The 7 Best Rotating Curling Irons for Easier Styling, Tested and Vetted By Editors

With more than 60 beauty awards under its belt, the Beachwaver is the brainchild of celebrity hairstylist, Sarah Potempa, who wanted to create a tool that made getting the perfect beach waves possible for everyone. I remember how exciting it was when the Beachwaver first launched back in 2012. It was the first of its kind to utilize a rotating-barrel technology, which is activated by pressing a button and letting the barrel spin, thereby curling your hair for you. After all these years, it remains one of the more user-friendly tools I’ve tried.

Our Director of Special Projects Rachel Bowie is also a fan, and shares, “I rely on the Beach Waver for what feels like idiot-proof curls. With a regular wand, I often struggle to get the angle just right, ending up with flat ends or too tight curls. The Beach Waver makes effortless-looking waves so easy to achieve. I simply set the temp and rotate the wand left or right, then wait about 7 seconds before releasing. It takes no time at all."

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: 1-inch barrel
• Settings: 3 heat settings
• Material: Ceramic

Let’s state the obvious here and agree that hair tools are an investment, so if you’re on a budget or feeling a bit wary about plunking down a small fortune on a rotating curling iron, this one from MaikcQ comes in at a more palatable $60. The tool has a 1.25-inch ceramic tourmaline barrel that creates smooth curls and comes with a brush attachment for smoothing as well.

Reviewers on Amazon say that “it does not feel cheap” and it “has a good weight to it.” More importantly, as one self-proclaimed “curl-challenged” user shares, “I always take such a long time using other curling methods, and this cut that time in HALF. [My] curls [hold up] well and they look good all day.”

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: 1.25-inch barrel
• Settings: 176° to 410°F
• Material: Ceramic

There are few beauty launches that have made the sort of impact that the Dyson AirWrap has since it first came out in 2018. With the super-sleek design we’ve come to expect from the brand, this all-in-one hair styling tool utilizes Coanda airflow technology to wrap your hair around the barrel—sort of like a magnet—before releasing ribbons of curls.

The AirWrap also comes with additional attachments that straighten, smooth and even diffuse your hair. And whereas earlier iterations required switching out the curling attachment to style either side of your head, the newer AirWrap Multi-Styler allows you to do it all from one by toggling a switch that creates clockwise and counterclockwise curls.

As Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak, who is a longtime fan of the AirWrap sums up: “Whether you want bouncy curls, a voluminous blow out or a sleek, frizz-free moment, [this] basically does it all…it’s been life-changing (or, at least, hair-changing).”

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: 1.2 and 1.6-inch barrels for curling (plus, 2 smoothing brushes, a smoothing dryer attachment and a round volumizing brush)
• Settings: 3 heat settings (and a cold shot setting)
• Material: Aluminum

Sleek as it is smart, this rotating curling iron streamlines its myriad functions—which range from two timer settings to two rotation speeds and nine heat levels—to create sleek, cascading curls with the press of a button; just tap and hold the switch to curl in either direction and listen for the friendly beep that alerts you when it’s time to release the clamp. (And as someone who has tried most, if not all, of the T3’s offerings throughout the years, I can also attest to their quality and longevity.)

“The barrel is long which is great for long hair. The clip doesn’t pull at my hair at all. The cord twists really nicely and doesn’t ever get tangled up. My hair stays curled all day with this curling iron,” says one Amazon reviewer.

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: 1.25-inch barrel
• Settings: 9 heat levels
• Material: Ceramic

This user-friendly tool yields effortless waves and curls in three easy steps: clamp, wrap and roll. The barrel is infused with the brand’s proprietary “Moisturizing Heat technology,” which uses negative ions to lock in moisture and seal the cuticle while you style, so your curls come out softer, healthier and more conditioned.  

One fanatic reviewer shares: “I never knew how to curl my hair and my hair dresser was raving about this. Well, this easy Stylewinder makes even a first-time curler know what they are doing! Its [heat settings are] adjustable and FANTASTIC for my hair extensions! A little pricey, yes, but so worth it.”

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: Comes in 0.75, 1, 1.25 and 1.5-inch barrels
• Settings: Digital temperature control up to 440°F
• Material: Ceramic

If you’re looking for a cordless option, this rechargeable curler will do the job. Yes, it’s a tad bulky in width, but it’s lighter than it looks, and, again, you don’t have to worry about getting tangled up in a long cord as you style your hair. Instead of a barrel, this tool has a built-in chamber to twirl sections of hair into, and it beeps to let you know when the curl is finished.

“My daughter is a competitive dancer, and we always need quick changes. This curling iron works perfectly,” shares one reviewer on Amazon, who added that it’s easy to use, but: “There is a little learning curve with it. It definitely works best when hair is well brushed. If there are tangles it can snag a bit, so I just brush out the strands before I put them in. This is a winner for us!”

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: N/A (but instructions say not to exceed 0.5-inch wide sections of hair at a time)
• Settings: 3 heat and 4 timer settings
• Material: Ceramic

This rotating curling iron is ideal for anyone who loves to experiment with different curl styles—from looser waves to tighter curls. It comes with three different sized barrels (¾ -inch, 1-inch and 1 ¼-inch) that you can easily swap in and out as you style. As if that wasn’t enough, you also get a wide-tooth comb, sectioning clips, a heat-resistant glove and even a little storage pouch.

“This works just as it says! It takes a minute to learn where to put your hands and how to hold it [but once you do, the] curls are beautiful and it’s so easy to use,” says one Amazon reviewer.

Fast Facts

• Barrel Size: 0.75-inch, 1-inch and 1.25-inch interchangeable barrels
• Settings: 320° to 430°F degrees
• Material: Ceramic coating