I tried a 'chopstick' hair styler and the curls it gave me were unlike any other hair tool
THE PRODUCT:
Chopstick Styler 'The Master', £29.99, available at chopstickstyler.com (as well as Argos, Superdrug and ASDA)
THE HYPE:
Unlike any other curling wand, the Chopstick Styler has a rectangular barrel. The design is flatter, with defined edges, rather than smooth and rounded. The idea is that this produces 'squarer' curls, that are set more securely and therefore reduce the 'drop-rate', with curls lasting up to two days.
REVIEWER:
Samantha, Deputy Beauty Editor
BEAUTY BIO:
My natural hair has a bit of a wave and bend to it, which can create some nice texture, but it's nowhere near curly. I'll sometimes use a straightener to create a loose curl, or if I want extra hold and a more Hollywood wave, I'll turn to my favourite muk curl stick.
CHOPSTICK STYLER 'THE MASTER' REVIEW:
I have NEVER seen a curler like this before. I've used both wands and tongs (with clips) before, but this is in its own league.
Completely flat, with one-centimetre thick edges, I assume the name is because it actually does resemble a chopstick. There are four different types of this curler, which vary in length and thickness for different types of curls, but I tried 'The Master'.
My hair was freshly washed and blow-dried semi-straight to begin with. With no grease to help it grip, I found it really hard to get started with the wand. My hair just kept slipping off and it took a while to get used to the shape of it. I found holding my hair really tight toward the wand while I wrapped it around helped (God bless the heat protection glove it came with).
The first successful curls to come out were super tight. I was curling quite small sections and they started to take on a very 70s disco hair vibe, but without the frizz (as I was yet to brush out).
Continuing with small sections, it took a good 30-40 minutes for me to finish entirely curling my hair. As I prepared to brush it out, I knew it was going to be BIG.
And holy sh*t, talk about volume. I don't think this photo does justice for just how HUGE it was. And when I pushed it all back (rather than having a parting), it very much resembled the hair from Ashish at LFW.
The curls themselves were more zig-zag in shape than a traditional styling tool, with a result that was halfway between what a crimper and a curling wand would do.
I could tell the curls had a lot of hold too. Due at a meeting two hours later, the curls were still very much intact and unmoved (and without hairspray). It was pretty obvious from the get-go that they wouldn't be budging until I washed it, but because my hair is bleached, it generally has good hold with most tools.
FINAL VERDICT:
This tool is for BIG HAIR with extreme hold. If you were going to a 70s themed party, or trying to emulate Sandy from the final scenes in Grease, this is the tool for you. I think it would be especially great for those with thin hair who want loads of volume that won't drop. It's not my every day kinda-curl style, but I'll be whipping it out every now and then!
On the hunt for your Holy Grail curling wand? Here's our top picks...
Best curling wand overall
Cloud Nine Hair Curling Wand, £109, Argos
Why we love it: The Cloud Nine Hair Curling Wand is a great all-rounder for curls of all sizes and a variable temperature gauge. It has variable Temperature Control, allowing you to choose a temperature which best suits your hair type.
Save when you shop with our Argos discount codes.
Best curling wand for thick hair
Babyliss Curl Secret, £119.99, John Lewis
Why we love it: Using a small amount of hair in this tool will result in a beautiful curl ready for shake down. With that in mind, though, if you have thicker hair you may want to opt for something else.
Use our John Lewis discount codes to save money.
Best curling wand for a scorch-free curl
Dyson Airwrap Styler Complete, £694.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Who doesn't love the Dyson Airwrap? The innovative new technology allows the flow of warm air to wrap your hair around the curling barrel, allowing you to create beachy waves free-from extreme heat.
See our full review of the Airwrap here.
Best curling wand for multi-tasking
T3 Whirl Trio Convertible Styling Wand, £124.99, Amazon
Why we love it: This wand features one stick and three different attachments for creating loose beach waves, big bouncy waves or tight curls. A bit like a blender but for hair, this is the ultimate curl addict's tool - you could even mix and match the size of the curls.
Best curling wand for a designer wave
Balmain Ceramic Curling Wand, £120, Selfridges
Why we love it: When it comes to couture-worthy hair, Balmain know a thing or two. This ceramic barrel prevents hair damage and is infused with ‘ionic technology’ which keep your curls frizz-free.
Best curling wand for a classic curl
ghd Curve Classic Curling Tong, £180.40, Amazon
Why we love it: ghd's Curve Classic curling tong is easy to use and you can put larger amounts of hair round the barrel for a quicker finish. Anything to save us time!
Best curling wand for waves
Babyliss Wave Envy,
£36.69£34.99, AmazonWhy we love it: This one is great for natural looking curls, easy to use and excellent value for money. What more could you want?
Best curling wand for a crimped curl
Why we love it: Somewhere between a crimper, a straightener, and a tong, the Oracle is the tool for those of us who struggle with traditional curling tongs. All you have to do is glide it along like a straightener, and voila, perfect curls.
Best curling wand for travelling
We Are Paradoxx Supernova Hair Tool,
£195£150, Current BodyWhy we love it: If you want to hedge your bets on the curl creation front, you might want to consider the Supernova. It's cordless and travel-sized (don't worry - the ceramic plates are full size), but it also transforms from a wand, to a tong, to straighteners with a flick of a switch.
Best curling wand for beachy waves
Tourmaline Professional Curling Tong, £98, Hershesons
Why we love it: Created by celebrity stylist Luke Hersheson, this tool is made for creating cool-girl waves. Think polished beach waves rather than tight barrel curls. It can be a little tricky to get the hang of, but once you nail it you'll know.
Best curling wand for zero-drop
Why we love it: If your hair drops after an hour, no matter how hard you try to create curls, this magic wand will help them hold on tight. The infrared heat and three temperature settings (up to 210 degrees) will mould your hair into a tight coil (size depending on which of the three wands you use) that doesn't drop. You can even brush them out for a softer beachy finish that still won't disappear once reach your desired effect.
