7 Best Volumizing Hair Irons
Love a smooth, polished style, but find that your roots look flat after straightening? A volumising iron or root crimper can add hidden texture underneath the top layers so the finished style looks fuller.
A volumising hair iron is one option, especially if you want lift that does not rely entirely on teasing, mousse, or a round-brush blowout.
These tools are sometimes sold as root volumisers, micro crimpers, or volumising irons, and the designs vary considerably.
Volumising hair irons are used a little like flat irons, but many have textured or patterned plates instead of smooth flat plates.
Checkerboard, ridged, or crimped plates press a small texture into selected sections. When that texture is hidden beneath an untreated top layer, it can create the appearance of more root lift and fullness.
Volumising hair irons can work on many hair types and lengths, but they are not automatically suitable for every head of hair. Very fragile, heavily bleached, breaking, or heat-damaged hair may be better served by heat-free volume techniques.
Like other heated styling tools, they come in different plate sizes, patterns, and temperature ranges. Adjustable heat is particularly useful because you can start low and increase only if your hair genuinely needs more heat.
Using a volumising hair iron is similar to using another hot tool, but the goal is usually to texture only the sections that will be hidden.
For a root-texturing iron, clip away the topmost layers, work on dry hair, and briefly clamp small sections near the roots without pressing directly against the scalp.
The treated underlayers take on a slightly crimped texture. Once the smooth top layers fall back over them, that texture can support the hair and make the style look fuller.
Volumising hair irons are useful when you want quick, targeted lift, but they still expose the hair to heat, so moderation and a heat protectant matter.
Added root texture may make flat or oily-looking roots appear less limp, but it does not absorb oil or conceal colour regrowth. Dry shampoo or a root touch-up product serves those jobs more directly.
So which volumising hair irons are the best?
Look for a tool with adjustable heat, a plate pattern that matches the amount of texture you want, and a size that suits your hair length. No hot tool can make styling damage-proof, so the best choice is one you can use effectively at the lowest practical temperature.
Below, we compare seven options, from hidden root crimpers to rounded styling irons, and explain which type of volume each one is designed to create.
Buyer’s Guide
When shopping for a volumising hair iron, focus on plate pattern, plate size, adjustable temperature, and your hair’s current condition. The most powerful or hottest tool is not necessarily the best fit.
Plate Texture
Start with the plate texture, because it determines whether the tool creates subtle hidden lift or a more visible crimp.
For root volume, the goal is usually to create enough texture underneath the top layer to support the style without leaving an obvious pattern on the surface.
Plate textures vary. A checkerboard or micro-crimp pattern can create compact texture that is easier to hide beneath the top layer, while deeper zig-zag plates create a more visible crimp.
For root lift, a smaller pattern is generally easier to conceal. If you actually want a crimped finish throughout the hair, a larger pattern may make more sense.
Texturing more underlayers can create more lift, but it also means more heat exposure. Start with one or two hidden sections on each side before deciding whether you need more.
Some volumising hair irons come with a different pattern; for example, vertical crimping lines are a common feature.
This gives your hair the classic 90s crimped look, but it can also be used to create volume.
A larger zig-zag texture is usually less subtle, so it may not be the best choice if your goal is completely hidden root volume.
In that case, a micro-crimp or checkerboard-style plate is generally easier to conceal beneath the top layers.
Plate Material
Another important factor to consider is the material used to make the plates.
Ceramic and ceramic-coated plates are common because they can distribute heat relatively evenly. Keep in mind that a coating can wear over time, and ceramic does not prevent heat damage by itself.
Hair can still become dry, brittle, or scorched at excessive temperatures regardless of plate material, so avoid treating any material as permission to use maximum heat.
If your hair is fine, bleached, or already damaged, prioritize lower adjustable settings, short contact time, and fewer passes. If the hair is actively breaking, skip hot-tool volume until its condition improves.
Titanium is another common plate material. It tends to heat quickly and transfer heat efficiently, which some people prefer for resistant or coarse hair, but it can also become very hot quickly. Curl pattern alone does not determine how much heat hair can safely tolerate.
