Best curling wands for short hair 2023
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FEAR not, you can still get lovely soft curls with shorter-length hair - à la Alexa Chung and Holly Willoughby.
When looking for the best curling wands for short hair, the width of the barrel is top of the priority list.
Larger barrels won’t work as effectively for the sheer practical fact that as hair gets shorter, it’s harder to wrap it around a wider barrel.
So look for thin-barrelled curling wands for short hair to create those back-from-the-beach waves loved by bloggers and celebs.
Read on for our round-up of the best curling wands for short hair - from high-end to the high street, we’ve got all bases covered.
Best curling wands for short hair at a glance:
- Best tool for curling and straightening: Proxelli Lexi straightener
- Best curling wand for tousled waves:
- Best alternative curler:
- Best curling wand for volume and body:
- Best for boho beach waves:
- Best curling wand for bouncy waves:
- Best curling wand for styling:
- Best curling wand for multiple waves:
- Best ceramic-coated wand:
- Best cordless curler:
- Best two-in-one styler:
Best tool for curling and straightening: Proxelli Lexi straightener
While at first glance this styler looks like a straightener (which technically, it is) the round-shaped barrel makes it a dream for smooth, shiny curls too. Not many of us have boundless cupboard space for different styling tools, so having one that can give us so many different hair looks is a win in our books.
The Proxelli LEXI comes in four chic shades and glides through the strands effortlessly because of the Nano Ceramic and Tourmaline coating that minimises tugging and hair damage.
And, if you’re the kind of person who spends the whole day stressed they didn’t turn their straightener off, you can rest assured you haven’t burned the house down thanks to the thirty-minute auto-shutoff feature. You can now also get them for 50% off until the end of April, making them £72.44 instead of £144.89.
Temperature: 230 degrees, Plate size: 25x100mm, Cordless or corded: corded
Best curling wand for tousled waves: Ghd Creative Curl Wand
The peeps at the brand themselves have praised this as the best Ghd curling wand for short hair.
Suggesting it’s perfect for that ‘laidback luxe’ look, the tapered wand barrel allows you to create natural-looking curls (no tight ringlets here).
The science bit: patented tri-zone technology ensures a consistent temperature meaning longer-lasting and healthier curls.
Temperature: 185 degrees, Barrel size: 28-23mm, Cordless or corded: corded
Best alternative curler: Glamoriser Volume Boost Auto Curler
This curling device might look quite the opposite of a regular curling wand but it does the job quickly and easily - plus you can't burn yourself with it (a major plus for those prone to clipping themselves with their tongs!).
You simply select the section of hair you want to curl and feed it into the barrel. You then choose a directional button on the curler and it automatically wraps your hair around the internal barrel to be curled. Wait until you hear the four beeps and voila - a soft, crisp curl in a jiffy.
Temperature: 185 degrees, Barrel size: 32mm, Cordless or corded: corded
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Best curling wand for volume and body: Cloud Nine the curling wand
Easy-to-use, versatile and volume-boosting…just three reasons why we love this curling wand that’s great for short hair.
Why? Its one-inch barrel is just the right width for shorter to mid-length locks.
The ceramic-coated barrel is also mineral-infused, meaning curls will have a smooth and shiny finish.
It can create any look from tight curls to beachy waves easily and effortlessly - and that’s what we call curl power.
Temperature: 175 degrees, Barrel size: n/a, Cordless or corded: corded
Best for boho beach waves: T3 Whirl convertible styling wand
Possibly the sleekest thing to ever hit your dressing table (and, at £180 it should be, right?), this modern, chic styler is not just a pretty face.
It also allows you to effortlessly create easy-breezy boho beach waves in minutes that’ll last all night.
With technology that allows it to maintain a consistent temperature (there are five settings to choose from), it offers a frizz-free finish.
And, here’s the best bit, it’s compatible with interchangeable barrels, meaning you can attach different-shaped barrels to the wand to create different styles of curl.
Temperature: 210 degrees, Barrel size: 1.25-0.75 inches, Cordless or corded: corded
Best curling wand for bouncy waves: Babyliss Curl Pro 210 Curling Tong
This 25mm wonder has been hailed as a fantastic relatively affordable option for shorter, shoulder-length hair.
It heats up to 210 degrees, and is ready in just 40 seconds, with a 25mm tourmaline-ceramic coated barrel giving you a smooth finish.
Perfect for all hair types, including thick and frizzy.
Temperature: 210 degrees, Barrel size: 25mm, Cordless or corded: corded
Best curling wand for short hair: Remington Keratin Protect curling wand
Despite first appearances, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a curling wand to get a good quality product.
Remington has a fantastic range of purse-friendly curling wands, but this particular one has it all - good looks (who doesn’t love a little rose gold?), a keratin and almond oil-infused ceramic coating for healthier styling and a special ‘grip tech’ coating that stops hair falling down the wand while you’re trying to curl.
