Style

The 7 Best Curling Irons For Big Waves

by Shayna Murphy

Big, laissez-faire waves are meant to look effortless, but getting them to last all day can actually be a challenge. Luckily, the best curling irons for big waves have just what it takes to transform even the most pin-straight hair into voluminous, soft curls — you just need to know what to look for.

Before you run out to grab any old curling iron, it's important to keep in mind that not all curling irons and wands are alike. In fact, they often have subtle differences that can have a dramatic impact on how your curls look. This means when you're shopping for one, you really want to know which curling irons are the best for your hair type and desired style. For example, if you happen to have thin hair and you're constantly struggling to hold curls, a deep waver with multiple barrels could be your answer. Or, if you want loose beachy waves, a clip-less wand will allow you to angle each curl for a more natural look.

If you're not sure what you're looking for, or you're just overwhelmed by your options — don't worry. I've rounded up seven of the absolute best curling irons and wands for achieving those big elusive waves.

1This Deep Waver Iron That Creates Old Hollywood S-Waves

Hot Tools Deep Waver, $48, Amazon

This deep waver iron offers more than meets the eye. With innovative ceramic plates that help preserve hair's moisture and shine, this iron can give you sweeping, Old Hollywood-style waves without having to head to a salon.

2This Clip-Less Curling Wand For Beachy Wave

Remington Studio Salon Collection Pearl Digital Ceramic Curling Wand, $24, Amazon

Whether you're looking for tight waves or want them to hang loose, this 1- to 1½-inch clip-less curling wand gives you the ultimate control, so you can have waves of all different sizes. It can heat up to 410-degrees Fahrenheit in just 30 seconds, and locks into your preferred temperature. Best of all, because the ceramic is infused with real pearl, this wand glides smoothly on hair and leaves it feeling soft and silky.

3This Deep-Barreled Waver For Smooth, Sculpted Waves

Bed Head Deep Waver, $20, Amazon

If you want deep, sculpted waves, this waver from Bed Head is a must-have. The plates have ceramic tourmaline technology to help give you soft, smooth waves, and it heats up to 400-degrees Fahrenheit in 30 seconds, so you can get instant results. Pro styling tip: For natural-looking beach waves style in one-inch sections, or for a sculpted, uniform look work with larger sections.

4This Funky-Looking Curler That Does All The Work For You

Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret, $70, Amazon

This automatic curler looks weird AF, but it's actually an amazing way to get tangle-free waves in half the time you'd normally spend styling hair. It works by sucking hair into a curl chamber and uses tourmaline ceramic technology to transform hair into voluminous waves in minutes. It has three curl settings to create a range of curls and waves, and has tourmaline ceramic technology to make hair look smooth and shiny.

5This Versatile Three-Barreled Waver That's Perfect For Fine Hair

Revlon Perfect Heat Jumbo 3 Barrel Hair Waver, $22, Amazon

If you have ultra-fine hair, chances are you struggle to hold onto deep waves, even after spending hours styling it. But this jumbo three-barrel hair waver might just be your answer. It is made with tourmaline ceramic technology that will leave your hair smooth and shiny, and heats up to 420-degrees Fahrenheit in just 30 seconds. One Amazon reviewer gushed: "I have very thin, fine straight-as-a-board hair that comes maybe 2 inches past my shoulders and it will not hold a curl if I use a curling iron. Using this barrel thing, it took maybe 20 minutes my first try and it came out super cute."

6This Steam-Powered Curl Machine For Bouncy Waves

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Miracurl Steamtech Professional Curl Machine, $150, Amazon

Getting well-defined waves isn't always easy, especially if your hair struggles to naturally keep them locked in, but the BaBylissPRO Curl Machine is great at forming high-definition waves that last. It features a nano-titanium curl chamber that gently pulls, heats and curls hair, and because this curler runs on added steam power and heats up 450-degrees Fahrenheit, it really locks-in curls.

7This Five-In-One Curling Iron and Wand Set That Pretty Much Has You Covered

xtava Satin Wave 5-in-1 Curling Iron and Wand Set, $40, Amazon

It doesn't matter whether you have long or short hair, because this five-in-one curling iron and wand set has something for length and style. With multiple ceramic barrels and temperature settings to choose from, this set allows you to experiment with which tool works best for your desired style. Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.