Automatic Hair Curlers: Do They Work, Who They Suit and How to Avoid the Tangles

Yes, automatic hair curlers work, and for most people they are the easiest way to get even, repeatable curls at home. A motor draws a section of hair around a heated barrel, a timer tells you when to release, and every curl comes out the same size and in the same direction. The catch is in the fine print: they need enough length to wrap (most want shoulder length or longer), they reward small, clean sections, and they punish anyone who feeds in a knot. This guide explains how an automatic hair curler works, who gets the most out of one, how to avoid the dreaded tangle, and which of the two Parwin automatic curlers fits your hair.

In this article

• Do automatic hair curlers actually work?
• How does an automatic hair curler work?
• Who suits an automatic curler, and who does not?
• Can you use an automatic hair curler on short hair?
• How do you stop an automatic curler tangling your hair?
• Automatic curler, curling wand or straighteners: which should you buy?
• How do you use an automatic hair curler, step by step?
• Which Parwin automatic curler should you choose?
• FAQ

Do automatic hair curlers actually work?

They do. An automatic curler is a consistency tool. Wrapping hair by hand around a wand means every curl depends on how tightly you wound it, how long you held it and whether your arm was tired by the back of your head. A rotating curler removes all three variables. The barrel does the winding at the same tension every time, the timer holds each section for the same number of seconds, and the result is a head of curls that match.

What they are not is magic. The curl you get still depends on the barrel size, the heat setting and whether you let the curl cool before you touch it. Those rules are the same as for any heated tool. We cover the cooling step in How to Curl Hair With Straighteners, and it matters just as much here.

How does an automatic hair curler work?

There are two designs on the market. According to Expert Reviews, most automatic curlers use a rotating motor to draw a section of hair around a heated barrel, which is the same action as winding hair around a tong by hand with the motor doing the work. A smaller group, led by the Dyson Airwrap, uses airflow to wrap the hair instead, which lets you style damp hair at lower temperatures but at a very different price.

Parwin's two automatic curlers are both motor driven. The Automatic Curling Iron uses a 360 degree rotating barrel that turns in both directions, so you can curl away from the face on both sides of your head without switching hands. A semi transparent anti scald housing lets you watch the curl form, and a built in timer tells you when the section is done. The Prism Curler uses an open, auto rotating barrel in a 25mm or 32mm size, heats up in 20 seconds and runs from 120 to 210°C.

Who suits an automatic curler, and who does not?

You will love one if:

• You can never get the two sides of your head to match with a wand.
• Your arm gives up halfway through a full head of curls.
• You want the same result on a Tuesday morning as you got on Saturday night.
• You are nervous about burning your fingers on a bare barrel. The Automatic Curling Iron's housing and the Prism Curler's heat resistant glove both put a layer between you and the heat.

You may be happier with a wand or straighteners if:

• Your hair is shorter than your shoulders (see the next section).
• You like mixing curl sizes and directions in one style. An automatic curler is built for uniformity.

Can you use an automatic hair curler on short hair?

Usually not, and this is the question most product pages dodge. A rotating barrel has to pull a section all the way around itself at least once before heat can set a curl. If the hair is too short to complete that wrap, the curler either slips or grabs the ends and pulls. Parwin's Automatic Curling Iron is designed for medium to long hair of 23cm or more, roughly shoulder length on most people. Below that, a slim curling wand or the straightener method gives you more control.

On the borderline, test a section from the back, where hair is longest, and choose the 25mm Prism barrel, which needs less length per wrap.

How do you stop an automatic curler tangling your hair?

Tangles are the one real complaint about this category, and almost every one of them comes from the same four mistakes.

1. Feeding in a section with a knot already in it. Brush the whole head first, then comb each section again just before you load it. The barrel cannot untangle hair; it can only wind what you give it.
2. Sections that are too wide. Keep each section no wider than the barrel is long. A fat section wraps unevenly, overlaps itself and locks.
3. Feeding hair in at an angle. Hold the section taut, straight out from the head, and let the curler draw it in. Twisting it as it goes in creates a cross wrap.
4. Panicking when it stops. If the barrel stalls, switch the rotation off or reverse it, then gently unwind. Pulling against a stalled motor is what breaks hair.

Both Parwin curlers are built with tangles in mind. The Automatic Curling Iron has long prongs that keep the hair aligned as it wraps and a see through housing so you can spot a problem before it becomes one. The Prism Curler's open barrel means a stuck section can simply be slid off the end.

Automatic curler, curling wand or straighteners: which should you buy?

If curls are the main event and your hair is long enough, the automatic curler wins on effort and consistency. If you want one tool for everything, straighteners are still the better buy, and our temperature guide by hair type applies to curling with them too.

How do you use an automatic hair curler, step by step?

1. Start with dry, brushed hair and a heat protectant. Automatic curlers are for dry hair only. We explain what protectant does and does not do in Heat Protectant: Does It Actually Work?
2. Choose the heat. Expert Reviews suggests fine hair needs around 140 to 150°C, with thicker hair going higher. Start low and step up only if the curl drops.
3. Section into pieces no wider than the barrel. Clip the top half up and work from the bottom.
4. Hold the section taut and let the curler take it. Keep the tool close to the roots if you want curl from the top, or start mid length for a wave.
5. Wait for the timer. Do not hold for longer "to be safe". Longer heat does not make a stronger curl, it just adds heat.
6. Release and leave it alone. Let each curl cool in your palm for a few seconds, then drop it. Only brush out once the whole head is cold.

Which Parwin automatic curler should you choose?

Two options, two budgets, two slightly different jobs.

Best for consistency

Automatic Curling Iron

360 degree rotation in both directions, ceramic tourmaline barrel, automatic timer, four heat settings and a see through anti scald housing. For hair 23cm and longer. Dual voltage.

£56.25 View the curler →

Best value, two barrel sizes

Prism Curler

Auto rotating open barrel in 25mm for tighter curls or 32mm for looser waves. Titanium coated, 120 to 210°C, 20 second heat up, heat resistant glove included. Dual voltage.

£34.29 View the curler →

Tangles are your worry: the Automatic Curling Iron. You want a choice of barrel size at a lower outlay: the Prism Curler.

Frequently asked questions

Are automatic hair curlers good for your hair?

They are no harsher than a wand at the same temperature, and because the timer stops you over holding a section, many people end up using less heat overall. Use a heat protectant, start at the lowest setting that holds a curl, and give your hair heat free days.

Do hair curlers turn off automatically?

Both Parwin automatic curlers have an auto shut off, so a tool left on the dressing table switches itself off. Still unplug it when you finish.

How long do automatic curler curls last?

That depends on your hair, the barrel size and whether you let the curls cool before brushing. Smaller barrels and a cooled curl last longest. A light hold spray helps on fine hair.

Which is the best automatic hair curler in the UK?

The one that matches your hair length and the curl you want. Shoulder length or longer and you want zero technique: a closed, rotating design like the Automatic Curling Iron. You want to choose between tight and loose: the two barrel Prism Curler.