Long- and large-barrelled tongs usually have a clamp to hold the hair in place while you curl, and can be used to create super-sleek, Hollywood-style curls. Curling wands, which have a conical tip, are more suitable for short to medium-length hair. We’ve included some longer-length wands in our roundup for those who prefer to curl their hair this way. What should my curling tongs for longer hair be made from? Use hairspray... this may seem like an obvious one, but you may be surprised to discover that you don't need a whole can, so long as you select the right one. Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray* is ideal as it holds everything exactly where it was when you sprayed it. The beauty of the ghd Curve range is that they do a curling wands* and curling tongs*. That means you can buy the one that suits you best. You can opt for a multitude of different looks. ghd are known for quality and the Curve range is no different, delivering long lasting curls and waves.

Fine hair: Limit your exposure to heat damage by using a curling wand with lower heat settings (less than 150C). When you like to achieve different looks, then the Trevor Sorbie Keratin and Argan Curling Wand is for you. As it's a multi styler, you can change the barrel to create anything from a tight curl to a light wave.

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A wand hasn't got a clamp, so you must wrap the hair around with your hand and hold it there. The good thing is you can pull the hair taut for a tighter curl, or gentler for a looser look. Watch out, these take practice so watch your hands! Short hair: Curling can get fiddly and you don’t want to end up with burnt fingers. Use a curling tong to clamp the ends of short hair for easier styling. Use heat... we all know that heat can cause damage, but when you're hair is super stubborn, there's no escaping that you need the temperature to be on the high side. Make sure you protect the hair the best you can with a heat protection spray* and use a good ceramic heated tong/wand. Well, I've tried to take some of the mystery out of curler shopping, by showing you exactly what each style of tong/wand/styler does to the hair (or my hair, to be more precise). Because I don't know about you, but when it comes to beauty I want need visuals. I want to see if the results are worth dropping all that hard earned cash on. During testing, we confirm the weight and dimensions of the curling tool, as well as any extras that are included in the box. We time how long the tool takes to heat up after switching on. We then note how long it takes to style a full head of hair, taking into account the hair length and texture that we are testing it on. We evaluate the overall ease of use of the curling tool, how it feels in the hand and the finish and feel of the hair after curling. Finally, we note how well the styles last over a typical day.

A tong has a clamp that allows the hair to be held closely to the hot barrel. The clamp can sometimes leave a little kink, but in general tongs are easier to use and you're less likely to burn yourself. To curl with a wand, section the hair and then point the wand so the tip is facing diagonally downwards at a roughly 45º angle. Then, with a heat-protective glove on (usually supplied in the box), wrap the hair around the wand in a spiral shape. Hold the ringlet in place for a few seconds, then tilt the wand downwards to allow the curled section to fall down. With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work. If uniform curls aren't your bag, then get your mitts on the Toni & Guy Curl Squad Styler Spiral Curling Wand. Each curl/wave is different from the next thanks to the spiral barrel. This is one for achieving a more everyday, casual hairstyle, just run your fingers through the hair at the end.The NuMe Classic Wand 25mm is a great all rounder. Use it for classic curls, or for loose waves. It's barrel is straight all the way down, so to achieve an even look. Over 100 testers trialled 18 curling tongs, wands and wavers. They judged how easy each tool was to use, how well it reached their roots and how pleased they were with their final style.

When did finding the best curling wand get so damn confusing? There are countless styles of tongs out there and they all give different curls; from tightly defined ringlets to loose beachy waves. But how do you know which shape wand will work for you? There are many different types of tongs and wands available to buy in stores and online, so here's the lowdown on what all of the different ones can do for you...Tresemme’s Volume Loose Waves curling wand has a 28mm longer-length ceramic barrel that’s ideal for wrapping around long hair. Since the tool is a wand rather than a tong, there’s no clamp; you’ll need to use the heat-proof glove included in the box to protect your fingers while winding hair around the barrel. Nevertheless, the length of the barrel makes this easy. There’s a handy heat-proof mat in the box as well, upon which to rest your wand while it’s heating up. Key specs – Barrel size: 28mm; Temperature settings: 3; Maximum temperature: 200°C; Cord length: 2.5m The best hair curlers for long hair in 2023 1. GHD Curve Soft Curl Tong: Best curler for big and bouncy waves A curling tong is a styling tool with a straight barrel that opens and clamps your hair in place as you curl. Use it to create even curls or bouncy ringlets. A hair waver is a three-barrelled styling tool with a clamp that presses the hair into shape. Use it to create S-shaped waves known as mermaid or beach waves. The best tools for your hair type

Section your hair and apply a heat-protective spray, then clamp the hair at the top of the section where you want the curl to start. Twist the curling iron and move it slowly down towards the roots, allowing the length of the hair to wind around the tongs as you do so (gently pressing on the clamp to open it a little will allow your hair to slide through). You won’t need to take the tongs all the way to the ends – your hair will spiral a few times around the tongs creating a ringlet even if you leave the last inch or so out. With the hair wrapped into a spiral shape, hold the tool in place for a few seconds and then release the clamp to let your ringlet loose.The Beauty Works styler heats up in 60 seconds, and comes with a glove, heatproof mat and handy carry pouch included in the box. Hair feels soft after styling, especially when curled on a medium heat, and while you won’t be able to achieve tight ringlets, the beachy waves it creates look fun and flirty and hold well for an evening. A pretty choice for a beach-babe look. To help the curl stay in place, avoid brushing or touching it with the hands for the time it cools; if your hair really doesn’t hold curls well you can pin the ringlet in place while you move to the next section of hair. Finish with a firm-hold hairspray to keep your style in place. The ceramic-coated barrel heats up to GHD’s optimum styling temperature of 185ºC in under 30 seconds. Ultra-zone technology monitors the temperature constantly to ensure even heating, with no hot spots that may result in damaging the hair. The tongs glide easily through each section of hair without snagging, and create big and bouncy waves that feel soft after styling. The Curve Soft has a cool tip so it’s easy to hold the tongs in the right place on your head when styling, and there’s an automatic switch-off after 30 minutes for safety. A good curler for creating volume and glamorous big curls on longer hair. GHI tip: Whatever your hair type, apply heat protection spray and ensure hair is completely dry before styling. Wet or even damp hair is more fragile and prone to breakage. How we test