The maximum temperature is 210C, so it might not be suitable for really thick hair that often needs a higher heat setting option. But, otherwise, we’re sold.
Temperature: 210 degrees, Barrel size: 19-28mm, Cordless or corded: corded
Best curling wand for styling: GHD Mini Styler
Whether you're after curls, flicks or tousled waves, the GHD Mini Styler is perfect for all-around styling when it comes to shorter hair.
From the slender rounded barrel to the narrower plates, it's a lot easier to manage than thicker tools when you're working with less hair. It's literally made for short hair.
Temperature: 185 degrees, Barrel size: 12.5mm, Cordless or corded: corded
Best curling wand for multiple waves: Mermade Pro Mini Waver 25mm
So many influencers, from Sofia Richie to Molly Mae, have perfected the beachy waved curl.
All because of tools like the Mermaid Pro Mini Waver. This is the smaller device at 25mm, ideal for well... smaller amounts of hair, like a bob.
Made from ionic ceramic barrels to protect the hair from damage, these babies even come with a heat protection glove and they have multiple heat settings – amazing for just £54.
Temperature: Multiple, Barrel size: n/a, Cordless or corded: corded
Best ceramic-coated wand: Remington Curl Create Ceramic Wand
A protective ceramic coating helps de-frizz hair and stop heat damage in an instant.
The ions of the ceramic curling iron smooth hair down and are anti-static for flyaway hairs. They also have a swivel cord and a thin-to-thick barrel, making them ideal to use on shorter hair.
They heat up to a maximum of 200°C and take just thirty seconds to be ready. Ouila!
Temperature: 200 degrees, Barrel size: 13-25mm, Cordless or corded: corded
Best cordless curler: Conair Unbound Cordless
Straight or curly, when you're on the go there's only one thing for it- the cordless styler.
This two-in-one straightener and curler has twenty minutes of non-stop curling with each charge which is perfect for those who like to touch up their hair when out and about.
Its mini 3/4" flat irons means it is perfect for short hair and reaches 360F on the outer barrel for straight styles or fun curls.
With its neat handbag size, it's the perfect accompaniment for when your hair needs extra curl - pronto!
Temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit, Barrel size: 1 inch, Cordless or corded: cordless
Best two-in-one styler: Amovee 2 in 1 Mini Flat Iron Curling Iron
Can't decide between curling and straightening for short hair? Well, now you don't have to! The Amovee comes with two clip-on wands which you can change in an instant.
There is only one temperature but it has PTC fast heating, meaning the styler is ready quickly and works evenly to save energy and time.
With worldwide dual voltage (just add the adaptor plug for the country you are in) it is perfect for travel or at home. We also love the cute carry case it comes with!
Temperature: 420 degrees Fahrenheit, Barrel size: 2.5cm, Cordless or corded: corded
What kind of curling iron is best for short hair?
Short-haired folk can use a range of curling irons to get their desired waves or curls.
A favourite curling iron for short hair - well, hair of any length, really - is the Dyson Airwrap, known for giving perfect styles without extreme heat.
What size curling want do I need for short hair?
Mini curling irons - which are small and lightweight - are an option for short-haired people who want to go curly.
Any curling iron with a smaller barrel, up to one inch, will also do the trick.
What is the easiest tool to curl hair?
You can use curling tongs, a curling wand or hair straighteners to curl your hair. You can also achieve a curly-haired look with a blow dryer and brush.
For those looking to avoid heat, bendy rollers are an easy - and cheap - option to curl hair.
If you're not that confident about curling your hair, try a flat iron, which is generally considered easier to curl with.
How to curl hair with a wand for short hair
Just like any length hair, when curling short hair you'll want to prep first with some heat defence spray before sectioning off each part of your tresses.
Then, wrap a small section of your hair, holding it for around five to 10 seconds and repeat.
It's best to curl small sections at a time to ensure that you get the bouncy look you're after!
What's better, curling wand or tongs?
Curling wands are great for achieving the tousled, beachy wave look.
If you're looking for more of a polished, perfect curl, then tongs are your friend.
What size curling wand is best for short hair?
Short hair girls know that curling wands can often create dramatic ringlets. If you don't want that uniform curl and would rather have a beachy wave, keep reading to find out which tools will do the job.
The size of the curling iron you use will impact the type of curls you'll end up with.
So, a half-inch design will give you tight ringlets, while a two-inch barrel iron gives that stepped-out-of-a-salon chair blowout effect.
For short hair, choose a short barrel - half an inch to an inch should do the trick.
Are curling wands better than curling irons?
A wand is a curling iron without a clasp, meaning you have to wrap the hair around the wand and hold it.
The wand goes from thick to thin, meaning you're able control how tight or loose the curl is. It's all about preference: if you like all of your curls to be the same, you'll prefer a curling iron, but if you like a more shaggy mermaid look, go for a wand.