Best Curling Irons for Every Type of Wave & Curl 2022 – Buyer’s Guide

Curled hairstyle - big curls

Curls have been creating trends and raising storms over the covers of leading magazines, runways of the reputed award show and even on any daily appearances from a couple of decades. In this journey of exploring the hacks of creating perfect curls, the inventions of curling irons should be considered as the most significant part.

However, curling irons work best only when you select the perfect curling iron regarding your desired curls. A random pick of curling tools can lead you to the absolute nightmare of having a fashion blunder. Every type of curl demands some specific features of curling irons. As in for loose waves, you may need lower temperature and large barrel sized curling iron. Again, if you need ringlet curls, you may need a higher temperature and short barrel sized curling iron.

When you are styling your hair, you must keep in mind which type of curl do you need? Then choose the products according to your curls’ demand. Barrel shape is also important for determining curls. Again, there is another feature and that is the barrel material, which has some influence of deterring curls but on certain types of curls only. The rest of the content will give a lucid vision on selecting a curling iron for different types of waves and curls.

Table of Contents

Relation between curling iron type and hairstyle

Not all the barrels are capable of creating every type of curls or waves. There are definite barrels for creating the certain hairstyle. Single curling iron type has its feature and category of creating curls. When you are up to creating any hairstyle, you have to focus on some certain features of the curling iron:

Curling Iron Type

You must choose the right type of barrels. You can pick cylindrical curling iron for covering almost every type of hairstyle but there will be some certain difficulties. Besides, perfection will always be absent. The experts have invented some particular curling irons for particular curls. As in bubble wands for beachy waves, Spiral wands for spiral curls. However, you can achieve beachy waves with cylindrical barrels but bubble barrels are experts in it.

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Barrel Size

Barrel size has a relation to achieving the right hairstyle. For a certain hairstyle, you will need specific barrels. For waves, you are recommended to use large barrels and for curls, you are recommended to use small barrels. However, sometimes you may not find the desired barrels. As in 3/8″, barrels are rare. In case of not getting the barrel, you can use 1/2 inches barrel by raising the temperature a bit high.

Temperature

This styling process is all about adjusting the right temperature. You have to set the right temperature to achieve the perfect curls. For waves, you may consider low temperature and for curls, you may need high-temperature range.

Some features are there that you have to focus while creating any hairstyle. The rest of the content will lead you to know the right curling irons for some of the leading hairstyles.

Got Stuck Between the Waves and Curls?

Well, women are frequently witnessed to have some issues in recognizing waves and curls. Well, curls are the tightest form of hairstyles that are tight S-shaped or in shaped or spiral-shaped. However, waves are looser than curls. They can be visualized as the loose S-shaped pattern or maybe a bit firm S-shaped patterns. Therefore, this is the initial difference between waves and curls.

Best Curling Iron For Different Types of Waves

Let us see which type curling irons are best for making different types of waves:

1. Beachy Waves

Beachy Wave, the provisional presentment of summertime is considered the niftiest hairstyle of this era. Beachy wave is reportedly a tighter S-shaped curl. This hairstyle refers to a messy S-shaped snake figured curls. This hairstyle is neither a curly nor a straight clan belonging rather it belongs to the wavy criteria. This very hairstyle was originated from curls and was moderated into waves.

Beach waves with Hot Tools Curling Iron

Barrel type
  • Mandatory: Bubble Wand. This type of curling iron offers perfect beachy waves with its unique bubble shaped barrels. The ball-sized barrels are just ideal for creating breath-taking breath talking beachy waves and spiral curls.
  • Alternative: Tapered Curling iron. Tapered barrels create perfect beachy waves. For creating beachy waves, you may use the full barrel of the tapered wand avoiding using only the narrow part. Using the full barrel will produce magnificent beachy waves.
  • Spiral Iron. Spiral irons are also perfect for creating beachy waves. However, while using a spiral iron user must keep the temperature a bit low. Otherwise, the curls will come out to be tighter forms of spiral curls.
Hair Type: Every hair type

Beachy waves look good on every type whether it is thick or thin. Beachy waves add a little volume to the hairs. Therefore, thin hairs automatically look voluminous and thick hairs look bouncy. Therefore, each type of hair looks good.

