Confession time: I'm a beauty editor who never quite nailed styling my hair with traditional curling irons. However, there's a relatively new innovation that has finally helped me (and will help you) achieve salon-worthy curls at home: rotating curling irons.
These game-changing hot tools are ideal for anyone like me, who could use some assistance when styling their hair. As the name implies, these rotating curling irons wind your hair up the barrel to create the perfect bouncy curls and waves with minimal effort.
Technologies
Through my research, I've found that most rotating curling irons at reader favorite shops — like Amazon, Sephora, and Walmart, to name a few — boast an automatic rotation. It's an incredible feature because you can just push a button, and the barrel will seamlessly curl your hair for you.
You also have curling irons with a manual rotation, which is just as effective as automatic. However, it may take you a few tries before you get used to twirling these irons.
Barrel Size
Before you add a rotating curling iron to your online shopping cart, be sure to also consider the size of your barrel. This will be determined by your hair length and the style you want to achieve.
Generally, if you have shorter hair or want tighter curls, you will gain the most from using a barrel that is 1 inch or less.
Anyone with long hair or who prefers a loose curl should gravitate toward a larger barrel that's 1.25 inches or more.
Now that you have a better understanding of how rotating curling irons can seriously upgrade your hairstyling game, here are eight impressive options that sport enticing features across various price points.
The Beachwaver was my initial introduction to rotating curling irons, and after using it for 2 years, I can safely say it's the best overall option on the market today.
For starters, you have adjustable temperature settings — 290 to 410 degrees Fahrenheit — which is incredibly important when you want to avoid heat damage.
I find the original Beachwaver to be incredibly easy to use! I just push the left or right arrow button to curl away from my face. There's also a home button to reset the iron back to its original position, which prevents my hair from getting tangled.
Rotating this ceramic barrel away from your face creates a natural texture and opens up your face: This highlights your cheekbones and jawline.
Heat damage is the worst, but BIO IONIC wants to minimize that risk when you use its rotating curling iron. The Stylewinder combines a mineral-infused ceramic barrel with infrared heat to help protect the health of your hair while styling. It also breaks down water molecules in your hair to help moisturize your strands.
You can choose from four barrel sizes — .75 to 1.5 inches — but be aware this isn't an interchangeable feature like other irons on this list. So, choose the barrel carefully before you check out online, in order to avoid an unnecessary return.
I'm a sucker for TikTok beauty trends, and CHI's rotating curling iron is worth adding to your shopping cart, stat. Why? The brand makes one of the best flat irons for natural hair, and I'm inclined to believe that the Spin N Curl's specs are equally noteworthy.
Plus, given its impressive rating — a 4.4-star average from nearly 21,750 reviews on Amazon – you likely can't go wrong using this hot tool.
CHI's popular rotating curling iron heats up in as little as 15 seconds — a record among its competition on this list. The iron features multiple pre-set temperatures targeting fine (270 degrees Fahrenheit), medium (370 degrees Fahrenheit), and coarse hair (410 degrees Fahrenheit), too.
The Instawave rotating curling iron is the most affordable option on our list, and it's easy to see why it earned rave reviews on Amazon.
Notably, it's the only iron in this guide that detangles and curls your hair, ensuring your finished look is polished. It also sports ionic technology, so your frizz-free curls are glossy.
Its simplistic design makes this rotating curling iron a worthy option. In addition to a temperature display, just push the left or right arrow button, and the barrel will automatically rotate in that direction.
The Spinstyle is the sole option on this list boasting a diamond-coated ceramic barrel that promises to increase the durability of your new hair investment.
Spinstyle takes 60 seconds to heat up to anywhere between 250 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It also utilizes far-infrared tech, which allows heat to easily penetrate your strands. This means you can achieve the style you want using a lower temperature.
The only thing more convenient than owning a rotating curling iron is using this pocket-sized version. After selecting one of the 11 timers and a temperature of up to 390 degrees Fahrenheit, place your hair into the barrel, and click the button to curl your hair quickly.
Given its compact size, standout rating, and features like a ceramic barrel and USB charging capabilities, it's safe to say this rotating curling iron is great for traveling.
Although it can take up to 4 hours to fully charge, you get up to 60 minutes of cordless use.
The Autopilot combines three hot tools — clip curler, wand, and marcel— into one rotating curling iron.
It features a 360-degree cool tip you can hold onto while styling your hair to help avoid accidental burns. Plus, Amika's iron uses negative ion technology to help you achieve frizz-free results once you're done styling, too!
However, the rotation feature is manual, not automatic like others in this guide. So, you might experience a slight learning curve with this iron.
NuMe's latest drop is a rotating curling iron that comes with three interchangeable barrel sizes, allowing you to customize your hairstyle ... no matter your hair length.
It utilizes negative ionic and far-infrared heat technologies to help seal your hair cuticle, improving shine and minimizing frizz. The hybrid tourmaline and ceramic barrel is also safe for all hair textures and lengths, so you can't go wrong with this option.
Like the Beachwaver, it features left and right arrow buttons to automatically twist your hair up the barrel and help you achieve a gorgeous style.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
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