Our take on Babyliss’ compact curling wand that takes traveling very seriously but doesn’t stay behind at efficiency
Model name/number: BNTMWUC
Price: $45
Shape: compact straight wand
Size: 1”
Best for: armpi̇t length and shorter hair, medium hair type
What we like: very compact design and affordable
What we don’t like: low heat setting is too high for fine hair
How it stands out: a perfect travel body with its short barrel and lightweight design
Rating: 4.6/5.0
Babyliss has many different curling irons that appeal to different needs and they didn’t forget the needs of frequent travelers. This tool is by far the most compact curling iron that we’ve come across. It will fit perfectly even if you have a tiny suitcase, and it’s just perfect to carry around for a quick touch-up. It has a very short barrel which is 4”. This quality also appeals to short hair as the general rule is the shorter the strands, the shorter the barrel should be. It is an extraordinarily lightweight tool with only 5.2oz, while the average is as much as 8 oz. So, it’s very easy to handle and maneuver, feels great to hold for longer periods, and keeps your arms free from arm fatigue. When we look at its heat range, we can’t say that we’re impressed, as its minimum temperature is 320°F, way too high for fine strands, and the highest heat setting is 395°F, barely enough to tame very unruly hair. But it will for sure satisfy you if you have strands with normal thickness. It also has a titanium material that brings speed to your session, and it’s more effective on thick strands as it can heat up more strongly. It’s wand-shaped, meaning it doesn’t have a holding clamp, another aspect that makes it less bulky and helps it create looser beach waves rather than uniform curls. The barrel is 1”, which is the most common size that fits most needs. It is also a very affordable tool, considering that Babyliss is usually a luxury brand and the price vs performance of this tool is very high. On that note, it certainly is not the best option in case you have fine hair and would like to create perfect-looking tight curls with your curling iron.
Whether you’re seeking the best curling iron for beachy waves or best curling iron for thick hair, rest assured, Babylisspro Nano Titanium Compact Curling Wand has you covered.
Below, we share our experiences with “Babylisspro Nano Titanium Compact Curling Wand”.
Shape
Babyliss Nano Titanium Compact Curling Wand comes as a traditional wand-shaped tool. It doesn’t have a holding clamp which is used to keep the hair attached to the tool, which means that you use your hand to keep the strands in place while styling. It’s quite straightforward to use this tool, yet it still is a bit of a hassle to use your second hand to hold while styling, and if you’re a total beginner, a clamp is a blessing. But this tool leaves out the clamp on purpose to actually achieve a specific kind of look. The curls are s-shaped instead of spiraled and the look that it aims for is casual beach waves rather than sleek and tight curls. It has a straight cylinder shape rather than being conic, and the curls that it creates are the same size with each other. If you’re after achieving perfect-looking curls, a spring iron that has a clamp is a much more suitable option for you. Bioionic Goldpro Curling Iron is a great example of a tool that creates bouncy curls that last longer than what a wand can achieve.
Size
When it comes to size, this tool really stands out. It’s by far the most compact curling iron on our list and probably in the market. It has a barrel length of 4”, which is as short as it gets. It appeals strongly to shorter hair lengths and if your hair is longer than armpit length, this tool may be a bit frustrating for you as it cannot cover a very large area at on ego and it will probably take a long time before you can style all your hair. Babyliss actually offer a great alternative for longer strands, with a double-sized barrel of 8”, called Bablisspro Nano Titanium Extended Barrel Curling Iron. This tool is fantastic for long strands and is probably the fastest tool on our list.
When we look at its barrel width, we see that its average size with 1”. This is the most commonly found number and every brand offers it. It will probably fit your needs unless they’re on the extreme side. It can create larger waves and tighter curls according to what you want to achieve and it suits almost all hair lengths.