Hair Length: Medium and Long

Beachy waves look good on long and medium hairs. Beachy waves are waves of a medium length. Waves with medium length do not look good on short hairs, as short hairs cannot bear these waves well but beachy waves look perfect on long and medium length hair.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Diagonal

Holding the curling iron at a right angle can make a difference. To create beachy waves users may hold the curling iron diagonally. diagonally holding produces appropriate beachy waves.

Temperature Range: High Temperature

When you are up to create beachy waves, you must get a high-temperature curling iron. Styling with low temperature can deform your beachy waves. Medium Beachy waves are medium tight curls, so to turn your hairs into trendy beachy wave high temperature is necessary.

Alternatively, the moderate temperature cannot create perfect or I shall say authentic beachy waves. However, the biggest fact is, medium heat cannot hold beachy waves for a long time. In short, the high-temperature range is needed for creating beachy waves. Therefore, you must choose a curling iron that has a high-temperature range feature.

Barrel Size (.75″ to 2″)

In case of creating beachy wave if you have medium length hair you can use, you may choose 1″ barrels. Again, for long hair, you can use 1.25″ Barrels. For further information, you may go through the curling iron size guide article.

2. Soft Waves

This hairstyle is an evolved form of curls or you can simply note it as soft waves. It is a kind of hairstyle, which is both wavy and messy but also not too curly or too messy. Do not get puzzled. Let me clear you. This particular hairstyle is an S-shaped curl pattern that lies somewhere in between straights and curls. It resembles the stretched marks of a forthwith mother. In short, the Soft wave is an S-shaped and softly waved hairstyle that is sprouted from curls.

Soft waves hairstyle

Barrel type
  • Waving Curling Iron. Waving barrels also create beautiful soft waves. Among the multi-barrels of waving curling irons, choose the triple barrel. The triple barrel is ideal for creating soft waves. Conical barrels also create beautiful soft curs.
  • Cylindrical Clipless Curling Iron. A clipless 1.75″ cylindrical iron is just perfect for creating soft waves. Soft waves do not claim high heat so the clipless wand is safe to use.
  • Conical Curling Iron. Conical curling irons can create beautiful soft waves. However, when you use a conical barrel make sure you use the wide part of the barrel.
Hair Type: Every hair type

Soft waves look good on every type whether it is thick or thin. Soft waves add a little volume to the hairs. Therefore, thin hairs automatically look voluminous and thick hairs look bouncy. Therefore, each type of hair looks good.

Hair Length: Short and Long

Long hairs can carry the waves perfectly. Surprisingly this kind of natural waves looks good on short hairs also. Bigger waves give a bounce to short hairs. The natural flow of waves sometimes suits the short hairs.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Diagonal

Diagonal holding creates messy waves. If you hold the curling iron diagonally, it will add some volume to hairs. Again diagonally holding creates relatively big curls.

Temperature: Moderate Temperature

Soft waves need a moderate temperature to get the perfect look. For long hair, you will need relatively high temperature as high temperature holds the curl perfectly in long hairs. Also, for medium length or short hairs, you can choose the lower temperature. Again, if you have stubborn straight strands you will need to put extra temperature to curl those straight hairs.

Barrel Size (1″, 1.5″ to 1.75″)

You can gently go with the 1.5″ or 1.75″ sized barrels. For short or shoulder-length hairs you may choose 1″ barrels and for long or extra-long hairs you may get the 1.75″ barrels. However, one thing for recommendation is 1.75″ barrels create the authentic soft waves.

3. Loose Waves

The term “Loose Waves” is pertained with hairstyling facts and it is considered one of the most exoteric hairstyles of present trends. This wavy hairstyle is an S-shaped loose hairstyle. Loose waves are famous for their flowy texture. Nowadays this particular hairstyle has achieved sky-high popularity as it ensures a trendy look. The latest edition of Victoria’s Secret Ramp Show has flaunted this style so gracefully.

