This sleek curling iron might just be the Rolls Royce of curling irons. The matte-black packaging earns points for design, and the Korean ceramic barrel glides through hair with no tugging or pulling, but it’s the perfect waves and curls it delivers that secures its spot as the best hair tool our testers tried. “I had AMAZING curls that lasted two complete days!” says BDG staffer Sam Rullo.
Best for Damaged Hair: Sultra After Hours Collection 1.5-Inch Titanium Styling Wand
Best Ceramic: Sultra The Bombshell Rod Curling Iron - This cult-favorite one-inch wand is great for any hair length (take it from someone who's proved to be ever the chameleon over the years) but is especially handy for short hair.
If you have short hair, he says a 1.25-inch barrel, like the T3 Curl ID ($250, sephora.com) or even a flat iron (if you've mastered flat iron curls) works well. For longer hair, try a tool with a 1.5-inch barrel like Sultra The Bombshell Rod Curling Iron ($100, amazon.com). "You can also back brush the body of the ponytail after curling the ends to keep it nice and fluffy, which help make it look thicker," says Liu.
All you have to do with the Sultra Bombshell One-Inch Curling Rod is wrap random pieces of hair around it (switching directions with each section) to nail Gisele-style waves. Added bonus: The ceramic iron gives curls more bounce and shine than metal irons do.
Why we love it: Create effortless bends with this oval-shaped barrel. Instead of wrapping hair around the wand, try pulling strands in alternating directions.
Celeb hairstylist Anh Co Tran is known for his signature lived-in waves, so he teamed up with Sultra to create the perfect curling iron for re-creating his magic at home. I love the Korean ceramic barrel and rotating handle—it's so easy to use, especially for long hair. —A.Y.
AnhxSultra Curling Iron 1.25”, $249 “I’ve been trying to mimic celebrity hairstylist Anh Co Tran’s signature ‘lived-in’ waves for years on my own hair, and it wasn’t until I encountered this tool — which Tran created in careful collaboration with Sultra — that I was finally able to come anywhere close to pulling it off. The ceramic barrel, soft handle and temperature lock make styling super simple and pleasant.” — SS