Creating curls with fine hair is a struggle — unless you have one of these (2024)

You know you can count on a curling iron created by a celebrity hair stylist to get the job done. The Beachwaver S1 was designed by Sarah Potempa to make curling your hair easier than ever.

To use it, you section your hair and place the clamp at the ends. By pressing the arrow in the direction you want your hair to curl, the Beachwaver S1 rotates itself to curl your hair and do the work for you. By holding the curl for three seconds, you’ll release bouncy, voluminous waves that hold all day — even in the finest of hair.

While the iron’s temperature can heat up to 410 degrees, you can keep it on a lower setting suited for keeping strands healthy in pursuit of waves. If you’re someone who leaves your house only to begin panicking about whether or not you unplugged your iron, you’ll be pleased to know the Beachwaver S1 features an automatic shut off setting so it’ll turn off after 30 minutes.

Here's what Amazon reviewer OhMargo writes about their Beachwaver S1 iron:

"You know that perfectly wavy reality TV star hair? I wanted it. Craved it. Tried everything to get it. But nothing worked. Nothing lasted. I thought that my long, thick hair was just going to be straight forever. Impervious to curls of any kind. Until I tried the Beachwaver.

"You know that perfectly wavy reality TV star hair? I wanted it. Craved it. Tried everything to get it. But nothing worked. Nothing lasted. I thought that my long, thick hair was just going to be straight forever. Impervious to curls of any kind. Until I tried the Beachwaver.

I fell in love, y'all. I watched in wonder as my head of lackluster locks transformed into flowing waves with just the push of a button. Literally--it's pretty much dummy-proof. Basically does all the work for you. #motorizedmagic

I fell in love, y'all. I watched in wonder as my head of lackluster locks transformed into flowing waves with just the push of a button. Literally--it's pretty much dummy-proof. Basically does all the work for you. #motorizedmagic

And here's the really crazy part--these curls last. For a looooong time. I'm talking 3+ days. Even brushed out and slept on, my hair stays soft, smooth, and perfectly wavy. I'm starting to feel like this is just the natural state of my hair. Probably gonna get my own reality show soon just because of these glorious waves.

And here's the really crazy part--these curls last. For a looooong time. I'm talking 3+ days. Even brushed out and slept on, my hair stays soft, smooth, and perfectly wavy. I'm starting to feel like this is just the natural state of my hair. Probably gonna get my own reality show soon just because of these glorious waves.

I know it's pricey, but think of it as an investment in your awesomeness. You're worth it. You deserve it. And so does your soon-to-be primetime hair."

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Traditional curling irons with clamps aren’t the only option out there. And when it comes to thin and fine hair in particular, they’re not always the best choice. Instead, a curling wand offers an alternative way to create waves and volume without allowing hair to be exposed to heat for too long.

While wands may have a learning curve at first, they’re quite easy to use once you get the hang of it. A perfect budget-friendly option is this high-rated Remington Pro curling wand designed with a ceramic tapered barrel featuring crushed pearl to strengthen and protect hair with each use.

This is what one top makeup and beauty reviewer on Amazon, named Blaire, had to say about their iron:

"Where has this product been all my life? I have very straight hair and thought it was unable to hold a curl. Usually my hair would lose the curl within an hour or two, leaving a chunky hair-sprayed mess. With this product, my hair holds the curl all day and more-or-less the next day as well, and only requires a light misting of flexible hairspray. This is probably because it has several heat settings and most cheap curlers do not heat as hot as this one does. I use the highest setting (400-something degrees), set it with flexible hold hairspray and it works great. I now curl my hair all the time, at least once a week. The curler comes with a heat-protective glove so you don't burn yourself. I like this better than curlers with the clamp, as stray hairs can get stuck in those clamps and that is never a good thing. However- your hand can still get quite hot through the glove if touching it directly, so...avoid doing that. Overall great product though at a good price, would absolutely recommend."

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You're probably already familiar with the Bed Head brand and its extensive line of hair care and styling products, but they also make some rather impressive hair tools, including the Curlipops curling wand.

Don't let the cutesy name scare you away: This curling wand is created with a hair-protecting combination of tourmaline and ceramic to help you make the perfect, natural curls each time. Rest assured you won't look like Shirley Temple (unless that's your thing!) thanks to its tapered barrel and easy-to-use design, which creates messy waves with ease.

The only downside of this iron is that it only features an on/off switch, which means it will be used on its full temperature of 400 degrees. While that's higher than suggested for fine hair, you'll want to be mindful to not keep your hair wrapped around the barrel too long.

This is what reviewer named Cynthia had to say about theirs:

"Probably the cheapest curling iron I have ever bought and it I actually the best. I was concerned when I realized I couldn’t adjust the temperature but it self adjusts and it’s perfect. It is even better than my 75$ hot tools iron. I use it everyday! Perfect for those messy waves"

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Curling wands aren't for everyone, and that's okay! There are plenty of classic irons out there designed to work best with fine and thin hair. Thanks to highly-customizable heat settings, a digital display, and a ceramic coating, the KIPOZI curling iron is designed to glide over hair at the ideal temperature while styling, so damaging snags and pulls are no more.

The KIPOZI curling wand also comes with an insulated wand tip design, a heat-resistant glove, and features a 60-minute automatic shut-off setting. Here's what one reviewer with fine hair had to say about their experience with the KIPOZI curling iron:

This is the best curling iron that I own--much better than the VERY expensive ones that I have bought. I have medium length, fine, thin hair and it curls very well, and the curls last all day. The first time I used it, I thought that my hair would slip out--but it does not. It does not pull my hair, so there is no breakage. I like the range of temperatures, and it heats up almost immediately.