Loose waves hairstyle

Barrel type
  • Oval Curling Iron. The larger the barrels are the better loose waves will be generated. Oval and waving shaped barrels are the largest barrels shapes. The Oval shape is just perfect for creating those long length waves. Oval shaped barrels create waves that are more natural and loose waves belong to the natural criteria.
  • Waving Barrel. Waving shaped barrels has multiple barrels adjusted in one wand. Using these multiple barrels, one can easily achieve beautiful loose waves.
  • Cylindrical Clipless wand. Cylindrical barrels with large sizes create beautiful curls. Also, you can simply choose a clipless wand as loose waves demand low temperature. Thus clipless wands are not risky at all.
Hair Type: Thick Hairs

Loose waves are not something that goes with fine hairs, as loose waves are large waves that fine hairs cannot hold properly. Loose waves get its enhanced look with thick hairs.

Hair Length: Long Hairs

Short or medium length hairs cannot hold large waves and the loose wave’s lost its authenticity on short or medium hairs. However, long hairs can carry the waves perfectly. Thus, long hairs are appropriate for creating loose waves.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Vertical

Vertical holding creates loose waves. If you hold the curling iron vertically, it will add some volume to hairs. Again vertically holding creates relatively loose and big curls.

Temperature: Low Temperature

Loose waves are the form of slack wavy hairs. This hairstyle does not need a higher temperature. The low-temperature range is okay for this kind of styling. High range of temperature deforms loose waves rather it may create loose curls. To maintain the distance between loose curls and waves a lower temperature is needed.

Barrel Size (1″- 2″)

Loose waves need larger barrel size to achieve its authentic full size. While choosing the size of the barrel one thing you must keep in mind that for a different length of hairs you have to choose different sized barrels. As in for medium length hair, you can choose 1.5″ barrels. 2″ barrels on medium hairs will look ineffective. Again, for long hair, you can pick 1.75″ barrels. For extra-long hairs, 2″ barrels are just perfect.

4. Big Waves

Sometimes you may misconstrue this hairdo as loose waves. However, this hairstyle is poles apart from loose waves. This hairstyle refers to the natural waves in straight hairs. The natural flow of straight hairs or the traditional wavy hairs can be visualized as big waves.

Voluminous hair with Hot Tools curling irons

Barrel type
  • Oval Curling Iron. It is quite clear that big waves need larger barrels. Oval barrels are specially manufactured to create these natural waves. Therefore, the oval barrel is mandatory for creating big eaves.
  • Cylindrical Clipless Iron. Big waves can also be created with cylindrical barrels. Largely sized barrels of 2″ are just perfect for big waves. As it is mentioned that sometimes-big waves look good on short hairs, cylindrical irons are good while working with short hairs.
Hair Type: Thick Hairs

Big waves are not something that goes with fine hairs, as loose waves are large waves that fine hairs cannot hold properly. Big waves get their enhanced look with thick hairs.

Hair Length: Long

However, long hairs can carry the waves perfectly. Surprisingly this kind of natural waves looks good on short hairs also. Bigger waves give a bounce to long hairs.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Diagonal/ Vertical

Diagonal holding creates bigger waves. If you hold the curling iron diagonally, it will add some volume to hairs. Again diagonally holding creates relatively loose and big curls.

Temperature: Low

This type of wave needs the lowest temperature. However, if you have stubborn straight strands, you can raise the temperature a bit higher. Remember not to keep the high temperature as high temperature can create big curls instead of big waves.

Barrel Size (1.75″ to 2″)

Big waves demand the maximum size of barrels to get the full outlook. 1.75″ or 2″ barrels are just perfect for creating big waves. With short hairs, you can use a barrel of 1.5″.

