “ You can create uniform and beautiful waves without having to think about it or do some crazy arm workout ,” she adds.

“You want to look for rotating curling irons that have adjustable heat temperatures and are ceramic ,” celebrity hairstylist Joseph Michael tells PEOPLE. “This will help control the amount of temperature used on the hair and protect hair from being burnt.” But more than that, these kinds of curling irons are here to make your life easier.

Though the look of voluminous curls is alluring, sometimes the curling process is more tedious than it’s worth — and that’s where rotating curling irons come in handy. These tools use rotational technology, so you clip your hair to the barrel, hit a button, and the iron does all the work for you.

Best Overall

Lyealion Interchangeable Hair Curling Wand

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$90

Pros

• We like that this model comes as a set with several barrels for different curl sizes.

• Its lightweight body and straightforward design makes the tool fairly easy to use.

• Compared to some others on this list, this one is surprisingly affordable.

Cons

• The slider rotates in the opposite direction of the buttons, which adds a learning curve.

While there were many rotating curling irons that made our list, we loved how simple and effective this option is — and it’s affordable for many budgets. There’s a straightforward ‘home’ button to take the tool to its starting position, directional buttons to turn the barrel left or right, and temperature buttons to modify the heat settings.

We were impressed with how light this iron felt in our hand and appreciated that the barrel rotates at a slower speed (and you can stop and start it with the press of a button). As a set, this rotating curling iron comes with three barrel sizes for various types of curls, as well as a glove and some hair clips. The only hiccup we noticed is that the tool seems to turn in the opposite direction of the button you choose. 

The temperature settings worked well without any burning or hair damage. You just use the clamp to hold your hair in place, and it’s firm enough to hold it but not so much as to pull it. Then you hit the buttons to rotate the tool for effortless curls. We had team members of every expertise level test this, and no one had issues using this rotating curling iron. The resulting curls were quite bouncy and voluminous. We love that this is below the average price of rotating curling irons at under $100, so we would definitely recommend this pick to friends and family. 

Barrel Size: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Temperature: 320°–450°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: All hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Prizm Wavy Professional Rotating Curling Iron

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$90

Pros

• Thanks to its easy-to-turn barrels and fast-heating temperatures, this tool was very simple to use.

• At $90, this curling iron is fairly affordable.

• Its lightweight body didn’t fatigue our arms or hurt our wrists during the testing period.

Cons

• It’s not available at many retailers, so it will be hard to find elsewhere should this tool go out of stock.

We were torn between our top two picks, which is why we’re designating the Prizm as the runner-up to our best overall pick. This rotating curling iron was so easy to use, even for those of us who had never used a rotating curling iron before. The design has several buttons to turn it on and off, modify the temperature, and for the rotation feature — with directional guides for turning left, right, and re-centering it.

In terms of effectiveness, this rotating curling iron really works. We were impressed it only took about 20 seconds to heat to our desired temperature. It’s super lightweight when you’re holding it in your hand and rotates in each direction seamlessly. There was no burning or damage, and the clamp held the hair without pulling it too hard. We were delighted at the well-defined and bouncy curls this hair tool was able to create. 

While we loved the ease of use and effectiveness of this rotating curling iron, it was the price that really sold us. Despite the high quality, the price is under $100, less than the average for most rotating curling irons (due to the extra technology involved). We would definitely recommend this tool for those of any experience level.

Barrel Size: 1 inch | Temperature: 250°–450°F | Material: Titanium | Best for: Wavy hair

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

Best Budget

MaikcQ Rotating Curling Iron

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$60

Pros

• Ringing in at just $60, this tool was one of the most cost-effective products we tried.

• We liked that we could use it as both a rotating and standard curling iron.

• It was very easy to style with this curler because of its lightweight body.

Cons

• There were very few instructions included, so we had to play around with the curler to figure out its functions.

• The clamp is short, which makes this tool harder to use on shorter haircuts.

This rotating curling iron proved super versatile during testing and came in at a lower price than most on the market, making it a stellar pick for those on a budget. The main portion of the tool is a standard 1.25-inch curling iron, but it comes with a brush attachment for the rotation feature. We were a little disappointed with the limited instructions on the packaging, but the tool is still quite user-friendly.

We liked how lightweight this rotating curling iron is — a quality that makes it easy to hold while it spins your curls into existence. In terms of design, the clamp was somewhat short, and for those of us with shorter hair, there was some concern about the hot tip being a little too close to our heads. All in all, we were able to curl our hair within five minutes. The buttons are simple to use, and the tool creates loose, bouncy waves as desired. Overall, we love this rotating curling iron as a budget pick.

