Wavytalk Cool Curl Pencil Review: Fine Hair Test
I tested the Wavytalk pencil flat iron on my fine, long hair. Here's how the cool curl pencil handled curls, straightening, and edges.
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Quick Verdict
My first curl came out “not bad for my first time” and I’m someone who is terrible at styling my hair. The Wavytalk pencil flat iron is slim, weighs 0.6 lbs, and the cool airflow kept it off my scalp. On my long fine hair it took a few tries to reach the ends. On short hair it would sing.
Buy if you:
- Have a pixie cut, bangs, or short layers to style
- Hate heavy tools and want something lightweight in your hand
- Want to smooth the kinks from an everyday low bun
- Like a cool-air setting to keep heat off your face and scalp
Skip if you:
- Have long hair and want full curls in one quick pass, it needs small sections and a longer hold
- Have thick, coarse hair that wants a bigger barrel
- Want a grab-and-go tool with zero learning curve
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I’m Terrible at Hair, But Pencil Flat Iron Changed That
I keep reaching for Wavytalk tools for one reason: I cannot style my hair. So when this Wavytalk pencil flat iron showed up, I filmed myself using it for the first time, on my very fine straight hair, with zero practice. What you get here is exactly that, a real first run, not a polished demo.
And I get why they call it a pencil. Look how slim this thing is. That slimness is the entire pitch here, and it changes what you can reach.
What the Cool Curl Pencil Is
The pencil flat iron is a 0.65″ slim styler that straightens and curls the same small sections most regular tools miss. The heating plate itself is 0.39″, with the 0.65″ being the shell size. It weighs 0.6 lbs, which is the part that won me over before I even plugged it in. To turn it on you hold the power button for a couple of seconds, then you filter through the temperatures. There’s a little lock feature too, so when you’re traveling you can lock it shut and it won’t pop open and break inside your suitcase.
The headline feature is the 360º cool airflow. Wavytalk lists 104 cooling vents, and the idea is you curl, then hit the cool air and hold it a few seconds to set the curl. You can turn the airflow off entirely for quieter sessions or when you’re just straightening.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Barrel size | 0.65″ shell (0.39″ heating plate) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs |
| Cool airflow | 360º, 104 cooling vents |
| Plates | Ceramic |
| Functions | Straightener, curler, crimper |
| Included | Heat-protection glove |
My First Curl Came Out Better Than Expected
I went with the hottest setting and got a real curl on the first try. There was a little chart telling you which temperature to use for your hair type, and to the process, I have really fine thin hair so I probably didn’t need the hottest. But it was my first go, so I cranked it. The first thing I tested wasn’t even a curl. My hair is fine and straight and usually up in a low bun, which leaves little kinks. I ran a small piece through it like a straightener and it came out pin straight. That is pretty awesome.
Then I grabbed a small section, brought it down, and held it like a little curling iron. As I got close to my scalp I turned on the cooling. It got a little sweaty in there, then the cool air kicked in and cooled me down. I held it a couple seconds, turned it off, untwisted, and it wasn’t bad for my first time. The cooling does double duty, it sets the curl and it lets you get closer to your face without burning your skin.
By the second and third piece I had a real beach wave going. The trick I landed on with long hair was holding each section longer, think three to four seconds instead of one quick pass, and keeping the cooling on the whole time. By the third curl I wasn’t fumbling anymore, I was actually styling.
The Curl Didn’t Reach My Ends the First Time
My biggest hiccup was length. My hair is long, and on the first pass the curl didn’t reach the ends. I could see the straight tail hanging past where the curl stopped. So I had to slow down, grab smaller sections, and get closer to the ends to get a better hold. It’s not a dealbreaker, it’s a technique thing, but if you have long hair, know going in that this is a small-section, take-your-time tool, not a one-and-done.
I also fumbled the buttons. Mid-curl I pushed the wrong one and changed the temperature, then had to navigate back. The control is all on one button cycle, so it’s easy to bump when your hands are busy. And the barrel gets piping hot to the touch, which is why they include a glove. I skipped it because I was only doing a few pieces, but for a full head I’d use it.
