When it comes to amazing curling wands, there is an impressive range of options on the shelf. The thing is, most of said tools will set you back considerably cash-wise; many I have tried recently cost upwards of £100. So when I discovered the TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong 25mm, which retails for under £30, I was a little sceptical to say the least.
This tool is only £28 to buy, making it one of the most affordable high street options you'll come across when browsing the best hair curlers. But while the price tag may lead you to believe you may not achieve results comparable to pricier models, I actually found the opposite to be true. Read on for my full in-depth review of this reasonably priced curler.
Our contributing beauty editor's full TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong 25mm review
Our first impressions of the TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong
We’ll get on to results and performance later, but if I’m honest, the actual design and make-up of the product is where it may just fall short of other models from brands like ghd and Cloud Nine. My first impressions of the product were that it looked like a more affordable buy; there are no flashy features or impressive barrel finishes or colourways to note here, really.
However, the importance of this depends on your personal preferences. If you like something that looks stylish as well as performing well, this may not be the tool for you. But if you’re results-focused, these things aren’t really deal-breakers by any means. Along with the actual tool, the box also contains a heated pad and the instruction manual.
How does the TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong perform?
As mentioned, there are no high-tech features that set TREsemmé’s offering apart, including the buttons. There is just one switch that turns the curler on and allows you to choose one of three heat settings. I found it a little clunky to use, particularly in the downward direction.
The curler heated up in around one minute and I started to divide my hair into sections to begin curling. While the appearance of the tool had me thinking this wouldn’t be much of a winner, the instant results proved me wrong. Not only was this tool easy to use (I am a curling tong novice and usually use straighteners for curls), but it offered gorgeous, defined curls on the first go.
Having the clip helped rather than hindered my usage, which I usually find to be the opposite. It didn’t leave a weird dent in the bottom of each section of hair and allowed for single-handed use. I only waited around 10 seconds or so for each curl to take hold around the tongs, which was perfect for me.
The way this curling tong is built may not be comparable to other brands like ghd or Cloud Nine, but it’s important to remember that it will only set you back £28, so appearance and flashy features can be sacrificed – especially when you consider the results.
I was so, so impressed by the type of curls this tool created. They were smooth, glossy and defined, and took little time to take shape. I’d describe these as "mid-sized" curls, but I found after combing out my hair and applying some product, you can also easily achieve loose waves if that’s your goal. This may not be ideal if you like super tight curls, just due to the barrel size. My curls also lasted a good amount of time – so again, considering this is an under-£30 buy, I was pretty blown away in that respect.
How does the TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong compare?
As mentioned, there are three heat settings to choose from here – 160°C, 185°C and 210°C – which are managed via a manual sliding button. Most pricier options now use digital screens and buttons, but I do like the range of heat settings on offer here and think three is adequate. (Again, some offer more but I don’t see much point!)
The barrel is 25cm, which for me created my preferred curl shape and size; not too tight but defined enough to be more than beachy waves. The product uses "Advanced Heat Tech" that maintains optimum temperature during use, but I couldn’t seem to find any other key features that helped to maintain the health of hair (such as a coated barrel, for example).
As with most modern curlers, this tool also has an automatic shut-off feature, meaning you needn’t worry about leaving your heated tools on after going out. I would point out however that this probably has the longest shut-off time (at 72 minutes) of any devices I’ve personally trialled recently – and I do think it’s rather too long.
Should you buy the TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong?
If you’re on a budget, absolutely. The results of the TRESemmé Body & Volume Classic Ceramic Curling Tong are great and it performs well, especially considering the price tag. If you like devices that are super high-tech and look stylish, this may fall short a little, but again, you get what you pay for in that respect.
