Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editor and brandsSave this storySave this story
When your baby hairs, postpartum regrowth, or static insist on marching to the beat of their own drum, a few quick swipes of the best flyaway wands are often all it takes to make your style look sleek again. "Flyaway wands are hair-styling products packaged with a mascara-style spoolie applicator that's designed to smooth down flyaways and baby hairs along the hairline, part, or crown," says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Nicolas Flores. "The precision applicator is what sets them apart from traditional edge control or hairspray." In other words, instead of misting your entire head or scooping product from a jar, you can target exactly where it's needed—making touch-ups fast, mess-free, and surprisingly foolproof.
Our Top Flyaway Wands
- Best Overall: Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand, $20
- Best for Textured Hair: Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand, $16
- Best Drugstore: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Tamer, $10
- Best Hold: Chris McMillan The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand, $22
To find the best flyaway wands, we tested top-rated formulas on everything from fine, wispy baby hairs to thick, coarse strands, evaluating how well each one smoothed frizz, controlled flyaways, and held up throughout the day. Scroll ahead for the picks that made the cut.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- How do you use a flyaway wand?
- Can a flyaway wand cause breakage?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand
Save to wishlist
Dae
Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand
Amazon
Sephora
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand
Sarah Han
Why it's worth it: Taming flyaways is a given, but Dae’s Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand also treats your hair while it smooths. The multitasking formula uses moisture-locking dragon fruit, elasticity-boosting cactus flower extract, and shine-enhancing prickly pear seed oil to hydrate, soften, and strengthen strands. All hair types can use the product, but “people with dry or textured hair will especially appreciate how nourishing it is,” says Taylor Murphy, a hairstylist based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The generously sized brush makes touch-ups for long hair "quick and effortless," while the flexible formula smooths hair without sacrificing natural movement, adds Liz Shears, a hairstylist based in Los Angeles. “It creates a polished finish without making the hair feel stiff or sticky,” says Shears. You can also pick your favorite from the brand’s original citrus-orange blossom-vanilla blend, fruity Desert Peach, or dessert-like Vanilla Dae Beam.
Han before applying the Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream with Taming Wand
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
LargeChevron
“My hair is flyaway central. No matter how good of a blowout I get—and I get free professional blowouts via my job by the best of the best!—there are little wisps that are determined to stand up tall. Sure, I take so many photos of myself for work that you could say I'm the only one that notices, but I don't care! I want them slicked down! This Dae wand has been my most-used flyaway tamer by far. I like that the wand is on the wider side (so it covers more area at once) and the bristles are more spread out and do a great job at helping comb my hair as it flattens the runaway wisps. I'm a bit insecure about my hairline—it's sparse on both sides—and the Dae wand easily helps spread out the baby hairs more evenly so it at least looks like I don't have any empty spots! I have at least two or three wands lying around in the original Signature Citrus Blend and Vanilla Dae Beam—both smell delectable, obviously.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: dragon fruit, cactus flower, prickly pear seed oil
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Textured Hair: Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Save to wishlist
Rizos Curls
Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: Willow bark extract and lactic acid are ingredients you'd typically expect to see in an exfoliating skin-care product—not a hair-styling cream. Here, though, they play a different role. Lactic acid helps hair attract and retain moisture while smoothing the cuticle for added shine, and willow bark extract works to minimize buildup from repeated styling. Paired with hydrating hyaluronic acid, conditioning castor oil, and gloss-boosting hibiscus flower extract, the formula keeps curls, coils, and edges looking sleek without feeling stiff or flaky. The slim wand makes it easier than bulkier spoolies to smooth and define baby hairs exactly where you want them without disturbing the rest of your style.
Former Allure associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry before applying the Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Melanie Curry
Curry after applying the Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Melanie Curry
Tester feedback from former associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
LargeChevron
“I use this flyaway wand a few times a week, especially at the end of the day when I need to ‘fix’ my edges. I typically pump the wand a few times (to get all the product out) before I begin laying down my edges. I then use my finger as a guide for shaping. I love how compact it is. Most edge stylers or gels come in these huge bottles/jars, so having a flyaway wand that's literally the size of a mascara is perfect for me. It doesn't have the most hold, but it does its job! This is my first-ever flyaway wand, so I'm not sure if all wands are supposed to have maximum hold, but I have since tried a few others, and they didn't do anything for my curly hair. So this is number one in my book.” —Melanie Curry, former associate manager of audience development
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: lactic acid, willow bark extract, hyaluronic acid, castor oil, hibiscus flower
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Drugstore: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Tamer
Save to wishlist
Garnier Fructis
Sleek & Shine Frizz Tamer
Amazon
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin applying the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Tamer
Why it's worth it: Since Garnier’s Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Tamer dries down completely clear, "it's a great option for darker hair because it blends in beautifully with no residue," says Shears. The formula pairs argan oil to soften strands and enhance shine with a trio of hydrolyzed wheat, corn, and soy proteins—what the brand calls vegan keratin—to smooth the appearance of frizz and flyaways. “It’s so lightweight and doesn’t feel or look heavy once it dries on the hair,” adds Murphy. And like all flyaway wands, it's easy to toss into your bag—but with the brand claiming up to 12 hours of hold, you may not even need it for touch-ups.