Best Curling Iron for Different Types of Curls

5. Ringlet Curls

Once upon a time, this criterion was considered the trendiest among all the curls. This tightest S-shaped hairstyle needs extra care for maintaining its texture. Again, the tight texture of these curls can sometimes appear as unkempt. However, this kind of curls is one of the most traditional curls.

Ringlet curls

Barrel type
  • Marcel Iron. A marcel curling iron is a tool with a barrel joined with a shell. Marcel curling iron has a shaft that lets the users rotate the curling iron according to their desired directions. This manually rotating curling iron is perfect for creating ringlets. For ringlet curls, you may buy a marcel curling iron if you are well trained.
Hair Type: Fine Hairs

Ringlet curls add extra volume to hairs. Therefore, fine hairs look voluminous and get a perfect bounce. However, thick hairs look quite unkempt with ringlet curls due to the extra volume.

Hair Length: Short and Medium

Ringlets are tighter curls and the biggest challenge is to hold the curls perfectly in hairs. Long hairs cannot hold these tight curls on point. However, short and especially medium length hairs are perfect for ringlet curls.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Vertical

To create tighter curls, you will need to hold the curling iron vertically. When you hold the curling iron vertically and style your hair towards your face, it creates tight and spiral curls.

Temperature: High

These tight ringlet curls need the highest temperature among all the curls. Ringlet curls are generally tight and to hold the tightness in place. However, the temperature above 400F is the best.

Barrel Size (3/8″ to 1/2″)

For ringlet curls the shorter, the barrel size is the beautiful ringlets you may get. For short or chin-length hairs you may choose the shortest barrel of 3/8″ and for medium length hair, you may choose 1/2″ barrels.

6. Spiral Curls

These kind of curls are the classiest of all curls. This one evergreen hairstyle has been ruling the world probably for centuries. An intense or jam-packed S pattern is the tangible shape of this kind of curl. These curls are springy and have a stronger density. Every individual feminine dream of this stereotyped curls.

Infinity Pro Conair Curl Secret - Curling iron

Barrel type
  • Spiral Curling Iron. Spiral curling irons do not offer several types of curls rather these curling irons focus on creating perfect and flawless Spiral curls. Spiral curling iron is an expert in creating authentic spiral curls. Spiral barrels are manufactured focusing on massive demands of spiral curls. Therefore, yes, for spiral curls spiral barrels are just perfect. Spiral barrels have an iron barrel molded through the original barrels in a spiral shape. So that the users can easily get perfect spiral curls.
  • Cylindrical Curling Iron. Cylindrical barrels of perfect short sizes can produce beautiful spiral curls.
Hair Type: Fine Hairs

Spiral curls add extra volume to hairs. Therefore, fine hairs look voluminous and get a perfect bounce. However, thick hairs look quite unkempt with spiral curls due to the extra volume.

Hair Length: Short and Medium

Spiral Curls are tighter curls and the biggest challenge is to hold the curls perfectly in hairs. Long hairs cannot hold these tight curls on point. However, short and especially medium length hairs are perfect for spiral curls.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Vertical

To create tighter curls, you will need to hold the curling iron vertically. When you hold the curling iron vertically and style your hair towards your face, it creates tight and spiral curls.

Temperature: High Temperature

Spiral curls need highest temperature range as this kind of curls is the tightest one. Also, to make curls tight high-temperature range is needed. Again, to hold spiral curls for long, you must use high-temperature range.

Barrel Size (3/8″ to 5/8″)

Spiral curls need short barrels to have the full look. However, while using the barrels you must choose sizes according to your hair length. As in for short hairs, you may choose the shorter barrels of 1/2″. For medium length hair, you may choose barrels of 3/8″ or 5/8″.

7. Tight Curls

This hair oriented hairstyle needs no telling of its trend demands as it has been pulled over in Vogue covers more than any hairstyle ever. Types curls are roll-shaped curls.

