If you have fine hair, you’ll know the struggle of attempting to create a curly or wavy hairstyle that stands the test of time, without frying your hair in the process.
Fine strands typically have a malleable structure and can be fragile and prone to damage, so it’s even more important to invest in the best curling wand for your hair type. The right styler will deliver long-lasting, voluminous, bouncy curls or waves, but also may include features such as adjustable temperature settings and ceramic barrels to evenly distribute heat. It’s also worth considering the size of the barrel in question; for example, thin barrels are great for creating tight, ringlet curls, while large barrels can create bouncy, beachy waves.
The quick list
1. Cloud Nine The Curling Wand
Best overall
Our testers found this wand perfect for creating a beachy wave look on fine hair when styling at its low or medium-temperature settings. We also loved the mineral-infused coating on the wand, which added shine to the hair.
2. BaByliss 9000 Cordless Curling Tong
Best cordless
For travel and ease of use, you won’t find a more convenient wand than this tool, which is equipped with 40 minutes of run time. Our testers found it ideal for those who are always on the go, while the clamp is great for increased styling control.
3. ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
Best for ‘undone’ styles
The tapered barrel of this wand makes it so versatile, as the wide base can master loose curls while the narrow part creates tight curls. This wand is limited to one temperature (185°C), as this is the brand’s optimum heat – our testers found this to be suitable to get fine hair to hold a curl.
4. Beauty Works Professional Styler
Best affordable
The sizable ceramic-coated barrel of this wand is a great match for long hair. Our testers found it easy to use and it’s available for a steal of a price. We did find that those with short hair will probably find the barrel too wide, however.
5. Dyson Airwrap™ Origin Multi-Styler and Dryer
Best versatile
The Dyson Airwrap deserves its reputation as the do-it-all hair tool that minimises damage. According to our testers, it’s capable of creating tight curls, beachy waves, and more without using direct heat. It’s a huge investment price-wise, however, and requires some practice, too.
Best waver
Create Kate Moss-style kinks or beachy waves with this waver, which is the fastest and most user-friendly of any curlers here. Although it’s a bulky tool, it’s ease of use and ability to wave fine hair fast make it worthy of consideration.
The best curling wand for fine hair overall
Cloud Nine’s The Curling Wand
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)
While curling tools with clamps are great for holding the hair in place, our preference is a wand without one. Why? Clamp-free tools are easier to wrap your hair around, and you can avoid unwanted kinks. This is especially important for fine hair, which can show up any little dents far more easily. Coming in on top, this tool from Cloud Nine gets our vote, thanks to its four-inch clampless barrel that’s ideal for curling fine, long hair. It was also the smallest and lightest tool we tried, making it easy to store and transport when needed.
There are three heat settings in total: low, medium, and high, ranging from 125 to 175°C. For fine hair, opt for the low or medium setting; the low was hot enough to create tousled beach hair waves in both of our testers’ fine hair. When it came to using the tool, it took a little practice to lock down the best technique when using this wand.
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 the direction of curling with each section of hair to increase the body in fine strands. We noticed that our hair looked shinier after using the tool, all due to the mineral-infused coating that helps lock in moisture. A big tick!
Best curling wand for ‘undone’ styles
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)
Some of the best hair straighteners in the business are by ghd, but the brand also makes top-tier curling devices. Take the Curve Creative Wand, for instance, this award-winning, best-selling tool creates effortless beachy waves and big, bouncy curls on all hair types and lengths. However, its tapered barrel sets it apart from the other curling wands tested in this guide.
Its wider base is perfect for creating looser waves and undone styles that aren’t too perfect looking – which is what our tester, Fiona McKim went for above. The narrow end is best for tighter curls, so if you’re looking to curl short hairstyles, we recommend using the narrower end. As with the best ghd straighteners, there’s only one heat setting of 185°C to choose from here (the brand’s identified optimum temperature for styling hair). This is very well suited to fine hair types, particularly, as you don’t need higher temperatures to make a style stick.
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 accordingly. Clever! One thing we did notice was that this tool can take longer than some others to cool down after use, so ensure you store it safely on a heatproof surface, and away from little fingers if you have children in your house.
Best versatile curling wand for fine hair
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)
Our tester Fiona McKim says of this tool, “At first glance it looks complicated – but it’s actually designed to make life so much simpler. Instead of having to buy separate tools to create different curl and wave looks, the MD London Curl, created by hairdresser extraordinaire Michael Douglas, does it all.