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
LargeChevron
“When I went through postpartum hair loss, then regrowth, I was addicted to this frizz tamer. The halo of short, stubborn strands of hair were truly tamed by this wand. Instead of other thicker-paste formulas that I've tried, this one is more of a tacky serum (but not sticky!) that let's your hair still move with soft-hold flexibility, rather than stop them in their tracks like a hard gel. While that means it doesn't have as much staying power on my coarse strands vs. a gel, if you have thinner hair, it will hold even better. I love that it doesn't leave a greasy-looking sheen on black hair (mine is so dark, it seems to amplifies any product that has any sort of residue or shine). This leaves my hair tamed, but without grease streaks, or gunk—and it has that signature light and refreshing Garnier fragrance. A keeper!” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: argan oil, hydrolyzed wheat, corn, soy proteins
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Fine Hair: IGK Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand
Save to wishlist
IGK
Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand
Amazon
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the IGK Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it's worth it: If you have fine hair, taming flyaways can be a bit of a catch-22: Smooth them down, and suddenly you've flattened your style in the process. IGK's Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand "keeps stray hairs in check without sacrificing volume," says Shears. The lightweight formula relies on moisture-attracting glycerin and tremella mushroom extract—often nicknamed "nature's hyaluronic acid" for its water-binding ability—along with antioxidant-rich spirulina extract to leave strands looking smooth, soft, and touchable without adding weight. "The oversized wand also makes application quick," adds Flores, especially if you have longer hair and want to glide it down the lengths to smooth flyaways beyond just your hairline.
Lee before applying the IGK Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying the IGK Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
LargeChevron
“My part is full of those feathery little baby hairs that have always done their own thing. I never realized how much more polished my hair could look until I started using the IGK Good Behavior Frizz & Flyaway Hair Taming Wand. It couldn't be more foolproof. A few quick swipes are all it takes to tame flyaways, and unless you’ve really piled on a ton of product, it's pretty much impossible to mess up. My biggest concern with products like this is losing all the volume at my roots, but a light touch is all you need to keep baby hairs in place without plastering everything down. There's zero flaking, crunch, or sticky residue, and it doesn't leave my hair looking greasy.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: glycerin, tremella mushroom extract
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Thick Hair: Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Sleek Stick
Save to wishlist
Briogeo
Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Sleek Stick
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Former Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis applying Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Sleek Stick to her hair.
Angela Trakoshis
Why it's worth it: While this isn't a traditional flyaway wand, if you're trying to smooth a larger section of hair or “you need a little more grip for thicker, coarser strands,” just a few swipes of Briogeo’s Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Sleek Stick can leave your entire style looking polished, according to Shears. The solid balm nourishes with plum oil, argan oil, and castor seed oil to soften and add shine, while antioxidant-rich yuzu extract protects hair from environmental stressors. A proprietary Super B-Complex (including niacinamide, panthenol, biotin, and folic acid) rounds out the formula to support healthier-looking hair. "It gives excellent control over stubborn flyaways while maintaining a healthy-looking, glossy finish instead of an overly slick appearance,” Shears says.
Tester feedback from former shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis
LargeChevron
"Most days of the week, you can catch me with a slicked-back updo simply because I have to revolve my entire life around hair wash days. This stick glides with ease, holds everything in place, and at the end of the day doesn't feel crunchy or gross, but rather soft and sleek.” —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: yuzu extract, plum oil, castor oil, B vitamins, candelilla wax
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Hold: Chris McMillan The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand
Save to wishlist
Chris McMillan
The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand
Sephora
Allure commerce editorial assistant Hailey Roy applying the Chris McMillan The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand
Hailey Roy
Why it's worth it: The man behind Jennifer Aniston's iconic "Rachel" haircut probably knows a thing or two about keeping every strand in place. Lucky for us, Chris McMillan has bottled some of that expertise into The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand. The formula “delivers smoothness and separation” thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid with nourishing jojoba oil, says Flores. And if you're reaching for a hot tool afterward, the brand's HS3 Complex adds shine while providing heat protection up to 450°F—giving your roots an extra line of defense. "It's easy to layer, so don't be afraid to apply a couple of times to find your perfect hold," adds Murphy. Despite its all-day hold, "it still avoids that sticky residue that can make hair feel overworked," says Flores.