Tight curl with Conair Double Ceramic

Barrel type
  • Conical Curling Iron. Waving barrels also create beautiful tight curls. Among the multi-barrels of waving curling irons, choose the triple barrel. The triple barrel is ideal for creating tight curls.
  • Cylindrical Curling iron. Cylindrical curling irons with a convinced barrel size can also create beautiful tight curls.
Hair Type: Thick Hairs

As the hairstyle are typical, roll-shaped curls. Thin hairs look frizzy with this type of curls. However, thick hairs look good as it does not look frizzy. Therefore, thick hairs are perfect for this type of hairstyle.

Hair Length: Medium Hairs

Roll shaped curls or tight curls look good on medium hair. Short or long length hair looks quite ineffective.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Vertical

To create tighter curls, you will need to hold the curling iron vertically. When you hold the curling iron vertically and style your hair towards your face it creates tight curls.

Temperature: Moderate

Tight curls need a moderate temperature range. This kind of curls is a bit tighter than any other curls but moderate temperature range is okay with creating rill shaped curls.

Barrel Size (1″ to 1.25″)

This kind of curls gets the best outcome with a 1″ barrel curling iron. However, for extra-long hairs, you may choose 1.25″ barrel.

8. Big Bouncy Curls

This kind of wave refers to styling from the roots to the tips instead of waves on any fussy parts of hairs. These waves add extra volume to hairs and it had been on the trends as Hollywood’s leading women as Beyoncé is witnessed to follow this hairstyle now and then.

Conair Travel smart curling iron - Curly hair style

Barrel type
  • Cylindrical Curling iron with Clamp. Big bouncy curls can be created with cylindrical barrels. Medium-sized barrels of .75″ are just perfect for big bouncy curls. As it is mentioned that sometimes-big bouncy curls look good on short hairs, cylindrical irons are good while working with short hairs.
Hair Type: Every Hair Type

Big Bouncy curls add a little volume to hairs. Thus, both the fine and thick hair suit this hairstyle.

Hair Length: Every Hair Length

Big bouncy curls look good on very hairs length. Even short or chin-length hairs can look pretty with big curls. Bigger curls give a bounce to short hairs. Long hairs are especially recommended as long hairs hold big bouncy curls perfectly.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Horizontal

Horizontal holding creates bigger curls. If you hold the curling iron horizontally, it will add some volume to hairs. Big bouncy curly is unique for its features. To maintain the uniqueness and to add some volume on hairs you may hold the iron horizontally.

Temperature: High

This type of curls needs high temperature. However, if you have stubborn straight strands, you can raise the temperature a bit higher.

Barrel Size (.75″ to 1.5″)

Big bouncy curls are same as big curls but big bouncy curls are slightly voluminous than big curls. To achieve the authentic big bouncy curls you have to do a secret task and that is to style your hair with a .75″ barrel. This barrel size creates perfect big bouncy curls.

9. Big Curls

The term Big Curls belongs to the curling family yet it is the modernized or styled form of basic traditional curls. Big curls reoffer to the idea of lying somewhere in between the curls and the waves. These curls are quite in big than the regular curls we witness. Present visual media has been overwhelmed with this trendy hairstyle.

Voluminous hair with Hot Tools curling irons

Barrel type
  • Tapered Curling Iron. Tapered curling irons are the most versatile type of curling iron. This curling iron is just perfect for creating big curls. While using the tapered barrel user may use the narrow part of the barrel to achieve the best look.
  • Conical Curling Iron. A conical curling iron works great with big curls. This type of barrel creates flawless big curls. While creating big curls users should use the narrow part of the barrels to maintain the tightness of curls.
Hair Type: Every Hair Type

Big curls add a little volume to hairs. Thus, both the fine and thick hair suit this hairstyle.

Hair Length: Every Hair Length

Big curls look good on very hairs length. Even short or chin-length hairs can look pretty with big curls. Bigger curls give a bounce to short hairs. Long hairs are especially recommended as long hairs hold big curls perfectly.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Horizontal

Horizontal holding creates bigger curls. If you hold the curling iron horizontally, it will add some volume to hairs. Again horizontally holding creates relatively loose and big curls.

Temperature: Moderate

This type of curls needs the moderate temperature. However, if you have stubborn straight strands, you can raise the temperature a bit higher.

