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Curling iron types: spring, Marcel, clipless, tapered and rotating

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The main curling iron types are spring clamp irons, Marcel irons with a lever clamp, clipless wands, tapered or conical wands, rotating or automatic irons, multi barrel wavers and interchangeable barrel sets. Spring irons are easiest for beginners, Marcel irons are a stylist favorite, wands give clamp free curls, tapered wands give varied curls, and rotating irons do the turning for you.

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Walk down a hair tool aisle and you will see barrels with clamps, barrels without, cones, ovals, three barrels side by side and irons that spin. Each design changes how you hold the hair and the curl it makes. This page explains each type, what it is good at, and who it suits, with examples from current listings where they help. If you are choosing between the two most common types, start with curling wand vs curling iron. For size, see the curling iron size guide.

Types at a glance

A spring clamp curling iron, a clipless straight wand and a tapered wand, with barrel, clamp, cool tip, glove and taper labeledClamp ironBarrelClampLeverCool tipStraight wandNo clampTapered wandtip to base: widerGlove
A clamp iron holds the hair end for you; a wand has no clamp, so you wrap by hand with a heat glove. A tapered wand is wider at the base.

  • Spring clamp

    How it holds hair
    Spring loaded clamp
    Best for
    Beginners, classic curls
    Learning curve
    Low

  • Marcel

    How it holds hair
    Lever operated clamp, no spring
    Best for
    Stylists, precise control
    Learning curve
    High

  • Clipless wand

    How it holds hair
    Your gloved hand
    Best for
    Crease free, beachy curls
    Learning curve
    Medium

  • Tapered or conical wand

    How it holds hair
    Your gloved hand
    Best for
    Curls that are wider at the root
    Learning curve
    Medium

  • Oval or wave wand

    How it holds hair
    Your gloved hand
    Best for
    Looser, flatter waves
    Learning curve
    Medium

  • Rotating or automatic

    How it holds hair
    Clamp plus motor
    Best for
    People who find turning hard
    Learning curve
    Low

  • Multi barrel waver

    How it holds hair
    Clamps over several barrels
    Best for
    Uniform S waves
    Learning curve
    Low

  • Interchangeable set

    How it holds hair
    Swappable barrels on one handle
    Best for
    Trying several shapes
    Learning curve
    Varies
Curling iron types

Spring clamp curling irons

This is the classic curling iron. A spring loaded clamp holds the ends against the barrel while you roll it up. The clamp does part of the work, so it is the easiest type for beginners and for short hair. The downside is that a clamp can leave a small crease if you clamp the ends and do not move the iron as you release. Many modern clamp irons use smoother clips; T3 calls its version the ProGlide clip on the SinglePass Curl X line. ghd's Curve Soft Curl Iron and Chronos Curve Classic are clamp tongs.

See how to use a curling iron for the clamp, roll and release method.

Marcel curling irons

A Marcel iron has a clamp operated by a lever in the handle instead of a spring. You open and close it with your fingers and can roll the iron in your hand while keeping tension. That gives stylists fine control over curl shape and lets them work quickly, but it takes practice. Marcel irons are common in salons and are often used for very tight or very polished sets. Most home users find a spring iron easier to learn.

Clipless, tapered and oval wands

A wand has no clamp. You wrap hair around the barrel and hold the ends with a heat resistant glove. With no clamp there is no crease, and many people find wands faster once they learn the wrap. Straight wands give an even curl from root to end. Tapered or conical wands get narrower toward the tip, so the curl is looser at the top and tighter at the ends; the ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand and Chronos Curve Conical Wand are tapered examples. Oval or wave wands, like the ghd Curve Classic Wave Wand, give a flatter, more relaxed wave.

Our how to use a curling wand and tapered vs straight barrel wand pages go into detail. For picks, see the best curling wands.

Rotating and automatic curling irons

Rotating irons turn the barrel for you with a motor, so you clamp the ends and let the barrel wind the hair up. The T3 CurlWrap is an example; its listing describes an AutoTwist self rotating barrel with a switch to steer the direction. Some other tools pull hair into a heated chamber instead. These help people who find the wrist turning of a regular iron awkward. See rotating curling irons explained.

Note.With any rotating or automatic tool, keep long hair away from the motor housing and follow the maker's instructions to avoid tangles.

Multi barrel wavers, long barrels and interchangeable sets

Multi barrel wavers clamp hair over two or three barrels at once to press an S shaped wave. They are quick for uniform waves; the ghd Wave triple barrel waver is one example. Long barrel irons have extra length to wrap long hair in fewer passes; Bio Ionic's Long Barrel Curling Iron listing says its barrel is 2 inches longer than standard. Interchangeable sets use one handle with swappable barrels. The Bio Ionic Twist lists a 0.5 inch wand, a 1 inch tapered wand and a 1.25 inch clip barrel; the T3 Switch Kit Classic Trio lists 1, 1.25 and 1.5 inch clip barrels.

For wave focused tools, see the best curling irons for beach waves; for long hair, the best curling irons for long hair.

Which type should you choose

  • First curling iron: a spring clamp iron in 1 or 1 1/4 inch.
  • Crease free, beachy curls: a clipless or tapered wand.
  • Short hair: a slim clamp iron or thin wand; see the best curling irons for short hair.
  • Trouble turning your wrist: a rotating iron.
  • Uniform waves fast: a multi barrel waver.
  • Want to try several looks: an interchangeable set.

See the best curling irons →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Marcel and a spring curling iron? A spring iron's clamp closes on its own; a Marcel iron's clamp is worked by a lever with your fingers. Marcel irons offer more control but take practice.

Is a curling wand a type of curling iron? Yes. A wand is a curling iron without a clamp, held with a heat glove.

What curling iron type is easiest for beginners? A spring clamp iron, because the clamp holds the ends while you roll.

What does a tapered curling wand do? Its barrel narrows toward the tip, so curls are looser near the root and tighter at the ends.

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