Heat and Variable Settings
This tool may be impressive in terms of how compact and handy it is to carry around, but we can say the same about its temperature versatility. It has a quite narrow range of heat settings starting from 320°F and going up to 395°F, and it only has 3 settings to choose from. Compared to most curling irons in the market, these numbers are quite poor. First of all, the lowest heat setting probably will be too hot for fine hair and you may face the risk of heat damage if this is your case. The highest setting, on the other hand, would be perfectly satisfying for normal hair types, but may not be strong enough to tame your strands if they’re stubborn. So, we don’t recommend this tool for very thin or very thick hair. There are many great tools in the market with very large heat settings, such as Bioionic Goldpro Styling Wand. It starts at 170°F and goes up to 450°F, and it will have a perfect setting for you no matter how your extreme hair type is.
Material and Performance
Titanium is the material choice in most Babyliss hair tools, and their Compact Wand is no different. Titanium is very much preferred by professionals, and for good reason. It’s much faster than other materials. Not only it heat up very fast, but it can also recover its temperature very quickly. It’s great if you know what you’re doing with your tool and want a speedy session. But if you’re a beginner home stylist, it gives you much less room for mistakes and is more likely to cause heat damage.
Babyliss never disappoints when it comes to material quality. This tool has the durability of a luxury curling iron while being much more affordable than its alternatives. It’s also quite sturdy to hold and if your priority is quality, you don’t need to worry if you choose this tool.
So, in our opinion, Babyliss Nano Titanium Compact Curling Wand is a winner in terms of price vs performance.
Features
When we think of the most important features that a hot hair tool should have, the first thing that comes to our mind is ionic technology. Babyliss Nano Titanium Compact Curling Wand offers this feature, which is created to keep the strands frizz-free. It really makes a difference in the results and is a must-have, especially if you have frizzy hair.
Another very important feature is auto-shot off, which unfortunately this tool doesn’t offer. This technology automatically turns your tool off to protect it from causing fire and is a very important feature, especially if you have a busy mind and don’t want to worry about forgetting your tool on. If you prefer a curling iron with this feature, most curling irons in the market such as Infinitipro by Conair Rose Gold Curling Wand offers it.
This tool has an ultra-smooth barrel which backs up the quality of bringing loose waves, as it lets the hair glide through the tool and adds some extra shine to the results.
This tool obviously comes with dual voltage which is a must-have for a travel-friendly hair tool. It makes sure that you can use it anywhere in the world.
Ergonomics
Having a weight of 5.2oz, this tool is the lightest curling iron on our list. It’s very easy to handle and feels super light while styling, which is a great quality. It also barely weighs anything and you can carry it anywhere without issues.
Seeing how compact this tool is, it’s a bit of a surprise to us that its handle is quite bulky. It has a diameter of 1.22”, which is way above average, and if you have very small hands, it may be a bit annoying to hold and it may be a good idea to opt for a slimmer design such as GHD Curve Creative Curl with a 1.06” handle width.
It doesn’t come with digital display but it has a button for temperature control which is a great help. It also has light indicators that let you know when you reach the desired temperature.
Its integrated counter rest is very handy as it prevents it from touching the surfaces while its hot. It also has a very ergonomically designed cool tip that you can hold while styling your strands without damaging your hands.
It has a pretty short cord with only 6ft, less than the average numbers. But considering that this is a travel-sized tool and needs to be compact, a bulky long cable is not a very good idea anyways.
Price & Warranty
Babyliss is a luxury brand and frankly, the price for this tool is surprisingly low. We know that this tool is designed to be a compact option to travel with and not really as your main curling iron that you keep at home, but if you’re on a budget and still would like to have a luxury tool in your palms, we can say that this is a great tool to consider. It does come with a disappointingly low warranty period which is one year but still, it’s great value for money.
Competition
So, if you’re looking for something more travel-friendly or just prefer a smaller size, this compact version might be perfect for you. But, if you’re looking for a curling wand that’s larger and offers more versatility, the full-sized BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Curling Wand is a better choice.
If you’re searching for a compact curler, but have thick hair and worry that the Babylisspro Compact Curling Wand’s highest temperature of 390°F isn’t enough to tame your unruly strands then Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold CURLBAR is the one for you. It has a unique shape and can heat up between 310 to 450°F, making it ideal for styling thick hair.
