Something for all hair types and styles.
Selecting the perfect curling iron can be challenging—every hair type responds differently to heat and styling. Whether your strands are fine and straight, thick and wavy, or naturally curly, the right tool can make all the difference, turning frizz into smooth, defined curls with ease.
Curling irons are not universal in most instances. Actually, the kind of curling iron you are supposed to use may differ depending on how the hair is and what kind of curl you are seeking. Whether it is deciding what barrel material is the most suitable to your hair, such as titanium, ceramic, tourmaline or steel, or it is the width, length and heating options at a price that fits your lifestyle, it can all get a bit confusing.
Regardless of your hair type, these curling irons are a combination of high-tech, versatile, and style to enable you to get salon curls at home. These tools have been chosen according to the professional advice and practical experience to guarantee that they produce gorgeous results on all types of hair, on all budgets, and on all hair styles. This information helped us to reduce it to the top eleven curling irons of all hair types, budget, and style.
JUMP TO REVIEW
1
Best Overall Curling Iron
Ion Golden Titanium Curling Iron
PROS
- Earned top marks in multiple testing categories
- Suitable for a wide range of hair types
- Produces smooth, long-lasting curls
- Simple and comfortable to use
CONS
- Takes a little longer to heat up
Reaching the highest temperature in our tests, this curling iron proved to be the top performer for creating long-lasting curls—even on coarse or thick hair. It wiped out the competition, and scored the highest in almost twelve categories such as grip and maneuvering, easy controls, compact size, and curls that stay in place. Our testing also revealed that it took the longest time of all the curlers to achieve the highest temperature, so simply make sure that it has plenty of time to warm up before styling.
TESTERS SAY: Customers were fond of the fact that the clamp is as long as the barrel, which is especially handy with shorter hair, and that the shorter length of the handle allows them to keep their hand in an ideal position to access the thumb grip, but it can become hot when positioned at the highest temperature.
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 450ºF | Barrel size: 1″ | Material: Titanium
2
Best Budget Curling Iron
Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
PROS
- Budget-friendly price
- A top-selling on Amazon
- Offers multiple heat settings and a range of barrel sizes for versatility
CONS
- Durability may be limited over time
The price of this well-known, popular curling iron cannot be beaten, and Amazon users testify that it is a worthy investment. Nearly 95,000 five-star reviewers claimed that it is effective on both fine and thick hair, and has adjustable heat and a ceramic coating. It might not last you years and years at such a bargain price but it does the job just fine.
TESTERS SAY: One Amazon reviewer wrote that the adjustable temperature options provide them with the option to select the appropriate amount of heat to apply to their hair type. I can always find the right amount of heat regardless of whether my hair is fine or thick without damaging it unnecessarily.
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 400ºF | Barrel size: 1″ | Material: Ceramic
3
Best for Lasting Curls
Hot Tools 24K Gold Collection Extended Barrel Curling Iron
PROS
- Heats up fast
- Creates long-lasting, defined curls
CONS
- One tester noted it became too hot during use
This curling iron was greatly praised because it was so easy to manoeuvre and it also produced soft and well-defined curls. Although the majority of testers liked the fact that it heats up faster, one of them did complain that the iron heats up faster than anticipated when it was in use.
The 1.5-inch size fits my hair perfectly and provided me with all-day, even the following day curls, one tester said. I also especially like the long tip because I could hold it when doing my hair. Some of the testers also commented that the tangle-free swivel cord made working with the iron particularly easy.
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 450ºF | Barrel size: 1¼” | Material: 24-carat gold styling surface and stainless steel core
4
Best Beach Waves Curling Iron
Beachwaver PRO Curling Iron
PROS
- Rotating barrel automatically curls the hair
- Delivers well-defined curls that last
CONS
- Requires some practice to master
- Small clip can be difficult for those with short hair
This automated, time-saving curling iron has become a favorite among pros. It’s the only tool TBH Senior Beauty & Style Director Sarmin Sima relies on, and it’s also the top choice of the Beauty Senior Chemist—high praise from seasoned experts.
One tester said it spins around your face, eliminating the guesswork of curling hair. All you need to do is attach a piece of hair at the bottom and press the button and see how it spins around the curler. Wait a few seconds, release, and you have a perfect loose curl.
Our testers reported that it holds hair in place, and the resulting curls are distinct and last long to give beautiful, natural looking curls in no time. It has a slight learning curve, however, and is only recommended with long hair; those with short hair found the small clip hard to operate.
