The Best Hair Tools To Nail Any Salon Style At Home

Let's be real: no one wants to have a bad hair day, especially when it's for a wedding or special event. That's why having the best hair tools at your disposal can make all the difference. Trust me, I've had my fair share of big L's trying to recreate my favorite Pinterest-inspired hair trends like beachy waves or soft romantic curls. The times I was successful, though, were when I had the right hair gadgets in hand.

To keep you from making the same styling mistakes I did, I'm going through all of the must-have hair styling tools, from the best hair straighteners to the best curling irons. I've also tapped the wedding hair experts, including Brittany Lo, Founder and CEO of Beautini in New York City, and Beia and Chyenne Velez, Owner and Hairstylist at Lé Brunette & Co. in East Meadow, New York. Together, we've got you covered with a roundup of the best hair tools to help you create your dream wedding hairstyle. Consider me your beauty fairy godmother, and I'm here to help you find the best hair styling tools that will help you achieve your 'do before the "I dos."

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In this article:

• Best Hair Curling Tools
• Best Hair Waving Tools
• Best Hair Straightening Tools
• Best Hair Drying Tools
• How to Choose the Best Hair Tools For You

Best Hair Curling Tools

Curling your hair is always a good idea. Whether you're going for a classic Hollywood wave or a bouncy, textured look, different looks require different curling hair styling tools. Whether you're looking for a wedding guest or a bridesmaid hairstyle, you want to make sure you have the best hair curling iron for your hair type. We've rounded up the best curling irons on the market to help you achieve your perfect tresses.

Best Curling Iron Overall: T3 SinglePass Curl

Photo: Sephora

The T3 SinglePass Curl is a favorite among hairstylists and beauty enthusiasts for its ability to create long-lasting, smooth curls that won't frizz or fall flat. Its ceramic and tourmaline barrel delivers even heat and negative ions to create shiny, gorgeous curls. It also features five adjustable heat settings, making it suitable for all hair types.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $170
What our expert says: "I have tried many, many curling irons over the years, and this has always been my favorite brand to give effortless waves that are long-lasting," says Lo. "This iron is easy to use without hair tangling within the iron or overheating the hair. The big trend in recent years has been soft, effortless waves rather than tight curls, and this T3 iron does just that! T3 offers this iron in .5-1.5 inches, depending on your hair length and look desired."

Best Curling Iron for Fine Hair: Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler

Photo: Sephora

The Dyson Airwrap is the "it girl" of hair tools. It uses air to style hair without extreme heat, which can cause damage and breakage. The tool comes with several attachments, including barrels for creating voluminous curls and a smoothing brush for creating sleek, straight styles. Although it's on the expensive side, the Airwrap is worth the investment if you're looking for a high-quality, gentle styling tool for your fine hair.

Settings: 6 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $600

Best Curling Iron for Thick Hair: Hot Tools Curl Bar

Photo: Walmart

The Hot Tools CurlBar has a unique shape and design that make it easy to curl even the thickest, hardest-to-manage hair. Its ergonomic shape helps reduce arm and shoulder strain, while the rotating barrel creates effortless curls. This curling iron also has a range of heat settings, allowing you to adjust the temperature to your desired styling level.

Settings: 1 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $47

Best Curling Iron for Short Hair: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron

Photo: Ulta

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron is perfect for creating defined curls on short hair. Its small barrel size allows you to create tight, bouncy curls that will hold their shape all day. The spring-loaded clamp holds hair securely, making it easy to use on even the shortest strands.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $60

Best Curling Iron for Beginners: Remington Ceramic Curling Wand

Photo: Target

If you're new to curling your hair or want an easy-to-use tool, the Remington Ceramic Curling Wand is the best curling iron for beginners. Its tapered ceramic barrel helps distribute heat evenly and creates smooth, natural-looking curls. Plus, the wand does not have a clamp, allowing for more flexibility in creating a variety of styles.

Settings: 10 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $25

Best Hair Waving Tools

If you're dreaming of a beachy, boho-inspired hairstyle for your upcoming wedding or special event, then you of course need the best hair tool for beach waves to give you that effortlessly touseled look. The best hair tool for beach waves can make all the difference. Whether you prefer a waver, wand or curling iron, we've rounded up the best options for achieving those coveted waves in no time. So, get ready to unleash your inner mermaid with these amazing hair-waving tools.

