Curling Wands Vs Curling Irons

Which is Best for You?

Whether or not you are a frequent user of hair care equipment and styling tools, or you are just beginning to learn about them, you may come up against some confusing terminology. For example, curling wands vs curling irons and whether or not there is a difference between them. We have a definitive answer to the second part of the question: Yes, they are different.

The answer to the other part of the question, i.e., what are they and how do they differ, will take a bit more explanation.

Curling Wands Vs Curling Irons – What Is the Difference?

Though they look strikingly similar, a curling wand and a curling iron are different. Both will give you curly hair, but one features a piece that opens and then covers a portion of the hair. The other is without any additional part to hold the hair in place, and as you might have already guessed, it is the iron that holds hair against the shaft of the device, while it is the wand that works without a clip.

Why would there even need to be such a difference in the overall design of the devices? Generally, it boils down to a few different things. They are:

Effect – What sort of curl is desired? When the curling iron is used, a ringlet is the type of curl created. While the ringlet can be suggested or sharply drawn, it is a different effect than what is created with the wand. A wand will create waves because it lacks the clip that presses an area of the hair against the heat. Again, depending upon the design of the wand, it can be a suggestion of waviness or a very tight set of wavy curls created.

Ease of Use – The ease of use of an iron when compared to a wand is a bit more subjective than actual. For example, a lot of people might argue that the clasp or clip area of the iron makes it a bit more difficult to use. On the other hand, just as many feel it is easier to control and set up the hair because of the clasp. With a curling wand, you are simply wrapping the hair manually around the barrel or shaft and holding it in place until the time needed has passed.

Size and design – With curling irons, you usually find that the barrel or shaft is uniform in size, much like a tube. This means that the curls that result are also uniform in overall size. When it is a curling wand, the curls are going to vary in size because a wand is shaped more like a cone, and this allows for curls of varying sizes.

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Is that it for the differences between the curling iron and the curling wand?

No, there are performance properties that must be considered.

Speed – Ask hairstylists what they want out of their tools, and many would say they want the curling devices to heat quickly and in a controllable manner. When it comes to the iron v. wand discussion, the speed of the wands will always outpace the irons. While an iron will take a few minutes to become hot enough to create long-lasting curls, the wand may heat up so quickly that it is possible to burn the fingers if held incorrectly when activated.

Heating – Heating also has to include the level of heat possible. For example, one expert explained that, although the heat level needed depends on the individual hair, a high maximum heat level is always beneficial. Hitting 450 degrees is possible with both, and if the hair is coarse and strong, it demands that higher setting. It is important to pay attention to the maximum heat setting, as well as the option for heat control. As that same expert noted, it is great to have lots of heat potential, but it has to be controllable, saying that “default low, moderate, and high-heat settings” are required. And the presence of an LCD screen that lets you easily read the actual temperature can be a real life (or hair) saver.

Barrels – Like heating, barrels have a few different features that matter. The barrel is also called the shaft or plate, and you will want to know about the materials used to make them as well as the size, and whether or not they can be changed. After all, someone with shorter, thinner hair may not need a larger barrel, but the person with longer and thicker hair is definitely going to require that to get enough heat through to the hair.

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Barrels can be made from ceramic materials, but also titanium, tourmaline and more. Which is best – you need to first know about optimal heat and the type of curl desired and then choose based on the desire results. For instance, ceramic spread heat evenly through the hair while a tourmaline barrel or plate adds moisture and smoothness thanks to the negative ion technology incorporated into the materials. Titanium eliminates stickiness from hair product residues, and so you’ll want to choose based on needs.

When considering barrels or plates, it is also important to consider whether or not they are changeable. After all, if you like to have varied sizes of curls or experiment with different shapes, it is best to have a device that allows you to pop out a barrel or plate and click a new one into place. After all, the alternative is to invest in multiple devices and crowd the vanity.

Ease of Use – Again, this is a more personal issue than technical. As that one expert noted, “in the curling wand vs. curling iron, there is no winner in this category.” Both are simple, and both take some practice to master. You need to figure out how easily it will be for you to wind hair around the barrel or plate and get the type of results desired. Will the clasp make it more difficult for you? Does winding without the clasp make it more challenging? Will you need something that heats up slowly or quickly? What sort of hand positioning feels more natural? As that expert also said, hair is curled one section at a time, and this is the “main difference” between the devices. “A curling iron curls hair so that it spirals downward and a curling wand spirals your hair upward.”

