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The 5 Best Curling Irons, Based On Rigorous Testing

 

The best curling irons create shiny waves and curls that last, without creasing or snagging strands in the process. The iron should be lightweight and easy to maneuver around your head as you style. Our team tested more than ten models to narrow down our list of winners, considering factors such as plate material, barrel size, temperature range and more. After extensive testing, the Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron earned the top spot thanks to its impressive heat range, ceramic blend plates and ergonomic design. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron is priced under $60 and has a titanium-coated barrel that is helpful for thick hair.

When choosing the right iron, it’s important to consider your hair type and texture. This can help you determine the optimal material type and temperature range for creating lasting curls. For example, thinner strands benefit from gentle, even heat and don’t need temperatures above 350 degrees Fahrenheit for effective styling. Thick or coarse hair can handle temperatures up to 400 degrees—although it’s helpful to start with a more moderate temperature and work your way up to avoid heat damage. Below, find the best curling irons to create waves, curls and coils that last all day.

Best Curling Iron Overall

Consistently Produces Glossy, Healthy-Looking Curls

Plate material: Ceramic NanoIonic MX Mineral Complex | Barrel sizes: 0.75 inches, 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.50 inches | Temperature: 250 degrees to 430 degrees Fahrenheit | Heat-up time: 45 seconds | Weight: 8 ounces | Cord length: 9 feet | Warranty: 1 year

Best for:

• All hair types, thanks to the extensive heat range
• Medium to long length hair
• Giving a shiny, healthy-looking finish 

Skip if:

• You’re looking for a lower priced model

With a wide range of temperature options, long barrel and ergonomic design, this curling iron easily earned the top spot in our roundup. The lowest setting of 250 degrees Fahrenheit makes it deal for styling fine or damaged hair, and it goes it up to 430 degrees for thicker strands. One of our testers with medium-thick 1c hair used this curling iron at 360 degrees, which gave her glossy curls that typically lasted for two days. The styling tool is also light and maneuverable—the handle has a tapered design with well-placed controls and a smooth, matte finish that makes it easy to grip.

Another benefit is the proprietary ceramic blend material of the barrel, which according to the brand is designed to release negative ions when heated, leaving hair shiny and less frizzy. “My hair feels great after using this curling iron,” says our tester. “With older curling irons, my hair felt noticeably dryer, but this is not the case with the Bio Ionic, as it seems to somehow hold the moisture in my hair.”

Best Value Curling Iron

An Affordable Option That Comes In Several Barrel Sizes

Plate material: Sol-Gel Nano Titanium ceramic coated | Barrel sizes: 0.75 inches, 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.50 inches | Temperature: 250 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit | Heat-up time: 40 seconds | Weight: 13.6 ounces | Cord length: 8 feet | Warranty: Limited 2-year warranty

Best for:

• All hair types and lengths
• An affordable option

Skip if:

• You have long hair and want a longer barrel

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Although this model is more affordable than others on our list, it doesn’t skimp on useful features. Like our best overall pick, the BaBylissPro curling iron has an extensive heat range (ranging from 250 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit) that allows it to cater to all hair types. During testing, I used it at 330 degrees, which I found to be the sweet spot for curling my hair without causing heat damage.

It felt slightly heavier than other models I’ve used but not so heavy that it was cumbersome to style my hair. The 1.25-inch barrel creates beautiful curls and waves, although there are three other barrel sizes to choose from. I also appreciated the fabric-covered swivel cord, “turbo heat” button and metal kickstand that ensures it rests safely on countertops.

Best Luxury Curling Iron

Sleek Design And Preset Temperature For Efficient Styling

Plate material: Ceramic coated | Barrel sizes: 1 inch, 1.25 inches | Temperature: 365 degrees Fahrenheit | Heat-up time: 12 seconds | Weight: 14.4 ounces | Cord length: 9 feet | Warranty: 2-year warranty

Best for:

• Advanced users and beginners alike
• Creating soft, touchable curls

Skip if:

• You’re on a budget
• You have long hair and want a longer barrel

GHD is known for its sleek, luxurious hair tools that produce consistent results (the GHD Platinum+ Styler earned top marks in our guide to the best hair straighteners). Hair stylist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio Rodrigo Padilla is also a fan of this product thanks to its reliability and high-quality materials that are built to last. During testing, I was shocked by how quickly this curling iron heated up and how effortless it was to use. It felt light in my hands and didn’t snag or pull my thin, wavy hair. I love that it beeps when it’s ready to be used and automatically turns off after 30 minutes of non-use.

The single preset temperature worked well for me, and I didn’t have to worry about heat damage or fiddling with multiple settings. The one downside is the barrel length, which is roughly one inch shorter than the other irons I tested. If you have long, thick hair, this may not be ideal for you, but this wasn’t an issue for me as I have thin hair that doesn’t take long to style.

Best Curling Wand For Fine Hair

A High-Quality Ceramic Barrel That Evenly Distributes Heat

​​Plate material: CeraGloss ceramic | Barrel sizes: 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.50 inches | Temperature: 250 degrees to 430 degrees | Heat-up time: 90 seconds | Weight: 13.2 ounces | Cord length: 8 feet | Warranty: 2 years

Best for:

• Long-lasting waves and curls
• Minimized heat damage thanks to customized settings based on hair thickness
• Medium to longer lengths, as this model has an extra long barrel

Skip if:

• You’re on a budget 

The popular T3 SinglePass Curl X curling iron has nine heat settings and an easy SmartTwist dial that eliminates the guesswork of finding the optimal setting for your hair type. The first four settings are ideal for fine hair, five and six are ideal for medium-thick hair and seven through nine are best for thick, coarse hair. Our tester with thick, straight hair opted for the fourth setting and found that her curls last throughout the day without requiring touching up.