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In case you were wondering what ghd stands for, it’s an acronym of good hair day, which is exactly what the ghd Curve Wand guarantees. It’s a favorite among hair stylists, YouTube beauty bloggers, and those looking for an easy-to-use high-performing iron, thanks to its breakthrough heat design.

Its Ultra-zone Technology ensures even heat across the whole barrel in just eight seconds, while it constantly monitors its temperature 250 times per second to ensure it stays at the optimum 365-degree styling temperature. Yeah, it’s no joke.

The cult-favorite wand features a 1.5-inch oval-shaped wand to create bouncy, voluminous, long-lasting curls that hold throughout the day. It even features a protective cool tip to keep hair safe from damage as you work through your hair.

And while this option is a bit pricey, ghd products are known to be long-lasting and reliable so you know it’s a worthwhile investment.

Here's what one reviewer had to say about their ghd Curve Wand:

"I'm going to preface this review by saying that my hair will not hold a curl; I have a lot of very straight fine hair. My hair is also virgin which means that it has no dye or chemical treatments on it, making it very healthy but also very difficult to keep a curl.

"I'm going to preface this review by saying that my hair will not hold a curl; I have a lot of very straight fine hair. My hair is also virgin which means that it has no dye or chemical treatments on it, making it very healthy but also very difficult to keep a curl.

I have tried other, less expensive, curlers before and I was lucky if I could get a couple hours out of my hair style without it returning to perfectly straight. I had given up on curling my hair as it just wasn't worth the effort to me.

Several YouTube beauty gurus that I follow have recommended the ghd brand so I thought I would give it a go. I'm really happy with this curling wand from ghd, it has great features and outperforms all others I've used - as it should for the high price!"

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Conair is anything but a brand to count out when it comes to budget-friendly yet high-performing hair tools. Its Infinitipro curling iron uses Nano Technology to deliver beautiful, shiny curls with each use — even for the finest of strands.

Designed with a 1-inch curling barrel coated in tourmaline and ceramic, the Infinitipro keeps hair strong and frizz-free while styling curls that last throughout the day. To dive into the science behind Conair’s technology just a bit, the iron’s barrel infuses hair with microparticles from the tourmaline ceramic to create frizz-fighting ions as you style. And while the iron can reach up to 400 degrees within 30 seconds of being plugged in, you’ll want to adjust it to its lower setting more suited for protecting fine hair.

You'll want to note that despite rave reviews, a few users mention their iron fell apart within a year. Depending on how often you plan on using your iron, you'll want to keep this in mind, but with a price tag under $20, replacing it when the time comes shouldn't be too painful.

Here's what Amazon reviewer, Denise, shared about her Infinitipro curling iron:

"I was hesitant at first to buy this iron. I thought only expensive ones were worth purchasing, but I didn't want to shell out another $150. This little iron is light & easy to use, but more importantly, the curl holds all day!! I have long hair & my curl is usually gone by lunch time. This pic shows the curl after a 10 hour work day!"

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Dry Bar is one of the most trusted names when it comes to the business of bouncy blow-outs and voluminous curls, which is why its cheekily-named 3-Day Bender curling iron made it into our roundup. Dual ceramic heaters allow the Drybar 3-Day Bender iron to reach a high of 440 degrees within seconds, but you’ll want to make sure you’re using it on its lowest setting. Like all Dry Bar products and tools, it’s designed to reduce frizz and make getting a salon-worthy style at home easier than ever.

According to the pros, you can achieve a traditional curl by holding the iron vertical while clamping hair high on the barrel midway up the strands. Use your thumb and forefinger to rotate the iron away from your face and simply release it from the clamp for the finished style.

If a loose wave or bend is more your style, you’ll want to hold the iron horizontal while wrapping a smaller section of hair over the clamp facing away from your face. Be sure to leave ends out at least an inch from the clamp, then hold hair to the heat for up to five seconds before releasing the hair. Finish it off by giving your hair a light tug to loosen up the curl.

The one real negative of the 3-Day Bender seems to be some reviews saying the clamp can get loose over time. Luckily, it does come with a two-year warranty to keep you covered if it's holding up less than stellar.

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The Beachwaver Pro is the successor of the popular Beachwaver S1 and holds its own when it comes to creating perfect styles. It features a self-rotating ceramic, tourmaline, and gold powder infused barrel to distribute even, constant heat with each use.

Unlike the S1, the Beachwaver Pro comes with an LED screen so you can easily keep tabs on its heat setting while making any adjustments with just the press of a button. You’ll also have more peace of mind after a hectic morning thanks to its 30-minute auto shut off feature, because there’s nothing worse than that lingering worry in the back of your head all day, even if your hair looks fantastic.

Much like the previous model, you’ll use its self-rotating design to clamp hair into place and press the left or right button depending on which way you’re wanting the section curled. One thing to note is that some reviews mention issues with it not holding up as long as the S1, but of course, this depends on how often you're using the iron.

Here's what one Amazon reviewer had to say about their Beachwaver Pro:

I have longish, straight hair. My hair just doesn't hold a curl. Normally I have to use product and spray...lots of spray to hold the curl at all. The first time I used the Beachwaver Pro, I purposely did not use product and the curls held until I washed my hair again! No product and the curls lasted for two days...this has never happened!

I have longish, straight hair. My hair just doesn't hold a curl. Normally I have to use product and spray...lots of spray to hold the curl at all. The first time I used the Beachwaver Pro, I purposely did not use product and the curls held until I washed my hair again! No product and the curls lasted for two days...this has never happened!

Love the Beachwaver Pro. It is a longer than anything I have used before, but it works so well, I don't care!

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