Our only gripe was that you have to hold and twist the barrel itself to remove it and swap it out for another. Happily, this set comes with a heat-resistant glove, so you can wear it if you’re planning on creating a style with a range of curl sizes.

hairdressing all over the world and remained in vogue for over fifty years, making a fortune for Mr Marcel. Originally known The mechanism is called a “marcel handle,” and its principle of opening and closing resembles scissors. Although this technique may seem inconvenient and impractical at first glance, in reality, it gives a user more freedom and allows more precise control over the curling process. Why We Like It: For a tool your stylist would use during your routine blowout appointment, consider the Drybar The Wrap Party Styling Wand. Not only does the professional wand feature a no-slip barrel, but it also uses technology to reduce frizz and boost shine. The result? The beachy waves of your dreams. However by 1924 electric waving irons were available where the temperature of the iron could be regulated. Marcel irons initially came in four sizes - A, B, C and D and were used according to individual preference, but in 1933 an adjustable iron was developed. The iron was used in conjunction with a comb.Review: “This iron, designed by Gisele Bündchen’s mane man, gives you the best of both worlds. The clip detaches easily from the barrel, making it easy to experiment with both to see which delivers your favorite curls and waves. Bonus: The longtime fave recently underwent a makeover and now delivers more even heat throughout, so your curls will hold longer.” —S.Y.W. The most important thing to do when styling your hair with a curling iron is to keep things moving to avoid heat damage. “Do not leave the iron on your hair for too long,” warns Reed. “If I’m doing a wave or a curl, I’m always moving the tool underneath the hair to evenly distribute the heat and make sure one section isn’t being overheated.” For the most accurate temperature reading, find a curling iron or wand with a digital screen (see: Kim Kimble Tourmaline Ceramic Multi-Barrel Auto-Rotating Curling Iron and the Trademark Mood Starter Kit). Otherwise, a dial or toggle button works, too—it's just less precise. Just make sure you have the option to adjust the temperature as needed. Hairstylist Amy Abramite says you always want to take into consideration the overall condition of your hair and adjust the heat for the safest, healthiest results. Start low and raise the temp in small increments until you've found the sweet-spot that styles without scorching. If we could change one thing about this nearly perfect curling iron, it would be the awkward button placement. There is just one button to power the iron on/off and to change the temperature (pressing and holding for a few seconds turns it on/off and simply hitting it, even softly, adjusts the temperature) and it’s unwisely situated right where you hold the handle. A mild annoyance is a small sacrifice for the fabulous curls it gave us.

Even though both these curling iron types have a different operating system, they both can create extraordinary curls and waves in any type of tresses. Who uses a marcel curling iron? What We Love: This is the lightest curling iron we’ve ever held, making it very comfortable to use during long styling sessions. When it comes down to specific looks, you can create a tighter curl by using your iron just off the scalp. Meanwhile, you’ll achieve a looser style if you skip the root and start wrapping your hair about a third of the way down the shaft. “Holding the curl horizontally will make the curl fuller, vertically will provide a more relaxed look,” adds DiGregorio. If you’re going for a beach wave or modern vibe, Reed loves to curl hair in different directions to prevent uniformity or an overdone look. “If you’re looking for classic curls, keep the iron going in one direction,” he says. Angie Perrantes is a pro hairstylist and natural hair specialist whose clients include Paige Hurd and LisaRaye McCoy. Marcel curling irons are considered as the best curling tool for holding the hair right into place for the perfect, uniform and more versatile curls and waves. You can use these curling irons to style your hair with big, bouncy curls to short, tight ringlets and lustrous waves,

Meet the Experts

perming pads (1925), an improved marcel iron (1927), curling pin (1927), hair waving device (1927,1928), flexible mica sheeting (1930), improved marcel iron (1932), adjustable marcel iron (1933), steam hair waving device (1933), croquignole permanent wave device (1935,1937), permanent wave device (1935), Marcel’s big break came when he styled the hair of popular actress Jane Hading with his waving technique, generating enormous publicity which he promptly capitalised on. His first patent for a ‘curling iron’ was granted in 1905. The unique design of this tool (rotating handle and no clamp spring) gives professionals more control over the hair. They can regulate the degree of strand clamping and thereby determine their tightness. With this device, you can easily create old-Hollywood styling. What is the difference between a curling iron and a marcel iron?

Like the Supersonic—Dyson’s bestselling hair dryer—the Airwrap is expensive. But if you’re looking to invest in a tool that’s truly luxe and lives up to the hype, it’s your best bet. The Airwrap dries and styles simultaneously without burning your hair to a crisp, and its six included attachments allow you to achieve pretty much any hairstyle. With the unique removable clamp, this iron is actually a two-in-one: It can be used as a traditional curling iron or as a wand to achieve a wide range of styles. While we enjoyed the duality, if the clamp wasn’t correctly attached it fell off mid-use and snagged our hair. When we took the time to secure it, it was smooth curling. While we’ve used a lot of curling irons that snagged our fine strands in the past, the smooth barrels and an unfussy clamp (with a comfortable grip) on this one allowed our curls to gently roll off when we were done. Our finished look actually lasted four days with this tool — a downright miracle for our hair. We attribute the longevity in part to the helpful temperature guide, which taught us that we’ve been curling our hair with too much heat.

GHD Curve Classic Curl Iron

Charmarti also says to let your hair cool down completely after styling. Pinning your curls up (with rollers or clips) for at least 20 minutes will help them set.

NOTE: There are conflicting references to Marcel's full name. Some sources refer to him as Marcel Grateau, others to Francois R. Marcel, and an obituary that says Francois Marcel Grateau! (see below) Erinn Courtney is a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Eva Marcille and Trevor Noah. It will take some time to understand how to curl with a marcel iron, but the result is really worth it.Most hot tools will break when used with a power converter abroad, but because this tool offers dual voltage, we were able to safely style our hair while traveling outside of the country. What We Don't Love: Those with finer hair may find that their hair slips out of the iron during use. If you are willing to spend a handsome amount of cash on a professional quality Marcel curling iron, then this Harry Josh curling tool is just the tool for you. We have recommended this as an alternate choice only because of its price tag; otherwise this Marcel Curling Iron creates as perfect curls in fine/thin hair as the HOT TOOLS one. Do you have marcel iron? Are you comfortable using it to style your own hair? Which curling device do you like best?