Best Hair Waver Overall: L'ange Le Vogue Titanium Deep Waver

Photo: Ulta

The L'ange Le Vogue Titanium Deep Waver is the ultimate hair waver, versatile and easy to use. With triple titanium barrels, you can create various wave styles, from loose and natural to defined and structured. This waver is perfect for all hair types and lengths, and it even comes with an easy-to-use 10-second smart timer.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $79

Best Curling Wand: Conair InfinitiPro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand

Photo: Ulta

Curling wands are one of the best tools to start out with if you're a beginner. The Conair InfinitiPro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand has adjustable waver plates, so you can create waves to your liking, whether that's loose and flowy or defined and structured.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $33

Best Curling Iron for Beach Waves: Beachwaver Pro

Photo: Beachwaver

When it comes to achieving those beachy, textured waves, the Beachwaver Pro is a game-changer. This innovative rotating curling iron takes the guesswork out of styling and creates gorgeous waves at the touch of a button. With its automatic rotation function, you can easily achieve uniform, voluminous beach waves that make it look like you just stepped off the sand.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $229

Best Rotating Curling Iron: InfinitiPro by Conair Curl Secret

Photo: Ulta

For those looking for a little extra help in creating beautiful curls, the InfinitiPro by Conair Curl Secret is just what you need. This innovative tool features a unique chamber that automatically curls your hair for you. Simply place a section of hair into the chamber, and the curling iron does the rest. This rotating curling iron creates long-lasting, salon-quality curls with minimal effort.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $100

Best Hair Straightening Tools

Straight hair never goes out of style, and the right hair straightening tool can help you achieve that polished, smooth look without physical (or emotional) damage to your hair. With so many options on the market, finding the right one for your hair type can be a challenge. Here are a few of the best hair straightening tools for different hair types to achieve pin-straight locks.

Best Straightening Iron Overall: CHI Original 1-Inch Flat Iron

Photo: Ulta

The CHI Original 1-Inch Flat Iron is consistently rated as the best hair straightening iron for all hair types. Its 1-inch ceramic plates distribute heat evenly and feature far-infrared technology that locks in moisture and prevents damage. With adjustable temperature settings, this flat iron can be used on all hair types and will leave your hair looking silky and smooth with a long-lasting shine.

Settings: 1 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $100

Best Straightening Brush: Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

Photo: Ulta

The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer is more than just a hair dryer. It also works as a straightening brush to give you sleek, smooth hair in one easy step. The air vents and ceramic coating work together to distribute heat and prevent damage. This straightening brush is perfect for those with fine to medium hair, and it helps to add volume and shine to your hair.

Settings: 2 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $60

Best Straightener for Thick Hair: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Straightening Iron

Photo: Ulta

If you have thick, coarse hair, you need a straightener that's up for the challenge. The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Straightening Iron uses titanium plates that heat up quickly and evenly to glide through even the thickest of hair with ease. Plus, its adjustable temperature control allows you to customize the temperature to your hair type, ensuring you get the results you want.

Settings: 50 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $160

Best Straightener for Curly Hair: HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron

Photo: Walmart

Curly hair can be challenging to straighten, but the HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron makes the process much easier. Its ceramic and tourmaline plates work together to smooth out hair, eliminate frizz, and lock in moisture. This straightener also features adjustable heat settings, which allow you to use it on any hair type, including curly hair.

Settings: 5 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $45

Best Hair Drying Tools

Drying your hair is the first step to achieving a bombshell blowout. Whether you have fine, curly, or 4C hair, we've rounded up the best hair-drying tools for all hair types. Get ready to be blown away (pun intended).

Best Hair Dryer Overall: T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer

Photo: Sephora

The T3 Featherweight StyleMax Hair Dryer is a personal favorite of mine and stands out from the rest thanks to its exceptional performance and innovative features. It has multiple heat and speed settings to customize your blowout. Plus, it comes with multiple attachments, including a concentrator nozzle if you want precise styling or a diffuser attachment for enhancing natural curls.