Because there are no buttons, you just twist the dial to adjust the heat setting, which makes it very user-friendly and helps to avoid accidental adjustments. The curling iron also has an auto shut-off feature, a 360-degree swivel cord and an extended barrel (6.5 inches) that makes quick work of styling long hair.

Best Curling Wand

A Beginner-Friendly Rotating Barrel

​​Plate material: Ceramic | Barrel sizes: 1 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.50 inches | Temperature: 290 degrees to 410 degrees | Heat-up time: 65 seconds | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Cord length: 8 feet | Warranty: 2 years

Best for:

• Quick, simplified styling thanks to three heat settings and a rotating barrel
• Creating casual waves and curls

Skip if:

• You prefer a curling iron with a clamp versus a wand

Unlike traditional curling irons that use a clamp to hold sections of hair in place, this curling wand forgoes the clamp and also features a rotating barrel that does the work for you. A dual button with arrows (left and right) at the top of the handle allows you to control the movement. I’ve used this Beachwaver curling wand for a year and a half, and like how substantial the handle feels—it has a little more heft that’s probably due to the technology—and how easy the buttons are to press while I style my hair.

I also appreciate the three temperature options: 290 degrees, 390 degrees (this setting works best for my hair) and 410 degrees. I’m not remarkably talented at styling my hair, so I’ve appreciated how beginner-friendly and intuitive this wand is—making it a mainstay in my styling routine.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of haircare stories. These include the best hair straighteners, best hair dryers, best blow dryer brushes and more.

• Author Katherine Louie is a lifestyle editor with extensive experience covering beauty and lifestyle topics. She has over seven years of experience evaluating haircare products and tested three curling irons in this guide.
• This story was assigned, produced and edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the beauty and grooming category and has over two decades of experience covering lifestyle topics.
• Louie also gathered key insight and guidance from Rodrigo Padilla, a hair stylist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio, and Raven Hurtado, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

How We Tested The Best Curling Irons

We tested the top curling irons on various hair types, from thin and wavy to thick and straight. When evaluating each tool, we focused heavily on maneuverability, performance and temperature options (which you want to be careful about in balancing effectiveness with minimal potential heat damage).

To determine maneuverability, we assessed each product’s weight, cord length and whether it swivels, which contribute to overall ease of use. Most options weigh around 13 ounces, but our best overall pick the Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron weighs just 8 ounces. Products weighing under 1.5 pounds are ideal for avoiding muscle fatigue and arm strain since you’re constantly holding the tool up to style. Also, a long swivel cord enables you to work around your head and move it around without tangling the cord. We also assessed whether the iron worked as advertised and if our curls held throughout the day without requiring touchups. We asked each tester to note the temperature range if there was one, and whether they could create soft curls without visible heat damage (dry, brittle ends; breakage; or excessive flyaways).

Note: Our testers followed the same steps with each curling iron to ensure we were evaluating them fairly. Before testing each tool, we started with clean hair that had been freshly washed, conditioned, air-dried and prepped with a heat protectant.

How To Pick The Best Curling Iron

To ensure you pick the right curling iron for your hair type, we consulted two professional hairstylists with extensive experience using hot tools. Here’s what to consider.

Plate Material

Curling irons can have ceramic, tourmaline or titanium barrels, but ceramic is the most popular choice for how gentle it is. “Ceramic delivers even heat and helps reduce hot spots. It’s great for fine to medium hair types and minimizes frizz,” says Padilla. On the other hand, tourmaline is said to produce more negative ions than ceramic, which helps create smooth, glossy hairstyles. “Tourmaline is known for adding shine and reducing static—perfect if you’ve got frizz-prone or damaged hair,” says Padilla. However, titanium might be the best option if you have thick or coarse strands and need a more effective iron. Both experts agree that titanium heats up quickly and can handle stubborn hair.

Temperature Settings

The best temperature setting for you depends on your hair type and texture. If you have thin hair, a temperature setting between 250 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit should be enough to create soft curls. However, thick hair may require a higher temperature setting for the curls to last. “To avoid heat damage, keep it under 400 degrees if possible,” says Padilla. “Fine or fragile hair might do better around 350 degrees, whereas thicker hair can push a bit higher. Just remember, cranking it to the max can fry your hair in no time.” Most curling irons offer a range of temperatures, starting around 250 degrees Fahrenheit, but the GHD Curve Curling Iron has one preset temperature (365 degrees).

Maneuverability

To avoid arm fatigue, look for a curling iron under 1.5 pounds. A good iron should be lightweight, easy to maneuver and comfortable to hold for long periods. Features like an extra long or swiveling cord can also make styling easier.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Type Of Curling Iron Is The Least Damaging?

Ceramic curling irons are a safe option and best bet for those with fine, color-treated or damaged strands. Regardless of the plate materials, look for a product with different heat options—or a preset temperature under 400 degrees. “A curling iron with adjustable heat settings, consistent temperature control and high-quality materials (like ceramic or tourmaline) is your safest bet,” says Padilla.

Is Ceramic Or Metal Better For Curling Hair?

Ceramic is an excellent choice for most people because it’s gentle on hair and heats evenly. A ceramic barrel also helps eliminate frizz as you style.

What Size Curling Iron Is The Best For The Blowout Look?

Opt for a slightly larger barrel to mimic a blowout look at home. “If you’re after that classic, voluminous blowout vibe, a 1.25- or 1.5-inch barrel is ideal,” says Padilla. “The larger barrel creates loose, bouncy waves that mimic a round-brush blowout.” Hurtado agrees, adding that a small barrel creates a tight curl, while a big barrel creates loose curls or waves.