We've Tried Every Rotating Curling Iron on the Planet, These 8 Are the Only Ones We'd Buy (2024)

If you can’t quite nail the art of curling your hair, you’re not alone. Even us beauty editors struggle with the deceptively simple-looking tools. Most of the time, the end result looks nothing like it does after the salon. But, then we discovered rotating curling irons, which literally do the work for you. They're ideal for anyone who needs extra assistance when styling their hair. As the name suggests, rotating curling irons wind your hair up the barrel automatically, creating perfectly uniform, bouncy curls (or waves) with little to no effort.

There are a ton of options out there, so we handpicked 29 of the most popular rotating curling irons to try so you can better pick one that will work best for you. After putting the tools to the test in The Lab, our Manhattan testing facility, testers judged each based on ease of use and efficacy. The products that made this list make curls appear like magic, with little to no effort required.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Prizm 1 Inch Wavy Professional Rotating Curling Iron
Best Budget: MaikcQ 1.25 Inch Rotating Curling Iron
Best Splurge: Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long
Best Cordless: Conair Unbound Rechargeable Cordless Auto-Curler Curling Iron
Best for Volume: T3 1.25 Inch Twirl 360 Curling Iron
Best for Curl Variety: Lyealion Interchangeable Hair Curling Wand
Best for Waves: Beachwaver Co. S1 Rotating Curling Iron
Best Dual-Purpose: Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

Best Overall: Prizm 1 Inch Wavy Professional Rotating Curling Iron

Buy on Amazon$90

Barrel Size: 1 inch | Cord: Yes | Temperature Settings: 250 °F to 450°F

The Prizm Wavy Professional Rotating Curling Iron couldn’t have impressed us more—it's one of the most straightforward tools our testers tried. The barrel rotates to the left and right, each direction triggered by the push of a button. If you get confused (or the barrel spins in the wrong direction), the “M” button re-centers the tool back to its original position. With 11 heat settings ranging from 250°F to 450°F, the tool offers a ton of variety so that users with all different hair types and thicknesses can use it and see great results.

After curling her hair, our tester admitted she was impressed with how stress-free the process was. She said the clamp felt “just right” and shared that she especially loved that it didn’t tug or pull at her hair as it rotated. She also appreciated that it heated up relatively quickly and that the directions provided were really helpful in guiding her on how to use the iron and all its bells and whistles. The only downside is that it turns at one speed, which can be too fast for some. To avoid burning yourself, try practicing the motion on the lowest heat setting to get the hang of it.

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Nasya, tester with long, 2a hair

“After using the Prizm Rotating Curling Iron my curls were well-defined and bouncy. I could easily brush them out to get beachy waves, too.”

Best Budget: MaikcQ 1.25 Inch Rotating Curling Iron

Buy on Amazon$60

Barrel Size: 1.25 inch | Cord: Yes | Temperature Settings: 176°F to 410°F

Rotating curling irons (and all hot hair tools, for that matter) can be pricey. This iron from MaikcQ, however, is pretty affordable. The tool, which has a 1.25-inch barrel, also doubles as a hot brush—thanks to an accompanying brush attachment. The rotation was “fluid” and worked as expected, producing loose, bouncy curls in under five minutes.Depending on the direction you want the tool to curl in, you’ll hit the corresponding arrow button on the grip of the iron. While this doesn’t sound super complicated (and it’s not), we admit that it does require you to remember if you need to press the top or bottom button to make the curling iron rotate in the correct direction. Aside from that, she was pleased that it comes with a digital temperature display, an anti-scald tip, and a small yet effective clamp.

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Carol, tester with shoulder-length, layered hair

"The curling iron was lightweight and easy to use despite the box containing very little instructional material. It is well-priced as the iron contains two options."