Lastly, you might find a tourmaline material on your volumising hair iron.
Tourmaline is often marketed for reducing static and helping hair look smoother. Treat ion-related claims as a styling feature rather than a guarantee of healthier hair.
If static and flyaways are a concern, plate smoothness, conditioning products, humidity, and technique may matter just as much as the material named on the box.
Temperature Options
Pay attention to the temperature options that are available on the volumising hair iron you’re considering for purchase.
Some of them can go really high, while others don’t have the same range.
The right temperature depends on strand thickness, chemical processing, existing damage, moisture level, and how quickly your hair responds to heat.
Rather than following a rigid number by curl type, begin at the lowest setting that produces the result you want. Fine, bleached, colour-treated, or fragile hair generally needs more caution than healthy, coarse strands.
Wavy, curly, coily, or natural hair does not automatically require very high heat. Texture and ethnicity are not safe temperature guides. Increase the setting gradually only if needed, and avoid repeated passes over the same section.
Prioritize adjustable temperature controls and a clearly marked display or dial. A useful tool should let you work lower, not simply advertise the highest possible temperature.
Now that you know what to look for in a volumising hair iron, let’s take a look at the best ones we were able to find with these features in mind.
Quick Match: Which Type Of Volumising Iron Fits Your Goal?
For hidden root lift: choose a checkerboard or micro-crimp iron and use it only on lower layers near the roots.
For an intentional crimped texture: a zig-zag crimper gives a more visible pattern and can be used farther down the lengths.
For a smoother blowout effect: a rounded or crescent-shaped styling iron can create lift without leaving obvious crimp marks.
For short hair or travel: narrower plates are easier to position close to the roots and take up less room.
For fragile or heavily processed hair: consider heat-free root clips, rollers, blow-dry techniques, or volumising products first. If you do use an iron, keep the temperature and number of passes as low as practical.
Heat-Safety Basics Before You Start
Use a volumising iron only on fully dry hair unless the manufacturer specifically states that the tool is designed for damp hair. Apply a heat protectant, work in small sections, keep the plates off the scalp, and avoid repeatedly clamping the same area.
If you notice a burnt smell, sizzling, visible smoke, sudden roughness, or strands snapping, stop. Heat damage is cumulative, and a textured plate can concentrate pressure in a small area just as a flat iron can.
7 Best Volumising Hair Irons
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Voloom Classic | Top-rated volumizing iron with patented checkerboard plates |
| 2. | Bed Head Little Tease Hair Crimper | Compact iron with tourmaline-plated zig-zag plates for the perfect amount of lift and shine |
| 3. | INH Volumizing Hair Crimping Iron | Pretty pink styling iron with slightly rounded crimping plates for a subtle volumizing texture |
| 4. | DSHOW Hair Crimper | A volumizing iron with 4 interchangeable plate textures so you can get the exact look you want |
| 5. | GlamPalm Volumizing Iron | Crescent-shaped plate for straightening and creating soft volume at the same time |
| 6. | AmoVee Curling Iron Brush | A brush / styling iron combo that can be used for a variety of looks including voluminous blowouts |
| 7. | Hot Tools Professional Micro Crimper | Micro crimper that’s perfect for travel and for volumizing short hair |
1. Voloom Classic
Voloom is a brand known for hair irons designed specifically to create hidden root volume.
Their volumising hair irons come with a patented checkerboard pattern on the ceramic plates.
The Classic model features 1.5-inch-wide plates, which can cover a larger section at once and create noticeable lift with fewer clamps than a narrower micro-crimper.
The wider plates may suit medium to long hair especially well, while fine or processed hair should be styled conservatively with the lowest effective heat setting.
The temperature is adjustable, and the digital display makes it easier to see which setting you are using rather than guessing.
The listed settings range from 220°F to 395°F. Start near the lower end and increase only if necessary, because adjustable heat can reduce unnecessary exposure but cannot eliminate heat damage.