Barrel Size: 1.25 inch | Temperature: 176°–410°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: All hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

Best Investment

Dyson Airwrap

View On Nordstrom

$600

View On Sephora

$599

View On Ulta

$600

Pros

• The (six!) attachments were very easy to use.

• Its design is both sleek and ergonomic, which gave this tool a light weight that didn’t result in arm or wrist fatigue.

• We liked that the AirWrap curled our hair with air suction versus a clamp.

Cons

• Figuring out which barrel to use is not as intuitive

• Price is too high for some budgets

Dyson products are famous for being splurge-worthy and the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler is practically a household name at this point, so we put the beloved hair tool to the test — and it lives up to the hype. During testing, we generally found this tool to be user-friendly, though it takes a few minutes to figure out which barrel to use for what purpose. It’s super lightweight in your hand and can be held for extended periods without worries of your hand cramping up. We figured out the groove of this tool after finishing two or so sections of hair.

The fan settings ensured no burned hair, and the rotation moved in both directions for various types of curls. There aren’t too many buttons and settings, so it’s fairly straightforward, and like any tool, with more practice, the faster the process will go. We appreciated its Coanda air technology rather than a traditional clamp and were impressed with the curls it produced. And we’re not alone in holding the Dyson in esteem. “The reason why I like the Dyson Airwrap is that it is a different kind of heating technology that simulates the same experience as a rotating curling iron while still keeping the integrity of your hair,” says Michael.

Barrel Size: 1.2, 1.6 inches | Temperature: <302°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: All hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Tamara Staples

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Best for Beginners

Beachwaver Co. Rotating Curling Iron

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$149

View On Walmart

$184

View On Ulta

$149

Pros

• Its straightforward design makes this particular iron especially user-friendly.

• This tool produced well-defined curls because of its ceramic barrel, a conduit for even heating.

• Its good heat range made it easy to style our hair at a variety of different temperatures.

Cons

• The clamp is a bit too small on this model.

The Beachwaver Co. S1 Rotating Curling Iron is ideal for beginners because the buttons are intuitive — left and right — and the other mechanics like temperature and the clamp to hold your hair in place are easy to figure out. The barrel is one inch thick and works well for longer hair, though you can make it work for shorter or thinner hair too (especially since the clamp is shorter). We were impressed with the curls it formed — they were well-defined and voluminous. 

For the most part, we thought this tool was lightweight, though one member of our team thought it was a little bulky. We did wish the clamp was a little longer, but even as such, our hair didn’t tangle or get caught in it. Plus, hair experts love it, too. “I like the Beachwaver because it has an easy-to-use temperature gauge and the ceramic barrel makes it easy to create voluminous curls,” says Michael.

Barrel Size: 1 inch | Temperature: 290°–410°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: Longer hair, all hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

Best Ionic

TYMO Hair Curling Wand

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$80

View On Target

$100

View On Tymobeauty.com

$100

Pros

• We appreciated that its rotation feature was easy to use.

• The clamp was secure without pulling on our hair, which is a bonus.

• Its barrels left us with romantic, loose curls.

Cons

• The tool features temperature levels instead of settings, which can be an adjustment for some users.

Ionic refers to the positive and negative charges that work together in this type of hair tool to help reduce frizz. We liked this rotating curling iron because the rotation feature was easy to figure out, and once we got the hang of it, we moved through one side of our head in 15 minutes, finishing up the rest shortly after. It’s a fairly standard weight but didn’t feel too heavy in our hands, especially for long periods of usage.

We noticed there were five temperature levels rather than being able to adjust the temperature setting to a specific number, which could be a con for some but isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. The clamp held the hair without issue, tugging, or tangles, and didn’t get too hot. Considering the price, we think this is a great ionic option, especially for those who deal with frizz regularly.

Barrel Size: 1, 1.25, 1.5 inches | Temperature: 280°–430°F | Material: Nano titanium coating | Best for: Frizz, all hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

Best for Long Hair

Bio Ionic Rotating Styling Iron

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$165

View On QVC

$131

View On Bioionic.com

Pros

• This tool’s streamlined design made it easy to use and light on our wrists.

• We were able to achieve loose curls and waves in no time despite our longer tresses.

• It was easy to control the direction of the curls since we were manually wrapping our hair around the barrel.

Cons

• It didn’t rotate by itself, which made more work for us.

• It took three minutes to heat, which was a little long for our liking.

We appreciated how easy this rotating curling iron was for beginners and experts alike. It was lightweight and easy to maneuver through various sections of our hair, though you do have to manually rotate it. The clamp held the hair effectively so we could focus on changing the direction of the curls, and created soft, beachy waves.

