The 7 best curling wands for fine hair in 2024 – tried, tested and ranked by a beauty editor (2024)

When it comes to curling wands, there’s no one-size-fits-all. The best curling wands for fine hair, specifically, will add body and bounce without frying fragile strands. How, I hear you ask? Adjustable temperature settings are key when choosing a curling wand for fine hair as, unlike our thick-haired friends, fine hair is especially prone to heat damage.

Having fine hair can be both a blessing and a curse. While fine hair is typically quite malleable, it’s also fragile and prone to damage from heat styling tools. To minimize damage, it’s important to seek out thebest curling wandsthat have been made with fine hair in mind. As well as adjustable temperature settings, ceramic barrels are a good pick for fine hair as they spread the heat evenly.

Consider the shape and size of the barrel, too. Thin barrels are ideal for creating tight, ringlet curls, while large barrels can create bouncy, beachy waves. Whatever your curl style preference is, we’ve shared reviews of the best curling wands for fine hair that can create differentcurly hairstyles in our expertly-tested guide. Top tip? Use alongside yourbest hair dryer for fine hairfor salon-worthy results.

Emma Stoddart

Emma Stoddart is a freelance beauty journalist who has worked for some of the UK’s top titles including Net-A-Porter, Stylist and Grazia. Her experience spans online and print, as well as producing editorial shoots with some of the industry’s biggest artists.

The quick list

The best curling wand for fine hair overall

While curling wands with clamps are great for holding the hair in place, my personal preference is a tool without a clamp. Why? Not only do I find this easier to use but you also avoid those unwanted kinks from the clamp. This tool from Cloud Nine, gets my vote, with a four-inch clampless barrel that's ideal for curling fine, long hair. There are three heat settings in total: low, medium and high, ranging from125 to 175°C. For fine hair, opt for the low or medium setting; I found that low was hot enough to create tousledbeach hair wavesin my fine hair.

As for ease of use, it took a little practice to lock down the best technique when using this wand. It comes with a heat-resistant case, which is perfect for travel, as well as a heatproof glove – make sure you wear this while styling as there’s no cool tip on this curling wand. Once you have the glove on, we recommend holding the wand at an angle, facing downwards, before wrapping a section of hair around it. Then, hold for a few seconds before releasing. Alternate in opposite directions as you move from section to section to give fine hair lots of body. You’ll notice that hair looks shinier after use, too, which is thanks to the mineral-infused coating that helps lock in moisture. A big tick!

Best affordable curling wand for fine hair

This affordable curling wand stands up to those that retail for twice and even thrice its price. Featuring a very long (18.5cm), large and ceramic-coated barrel – this tool is another great pick for creating curlyhairstyles for long hair. Again, there’s no clamp (my personal preference) and there’s a choice of heat settings varying from80-220°C. Start low and, if needed, gradually turn up the heat – but don’t exceed 180°Con fine hair. Once hot, wear the heat protective glove (included) and wrap sections of hair around the barrel.

To create glamorous Hollywood waves, this is your styling must-have as the thick wand is the perfect size and shape to create uniform, bouncy waves. Our top tip? Curl hair towards your face for that Hollywood look and gently brush the curls out afterwards.

While we found this tool really easy to use, it’s worth noting that the extra-long (and wide) barrel may not be suitable forshort hairstyles. Also, if you like to experiment with different curly looks, this tool is probably not for you. Due to the shape and size, I found that it’s limited to Hollywood waves and loose curls.

Best luxury curling wand for fine hair

Yes, it’s expensive. But the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler is a multi-tasking mane-changer that, in my opinion, is worth every single penny. Suitable for all hair types, including fine and fragile, the high-tech tool comes complete with six different attachments that can curl, wave, smooth and dry hair – all without using extreme heat (up to 150°C) to minimise damage. At first, the tool may look intimidating, but follow woman&home'sstep-by-step guide onhow to use the Dyson Airwrapand you’ll quickly get the hang of it. But essentially, the Airwrap attracts hair and wraps it around the barrel using powerful airflow and heat (otherwise known as the brand’s Coanda effect).

Depending on what attachment you use, you can create anything from tight curls to beachy waves. On fine hair, I love the 30mm Airwrap Barrel, which delivers a voluminous curly blow-dry that looks as though you’ve just stepped out of the salon. And while it is expensive, this high-tech tool can replace most others – including yourbest hair dryer. What impressed me most with the Airwrap is how my hair felt and looked after styling – shinier and softer than when I started. Bravo, Dyson!

Best cordless curling wand for fine hair

In terms of convenience, this cordless curling wand from BaByliss gets top marks.A little like driving an electric car after years of using gears, its sleek, wireless design makes hair styling so seamless. Ideal for fine hair, the medium-sized barrel can be used to create loose and relaxed waves as well as tighter curls. (If it’s the latter you’re after, style smaller sections of hair at a time.) There are three heat settings to choose from and the cordless wand gives you 40 minutes of wireless styling at maximum heat – which I found was more than enough for my fine, long hair.

