What kind of curling iron do professionals use

Your step is a little lighter, your head is held high and your hair is blowing in the wind By the time you get home, you're left with fallen curls and are probably wondering how to get back that fresh-out-the-chair look.

To help you achieve salon-worthy curls at home every time, Shop TODAY asked a few hairstylists for their favorite curling irons, along with some helpful tips to use one effectively.

For the best results, you want the best products. For soft, looser waves , New York City-based hairstylist Madison Sullivan recommends having your hair blown out before curling it. However, Sullivan mentioned one reason why you wouldn't need to blow out your hair prior: If you have naturally curly hair!

Curling irons and wands can be used to touch up any curls that may have become misshapen overnight. As an alternative to blow drying, Stewart recommends air drying your hair before using a curling iron to reduce the amount of damage and heat you're applying to your hair. Hairstylists agree you should use larger barrels for looser curls and smaller barrels for tighter ones. For a standard curl, the length of your hair will also determine the barrel size you should use.

Both she and Marinelli recommend holding curling irons and wands vertically when styling. Sara Yousif , a New Jersey-based bridal hairstylist, mentioned that while the size of the barrel impacts how tight or loose the curl will be, the size of the section you're styling also plays a part. So if you're looking for an overall tighter curl, taking that smaller section and going for that 1-inch size barrel helps it start off tighter," she said.

For a loose curl effect, she recommends sticking with the 1-inch barrel and brushing it out. Instead of clamping your hair at the bottom and working your way up to the root, Marinelli and Sullivan advise doing the opposite. Don't wrap your hair at the end and work up to the root because then you're going to keep your ends way too long in the barrel and you're going to fry [them]," Marinelli warned.

Hairstylists recommend leaving some hair hanging out below the clamp when curling your hair. Sullivan recommends leaving out about an inch for looser waves. Marinelli recommends consistently opening and closing the clamp when the hair is wrapped around the barrel. You want to open and close the barrel so you get the most heat," he said. He explained that opening and closing the clamp also allows more air flow, which creates more heat while styling.

If you want more voluminous curls, Marinelli recommends holding your hair up after wrapping it around the barrel. For the opposite effect, hold the curling iron down toward the floor.

Holding it up, you're creating a little bit more air [and] volume," he explained. Though we haven't tested this pick in the Lab, fans love that their style lasts for hours, with one reviewer saying her "curls last the whole day and I still can have loose curls the next day. The winner of a past Lab curling irons test, this one-inch model proved to be l ightweight, comfy to grip and snag-free. Testers found the interchangeable mechanism and lock impressive, saying "the barrels did not wobble once locked in.

Hold for a few seconds, release and you have a perfect loose curl. Lab testers noted that "it grips hair well," and the resulting "curls are well defined and stay in place" for "beautiful, natural looking curls in no time.

Scoring tops for easy maneuverability and ergonomic design, this curling iron is great for beginners — plus, it won't break the bank for first-time users. Testers loved that "the clamp is long and clips hair well; it does not pinch it at the end," making it easy to use for novices. This solid iron scored high in ease of use, performance and satisfaction and earned the highest mark of all irons for creating curls that lasted throughout the day.

It scored highest for releasing hair from the clamp without snagging or pulling hair, including a perfect score for its clamp: Testers said, "the barrel is smooth and clip works well. Fine hair is fragile and can be difficult to curl for fear of breakage as well as its tendency to fall flat.

It scored high for ergonomics and intuitiveness, and our Lab pros found it had good instructions that may be helpful for fine haired users to prevent over-experimentation a.

This clever iron is actually three tools in one: A flat iron, a curling wand and a curling iron. Our short-haired testers particularly loved it, saying "it was easy to maneuver and keep from touching the face or scalp, " and that it felt the safest of all options with a low burn risk.

Plus, the short barrel and compact design makes it foolproof to use on shorter tresses. Another top performer in past Lab tests, this pick performed well across the board, scoring most highly in speed of styling , as well as top ranks for consumer satisfaction.

We haven't tested this exact model formally in the Lab, but Drybar's wand performed well in our Lab tests, so it's no surprise this new three-in-one pick is already a fan favorite. Plus, the clamp on the curling iron is heated so you can also use the larger barrel as a wand or a smoothing flat iron, of sorts. A GH editor says the mechanism to switch the attachments is easy to use and feels secure and safe, the display is bright and the rubberized buttons are intuitive and simple to press.

The tool heats up quickly on every mode and every barrel is smooth and snag-free for glossy, smooth styling. It heats up in 30 seconds, has a swivel cord and adjustable temperature settings and weighs only about half a pound!

Keep in mind the shorter barrel is best-suited for short hair, though it'll work on any length with a bit more elbow grease. Our Beauty Lab was impressed with this Dyson product : Like a hair dryer and curling iron in one, this high-tech styling tool uses six powerful streams of hot or cool air to magically style your hair from damp to dry.

The result: Bouncy bends that rival a professional blowout. This sleek one-inch model has universal voltage and earned dozens of raves with reviewers, including those with thin hair. We haven't Lab-tested this iron, but it's a consistent top-seller with a cult following and a GH editor fave!

Unlock exclusive content and money-saving deals with our all-access membership program. The Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver Pro 1. A flat iron that can also curl? Not only that, but it also features nine heat settings, an insulated clamp for greater comfort and a microchip that monitors and regulates heat to guarantee an even temperature while styling.

Forget messing with a long cord with this entirely cordless model , which runs for up to 40 minutes at high heat on a single charge. An included clip can turn it into a straightening iron, too, giving it added versatility. This curling iron also comes with a heat-protective sleeve that unrolls into a mat, offers a titanium barrel for quick heat distribution and reaches up to degrees, making it ideal for travel and touch-ups alike.

Bringing the Drybar salon to your home, this curling iron does all the work for you. The little paint knob makes it so simple to twist the barrel without having to twist your entire wrist. Makes incredible curls quickly. Highly recommend!

Drybar The 3-Day Bender 1. Sign up for WWD news straight to your inbox every day. All Rights reserved. All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, WWD may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Related Galleries. Tags beauty hair care. Newsletters Sign up for WWD news straight to your inbox every day.

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