We were impressed with the ease of use when it came to the temperature settings, but wished it got hotter more quickly — it took about three minutes to fully heat up. Since this one is a manual rotating curling iron, it did take slightly longer to curl our hair on both sides of our head compared to others on our list. That said, it’s competitive in pricing with many of our favorites, and it worked effectively, so we would definitely recommend it.

Barrel Size: 1 inch | Temperature: Up to 440°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: Long hair, all hair types

Best for Thick Hair

NuMe Automatic Curling Wand

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$120

View On Numehair.com

$249

Pros

• The design of this curler made it easy to handle and maneuver without tiring our arms.

• Its rotation technology is both intuitive and effective, eliminating any extra armwork.

• The tool comes with three barrels to achieve a variety of curl sizes.

Cons

• Compared to some of the others that we tested, this product is somewhat pricey.

We appreciate this rotating curling iron because it just makes sense. It has straightforward buttons that tell you which way the curling iron turns, and you can easily set the temperature to control the tool’s heat level (which heated with impressive speed). You press a button to start the curl and press one to stop it, but with practice, this becomes an auto-pilot movement. There are three barrels included so you can swap them out depending on how big or small of a curl you’re looking to make.

The rotation feature isn’t super speedy, so you have time to click each button to control the curl as you go — especially if you’re nervous about getting the tool too close to your ears or skin. There’s also a way to reset the tool to its starting position after use to keep the process going efficiently. The design is super sleek with a black barrel and rose gold buttons, and the clamp, though short, held our hair without difficulty, so the barrel could curl each section to create loose, bouncy curls. Though expensive, we think this is a good value for the quality of tool that you’re getting, especially if you need a curling iron that's effective for thick hair.

Barrel Size: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Material: Ceramic | Best for: Thick, curly, frizzy hair

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

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Best Cordless

Conair Cordless Auto Curler

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$59

View On Walmart

$70

View On Ulta

$80

Pros

• Its unconventional design was surprisingly easy to use.

• The lack of a cord makes this an easy tool to pack in a suitcase or take on the go.

• It was easy to hold and style with thanks to its light weight.

Cons

• The instructions weren’t the most clear, which presented an initial learning curve.

Next to manual rotation, the second most annoying attribute of standard curling irons is navigating around the cord. With this cordless option, that’s not an issue. Though the instructions weren’t the most clear, we figured out how to use this rotating curling iron fairly quickly. Rather than a traditional barrel, this beauty tool uses a chamber to twirl the hair into. It beeps twice to let you know the curl is finished so you can thread your hair back out and start on the next section. 

Though it’s super lightweight, the width of the tool is a little bulky. That said, the size makes it quite portable, so it could be good for travel. We loved the ringlets this curling iron created, and each section only takes 12 seconds to curl. There weren’t any tangles and no hair was pulled, and our team thought the results, paired with the price, make this a great option for a lot of different needs. 

Barrel Size: Not listed | Temperature: Up to 400°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: All hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

Best for Volume

T3 Twirl 360 Curling Iron

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$200

View On Sephora

$200

View On Ulta

$150

Pros

• Its thicker barrel produced large bouncy curls.

• The body of this tool is lightweight and simple to figure out, making it super user-friendly.

• We liked that this one had a few smart features.

• It has a long clamp, which can hold more hair.

Cons

• Due to all of these extra features, this tool is definitely on the more expensive side.

Generally, you can never go wrong with a T3 hair tool — and this one is no exception. Though we’ll caution you, you do need to read the instructions here, but once you do it’s fairly easy to use. Essentially, it has smart technology that can detect motion, so it uses the literal flick of your wrist to decide which direction to curl. So, if you’re working on one side of your head it will curl one way, and when you flip your wrist toward the other, it will rotate. (We were in awe, too!)

It saves time, it’s lightweight, and it creates voluminous curls given the large-sized barrel. Plus, it heats up in 20 seconds, so there’s no time lost here. Some felt the shorter clamps on other rotating curling irons made the process trickier, but that’s not an issue with the T3 because it has a standard-length clamp that holds the hair securely without tangling or pulling. We acknowledge it’s on the pricier side of our list, but we believe it’s a great value and 100 percent worth the cost.

Barrel Size: 1.25 inch | Temperature: Three heat settings, 260°-410°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: All hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

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Best for Loose Curls

The Farrah Rotating Curling Iron

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$84

View On Walmart

$84

View On Thefarrah.com

Pros

• Its compact size makes it easy to use and take on the go.

• With practice, we found this rotating curler to be extremely easy to use.

• It’s pleasantly lightweight, which made our styling experience more comfortable.