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Curling Wands Vs Curling Irons – Pros and Cons

If you are still unsure which option is right for your beauty needs, let’s just do a quick review of the pros and cons for each:

The Curling Iron

• This gives uniform curls
• It offers detailed finishes
• It usually has changeable barrels
• It makes for smoother and shinier curls
• The curls are longer lasting

The Curling Wand

• It works quickly for those who do their hair on the go
• It creates very natural-looking curls
• Many find that it is much easier to use on your own
• It is available in a much wider array of sizes and materials
• It doesn’t work well with shorter hairstyles

And if you are still confused by the differences and the issues associated with the debate about the curling iron versus the curling wand, it is helpful to learn how they are used in order to gauge which is best for you.

How Do You Use Them?

You will need to first understand that you hold a curling iron differently than a curling wand. With a curling iron, the cord should be down, and with a curling wand, the cord should be up. That, however, is not the only difference.

The direction you twist the hair matters. Wrapping away from the face is a good option while the back curls can be twisted in alternating directions for depth and texture.

Regardless of which option is used, you also want to prep the hair when it is wet using a combination of products that can include a mousse and some sort of thickening or treatment spray. This prep work, as one expert noted, can “create memory in the hair”.

Additionally, and regardless of which tool is used, you should not keep it on the heat for too long. A period of ten seconds or less is best as this may damage the texture and health of the hair. Most professionals hold hair in place for a count of four, while also doing longer hair in sections instead of holding it on the heat for an extended period.

With these basics, we can now look at each tool for its best methods of use.

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Using the Curling Iron

The curling iron is usually recommended for those doing their hair for a more formal occasion or setting. For instance, a wedding hairstyle or a professional style is likely to be best achieved with the curling iron. Yet, you still need to use the very first step in using one to get the best results, and that is to choose the right size of barrel.

As the team at Self magazine explained, “A 1.25-inch barrel gives a soft curl that’s large and voluminous. A smaller 1-inch barrel has the look of a classic, Old Hollywood curl.”

You must then section your hair for the look you want, and that means parting it in the way that will yield the right results. As that expert from Self indicated, the direction of the part affects the final result and if you “want volume, you’re going to take a horizontal section and curl while lifting from root…But if you want a wavy look, use a vertical section.”

You will also separate hair to inch-wide segments if thick and 1.5 inches for thin hair. You will alternate the direction of the curls and hold the clip open while wrapping the end last (while many wrap the end first, this overheats and damages the hair). After removing the hair from the iron, cup it in the hand for a count of five and only then let it fall. Pulling it after curling it causes the curl to fall away quickly.

And while you can and should brush out curls done with an iron, it should only happen once the hair has cooled down.

Using the Curling Wand

Something that many cite as a “con” about a curling wand is that it takes two hands to use effectively, which can be tiring if you are doing your hair yourself. Yet, there is almost exactly the same amount of work required with the curling iron.

The steps for prepping and curling hair with a wand are almost identical to the steps for a curling iron. The only real difference is that with a wand, you are going to hold the gadget with the small end pointing downward. This means your elbow is in an elevated position and you use your free hand to wrap the hair around the cone-shaped barrel. You also should never hold it in any other position than the vertical to get the right outcome.

Curling Wands Vs Curling Irons – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the use of a curling iron is going to mean more formal hair, while the curling wand is going to give a more relaxed and “beachy” hairstyle. They have their various pros and cons, and it is entirely up to the buyer to choose the features that are most suited to their needs.

Naturally, they come in a wide range of prices, and often it is the material and barrel design that drives the pricing. Take some time to consider the type of curl and the look of the curl you wish to create, and the choice becomes easier. If you are looking for a quick answer, we can say that the curling wand is for those who favor a looser and more casual style that can be done on the fly while the curling iron is for more controlled results.

Of course, no one says you cannot invest in one of each and have a weekend style and a workday look using the different devices!

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More Great Curling Wands Vs Curling Irons Resources:

12 Common Curling Iron Mistakes and How to Stop Making Them

Ceramic Vs Titanium Curling Iron and Flat Iron- Which one is better?

A Celebrity Hair Stylist’s Guide To Using A Curling Wand