Settings: 3 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $199

Best Blow-Dry Brush: Drybar The Single Shot Round Blow-Dryer Brush

Photo: Ulta

Looking for that bombshell blowout? I've got the tool for you. The Drybar The Single Shot Round Blow-Dryer Brush is a game-changer when it comes to achieving a salon-quality blowout at home. With its powerful motor, ceramic technology and tangle-free bristles, the Drybar brush effortlessly smooths and adds volume to your hair, leaving you with a polished and beautiful look. What's more, its compact design makes it easy to travel with, so you can definitely pack it for a bachelorette weekend, destination wedding or honeymoon vacation.

Settings: 3 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $155

What our expert says: "This is my go-to tool to blow my hair into a blowout-ready look," says Lo. "When I am in a pinch and need to look put together but don't have time to wash, dry and curl my hair, this cuts the time in half by drying and styling at the same time without making the hair frizzy or dry! The other option is The DryBar SingleShot version, which has a barrel that is .25 inches smaller, which would be a better fit for those with shorter hair."

Best Hair Dryer for Fine Hair: L'ange Le Styliste Luxe Digital Salon Dryer

Photo: Ulta

Hair requires a delicate approach when it comes to drying to avoid causing damage or creating unwanted frizz. So the L'ange Le Styliste Luxe Digital Salon Dryer easily makes the cut for one of our top choices for fine hair. This hair dryer is specifically designed to provide gentle but effective drying. It features a low heat setting that is perfect for fine hair and a concentrator nozzle that helps target airflow to specific areas, aiding in precision styling. Plus, it's pink.

Settings: 7 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $245

Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair: DevaDryer & DevaFuser

Photo: Ulta

Curly hair requires special care during the drying process to maintain its gorgeous natural texture, and the DevaDryer & DevaFuser certainly delivers. This hair dryer comes with a diffuser attachment that helps to evenly distribute airflow and maintain the shape of your curls. The diffuser's unique design also helps to reduce frizz and enhance natural volume, giving you defined and bouncy curls.

Settings: 4 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $180

Best Blow Dryer for 4c Hair: Pattern Beauty The Blow Dryer

Photo: Ulta

4C hair has unique needs when it comes to drying due to its tight coil structure, and the Pattern Blow Dryer is designed to cater to the needs of 4C hair. With its powerful motor and four unique attachments, it delivers high-velocity airflow and heat to penetrate the dense hair strands effectively to achieve your desired look.

Settings: 3 | Learn to use this tool
Price at time of publish: $189

How to Choose the Best Hair Tools For You

• Use Your Hair Type to Determine the Best Hair Styling Tools. "Your hair length, thickness and texture can help determine the right tools for your hair in addition to the desired looks you want to achieve," says Lo. "For example, a certain curling iron could work for an array of hair lengths and thicknesses, but the size of the barrel would be determined by whether you wanted a loose bend in the hair or tighter waves."
• Never skip the heat protector. "Heat protectants are so important; they are like oven mitts for your hair," Velez explains. "Even though you cannot feel the heat on your hair, that doesn't mean it's not affecting the integrity of your hair. Using any heat protectant is an added barrier to help minimize the damage heat can cause. I also suggest not using the highest heat setting. Her favorite heat protector? The Kenra Thermal Spray 20, which she says protects against heat but also makes for an amazing style-holding hairspray, The key is to "mist on the hair and brush through the hair after applying."
• Achieve a Bombshell Blowout with a Curling Iron. "If you'd like to enhance naturally straight hair or would like to refresh your blowout, I suggest investing in a 2-inch curling iron and curling all hair away from the face," Velez recommends. "The large size keeps the hair rounded at the ends yet sleek and straight throughout; this will achieve the perfect bouncy blowout without the use of a blow-dryer and brush."
• Use a Hair Straightner if Your Goal is Sleek and straight. "To achieve a sleek, polished look, take ½-inch sections and use a flatiron to achieve straight and shiny hair," says Velez. "To enhance this style, part the hair in the middle and use a 3-finger section in the front of the hairline, slick it down tight behind the ears and secure with an elastic at the nape of the neck. Add your desired volume to the crown using the backcombing method. Finish the look with hairspray."