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Whether it's tumbling mermaid waves or tight curls, these styling tools will do the hard work for you

We all know the 'effortless' curl is anything but, especially if you've not been naturally bestowed with them. However with the correct piece of kit, you can create laid-back beachy waves or cascading curls with ease. But with so many options available, how do you find the right one for your hair type?

"My tip is to always match a curling iron or wand to the size of curl you have," says Babyliss ambassador and session stylist Syd Hayes. For fragile, overly-processed hair of all lengths and texture, Hayes is a fan of the new Babyliss Wave Secret Air as it creates long-lasting loose curls and waves using a curling chamber that automatically wraps, curls and cools the hair for lasting style.

But in general, curling tongs are better suited to achieving more even, bouncy curls, while a wand works better for natural-looking waves, thanks to the tapered design. Also worth considering is the relatively new 'waver', which has a three-barrel attachment and clamp to achieve S-shaped waves without the effort.

Whichever styler you choose, don't forget to prep the hair carefully to minimise damage. Always use a heat protector before applying any heat and finish with a misting of non-crunchy hairspray to hold the style in place.

The medium-sized barrel heats quickly to produce mid-sized curls, no matter the hair length. Just like the brand’s signature hair straighteners, this device heats up to 185 degrees — the optimum temperature for styling without damaging. Lightweight and easy to use, it has a cool tip and safety stand to ensure hands and surfaces don’t get burnt, as well as universal voltage, perfect for jet-setters.

Dyson’s multi-functional Airwrap lets you streamline your stylers. Every bit as innovative as its predecessors, attachments include two barrels for creating curls and waves of various sizes, a firm brush for eradicating frizz and flyaways, a smooth brush for a blow-dry finish, and a round brush for volume. Since it styles using hot air rather than direct heat, you'll achieve best and longer-lasting results when done on damp hair (there's an attachment here to help with that too). Everything comes in a chic case, but of course.

The temperature you style your hair at is important; too cool and your style won't hold, too hot and it might burn. If you're not sure which setting to use, this tool features ‘StyleAdapt’ technology that auto-adapts its heat to suit your hair type. Expect bouncy curls with minimal frizz.

If it's a beachy blowout worthy of a Hollywood starlet you're after, T3 will have you sorted. Curl ID takes into account your hair texture and condition to deliver a truly tailored experience (there are nine heat settings!) while keeping hair damage at bay.

Mermaid waves made easy with this foolproof styler. Its non-slip handle and thoughtful ergonomic design made it easy and comfortable to hold, and the light weight is a bonus too. It will take a few tries in order to create the look but once you get the hang of it, you'll never look back.

The slim 14mm barrel creates bouncy, tight curls that lasts and lasts. Those with long and thick hair will love how lightweight this curling iron is (no arm workout here).

This rotating hot brush makes light work of creating bouncy, full-bodied waves. Simply run it through your lengths and let the tool do the job in no time at all. Those with long hair will love how fast this works.

New York blow-dry salon Drybar is popular with the well-heeled set (closer to home, you can experience Drybar in Harrods and H Beauty) for good reason: they create expensive-looking professional blow-outs in no time. At home, DIY the look with this cheery curling tong. The heat is customisable, and the manual rotating clamp makes it easy to wrap longer strands around the barrel.