Each lock-on, lock-off barrel has its own USP: a very curly-curl (10mm) Hollywood-style bounce (25mm) loose waves (32mm) or, with the reverse conical barrel, a cool, imperfect tousle. I used the 32mm to create the relaxed wave above, which added pleasing bulk and bounce to my fine hair. The unusual shape is clever too – as your arm is at a comfy angle for curling, even when you’re doing the back. Not having to wrangle your elbow or claw your hand also makes accidental burns feel less of a possibility (although there’s a heatproof glove included)
It’s extremely light, looks great in its three colourways (I love Olive best of all) and runs in 10-degree increments from 80 to 210°C, meaning fine hair types can keep it ultra low for frazzle-swerving. To be honest, this isn’t just one of the best curling wands for fine hair – it’s the best for any hair type. That’s the point, it’s a genuine crowd pleaser.”
Best waver for fine hair
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)
ghd’s wave tool was a firm favourite of our beauty editor, Fiona McKim, who regularly uses it instead of traditional curling wands or tongs when she needs to create a textured hairstyle, fast. “There really is no overstating how fast and simple this tool is – truly, I can create nice waves on my whole head of (very long) hair in 15 minutes flat. This is because it has giant, clamp-like barrels that you just press on – so easy! – and can cover a huge chunk of hair in one go.
As with all ghd tools, this has a smooth coating so there’s no snagging, and it sticks to 185 degrees heat, which is great for fine hair, as you really don’t need any more than that. I find I only need to maintain contact with each large section of hair for about 15 seconds to create a style that sticks, too. which is another boon if you’re worried about damage.
Any downsides? Well, it’ll only create one look, and that’s the one above – a big bendy wave – so if you want a versatile tool, the MD London or Dyson might be more your speed. It’s also very large and relatively heavy, so if portability is a priority, this may not be your guy either. As long as that’s not an issue, I’d highly recommend this for anyone who is time poor or who can’t be doing with fiddly curling techniques.”
Best gentle curling wand for fine hair
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)
Yes, it’s expensive, but the Dyson Airwrap Origin Multi-Styler is a multi-tasking mane-changer that, if it suits your needs, is worth every single penny. This techy tool arrives with three attachments that can curl, smooth and dry hair – all without using extreme heat (up to 150°C) to minimise damage on fine and fragile hair.
At first, we must admit, the tool looks a little intimidating, but if you follow woman&home‘s step-by-step guide on how to use the Dyson Airwrap you’ll quickly get the hang of it. To sum it up, 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 the attachment you use, you can create anything from tight curls to beachy waves or simply a bit of easy-going wavy texture, as in the picture above. We love using the 30mm Airwrap Barrel, specifically on fine locks, which offers a voluminous and curly salon-worthy blow-dry. Because it dries the hair as it curls, this high-tech tool can replace most others – including your best hair dryer, which does somewhat justify the expense.
What impressed us most with the Airwrap is how the hair feels and looks after styling – shinier and softer than any other tool. However, it is worth noting that due to a lack of direct heat, we did find that styles created with the Airwrap did drop out more quickly than with other tools. However, Dyson has created a styling range that addresses this issue, Dyson Chitosan, which works a treat. So it’s worth getting a prep product involved to enjoy the versatile benefits of this curler.
Easiest curling tool for fine hair
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)
Our tester Fiona McKim says, “It’s understandable to be frightened of a tool that sucks your hair in and applies heat – that’s human nature. What if it gets stuck? What if it gets burnt? The good news is that I have used this device on and off for over a year, and no such catastrophe has occurred. It has safety features aplenty and, once you get the (very easy) knack, it is the fastest way to create a head of bouncy, shiny curls I’ve ever tried.
The tool has been designed to automatically pull sections of hair into a large circular chamber (which does make it fairly bulky). Once the hair is sucked in, it’s wrapped around a heated element, cooled, and released as a curl. A loud beep lets you know when to release, and at any hint of tangling, it refuses to take the section and spits it back out. It also beeps frantically if you drift away mid-curl and leave your hair in for too long, which is brilliant for avoiding heat damage. This makes it especially perfect for fine hair that’s prone to frazzling, and, as you can only put in relatively narrow sections of hair at a time, this also lends itself to fine-medium hair types over thick ones.
As I noted in my detailed Babyliss Wave Secret Air Review this isn’t just great for fine-haired types, it’s perfect for anyone who struggles to curl their hair with regular tools – especially those with dexterity or mobility issues. All the guesswork is taken out, which will be sweet relief to many. The downside of that is that you don’t get control. This makes uniform, bouncy, glossy waves and nothing else – but I’d guess that’s what most people want anyway.