Cons

• Its design isn’t too compatible with short hair.

• This one takes a few minutes to heat up, which isn’t ideal if you’re in a hurry.

If you’re looking to create loose bouncy curls that emulate a nice blowout, this is the rotating curling iron to help you achieve that look. It’s super compact (perfect for travel and tucking into carry-on luggage) and uses a loose chamber system that automatically rotates your hair to curl it. We learned it takes a few tries to figure it out, but once you have it going, this rotating curling iron is super easy to use. There’s one central power button, two rotational buttons (for each direction), and five temperature settings ranging from 250°–450°F.

It proved quite lightweight to hold in your hand while styling and has a swivel cord to avoid any tangles during the process. Given the loose style of this beauty tool, we don’t think it would work for short hair since it might not stay on the barrel as well. It did take its time heating up, but once it reached the right level, it curled effortlessly, creating a blowout-worthy look.

Barrel Size: 1 inch | Temperature: 250°–450°F | Material: Ceramic | Best for: Longer hair, all hair types

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

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Best with Attachments

Shark FlexStyle System

View On Amazon

$291

View On Nordstrom

$300

View On Sephora

$299

Pros

• Its intuitive attachments and simple settings make this tool surprisingly user-friendly.

• The Shark’s use of Coanda curling technology makes this model remarkably comparable to Dyson’s Airwrap.

• Because it comes with a slew of other brush heads outside of just curling barrels, this is an extremely versatile hair tool.

Cons

• Though it’s not priced like the Dyson, you’ll still have to spend a pretty penny on this set.

This is the closest you’re going to get to the Dyson Airwrap without paying $600 (though it'll still cost a pretty penny). Rated our best with attachments, we like how versatile the Shark rotating curling iron is. It uses similar air technology to reduce heat damage, and we found it super user-friendly when styling. 

You just change the attachments as you go, so you can start with a drying one if you have wet hair, and then switch to the brush to help smooth it before using the iron to create the best curls. The one interesting thing is the rotation feature is controlled in the middle of the hair tool. It’s a little bulky in size but still light when you’re holding it. Overall, this is a great rotating curling iron if you want the amenities of a Dyson at a lower cost.

Barrel Size: 1.25 inch | Temperature: Four heat, three airflow settings | Best for: All hair types, non-heat damage

• People / Jessica Juliao

• People / Jessica Juliao

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• People / Jessica Juliao

Shark FlexStyle vs. Dyson Airwrap: Which Styling System Is Better?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding the best curling iron. Like a good straightener, the size (and shape) make a world of difference in achieving the type of curl you’re looking for—and so do factors like your hair type, hair length, the products you use (don't forget the heat protectant!), how hot the barrels get, and even how you hold the tool. To make your journey easier, we asked hair experts for tips on how to get the perfect curl (or wave, depending on your preference) and curated a list of the best styling tools on the market, according to our editors who put them to the test and stylists who use them every day.

Our top curling iron picks

What to look for in a curling iron

Curling Iron Musts

• Material: The most common curling irons have ceramic barrels that tend to spread heat evenly to ensure smooth, shiny results. They're a great pick for people with finer hair, celebrity hairstylist Joseph Maine tells Glamour. Those tend to be less damaging on hair, while the adjustable temperature allows you to tailor the heat to your hair type’s needs for lasting results. Professional stylists, however, tend to gravitate toward titanium irons, especially for thicker hair, since the material is more durable and able to style curls at higher temps for longer. Tourmaline ceramic is another material that’s a solid pick for people with frizzy or damaged hair; it emits negative ions that react with the positive ones in your hair to minimize dullness and frizz.
• Heat: Thin or fine hair requires less heat than thick hair, Maine says. The ideal temperature for thin hair is no more than 300°F, while thicker or coarser hair textures can handle high heat, from 350°F to 450°F.
• Size: “For those with long hair, find a long barrel length,” Maine recommends. Barrel width also makes a difference, says Maxine Salon stylist Raven Hurtado. Slimmer attachments (0.5- to 0.75-inch) mean tighter curls, while thicker ones (1.5- to 2-inch) lead to looser curls or waves. These days you're not limited to one choice, though. There are plenty of curling irons with interchangeable barrels, so you can wear your curls in various sizes and hairstyles (think bouncy curls, tight ringlets, beachy waves).

Honest reviews from hair experts

• Joseph Maine, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles
• Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago

Ready to curl? We asked the experts, pored through reviews, and tried tons of options for ourselves. The result: the definitive roundup of the best curling wands and tools for every hair type and style. (You’ll even spot a few Glamour Beauty Award winners in the mix.)