This iron comes in three trendy colours and includes a few handy accessories: hair clips and a volumising brush that help you achieve the boost your hair needs in a few easy steps.
This volumising iron is one of the more specialized options on the list, particularly for readers who want concealed root texture rather than a visible all-over crimp.
2. Bed Head Little Tease Hair Crimper
This compact volumising iron by Bed Head uses a vertical zig-zag pattern rather than a checkerboard pattern, so it can create either visible crimping or hidden texture beneath the top layers.
You can crimp all of your hair for an intentional textured finish, or use it as a volumising iron by texturising the underlayers near the roots for concealed lift.
The plates use tourmaline-coated ceramic, a combination commonly marketed for even heating and smoother-looking results.
The coating does not make the tool damage-proof, but the compact plate design can be practical when you want to limit styling to small hidden sections.
The tool offers three heat settings and reaches a listed maximum of 400°F. Use the lowest setting that creates the texture you need rather than assuming the highest setting suits a particular hair type.
The plates are only 1 inch wide, making this a great styler for shorter hair or for travel. Of course, you can still use it for long hair; it may just take a bit longer.
The plates create a small zig-zag texture that can be worn visibly for a crimped look or hidden beneath the top layers for added volume at the roots.
Another advantage of this compact crimper is its lower price point compared with some dedicated root-volumising irons, which may make it a practical option for a budget-conscious routine.
3. INH Volumising Hair Crimping Iron
The volumising hair crimping iron by INH comes in a bright pink finish and uses rounded crimping plates for a softer-looking texture.
It features 1.5-inch rounded crimping plates, which is a nice take on the traditional crimping irons.
The rounded crimp pattern is designed to create a softer-looking wave than a sharp zig-zag crimper.
Used on the lower layers, those small waves can add support beneath the smoother top layer without requiring you to crimp the whole head.
The plates are described as ceramic and tourmaline. As with any coated hot tool, technique and temperature matter more than relying on material claims alone.
There is a digital temperature display, which is useful for keeping your setting consistent. The tool is marketed with a high maximum heat setting, but there is rarely a reason to jump straight to the maximum for root texturing.
A wide adjustable range is most useful because it lets you stay lower when possible. If you are worried about heat damage, prioritize short contact time, a heat protectant, and fewer treated sections.
Fast heat-up can be convenient, but longevity will vary with hair texture, humidity, styling products, and how much hidden texture you create.
4. DSHOW Hair Crimper
This hair iron includes 4 interchangeable plates, allowing you to straighten, crimp, and add root texture with one tool.
The ceramic plates range from completely flat (for straightening) to different sizes of vertical zig-zag patterns that can create small to large crimping effects on the hair.
This gives you a lot of freedom to create different textures in your hair to achieve the right amount of lift.
This volumising iron also offers adjustable heat. That flexibility is useful across different hair textures, but the safest effective setting still depends on the individual strand and its condition.
The tool is listed with a maximum temperature of 430°F and a fast heat-up time. The maximum setting is not a target, so begin lower and increase only if your hair needs it.
Changing the plates is easy – you just remove the outer covers of the hair iron and slide out the plates.
Slide the new plates into their place and click the outer covers back into position.
Just make sure to do this while the iron is turned off and isn’t hot.
Overall, this is a versatile volumising hair iron for someone who wants several plate patterns rather than a single dedicated root texture.
Its main advantage is versatility: the four plate patterns let you choose between straightening and several levels of crimped texture with one tool.
5. GlamPalm Volumising Iron
The GlamPalm volumising iron is different from the others.
It doesn’t have textured plates that create a crimping effect in your hair to create volume.
Instead, it features a rounded plate that straightens your hair while also lifting it.
This volumising iron sits somewhere between a curling iron and a flat iron. The crescent-shaped plates create lift and bend through the section, giving the hair a soft, blowout-style finish.
The ceramic plates are marketed with the brand’s Healing Stone technology, a proprietary material feature.