In terms of battery life, I was able to get two styling sessions out of this tool before having to recharge it –but do note that it takes three hours to fully charge. This is a great travel-friendly tool for anyone who’s always on the go or for anybody whose best lighting (and mirror) happens to be in their bathroom. The ceramic-coated wand leaves hair feeling smooth and I appreciated the clamp, which does give more control and is favoured by many. The only downside of this top tool is the weight; it’s heavier than most curling wands I've tried and may give you armache after a while.

Best waver for fine hair

After watching countless video tutorials online showcasing Amika’s High Tide Waver, I was extremely eager to give it a whirl and can confirm that it did not disappoint. Designed to create beautiful, beachy waves, this three-barrel tool is so easy to use and can quickly wave an entire head of fine hair in less than 20 minutes (I timed it). Start at the roots and hold the tool horizontally, clamping onto a large section of hair, before moving it slowly down the length of the hair until you reach the ends. The results are soft waves that add body and thickness to fine hair.

As someone who has naturally straight, fine hair, I was blown away by the results. To add a more tousled texture, I recommend spritzing a texture spray or your similarbest hair styling productsthrough the mid-lengths to ends before working it in with your fingertips. As for the design, the waver uses far-infrared technology to lock in moisture, as well as negative ions to seal the hair cuticle. Double tick! If you adorewavy hairstylesand those deep S-bends, this is the hoot tool for you. It's probably the only tool that's even easier to use than our beauty editor's favorite, the Babyliss Wave Secret Air. Expect long-lasting, smooth waves that cheat thicker-looking hair.

Best curling wand for fine hair for long-lasting curls

Not only is ghd the name behind some ofthe best hair straightenersin the business, but the brand also makes incredible curling devices. Take the Curve Creative Wand, for instance. This award-winning, best-selling tool can create effortless beachy waves and big, bouncy curls on all hair types and lengths. What sets it apart from other curling wands I tested for this guide is the tapered barrel, which has a wider base for creating looser waves and a narrow end for those tight curls. If you're looking to curlshort hairstyles, I recommend using the narrower end.

Easy to use, this wand works like any other – simply wrap a section of hair around the barrel, hold for a few seconds, before letting go to reveal a bouncy curl. As with thebest ghd straighteners, there’s only one heat setting of 185°C on offer here (the brand’s identified optimum temperature for styling hair). It takes a few seconds for the styler to reach this heat and it will alert you when it's ready for use. While this temperature is high for fine hair, it is monitored by technology that recognises how thick your hair is and adapts the temperature accordingly. Clever!

Best versatile curling wand for fine hair

Love experimenting with different styles? Then say hello to the Whirl Trio styling wand from T3. Complete with three interchangeable barrels, this has everything you need to create countless looks from relaxed waves to bouncy curls. For uniform spiral curls, attach the small straight barrel, or f it’s undone beachy waves that you’re after, go for the tapered barrel. And for full-bodied curls, opt for the large straight barrel. Whichever attachment you choose, I'd note that they all boast a ceramic surface that glides effortlessly through hair, smoothing frizz and boosting shine.

When styling fine hair, I went for the tapered barrel and used the second heat setting (there are five in total). This combination was ideal for adding texture to fine hair along with relaxed, tousled waves. Overall, I found the design is user-friendly (albeit a little chunkier than other curling wands) and soon got to grips with using the different attachments. And while it is expensive, it’s essentially a three-in-one tool that allows you to streamline your hair styling kit. If you love to mix up your curls, this is a great choice for you.

How the woman&home team tested the best curling wands for fine hair

To whittle down an edit of the best curling wands for fine hair, our tester tried several top-rated tools, learninghow to curl hairusing various barrel sizes and shapes. Ranging in price point, each tool was rated on ease of use, design, number of settings and results. Each curling wand was tried a separate day, styling hair in the morning to see how well the curls lasted over the day. Those that ranked highly and delivered long-lasting results are featured in our edit below.

FAQs

How to choose the best curling wand for fine hair

There are several factors to consider when choosing the best curling wand for fine hair, as the experts outline below:

• Temperature settings: Go for a tool with adjustable temperature settings as fine hair is more susceptible to heat damage. "Always try to curl fine hair with the lowest temperature setting," says Paul Percival, celebrity hairstylist and founder of . "If you don't feel that it's curling enough or holding long enough then go up a setting."
• Barrel size: Consider what type of curl you're after when choosing the barrel size. "If you want to have super curly hair, obviously you need a really small wand or tong," says Percival. "If, on the other hand, you want a loose curl then go for a bigger barrel. I personally would go for a mid-size if you're not sure."
• Material: Most curling wands are made with ceramic barrels that spread heat evenly and are good for fine hair. Titanium wands are better for thicker hair while tourmaline is a good option for damaged or frizz-prone hair as it emits negative ions that can help eliminate frizz.