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 410ºF | Barrel size: 1¼” | Material: Ceramic
5
Best Curling Iron for Long Hair
Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler Curling Iron
PROS
- Long barrel ideal for styling longer hair
- Produces curls that hold throughout the day
CONS
- Barrel may be unwieldy for short hair
This device eliminates the problem that anyone with very long hair is well aware of, that is, they run out of space on the rod before their hair is completely long. It has a long barrel, nearly two inches longer than most curling irons, which makes it particularly useful in working long lengths easily. Although we believe that the long barrel is an excellent solution to the long haired, it might not be most appropriate with the short haired, and the long barrel does require some time to get used to as well.
The fans claim that their style lasts hours and one of the reviewers stated that her curls last the entire day and she still can have loose curls the next day. One of the former TBH employees also commented that she likes that the clamp extends almost the entire length of the barrel too to be able to style it quickly and easily.
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 430ºF | Barrel size: 1″ | Material: Ceramic
6
Best Curling Iron for Short Hair
Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Ion 3-in-1 Ceramic Curling Wand
PROS
- Offers versatile styling options for all hair lengths
- Includes both tapered wands and a classic barrel
- Dual-voltage for travel
- Features an easy-to-read temperature display
CONS
- Requires some practice to master
- Doesn’t reach the higher heat levels some coarse hair types may need
In case you are in need of a traditional curling wand with the most versatility, this interchangeable one by Paul Mitchell is a real winner. It has three ceramic barrels, one 1-inch rod of loose waves, one 1.25-inch cone of natural curls and one 0.75-inch cone of tight ringlets, so you can change your style any time you want.
The wrap and release clamp-free design accelerates the styling process and helps to minimize damage, and the far-infrared technology and super-charged negative ions of the brand contribute to providing shiny frizz-free results. It is also dual voltage to travel and is auto shutoff in one hour.
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 450ºF | Barrel size: 0.75″, 1″, 1.25″ | Material: Ceramic
7
Best Curling Iron for Beginners
Hot Tools Signature Series Gold Curling Iron/Wand
PROS
- Affordable, lightweight, ergonomic, and simple to use
- A favorite among salon professionals
CONS
- Temperature control dial can be difficult to adjust accurately
This curling iron received a high score in terms of maneuverability and ergonomic design which makes it a great option to the beginner. It is also a pocket-friendly choice to those who are new to the home styling. The handle is slim-than-average to hold, and most of the salon professionals we interviewed are addicted to it. Sima said that she uses Hot Tools curling irons at home and in the salon. Our one regret: it does not have a sound alarm when it reaches the required temperature.
The long clamp was also praised by testers as they said it grips the hair easily without pinching the ends thus making it very easy to use by beginners. It was also commended to be lightweight, easy to handle, and simple in its classic design weighing slightly less than a pound. The temperature dial was the only negative aspect raised, and it is not as accurate as dedicated buttons.
Temperature settings: Adjustable temperature 280ºF – 430ºF | Barrel size: 1″ | Material: 24K gold plated steel
8
Most Versatile Curling Iron
Drybar Mixologist Interchangeable Styling Iron
PROS
- Includes curling iron, wand, and waver attachments
- Offers a wide temperature range suitable for all hair types and textures
- Features an intuitive display and easy-to-use buttons
CONS
- Heating element sits very close to the countertop
The curling wand of Drybar has always worked well in our tests, and, therefore, it is not surprising that this three-in-one styling device is another hit with the crowd. The attachment system is safe and simple to operate, the screen is clear and bright and the rubberized keys are simple to navigate.
It has three multifunctional attachments, a 1-inch wand that creates effortless beach waves, a 1 1/4-inch curling iron that creates polished curls, and a three-pronged waver that creates a tousled texture, so it addresses virtually every styling requirement. One of the ex-TBH employees said that it warms up fast in all settings, and all barrels slide through the hair without getting snagged, giving smooth, frizz-free results.
The larger barrel can also be used as a wand or even a smoothing tool with the help of the heated clamp. But she did desire a better kickstand so that the hot barrel would not be so near the counter and said that it is easy to turn the tool off in the middle of the style.
Temperature settings: Adjustable temperature 200ºF – 450ºF | Barrel size: Three attachments: 1″ wand, 1 ¼” curling iron, 3-pronged waver | Material: Ceramic
9
Best Curling Iron Hair Dryer Combo
Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler
PROS
- Helps reduce excessive heat damage
- Convenient curling iron and hair dryer in one tool
- Works for both curling and straightening styles
CONS
- pricey
- Curls may not last all day
Our Beauty experts are obsessed with the Dyson Airwrap: This is a high-technology styling device that is like a hair dryer and curling iron combined, which uses six high-powered streams of hot or cool air to magically dry and style your hair, whether wet or dry. Our professionals like the genius air jet design that enables hair strands to wrap themselves around the curler attachment, as though it were magic.
