Should I buy a curling wand or a clamp iron?

Clamp irons (like the Conair models here) hold hair against the barrel for you, which makes them easier for beginners and good for uniform curls. Clipless wands require you to wrap and hold the hair yourself but tend to produce more natural, lived-in beach waves. Tapered wands give tighter curls at the tip and looser ones near the root.