Best Splurge: Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long

Buy on Sephora$600

Best Cordless: Conair Unbound Rechargeable Cordless Auto-Curler Curling Iron

Buy on Amazon$80

Barrel Size: N/A| Cord: No | Temperature Settings: Up to 400°F

If you hate being tangled up in cords or are short on space, this cordless rotating curling iron from Conair was meant for you. The high-performance tool can style for up to 60 minutes cord-free. It runs on a chargeable battery—so when it’s not in use, you just plug it in and let it charge back up. Both of the testers who tried this one in the lab agreed that reading the directions was necessary to understand how to use it. But, once you get the hang of it, the tool produces “perfect ringlets” every time.

The tool sucks a section of hair into the barrel and gives an option of which direction you’d like it to curl in (left, right, and mixed) before stopping after 12 seconds to prevent heat damage. There was no burning whatsoever and the automatic timer was to thank for that. The only thing our testers weren’t super thrilled about was the tool’s wide grip. It can feel uncomfortable to hold for long periods, especially if you have smaller hands.

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Samantha, tester with long, 2a/2b hair

"The Conair took some time to get used to turning it on and switching settings as the instructions were not super clear. But once I got the hang of it, it took less than five minutes to style my hair, because of how quickly it rotates."

Best for Volume: T3 1.25 Inch Twirl 360 Curling Iron

Buy on Sephora$200

Barrel Size: 1.25 inch | Cord: Yes | Temperature Settings: 260°F to 410°F

Curls are one surefire way to achieve voluminous hair when your natural hair falls flat. This automatic curling iron from T3 is powered by smart technology and takes cues from your wrist movements to curl your hair (aka no need to remember which buttons to push). Our tester was surprised by how seamlessly the tool worked, despite only having one button and relying solely on the flick of your wrist. It can be complicated for those not used to curling irons, but the fact that the tool listens to signals from your body ensures that you won’t end up curling your hair the wrong way. The barrel is a bit thicker than most other rotating irons (it has a 1.25-inch barrel, compared to 1 inch), so it creates bigger, bouncier curls.

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Mary, tester with super long, 2a hair

“With the high-tech features, it’s understandable that this pick is a bit pricier, and it’s totally worth it. I’ve used a T3 straightener for four years now, and I haven’t had an issue, so I know this will last a long time. Plus, the sleek design and time-saving features only add to the appeal.”

Best for Curl Variety: Lyealion Interchangeable Hair Curling Wand

Buy on Amazon$130

Barrel Size: Interchangeable heads 0.75 inch, 0.98 inch, 1.26 inch | Cord: Yes | Temperature Settings: 320°F to 430°F

Thanks to three interchangeable barrels, you’ll never get bored of the results of this curling wand. You get three curl size options: small (0.75), medium (0.98), and large (1.26) inch barrels. Whether you prefer to play around with different curl patterns for different occasions or use ‘em all at once, you’ll enjoy the variety this tool provides.

The iron features a home button (which brings the clamp back to its original position), an automatic timer that beeps to let you know when to release your hair, and a bunch of helpful accessories (like gloves, clips, and more). One caveat: the curling iron can break if not handled with care. Be sure to store it where it won’t be tampered with when it’s not in use.

Nilgul, tester with long, 1a hair

"The Lyealionwand wrapped really well; giving me a tighter curl that started close to the root without burning my scalp. The clamp held hair tightly without tugging, too."

Best for Waves: Beachwaver Co. S1 Rotating Curling Iron

Buy on Amazon$150

Barrel Size: 1 inch | Cord: Yes | Temperature Settings: 290°F to 410°F

Though this iron is pretty lightweight, it’s perhaps the biggest name in the category (for good reason). The body of the tool is equipped with an easy-to-read LED screen, plus and minus buttons to increase or decrease the temperature, and left and right arrows to control the direction. You’ll also find a switch that controls the speed (fast or slow) along the side. Even if you press the wrong button and end up curling your hair in the wrong direction, all our tester had to do was press the other arrow, and she was “back on track.” Two of our testers couldn’t rave about it enough, but one felt the clamp was too small. We suggest working with 1-inch sections of hair to get the perfect curl every time.

