Now, onto the technical wins: The wand features a smooth beveled edge that protects it from your countertop but doesn’t snag your hair when you slide it off the barrel. It fully heats up in 30 seconds and automatically shuts off after 2 hours, which is helpful in case you forget to unplug it before running out of the house.

I appreciated the design, which includes a digital display that shines through a sleek rose-gold ... [+] panel when the curling iron is on. Stephanie Montes For Forbes

When it comes to curling irons, size really does matter. And the same goes for shape. Different curlers do different things, so the kind of tool you need really depends on what size or shape curl you're looking for. What We Love: This is the lightest curling iron we’ve ever held, making it very comfortable to use during long styling sessions.

The BaBylissPRO comes in three different sizes, so you can choose based on the style you want for your hair. The handle rotates to help ease your styling process and prevent awkward arm positions. Despite how easy the Shark was to operate, it was a bit annoying having to switch out barrels to change the direction of our curl. That said, this only takes a few seconds, and Shark clearly distinguishes between the two — there is a very clear “L” and “R” on the corresponding attachments. Finding the right curling iron and barrel size that works for you all depends on what look you’re going for,” says celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos. He explains that if you’re going for a looser, more relaxed-looking curl, a larger barrel size is best. If you’re trying to create tight curls, a smaller iron, like the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron is ideal. However, creating lasting curls on this hair type without heat is not possible thus you need a curling iron that can balance it well. Only a professional tool such as Hot Tools can be trusted for damage-free styling on this type of hair. You could never get the curl you envision without considering the width of the curling barrel. Russell says, “The size of the barrel generally affects the amount of rotation in the curl and thus determines the level of curliness you can achieve.” The larger the diameter, the looser and larger the waves—up to a subtle bend even—while smaller barrels will produce tighter and more-defined curls. He also points out that your hair length could be a deciding factor when selecting a barrel size. As a suggestion, he says, “A 1.5-inch barrel is a great size for anyone with shoulder-length or longer hair, while a narrower one works for anyone with shorter lengths.” And while it really is a personal choice, it’s a good rule of thumb to use larger barrels on longer hair and narrower ones on shorter styles. Extra FeaturesThere’s no one right way to style hair, but few tools are quite so versatile as a curling iron. Whether you like your curls tight and coily, loose and wavy, uniform and polished, or textured and messy, using a curling iron makes it easy to create a vast array of looks with one simple tool. The 24k gold sleek barrel heats up instantly and evenly eliminating hot spots. Its ceramic + tourmaline heating technology doesn’t fry your hair. Ceramic heats gently and uniformly preserving hair’s natural moisture while tourmaline seals the cuticle for lustrous and smoother curls. When it comes down to specific looks, you can create a tighter curl by using your iron just off the scalp. Meanwhile, you’ll achieve a looser style if you skip the root and start wrapping your hair about a third of the way down the shaft. “Holding the curl horizontally will make the curl fuller, vertically will provide a more relaxed look,” adds DiGregorio. If you’re going for a beach wave or modern vibe, Reed loves to curl hair in different directions to prevent uniformity or an overdone look. “If you’re looking for classic curls, keep the iron going in one direction,” he says. However, if your hair stubbornly refuses to hold a curl at all, we hate to admit it, but it’s likely due to user error. DiGregorio recommends taking smaller sections and using a slightly smaller barrel size, like the 0.75-inch version of Conair InfinitiPRO Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron. “Be mindful that each hair section can easily wrap around the iron with a little room to spare,” she says. “This enables the heat to reach every hair in the section.” Extra-smooth tourmaline ceramic surface for durable and superior performance ensuring sleek and shiny curls