Abstract: A hair styling device comprises a base having a rear handle portion and a forward styling portion, the forward styling portion comprising a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections comprising one or more of the following: bristles, comb teeth or spaced apart, plates. The device comprises a retainer arm opposed to the base, and pivotally connected to the base so that the retainer arm can pivot from an open position to receive hair and a closed position for retaining hair in the plurality of projections. The forward section of the retainer arm does not have projections and has sufficient open space that at least 50% of the hair being styled is visible to a user.