That branding should not be read as proof that heat improves hair health. The practical appeal of this tool is its rounded shape, which can create a smoother, curved finish without pressing an obvious crimp pattern into the hair.
The temperature is manually adjustable across a broad range. The upper settings are not necessary for everyone, so start low and raise the temperature only when your hair does not respond.
This volumising hair iron is a more premium option, with a crescent shape aimed at creating body without pressing a visible crimp pattern into the hair.
This will be great for those who don’t like the idea of crimped hair poking out from underneath their hairstyle.
6. AmoVee Curling Iron Brush
Technically, this product is marketed as a curling iron/brush combo.
In practice, you can use it to create several different styles, including a rounded blowout with added body.
The brush-style design can help you curl, smooth, and shape the hair with one styling tool, depending on how you angle and move the barrel.
The silicone brush design is intended to guide the hair around the heated barrel, although any brush-style hot tool can still snag if sections are too large or already tangled.
The rounded ceramic tourmaline wand applies heat to the hair and gives it shape.
To use it for volumising purposes, apply it to dry hair and brush your hair out and up, with a slight curl toward the face at the end.
The tool is listed with a maximum temperature of 450°F and adjustable heat. That maximum is not a target: use the lowest temperature that shapes your hair effectively.
The benefit of this type of volumising iron is that you don’t have to worry about crimping your roots and them being visible under your hair.
Instead, this brush/iron combo gives your hair an even lift throughout.
The brush helps control the hair while you’re styling it and also allows you to brush it out simultaneously.
7. Hot Tools Professional Micro Crimper
This micro crimper from Hot Tools Professional is a compact option for travel, short hair, and targeted root texturing.
Its narrow plates create small textures at the base of the hair, which can add lift while remaining easier to hide beneath the top layer.
Don’t let the size of this iron fool you: the tiny crimps can stay relatively discreet when they are placed beneath an untreated top layer.
Crimping the roots of several hidden layers can create more lift, but start with fewer sections so you do not expose more hair to heat than necessary.
The listed maximum temperature is 430°F. Use the lowest setting that creates the result you want, especially on fine, bleached, coloured, or fragile hair.
If you have shorter hair, the compact crimper can be easier to position close to the roots than a wider plate.
At only 1 inch wide, the plates are easy to position on short sections and hidden roots. How long the volume lasts depends on humidity, hair texture, products, and styling technique.
How To Use Volumising Hair Irons
The way you use your volumising hair iron depends on the type of iron you have.
If your tool has crimping plates, whether they use a checkerboard, micro-crimp, or zig-zag pattern, the technique is similar.
On fully dry, detangled hair, apply heat protectant, pin the top layers out of the way, and briefly clamp small sections near the roots of the lower layers. Keep the iron off the scalp and follow the tool’s recommended contact time.
Let the top layers down and gently arrange them over the textured sections. Avoid brushing aggressively through freshly crimped roots if you want the lift to remain hidden.
If you’re using a volumising iron with a crescent or rounded plate, the technique is closer to using a curved flat iron.
It works more like a flat or curved iron: guide it through the section while lifting away from the scalp to create shape and body. Keep the tool moving so heat is not concentrated in one spot.
The best volumising iron is the one that creates the amount of lift you want without forcing you to rely on maximum heat. Hidden micro-crimps give the most targeted root lift, while rounded stylers create softer body through the lengths.
FAQs About Volumising Hair Irons
Do Volumising Irons Damage Hair?
They can. Any hot tool can weaken the hair if the temperature, contact time, or frequency is too high. Heat protectant, dry hair, lower settings, and fewer passes can reduce risk but cannot make heat styling completely damage-free.
Can I Use A Root Crimper Every Day?
Daily heat on the same root sections can increase cumulative damage. If you want frequent volume, alternate hot-tool days with rollers, root clips, blow-dry techniques, or styling products.
Can A Volumising Iron Make Oily Hair Less Greasy?
No. It can make flat roots look fuller, which may make oiliness less visually obvious, but it does not remove sebum. Washing or an appropriate dry shampoo addresses oil more directly.
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