Topic
Choosing a tool
A flat iron straightens and can also bend or curl. A curling iron with a clamp makes even, repeatable curls. A clipless wand gives looser, more natural curls. Plate width and barrel size matter as much as the type of tool.
- Most common plate width
- 1 in, for most hair lengths
- Most common barrel size
- 1 in to 1 1/4 in, classic to loose curls
Start with the look you want most days. If it is smooth and straight, a flat iron is the main tool, and a 1 inch plate can also make waves and curls. If it is curls, a curling iron or wand does it faster and more evenly.
Barrel size sets the size of the curl: the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl. Hair needs to wrap around the barrel about two times to hold a curl, so short hair needs a smaller barrel. The barrel size picker gives the range for your length and look.
Plate width is about reach and control. Narrow plates (1/2 to 1 inch) get close to the root and handle short hair and bangs; wide plates (1 1/2 to 2 inches) cover long, thick hair in fewer passes but are harder to curl with.
Common mistakes
- Buying a 2 inch barrel for chin length hair: it will not wrap enough times to curl.
- Choosing a wide plate when you also want to curl with the flat iron.
- Picking a tool by its top temperature instead of by the range you will actually use.
Pages on this topic
- What is a curling wandWhat a curling wand is, how a clipless barrel and glove work, how a wand differs from a curling iron or tong, and the straight, tapered and oval types.Explainer
- How to travel with a flat iron or curling ironCan you bring a flat iron or curling iron on a plane? Carry-on rules, voltage and plug adapters abroad, cordless battery limits and how to pack hot tools safely.How-to
- How to choose a flat ironHow to choose a flat iron in buying order: plate width for your length, plate material, temperature control, voltage, safety features and warranty.How-to
- Flat iron vs curling iron: which tool for your lookFlat iron vs curling iron: which one makes straight hair, waves and curls, when a flat iron can do both, and real ghd and T3 models compared from listings.Comparison
- Dual voltage hair tools explainedDual voltage flat irons and curling irons explained: how to check a tool's voltage, why a plug adapter is not a converter, and which models list it.Explainer
- Curling wand vs curling iron: which one to buyCurling wand vs curling iron: clamp vs clipless, curl shape, learning curve and which suits your hair length, with ghd and T3 tools compared from listings.Comparison
- Curling iron vs hot rollersCurling iron vs hot rollers: which gives more volume, which is faster, and when an iron is the better buy, with ghd and T3 irons compared from their listings.Comparison
- Curling iron types: spring, Marcel, clipless, tapered and rotatingCurling iron types explained: spring clamp, Marcel, clipless wand, tapered, oval, rotating, multi barrel and interchangeable, and what each does well.Explainer