Barrel Size (1.25″ to 1.5″)

Big curls demand the medium size of barrels to get the full outlook. 1.25″ or 1.5″ barrels are just perfect for creating big curls. These barrels are meant for long or extra-long hairs. However, big curls can look also good in chin lengthen hairs. With short hairs, you can use a barrel of 1.25″.

10. Loose Curls

It is a concrete S-shaped hair pattern. Loose curls are the tighter form of loose waves. This type of curls is quite large.

Loose curls - Conair Curl Secret

Barrel type
  • Waving curling iron. Waving shaped barrels has multiple barrels adjusted in one wand. Using these multiple barrels, one can easily achieve beautiful loose curls. You may try both the double or triple barrel as per your choice.
Hair Type: Thick Hairs

Loose curls are not something that goes with fine hairs, as loose curls are large waves that fine hairs cannot hold properly. Loose curls get its enhanced look with thick hairs.

Hair Length: Long and Medium Hairs

Short length hairs cannot hold large curls and loose curls loss its authenticity on short hairs. However, long and medium length hairs can carry the waves perfectly. Thus, long and medium hairs are appropriate for creating loose waves.

Angle of Holding the Curling Iron: Horizontal

Horizontal holding creates bigger curls. If you hold the curling iron horizontally, it will add some volume to hairs. Again horizontally holding creates relatively loose and big curls.

Temperature: Low Temperature

Loose curls are the form of slack wavy hairs. This hairstyle does not need a higher temperature. The low-temperature range is okay for this kind of styling. To maintain the distance between loose curls and waves you may slightly raise the temperature higher.

Barrel Size (1.25″- 2″)

Loose curls need a larger barrel size to achieve its authentic full size. As in for medium length hair, you can choose 1.25″ barrels. 2″ barrels on medium hairs will look ineffective. Again, for long hair, you can pick 1.75″ barrels. For extra-long hairs, 2″ barrels are just perfect. One should be reminded that loose curls are not recommended for short hairs at all.

Summary of Best Curling Iron for Every Type of Wave & Curl

HairstylesBarrel TypeBarrel SizeTemperature
Beachy WavesBubble Wand0.75 - 2 inchHigh
Soft WavesWaving, Cylindrical1 - 1.75 inchModerate
Loose WavesOval, Waving1 - 2 inchLow
Big WavesOval1.75 - 2 inchLow
RingletsMarcel3/8 - ½ inchHigh
Spiral CurlsSpiral3/8 - 5/8 inchHigh
Tight CurlsConical1 - 1.25 inchModerate
Big Bouncy CurlsCylindrical0.75 - 1.5 inchHigh
Big CurlsTapered, Conical1.25 - 1.5 inchModerate
Loose CurlsWaving1.25 - 2 inchLow

Fashion nowadays is no longer just confined to carrying the stick like straight hairs like the 80s or 90s. By the flow of time, the fashion statement has been changed, or we shall say, it has transformed drastically. With the flow of fashions, curling irons have been invented. However, before choosing any curling iron just determines the type of curls you want and then hit the curling iron that matches the features of your curls.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to do ringlet curls with a curling iron?

Ringlets require a very small barrel, like .25 or .50 inches diameter. Make sections of the hair. Take each section and spray some hairspray to stiffen it a bit. Roll the hair around the barrel tightly and hold for a few seconds before releasing it. This will produce ringlets in the hair. 

2. What size curling iron for big curls?

Tight curls need a 1” to 1.25” barrel while big bouncy curls are formed with a 0.75” to 1.5” barrel. The 1.25” to 2” barrel gives you big, loose curls. 

3. How to get beachy waves with a curling iron?

Spray your hair with a heat protectant. Use a volumizing leave-in shampoo or conditioner. Beach waves are formed with 1.25inch barrels. Hold the barrel like a wand from the top. Roll the hair around it and clamp it and hold for a few seconds. Remove the wand to get beachy waves in your hair. 


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