Best affordable curling wand for fine hair
(Image credit: Beauty Works)
Compared to its competitors that have a tripled price tag, this curling wand makes a stand for affordable hair tools. Its very long (18.5cm) and large, ceramic-coated barrel makes this tool a great pick for creating curly hairstyles for long hair. Again, this styler is clampless (our tester, Emma’s personal preference) and there’s a choice of heat settings that vary from 80-220°C. Start low and, if needed, gradually turn up the heat – but don’t exceed 180°C on fine hair. Once hot, make sure to pop on the heat protective glove, that’s included, and wrap sections of hair around the barrel.
If you like to create glamorous Hollywood waves, this will be your go-to tool 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, before gently brushing the curls outwards after.
While we found this tool easy to use, it’s worth noting that the extra-long (and wide) barrel may not be suitable for those with short hairstyles. Also, if you like to experiment with different curly styles, this tool is probably not for you as we found that the shape and size limited it to creating Hollywood waves and loose curls.
Best cordless curling wand for fine hair
(Image credit: BaByliss)
If convenience is your priority, this cordless curling wand from BaByliss gets top marks. A little like driving an electric car after years of using gears, this sleek, wireless design makes hair styling so seamless. The medium-sized barrel is ideal for those with fine hair and can be used to create both loose, relaxed waves or tighter curls – if you’re after the latter, make sure to style smaller sections of hair at a time. With three heat settings to choose from, the cordless wand offers 40 minutes of wireless styling at maximum heat – which we found was more than enough for fine, long hair.
When it came to battery life, we got two full styling sessions out of this tool before having to recharge it – but do note that it takes three hours for a complete charge. Whether you’re an avid jet setter or if your best lighting and mirror happens to be in the bathroom, this travel-friendly tool is a great option. Whilst the ceramic-coated wand left the hair feeling smooth, we also appreciated the clamp, which gives more control. The only downside of this top tool is the weight; it’s heavier than most curling wands we tried and may give you armache after a while.
Our expert panel
As woman&home’s Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona has spent over a decade trying the latest and greatest beauty products. With a head of naturally fine, long hair she’s always up for testing hair tools, searching for the holy grail devices that offer volume, texture and bounce that lasts without frazzling her delicate strands.
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. With a fine hair type that’s been colour-treated for years, Emma is a master of testing tools that promise to curl and enhance her hair without damage.
Paul Percival is a celebrity hairstylist whose famous clients have included Kylie Minogue and The Spice Girls. He is also the founder of haircare brand and salon Percy & Reed, as well as global ambassador for BaByliss and BaByliss Pro.
How we tested the best curling wands for fine hair
Three of the curling wands for fine hair I tested for this guide
(Image credit: Emma Stoddart)
To whittle down an edit of the best curling wands for fine hair, our tester tried several top-rated tools, whilst learning how to curl hair using various barrel sizes and shapes. With a range of tools at different price points, each styler was rated on ease of use, design, number of settings and results. Each curling wand was tried on separate days, 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.
How to choose the best curling wand for fine hair
If you’re still stuck on which curling wand to go for, we’ve quizzed celebrity hairdresser and expert, Paul Percival, on the key features (from temperature to barrel size) to consider when investing in a new styling tool…
- Temperature settings: Opt for a tool with a range of 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 Percy & Reed. “If you don’t feel that it’s curling enough or holding long enough then go up a setting.”
- Barrel size: The answer to this depends purely on the type of curl you’re seeking. Essentially, larger barrels will produce looser curls, whereas a smaller barrel will create tighter, more defined curls.
- Material: Opt for curling wands with ceramic barrels, these help to spread heat evenly to allow for less damage on finer, fragile strands.
Your curling wands for fine hair FAQs, answered
What type of curling wand is best for fine hair?
When it comes to choosing a curling wand that will deliver long-lasting results in fine hair, you’ll want to keep an eye out for those with ceramic barrels. Most curling wands are made with ceramic barrels that spread heat evenly and are good for fine hair. Whilst, titanium wands are better for thicker hair, tourmaline is a good option for damaged or frizz-prone hair as it emits negative ions that can help eliminate frizz.
What size barrel is best for fine hair?
When it comes to choosing the barrel size, consider what type of curl you’re after. While the answer to this lies with your personal preferences and the type of curl you typically opt for, Percival says: “If you want to have super curly hair, obviously you need a really small wand or tong.” For those wanting to embrace a softer curl, Percival recommends: “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.”