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Mary, tester with super long, 2a hair

“The beauty of this tool is that you can create different kinds of curls depending on how you use the clamp, how long you keep the iron in your hair, and the direction it rotates. I’ve had mine for two years now, and it hasn’t lost its value or diminished in quality at all.”

Best Dual-Purpose: Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System

Buy on Amazon$300

Barrel Size: 1.25 inches | Cord: Yes | Temperature Settings: None, Low, Medium, High

The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is honestly comparable to the Dyson. Our tester, who has owned the Dyson Airwrap for over two years, admits that it works the exact same. To get voluminous, beachy curls, you just grab your hair at the tip, leaving about an inch of hair between your fingers, and the tool automatically sucks it in and curls it. Our tester admits that the motion was really instinctual for her because of her familiarity with the Dyson; those that aren’t as experienced may need to practice a bit.

Since it’s more of a blow dryer than an iron you can use it on wet hair. But, because it relies on air technology to dry and style hair, you can expect salon-quality results without heat damage. Just pick the attachment for your desired style (the autowrap curlers, in this case), set the temperature (low, medium, or high heat), and let it work its magic. Changing the attachments was easy and there’s even a safety button for locking and unlocking the brush and barrel. There’s so much to love about this tool, but there is one thing we would change: it only comes with three of the six attachments. The rest can be added to your bundle for an additional price each.

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Samantha, tester with long, 2a/2b hair

"Left and right barrels made the Shark really easy to use and it wraps the curls quickly. It dried my hair and created defined, blowout curls in one step."

What to Look for in a Rotating Curling Iron

Barrel Size: Whether it be rotating or regular, the size of your barrel should be your top priority—since it depends on your hair length and desired results. If you’re after loose, beachy waves (or have longer hair), a larger barrel is ideal. For tighter curls (or shorter hair), a smaller barrel size can help achieve ringlet-like locks on less hair.If you have thick hair, you'll want a barrel size on the curling iron for thick hair.
Button: Since rotating curling irons rely heavily on buttons to do the work (instead of your hands), their placement and design are important. Look for a tool featuring easy-to-locate buttons, so you can rely on muscle memory instead of having to stop what you’re doing and search for them every time you want to make a switch.

Technology: Rotating curling irons are relatively innovative compared to standard irons. When picking a tool, consider how high-tech you want it to be. Some people want the latest and greatest technology while others feel more comfortable sticking with a straightforward tool that they can maneuver without needing practice.

FAQ

How do rotating curling irons differ from regular curling irons?

According to celebrity hairstylist Joseph Maine, there aren’t too many differences. The major difference between rotating curling irons and traditional curling irons is that the former curls on its own using a twirling barrel while the latter requires you to manually curl the hair around the motionless wand.
How do you use a rotating curling iron?

Start by prepping your hair with a heat protectant. “It’s important to use a thermal protectant before heat styling so that there’s a barrier between your hair and the heat,” he says. “Otherwise, the tool can pull the natural moisture from your hair.” After that, separate your hair into small sections and feed it onto the rotating curling iron barrel, securing it with the clamp. Then, press the button that twirls the iron so you don’t have to manually twist it. Let the section of hair sit on the barrel for a few seconds and release it.
How do you achieve bouncy curls from a rotating curling iron?

Maine says that after you’ve curled your hair completely and allowed the curls to cool, brush through them. “Brushing through your curls allows them to separate and sit on top of each other,” he explains. “Then, spray a texturizing spray in between each section to help the curls hold.”

Why Trust Byrdie

Caitlyn Martyn is an experienced beauty writer and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has been a staff writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers makeup, skincare, hair care, and more. She has tried several rotating curling irons, including some on this list from brands like Beachwaver and T3, to name a few.

Caitlyn interviewed Joseph Maine, a celebrity hairstylist based in both Los Angeles and New York City, for this story. He is the founder of Trademark Beauty and serves as the Artistic Director of Color Wow.