Roy before applying the Chris McMillan The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand
Hailey Roy
Roy after applying the Chris McMillan The Smooth and Tame Hair Wand
Hailey Roy
Tester feedback from commerce editorial assistant Hailey Roy
LargeChevron
“To all my curly girls, I want to preface this by saying that this product could never replace a trusty boar bristle brush for a true slick-back. However, this wand is small, convenient, and does a great job taming those stubborn little flyaways. As someone who has fallen victim to the clean-girl slick-back bun (it’s currently my go-to), I can already tell this product will be a new staple in my handbag, whether I’m heading to work or out for the night. It’s honestly one of those products I didn’t even know I needed until I tried it. The hold lasted a decent amount of time, it didn’t leave too much of a crunchy cast behind, and it was incredibly easy to use. My only feedback is that I had to keep dipping the wand back into the tube because my hair needed quite a bit of product to smooth everything down.” —Hailey Roy, commerce editorial assistant
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Applicator: Ceremonia Pequi Flyaway Hair Styling Gel with Mascara
Save to wishlist
Ceremonia
Pequi Flyaway Hair Styling Gel with Mascara
Sephora
Former Allure content director Kara McGrath applying the Ceremonia Pequi Flyaway Hair Styling Gel with Mascara
Kara McGrath
Why it's worth it: Unlike a traditional spoolie, Ceremonia’s Pequi Flyaway Hair Styling Gel with Mascara features a clever three-in-one applicator that makes taming flyaways surprisingly intuitive. The mascara-style brush evenly coats strands with gel, the edge brush smooths and shapes baby hairs, and the fine-tooth comb catches stray flyaways without disturbing the rest of your style. Inside the tube, Brazilian pequi oil nourishes strands and tames frizz, aloe vera powder delivers a smoother, shinier finish as a plant-based alternative to silicones, and antioxidant-rich açaí extract helps boost gloss. “It’s a great, non-sticky gel formula, yet has lasting hold,” says Flores.
McGrath before applying the Ceremonia Pequi Flyaway Hair Styling Gel with Mascara
Kara McGrath
McGrath after applying the Ceremonia Pequi Flyaway Hair Styling Gel with Mascara
Kara McGrath
Tester feedback from former content director Kara McGrath
LargeChevron
“I'm a longtime fan of Ceremonia's Pequi Styling Gel, so I was stoked when they came out with the wand version. Just like the OG gel, the stuff in the wand provides great hold without even a whisper of crunch. Like all wands, it's great for travel, but this one is unique because it comes with three different brushes: a mascara-style wand for slicking back, a comb for gently taming flyaways, and an edge brush for baby hairs.” —Kara McGrath, former content director
More to know
LargeChevron
- Key ingredients: Brazilian pequi oil, aloe vera powder, açaí extract
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use a flyaway wand?
Using a flyaway wand couldn't be easier. Simply lightly brush the mascara-style spoolie over any frizz, baby hairs, or stray strands—whether they're along your hairline, part, crown, or around an updo—starting at the roots and combing downward for frizz control and a sleek finish. "A flyaway wand can be used on any hairstyle, whether you have an updo for a wedding, you’re creating a slicked-back bun, or simply want to tame some frizz along your part from the fresh blowout you just got,” says Murphy. “All you need to do is find the frizz and brush your wand over it." Consider it the finishing touch that makes any style look a little more polished.
Can a flyaway wand cause breakage?
Not typically. "A flyaway wand would be very low on the list of things that cause hair breakage as long as you're following the directions," says Murphy. To minimize the risk of snagging, use a flyaway wand as the final step in your styling routine, gently brushing it over baby hairs and frizz rather than repeatedly dragging it through the same section. Murphy adds that flyaway wands are also a gentler alternative to repeatedly touching up stray hairs with hot tools, which can lead to far more damage over time.
Meet the experts
- Nicolas Flores, a hairstylist and co-founder of Flore Los Angeles based in Los Angeles
- Taylor Murphy, a hairstylist based in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Liz Shears, a hairstylist at Benjamin Salon based in Los Angeles
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best flyaway wands, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists who have different hair types and textures. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Leave a Reply