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Whether you just chopped off your hair or you have been rocking a trendy blunt bob for years, maintaining short tresses follows a different set of rules than many of Us are used to. Short hair requires special attention when it comes to styling your locks, and this is especially true if you’re looking to create curls. You can’t use the same types of curling tools that work for long or medium-length hair. When shopping for a curling iron or round hot brush that will get you the exact type of style you’re looking for, you have to be meticulous about doing research.
Not sure where to begin looking for your perfect short hair-friendly curling iron? Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered! Whether you want a quick and easy styler that you can use on the daily or one that’s specifically designed for choppy, beachy waves, we have the ultimate collection of tools that can work wonders for short hair lengths. Happy styling!
Best 3-in-1 Curling Iron
Some tools are so fantastic that they benefit people with all types of haircuts. This three-in-one curler is a bestseller on Dermstore, and judging by the reviews, we totally understand why! There are different sizes so you can snag every type of curl that you prefer. The cone-shaped wands help you control how tight or loose your curls come out. We especially appreciate this size for shorter styles, because the curl will end up longer and looser. Sometimes traditional barrel-style can create a lot of volume, which doesn’t always look great with particularly short hair. The tapered curl makes that issue a thing of the past!
Get the T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand Set for $325, available at Dermstore!
Best For Everyday Use
As far as your everyday curling needs are concerned, this is definitely a go-to tool. If your hair is short, you don’t necessarily need a massive curling brush to leave your hair looking flawless! It has double-sided barrel with hairbrush prongs to help you brush out your mane, and keep it in check while curling. For pixie cuts and other short styles, this is definitely one of the easiest tools to maneuver. When you need to get ready in a pinch, you don’t want to use a curling wand that requires extra time to get the style right. This is also a great curling iron to use if you have bangs! You can curl them and then brush them out with this tool to get your fringe exactly how you want it.
Get the FHI Heat Stylus Thermal Styling Brush for prices starting at $69, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, March 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
Best For Chunky Textured Waves
Have you ever seen a curling wand that looks so futuristic? The more we learned about this tool, the more we realized just how amazing it can be for shorter hair. That messy, chunky curl isn’t easily achieved with your typical cylindrical curling tool — but this tool will provide you with an effortlessly cool curl.
The curls still look as natural as ever, but they will have a little more dimension — plus, a lot more volume. Shoppers say that there is a “learning curve” when it comes using this wand, but with time and practice, you can get incredible results! Your curls will have more of a pop to them when you use this type of tool. When you shake them out, you will get stunning curls like you’ve never seen before!
Get the ghd Curve Wandfor $199, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, March 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
Best For Straightener-Style Waves
Again, we’re going with a smaller travel-size tool for this category. Over the past couple of years or so, beauty gurus on YouTube have been teaching the world how to get curls using a flat iron. The type of wave that can be created with straighteners has become so popular because they come out looking beachy and effortless. And if you don’t want to buy multiple tools for different purposes, using a flat iron as a curling tool takes care of that! It’s better to use these smaller flat irons for short hair because they are simply easier to control. They are ideal for creating wispy waves on the ends of your hair, which will look great for any above-the-shoulder style!
Get the T3 – SinglePass Compact Styling Ironfor $89, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, March 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
Best For Short Beach Waves
This unique barrel wand creates waves that look as if you just stepped off the beach! This wand works well with any type of cut, whether it’s long or short. It’s an incredibly easy to manage size and couldn’t be simpler to use. All you have to do is clamp the tool down on your hair, and you’re ready to go! If you want the beach wave look but don’t have the patience to master the flat-iron technique, this is the tool for you!
Get the HOT TOOLS Professional Nano Ceramic Deep Waver for (originally $63) on sale for $48, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, March 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
Best for Tight and Bouncy Curls
If you’ve never seen a curling iron that’s as skinny as this, it might look a bit daunting, but trust Us — it can work wonders! Shorter hair can seriously benefit from a super tight curl, and that’s what this tool is designed for. Smaller tendrils can be brushed out and create some gorgeous, face-framing volume. If you want to try out something a little different with your short hair, using this curler would be a fantastic idea!
Get the YEEGOR Small Curling Iron for Short Hair 3/8 Inch for $25, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, March 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
Best Fuss-Free Curling Tool
This curling iron was made for anyone who can’t be bothered with traditional curling irons and wands. All you have to do is push a button, and the tool draws your hair in and holds in in the curl while it heats to your preferred temperature setting. It has a timer built-in that’s set to hold it just long enough to create the perfect curl every time. You truly don’t have to think about anything while using this tool!
Get the CHI Spin N Curl Compact Ceramic Rotating 1” Curling Iron for $71, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, March 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
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