Plate & Wand
Menu

Comparison

Tapered vs straight barrel curling wand

Published

Short answer

A straight barrel wand makes curls that are the same size from top to bottom. A tapered (cone) wand is wider at the base and narrower at the tip, so curls come out looser near the root and tighter at the ends, which many people find more natural. Choose straight for uniform curls or waves, tapered for a lived-in look with defined ends.

Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.

Verdict

Choose a tapered wand like the ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand or Chronos Curve Conical for natural curls that are tighter at the ends. Choose a straight barrel like the ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand for even, voluminous waves on chin-length and longer hair.

Curling wands come in two main shapes: straight barrels and tapered, cone-shaped barrels. This page is for anyone choosing between them or wondering how to use a tapered wand. We explain how each shape changes the curl, how the wrapping technique differs, and compare three ghd wands using only their listing facts. If you are new to wands in general, start with what is a curling wand. For more models, see our best curling wands.

How barrel shape changes the curl

On a straight barrel, every part of the section wraps around the same diameter. The curl is the same size from root to end. That gives a uniform, polished result, and it is easy to predict: pick the barrel size for the curl you want.

On a tapered barrel, the diameter shrinks toward the tip. Hair wrapped near the wide base makes a bigger curl; hair near the narrow tip makes a tighter one. If you wrap with the wide end at the root, you get looser bends at the top and more defined curls at the ends. Many people describe this as a more natural, lived-in shape.

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.

Three ghd wands compared

All three run at 365F, per their listings. Two are tapered, one has a straight barrel.

  • Barrel

    ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
    Tapered, about 0.9 to 1.1" (per title)
    ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
    Tapered, 0.9 to 1" in title, 1.1" conical in features
    ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand
    Straight, 1.5", no clamp

  • Temperature

    ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
    365F
    ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
    365F
    ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand
    365F

  • Heat-up

    ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
    25 seconds
    ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
    25 seconds
    ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand
    50 seconds

  • Auto sleep

    ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
    30 minutes
    ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
    20 minutes
    ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand
    20 minutes

  • Included

    ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
    Cool tip, safety stand
    ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
    Glove, silicone stand
    ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand
    Glove, safety stand

  • Listed price

    ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand
    $203.00
    ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
    $233.00
    ghd Chronos Curve Max Wand
    $233.00
ghd tapered and straight wands, listing facts

How to use a tapered curling wand

Wrapping away from the face on both sides gives a balanced look. Alternating directions gives more texture. Our how to use a curling wand and how to use the ghd Curve wand guides cover the technique in more detail.

  1. 1

    Start with dry, detangled hair and heat protectant.

  2. 2

    Hold the wand pointing down, wide end near the root, and wear the heat glove if one is included.

  3. 3

    Wrap a 1 inch section around the barrel, keeping the ends near the narrow tip and off the cool tip.

  4. 4

    Hold for a few seconds, then slide the wand out and let the curl drop.

  5. 5

    Let curls cool before brushing or shaking them out.

Which shape suits which hair

Barrel size matters as much as shape. A 1.5 inch straight barrel makes loose, voluminous waves; a tapered wand around 1 inch makes medium, defined curls. Our curling iron size guide maps sizes to curl types.

  • 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
Common barrel sizes at true relative scale, with mm and the curl each usually makes. Smaller barrels make tighter curls.
  • Want uniform curls or classic waves: straight barrel.
  • Want a natural look with defined ends: tapered barrel.
  • Long hair: a straight 1.5" barrel like the Chronos Curve Max suits chin length and longer, per ghd's description of the 1.5" Max.
  • Shorter hair: a tapered wand's narrow tip helps on short ends. See how to curl short hair.

Clipless wands and safety

All three of these are clipless wands. Without a clamp, your fingers are close to the hot barrel, which is why ghd includes a cool tip or a protective glove. Use them. If you prefer a clamp, our curling wand vs curling iron comparison covers the trade-offs.

Each wand has a built-in stand and an auto sleep timer. The Chronos wands sleep after 20 minutes, the Creative Curl after 30.

Note.Wand barrels get hot along their whole length. Wear the included glove and keep the barrel away from your face, ears and neck.

Heat, timers and what the listings include

All three ghd wands hold 365F across the barrel, so you do not choose a temperature. That suits many hair types, but very fine or fragile hair cannot go lower. Our curling iron temperature guide covers typical ranges by hair type if you are comparing against wands with adjustable heat.

Heat-up differs. The Creative Curl Wand and Chronos Curve Conical list 25 seconds; the larger 1.5 inch Chronos Curve Max lists 50 seconds. The Chronos models include a protective glove and an integrated silicone stand. The Creative Curl listing mentions a 360 degree swivel cord and a professional-length cord, while the Chronos wands list an 8.8 ft cable.

On price, the Creative Curl Wand is listed at $203.00 and both Chronos wands at $233.00. ghd's Chronos line adds what ghd calls curl-responsive technology that adapts to curling actions for heat control.

Frequently asked questions

Is a tapered curling wand good for beginners? It takes a little practice to place the wide end at the root and the ends at the tip, but many people find it forgiving because curls look natural even if wraps are uneven.

Which way do you hold a tapered wand? Most people hold it pointing down with the wide end near the root, so the ends wrap near the narrow tip.

Do tapered wands make tighter curls? At the ends, yes. Curls are looser near the root and tighter where hair wraps around the narrow tip.

What temperature do ghd wands use? All three wands here list 365F.

What you need for this