Barrel size picker
The right barrel, the right plate
Pick your hair length and the curl you want. See the barrel size that makes it, drawn to scale, then the tools that come in that size.
Top picks
All gear guides
Best T3 curling irons and wands by barrel sizeT3 SinglePass Curl X 1.5": loose curls, big waves
Price on AmazonAmazon
Best hair straighteners: plates, cordless and hot airT3 SinglePass StyleMax 1": 9 settings, auto world voltage
Price on AmazonAmazon
Best ghd flat irons: Platinum+, Chronos, Gold, Max and moreghd Max 2": wide plates at a lower price than Chronos Max
Price on AmazonAmazon
Best ghd curling wands and tongs: the Curve lineupghd Chronos Curve Conical: tapered barrel, glove included
Price on AmazonAmazon
Find your barrel size
Open the full barrel size picker →Barrel size
1 in
25 mm
Classic curls on medium hair (chin to shoulders): a 1 in barrel. Hair should wrap the barrel about two times.
Best T3 curling irons and wands by barrel size →
Circles drawn at 96 px per inch, the CSS inch; how big that looks depends on your screen.
The tool wall
Every topic on the site, from choosing a first tool to cleaning the plates.
- Choosing a toolFlat iron, curling iron or wand: which tool, plate width and barrel size fit your hair and the look you want.8 notes · 1 guide
- Flat ironsPremium flat irons from ghd, T3, BaBylissPRO and Bio Ionic, sorted by hair type, length and plate width.2 notes · 6 guides
- Curling irons and wandsClamp irons, clipless wands and long barrels from T3, ghd, Bio Ionic and Drybar, by curl look and hair length.3 notes · 7 guides
- Air and cordless straightenersDyson Corrale, Dyson Airstrait and ghd Duet Style: how flexing plates and hot air straightening compare.11 notes · 1 guide
- Brand lineupsghd, T3 and Bio Ionic model by model, plus how they stack up against CHI, Conair and other names.9 notes · 4 guides
- Heat and techniqueTemperature ranges by hair type, barrel sizes, wand technique and how to get curls and sleek ends to last.18 notes · 0 guides
- Care and fixesCleaning buildup, flashing lights, tools that stop heating and hair that will not curl or straighten.10 notes · 0 guides
Guides by tool
Narrow guides to one kind of styling tool, compared by what the listings state.
- Best T3 curling irons and wands by barrel size
- Best hair straighteners: plates, cordless and hot air
- Best ghd flat irons: Platinum+, Chronos, Gold, Max and more
- Best ghd curling wands and tongs: the Curve lineup
- Best flat irons for every hair type, compared by plate and heat
- Best flat irons for thick and coarse hair
- Best flat irons for short hair, pixies and bangs
- Best flat irons for natural, curly and coily hair
- Best flat irons for fine and thin hair
- Best flat irons that also curl and wave
- Best dual voltage flat irons and curling irons for travel
- Best curling wands, clipless and tapered, compared
Comparisons
Two tools side by side, from the facts the makers and listings state.
- Tapered vs straight barrel curling wandTapered vs straight barrel curling wands: how a cone barrel changes the curl from root to end, how to use one, and ghd wands compared from the listings.
- T3 curling iron vs cheaper dupesT3 SinglePass Curl X vs Conair and Revlon look-alikes: heat settings, barrel and clip from T3's listing, with dupe specs marked not confirmed.
- 1 inch vs 1 1/4 inch curling iron1 inch vs 1 1/4 inch curling iron: the curl each barrel makes on short, medium and long hair, with T3 and ghd irons in both sizes compared from listings.
- ghd vs T3 vs BaBylissPRO flat ironsghd vs T3 vs BaBylissPRO flat irons: fixed 365F, 9 heat settings or up to 50 settings, plus plate materials and voltage, all from the Amazon listings.
- ghd vs CHI flat iron: what the extra money buysghd Platinum+ and Gold vs the CHI Original flat iron: fixed 365F ceramic plates against CHI's popular ceramic iron, with listing facts and unconfirmed specs marked.
- ghd Platinum+ vs ghd Goldghd Platinum+ vs ghd Gold: both are 1 inch ceramic irons fixed at 365F. See what Platinum+ adds over Gold and whether the $28 gap matters for your hair.
How-tos and explainers
- What is an ionic flat iron?What an ionic flat iron is, what makers mean by ions, infrared and tourmaline, how ionic compares to ceramic and titanium, and when the ion switch matters.
- T3 curling iron sizes explainedT3 curling iron sizes from 1 to 1.5 inch, which T3 models each barrel comes in, what curl each makes, and how to pick a size for your hair length.
- Rotating and automatic curling irons explainedHow rotating and automatic curling irons work, rotating barrels like the T3 CurlWrap vs auto-curl chambers, who finds them easier, and tips to avoid tangles.
- Is the Dyson Corrale worth it?Is the Dyson Corrale worth the price? What its flexing plates, battery and three heat settings offer, how it compares to corded irons, and who should buy it.
- How to use the Dyson Corrale straightenerHow to use the Dyson Corrale: its three heat settings, flexing plate technique, cord-free charging, the dock, muting chimes, and flight mode for travel.
- How to use a flat iron correctly, step by stepHow to use a flat iron the right way: prep, sectioning, temperature, one slow pass with tension, and how to finish so the style lasts longer.
Fixes
Buildup, flashing lights, tools that stop heating and curls that drop: what to check first.
- T3 iron not heating or shutting offT3 curling iron not heating or turning off? Check the outlet, auto shut-off, cord and swivel, settings and timer, then when to contact T3 about warranty.
- Hair frizzes or will not stay straightWhy hair won't straighten or stay straight: damp hair, humidity, fast passes, big sections, low heat for your texture, buildup and products. Fixes for each.
- Hair sticking to the barrelWhy hair sticks to a curling iron: product buildup, wet styling products, damp hair, heat that is too high, and worn coatings. How to fix each one.
- Airstrait stops, blinks or will not heatDyson Airstrait stopping, blinking or not heating? Common causes, how to clean the filter, safe reset steps, and when to contact Dyson support.
- Curls will not holdWhy hair will not curl or hold a curl with a curling iron or wand: barrel too big, sections too thick, heat too low, product and cooling time, fixed in order.
- Burning smell when stylingHair smells burnt after a flat iron or curling iron? Tell product residue, damp hair and too much heat apart, and fix each one in order.
Tools and reference
Pickers and scales that do the sizing and the conversions for you.
Barrel sizes at a glance
Every common size at true relative scale, with the curl it usually makes.
- 3/8 in10 mmRinglets
- 1/2 in13 mmTight
- 3/4 in19 mmTight
- 1 in25 mmClassic
- 1 1/4 in32 mmLoose
- 1 1/2 in38 mmWaves
- 2 in51 mmVolume