BaByliss’ Titanium Brilliance Curls is a great curling tong for those on a budget who prefer loose waves

Hair tools have gotten rather pricey over the years – we’re talking in the hundreds for most quality tools. But luckily, there are still a few gems out there that will do the job without setting you back too much in the money department.

Case in point: the BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Curls styler. All of Babyliss’ heated tools arguably rival many luxury counterparts, all while costing a fraction of the price, and this curler is a great option for frills-free curls at under £50. As a beauty editor with short hair, I've reviewed the wand in full to assess its capabilities – here are my honest thoughts.

Our contributing beauty editor's full BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Curls review

Our first impressions of the BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Curls

As well as working well, I love a product that looks good – and this BaByliss number really does. I like the rose gold metal portion, as well as the slim black handle, which together look ultra chic. The design of the tong makes it pretty lightweight, too, meaning no arm aches when you’re only halfway through styling your whole head of hair.

The curler is made from a 32mm true-titanium barrel, which the brand promises is good for styling loose curls and longer and thicker hair types, thanks to its generous length. There are six digital heat settings, ranging from 160 degrees Celsius to 210. As well as the heat setting button (which allows you to increase and decrease the temperature), there is just one other button to turn the device on and off. Safety-wise, it also comes with a heat-protective mat and an automatic safety shut-off feature, which is handy if you ever forget to turn the tool off.

How does the BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Curls perform?

While the tool didn’t take ages to heat up, it wasn’t as speedy as I’m used to with other tools – but this really isn’t a huge issue. I selected the 180-degree setting, which I believe is the ideal heat for curling for my hair type; any hotter and there may be increased risk of hair damage, which is worth bearing in mind. I do, however, have fairly fine, short hair, so those with different textures or lengths may need to style with higher heat.

I always find curlers with levered clips harder to use than simple wands, so I did have to get used to this one. I found that, after wrapping a section of hair around the barrel, the results were better if I slightly loosened the clip; this meant there were no unwanted shapes in the finished look. I kept the heat on my hair for less than 10 seconds per section, which created loose, beachy waves. Longevity-wise, curls lasted with the help of a little product. I used some hair cream and a little texture spray on mine.

This is the tool to invest in if beachy waves are your vibe, rather than tight curls. As mentioned, due to the barrel size, it creates looser shapes, though they are still defined and bouncy. I like the effect it gives even on shorter hair – while the brand markets this as being great for long locks, I thought it was a good buy for my long bob, too. Much shorter hair may not find it to be the best model for them, however.

How does the BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Curls compare?

As mentioned, this tool comes with a levered clip rather than being a simple wand. I found this took some getting used to and can benefit from some light loosening when hair is setting against the heat.

The range of heat settings is great, particularly when compared to other single-temperature wands I have reviewed lately. Just be sure not to go too hot, as while you obviously need effective usage, you don’t want to experience heat damage either. (This is why products like the best heat protection sprays are essential.)

The barrel of this tool is also slightly longer and wider than others I have used recently, meaning it would work for a range of hair lengths and types, and creates looser curls and waves.

I do think the heat-up time is a little slower than average, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker. Another thing I would like to have seen included (that other brands sometimes do) is a protective glove – in true "me" form, I lightly burned my hand during the first try as I’m not used to using tongs.

Should you buy the BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Curls?

If you are after a curling device for under £50 and you want something with the capacity to create loose curls and waves, this is a solid option. I’d recommend this most for those with experience using levered barrels, and think it would be ideal for longer or thicker hair types, too.