The 9 Best Hot Tools for Bombshell Waves, XL Volume, and Everything in Between
From a budget-friendly cult classic to a futuristic innovation, here are our top picks.
Finding the best beauty products has never been easier thanks to Pia’s Picks, our weekly curated list. As the senior beauty editor at HelloGiggles, I test and examine the latest skincare, makeup, hair, and nail products so I can confidently recommend the best ones to you.
Switching up your hairstyle is arguably one of the most fun ways to play with your beauty look. Giving yourself bombshell volume, pin-straight hair, or a head full of curls can take your look to new levels. And with the right hot tool you can achieve these hairstyles at home without dropping cash at the salon. Whether you use flat irons, curling wands, cordless tools, or anything else, you know there’s a lot to decipher—like the difference between ceramic and titanium plates.
With so many options on the market, we decided to streamline your choices, taking the confusion out of your online hot tool shopping. Here you’ll find the best hot styling tools at every price point, from hair straighteners to curling wands and more.
Best hot hairstyling brush:
This budget-friendly styling tool is a total game-changer. We reviewed the tool and found that we were able to style a full head of hair in seven minutes, and the results looked just as fresh the following day. This brush is lightweight and super easy to use, so even beauty newbies will love it.
Best hair straightening brush:
This 2020 Beauty Crush Award Winner works for all types of hair, from super fine to type 4 curls. We all know that straightening hair can take up a big chunk of time, especially if you have super thick or curly hair. This hot tool is easy to use and effectively straightens each strand in half the time of your typical flat iron.
Best curling wand:
Achieve voluminous, bombshell waves with this curling wand. We love that it has a no-slip barrel that prevents hair from moving around while styling, shuts off automatically after an hour, and uses both ionic and infrared technology to evenly distribute heat and prevent damage.
Best hairdryer:
“As a professional stylist, I need a dryer that is powerful, fast, and lightweight, and to me, this is one of the best dryers on the market,” says Kendall Dorsey, a celebrity hairstylist and one of the experts we consulted for our 2020 Beauty Crush Awards. “The dryer is ultra-fast and great on all types of hair. Bonus is it saves hair integrity by perfectly sealing the cuticle.”
Best curling iron:
If you’re a minimalist who wants to reduce the number of beauty products you own while also having the freedom to create a myriad of looks, you’ll love this tool. Created by celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh for his namesake brand, this 3-in-1 iron has two detachable parts (a spring clamp and a marcel clamp) that allow this tool to create three types of curls and waves. From beach waves and glam Hollywood curls to polished tips and tousled curls, this tool does it all.
Best self-rotating curling iron:
If your arms ever get tired from all the twisting and twirling that comes with curling your hair, this is the product for you. This iron has rotating buttons that twist the clasped hair to either the left or right, so you can switch back and forth (a pro tip for more natural looking curls). Just clasp a section of hair into the barrel, press a button, wait a few moments for your hair to heat up, and release.
Best flat iron:
The future of hot styling tools is here. T3’s new Lucea ID technology factors in the length, curl type, color treatment, and thickness of your hair to deliver just the right amount of heat. In a single pass, you’ll get the shiny, straight hair you aim for, and your hair will stay healthy too.
Best hands-free curler:
This award-winning curler is incredibly simple, and it gives you Cheryl Blossom waves (Madelaine Petsch is an ambassador). To use, insert a one- to two-inch strand of hair (about mid-shaft) into the top opening, then hit start. The device will twirl your hair for five seconds, after which it will beep to let you know your curl is ready.
Best do-it-all hot tool set:
Instead of buying a bunch of tools, purchase one that comes with multiple attachments. You can use these different styling heads to dry, straighten, and curl your hair. Dyson’s smart aerodynamic technology uses hot or cold air to style your hair into its desired shape, protecting from the heat damage associate with typical hot tools.