One of the testers observed that it provides salon quality styling with significantly reduced heat, which reduces damage. One of the TBH employees also told me that it gives her hair curls that last relatively long. I have plenty of curly strands, lots of them, so it will take styles well, she said. Although the outcomes are not ultra-defined, all-day curls, the device provides the hair with a natural movement, bouncing, and volume.
Temperature settings: Three heat settings plus cool shot | Barrel size: Comes with 1.2’’, 1.6’’ barrels | Material: Ceramic
10
Best Curling Iron for Damaged Hair
ghd Curve Professional Hair Curling Irons
PROS
- Helps prevent excessive heat damage
- Maintains a consistent 365º temperature for even styling
- Automatically shuts off after 30 minutes for safety
CONS
- Doesn’t offer adjustable heat settings
This is a smooth, one-inch universal voltage model and it is the one that received dozens of rave reviews by reviewers, including those with thin hair. Although none of the heat tools are damage-free, in our Beauty Lab test of flat irons, we discovered that ghd tools kept a consistent temperature of 365º that can avoid overheating and causing much damage, unlike other brands that can reach over 450º, so we anticipate the same behavior of the curling iron.
Its only disadvantage is that one temperature setting might not suit all hair types, textures, and thicknesses. One reviewer said that she has good hair and it is so nice to finally have a curling iron that really does what I want it to do.
Temperature settings: Maintains a steady temperature of 365ºF | Barrel size: 1″ | Material: Ceramic
11
Best Curling Iron for Fine Hair
T3 SinglePass Curl X Extra-Long Curling Iron
PROS
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Simple to maneuver for precise styling
CONS
- Heat settings don’t indicate the actual barrel temperature
Another T3 product that has impressed me is this smooth ceramic curler that leaves the hair frizz-free and smooth. It has an extra-long 6.5-inch barrel that is ideal in styling longer hair. We adore the fact that the ceramic clamp does not pull the hair, and the barrel does not become hot and cold and lets us style bigger portions of hair at a time. Glamour’s Kilkeary has used many curling irons in her almost seven years of beauty business but she deems this as one of the best.
Temperature settings: 260°F–450°F | Barrel size: 1″ | Material: Ceramic
What to do to locate the correct curling iron to your hair.
To be sure that you are selecting the best curling iron based on your hair type and objectives, there are a few features and considerations that you will want to consider. The following are what you should remember when you start shopping:
✔ ️Barrel size: “It would depend on the texture of the hair and the kind of curl you are after and then you would decide what size barrel to use, said one tester. When you want to have looser, beachy waves, grab a bigger barrel (1 1/4-inch and bigger). The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl will be. In case your hair is difficult to curl, find a 1-inch barrel to achieve a curl that will not fall flat during the day. Want a do-it-all size? According to another tester, a curling iron that has a barrel size of 1 1/4 inch is a good size to use when doing everyday curls regardless of the appearance you want.
✔ ️Material: The Beauty Homes team has found that both ceramic and titanium barrels are good conductors of heat and can be used on all types of hair, so marketing should not influence that one is better than the other. With that said, titanium is usually favored by stylists due to its lightness and ability to retain high temperatures. Ceramic, however, is more likely to spread the heat more evenly, and it is a little more user-friendly, particularly among the beginners.
✔ Clamp: To be as versatile as possible, a full-length clamp curling iron should be selected. This will enable you to work areas of hair as desired and many irons can even be used as wands by wrapping hair around the clamp in order to create more gentle curls or waves. Wrapping hair over the clip can be used to create looser curls and waves using some models. According to tester, the best way to use clamps is to avoid leaving any marks in the hair, hence the reason why some of them would favor a clamp-less wand: it is easier to use.
✔ Heat control: According to our tester, it should have adjustable heat settings. Fine hair or delicate face-framing pieces should be worn on lower temperatures and coarse or natural hair or hair that is difficult to curl should be used on higher temperatures. Our Beauty experts recommend low heat on fine, chemically processed or delicate hair (180 o F to 370 o F); medium heat on easy-to-curl, healthy hair (375 o F to 395 o F); and high heat on thick, wavy or natural hair (400 o F to 420 o F).
✔ Cord: A cord is a minor detail, but it can have a significant influence on your styling experience. A cord of professional length is approximately nine feet in length, and anything less can restrict your movement. Swivel is also a significant advantage, which will assist in avoiding the tangling during work.✔ Auto shut-off: Testers are fond of curling irons that have an auto shut-off feature. It provides you with the tranquility of automatically shutting off the tool, thus you will never have to worry about whether you turned it off or not.