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Wavytalk Pencil Flat Iron
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Who This Pencil Flat Iron Is Really For
This is short-hair territory. I saw a bunch of videos of people with cute little pixie cuts using this, and it’s really great just to grab and twist a small section. If you have bangs, short layers, or edges you can never reach with a full-size iron, this slim shape is exactly the point. The pencil flat iron for edges and root lifting is where the slim barrel and cool air shine: it shapes and sets lift without piling on extra heat, which is handy for fine hair that goes flat.
It also works for someone like me who mostly needs to smooth out bun kinks and add one or two soft waves around the face, for that, it takes under five minutes. If you have longer hair and want a full head of curls, budget the time: small sections means this is a 30-minute job, not a 10-minute one.
Straightener vs. Full-Size Curling Iron
A regular curling iron beats this for long hair, plainly. A bigger barrel wraps more length in one go and gets your ends without fuss. But that’s also the tool I hate holding, because those things are heavy and my arm gives up. The pencil flat iron at 0.6 lbs is the opposite. That’s the other reason I usually hate doing my hair, the weight, and this is really lightweight and easy. If your hair is short or you’re detailing edges and bangs, a full-size iron literally can’t reach what this does. Different jobs.
Tips If You Buy It
Don’t default to the hottest setting like I did. Check the little temperature chart, fine or thin hair doesn’t need max, save the high heat for thick curly hair. Work in small sections and hold longer than feels natural if your hair is long. Use the cool air at the end of every curl to set it. And a pro tip I kept seeing that I’d try next time, put a light mousse or styling product in first so the curl holds, then style. I’d probably do that afterward, but people swear the hold is better with it.
Pros
- Slim enough to reach short layers, bangs, and edges a big iron can’t
- Lightweight at 0.6 lbs, no arm fatigue
- Doubles as a straightener, went pin straight on my fine hair
- Cool airflow sets the curl and keeps heat off your scalp and face
- Lock feature so it won’t pop open in your suitcase
Cons
- On long hair the curl didn’t reach the ends the first try, needs small sections and patience
- Easy to bump the wrong button mid-style and change the temperature
- Barrel gets piping hot, you’ll want the included glove for a full head
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the pencil flat iron work on long hair?
Yes, but it’s not the fastest for long hair. On my long fine hair the curl didn’t reach the ends on the first pass, so I had to use smaller sections and hold each curl a few seconds longer. It’s designed for short cuts, so long hair works with some patience.
What does the cool airflow feature actually do?
It blows 360º cool air to lock in your curl right after you shape it. I turned it on once I got close to my scalp, held it a few seconds, and it set the curl while cooling my skin so I didn’t burn my face. You can also switch it off if you just want to straighten quietly.
Which temperature should I use?
Match it to your hair type using the chart it comes with. I have fine thin hair and went with the hottest for my first test, but I didn’t need it, thicker curly hair is what the high heat is really for. Start lower if your hair is fine.
Is it good for edges and bangs?
Yes, that’s its strong suit. The slim 0.65″ barrel reaches small sections, fringe, and edges that a full-size iron can’t get near. It’s built for detail styling on short cuts and pixies.
Can I travel with it?
Yes, and it has a lock feature made for it. You lock the plates shut so it won’t spring open and break in your suitcase. At 0.6 lbs it’s also easy to toss in a bag.
Do I need styling product to make the curl hold?
Not required, but it helps. A pro tip I kept seeing is to put a light mousse or styling product in first so the curls hold longer. I’d do it next time, since without any product the curl is softer.
Does it come with a heat glove?
Yes, a glove is included and I’d recommend using it. The barrel gets piping hot to the touch, so for a full head you’ll want it. I skipped it only because I was doing a few test pieces.
Can it lift roots for more volume?
Yes, the slim barrel plus the cold air are made for root lifting at the crown and fringe. It shapes and sets lift without piling on extra heat, which is handy for fine hair that goes flat.
Get it now
Wavytalk Pencil Flat Iron
Get the best price on Amazon →This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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