Drybar’s styling tools promise salon-quality bends and waves at home. But with three options — the Wrap Party Wand, the Mixologist Interchangeable Styler, and the Curl Party Heated Round Brush — it can be tricky to pick the right one for your hair and routine.
At BeautiLAB Studio, we tested all three for heat stability, design, and styling results. Here’s how they stack up.
✨ Quick Summary
- Best for Beachy, Loose Waves → Drybar Wrap Party
- Best for Versatility & Travel → Drybar Mixologist
- Best for Blowout Volume & Soft Bends → Drybar Curl Party
🏆 Drybar Curlers — Quick Decision Comparison
| Feature | Drybar The Wrap Party View on Amazon View on Drybar  | Drybar The Mixologist View on Amazon View on Drybar  | Drybar The Curl Party View on Amazon View on Drybar  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beachy, textured waves | Multiple curl styles with one tool | Curl + volume in one step |
| Hair length | Short–medium | Short–medium | Medium–long |
| Hair type | Fine–medium | Medium–thick | Medium–thick |
| Curl style | Loose, natural waves | Versatile (spirals, waves) | Lifted curls / body |
| Barrel type | Reverse-tapered ceramic wand | Interchangeable attachments (wand/iron/waver) | Heated round brush |
| Barrel length | ~5.25″ | ~4.5″ usable per attachment | ~4.75″ |
| Heat range | 200–450 °F | 200–450 °F | 200–450 °F |
| Max temp tested | ~380 °F | ~350 °F (approx) | ~400 °F |
| Weight | Light (wand-balanced) | Varies by attachment (heavier overall) | Moderate |
| Ease of use | Easy (freehand) | Moderate (attachment swapping) | Very beginner-friendly |
| Main trade-off | Counter rest wobbles | Short usable barrel on some attachments | No integrated safety stand |
🔁 Which Drybar Curler Should You Buy?
Start here ⬇️
1️⃣ Do you want simple, beginner-friendly styling or more versatility?
- 🎯 I want easy curls + volume with minimal technique → Drybar The Curl Party
- ✋ I want more control / shaping options → Go to Question 2
2️⃣ Are you curling mainly for waves & texture or multiple curl styles?
- 🌊 Textured beachy waves — mostly freehand styling → Drybar The Wrap Party
- 🎨 I want one tool that can do spirals, waves, and more → Drybar The Mixologist
✅ Final Picks at a Glance
- Best for effortless curls + lift: Drybar The Curl Party
- Best for beachy, textured waves: Drybar The Wrap Party
- Best for multiple curl styles with one base: Drybar The Mixologist
🏷️ Where to Buy & Current Prices (Auto-Updated)
🧩 Design & Build
Drybar The Wrap Party is a reverse-tapered ceramic wand designed to create loose, irregular waves rather than uniform curls. The 1″–1.25″ taper encourages softer bends with volume through the mid-lengths and relaxed ends. Hair-chemistry analysis summarized by Phys.org explains that non-uniform barrel shapes disrupt even tension along the hair fiber, which naturally produces more organic, beach-style texture rather than rigid spirals. Its 5.25″ barrel length provides enough wrap space for medium to long hair without feeling oversized. The no-slip ceramic surface helps keep hair in place during wrapping, which is especially useful since no glove is included.
Drybar The Mixologist is the most modular design in the lineup. It uses a single powered base with interchangeable ceramic attachments—including wand, spring iron, and waver formats. As a wand, the usable barrel length is 5″, but all attachments share a 4.5″ usable heating area for safety. This creates consistency across styles, though it slightly limits wrap length compared to dedicated long-barrel tools. The detachable system makes it compact for storage and travel, especially with the included heat-proof storage case.
Drybar The Curl Party departs from traditional curling tools entirely, using a heated round brush design instead of a wand or clamp iron. With a 4.75″ brush barrel, it’s clearly aimed at short hair and shaping rather than curling. There is no defined barrel width, as styling relies on bristles and tension instead of wrap geometry. Unlike the other two, it does not include a counter rest or safety stand, relying instead on resting against its plastic tong structure.
Design takeaway:
- Curl Party = hybrid curl-and-shape tool for short hair
- Wrap Party = shape-driven waves
- Mixologist = maximum versatility
💡 Performance & Technology
All three tools share Drybar’s wide 200–450°F heat range, controlled through 25 incremental settings, allowing fine tuning across hair textures. Dermatology guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using the lowest effective heat and minimizing repeated passes—making this kind of granular adjustment particularly useful for everyday styling.
Each tool uses a digital temperature interface with LED display and ceramic barrels with ionic technology (no dedicated ion generator).
In testing:
- Wrap Party peaked at 380°F, delivering steady heat suited for textured, beach-style waves rather than tight curl formation.
- Mixologist peaked around 350°F (noted as approximate), which is sufficient for most hair types but slightly less aggressive than its rated maximum.
- The Curl Party reached 400°F, giving it the strongest shaping heat of the three—important for a brush-based design that relies on tension rather than wrap.
Handle temperatures stayed controlled across the lineup (mid-80s to ~90°F), and cool-tip temperatures remained usable for brief contact, though only the Mixologist includes a cool-touch finger grip.
None of the three tools offer dual voltage, limiting them to single-voltage use.
Performance takeaway:
- Curl Party delivers the most shaping power for short hair
- Wrap Party excels at loose, undone texture
- Mixologist prioritizes flexibility over raw heat
🔌 Ergonomics & Handling
All three tools share a 9-ft swivel cord, providing generous reach during styling. Handle width is consistent at 1.2″, giving a familiar grip across the range.
Weight & balance
- Wrap Party: weight not specified, but feels wand-balanced in use
- Mixologist: varies significantly depending on attachment
- ~9 oz as a wand
- ~12 oz as a curling iron
- ~14.8 oz with specialty attachments
- The Curl Party: 9 oz, balanced but more brush-heavy at the head
Each model includes a 60-minute auto shut-off and light indicators for power status. The Mixologist stands out for travel convenience, thanks to its detachable design and storage case, while the Wrap Party and Curl Party lack storage accessories.
Counter-rest usability differs:
- Wrap Party’s stand is present but unstable
- Mixologist’s stand is integrated and functional
- Curl Party has no dedicated safety stand
Ergonomic takeaway:
- Curl Party = compact but less countertop-friendly
- Mixologist = best for multi-tool users and travel
- Wrap Party = simple wand handling with minor stability issues
📊 Performance Breakdown
| Model | Heat Power | Styling Range | Ease of Use | Frizz Control | Best Hair Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrap Party | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Beachy waves, flips | Very easy | Smooth finish | Fine–medium |
| Mixologist | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Waves, curls, S-bends | Quick changes, heavier waver | Good | Fine–medium |
| Curl Party | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Blowout bends, volume | Bristles steady hair | Good shine | Fine–medium |
📣 User Experiences
“Wrap Party makes perfect loose waves with no tug.”
“Mixologist means one tool for everything — love it for travel.”
“Curl Party gives my bob salon bounce in minutes.”
🏁 Final Verdict: Which Drybar Tool Should You Buy?
- Choose Drybar The Wrap Party if you want effortless, beachy waves with a shape-driven wand and minimal fuss.
- Choose Drybar The Mixologist if you want maximum versatility from one base and don’t mind a shorter usable barrel length.
- Choose Drybar The Curl Party if you have short hair and want a curl-plus-shape hybrid rather than traditional curls.
Learn how we test at BeautiLAB: Our Methodology
