Best Curling Irons

To find the right curling iron for you, Nilofer Farjo, a hair transplant surgeon and president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, recommends that you consider hair type, the condition of your hair, and your hair length.

To determine your hair type, here are the four main questions to ask yourself.

• Is it thick or thin?
• Is it curly, wavy, or straight?
• Is it coarse or fine?
• Is it fragile or damaged from highlights, heat, or the sun?

Today, curling irons are covered in one of four surface materials: ceramic, tourmaline-ceramic blends, titanium, and gold.

Ceramic curling irons are best for people with fine, delicate, or damaged hair, according to Annamarie Parker, a senior instructor at Arrojo Cosmetology in New York City.

“Ceramic is great for curling the hair without dragging or pulling and typically creates the smoothest results,” Parker says.

According to Farjo, ceramic is probably the most popular curling iron material today because it spreads heat evenly. That characteristic does come with a caveat though. “It can take time to heat up,” she says.

Ceramic irons we tried: GHD Curve Classic Curl, Bio Ionic Long Barrel, Conair Double Ceramic

Because it minimizes static and frizz while creating a natural-looking shine, tourmaline-ceramic blends are best for coarse hair, Parker says. 

Keya Neal, a colorist, curl specialist, and beauty brand diversity and inclusion strategist based in Gambrills, Md., likes tourmaline-ceramic blends because they’re friendly to hair cuticles and you can style the hair at lower temperature. 

“Tourmaline is a gemstone that can be combined with ceramic to create better heat distribution,” Farjo says. “Hairs are positively charged, so the negative charge of tourmaline reduces surface tension of the hair, which will help the hairs to lie flat against each other thereby reducing frizz and static.”

Tourmaline-ceramic blend iron we tried: T3 SinglePass Curl

Titanium heats to higher temperatures more quickly, Farjo says, making it a choice for thicker hair. But she warns that on thin, short, or fine hair, titanium can quickly cause heat damage. 

It can also smooth the hair, according to Neal, but the heat titanium can pack remains a concern. “I only use it in the salon as part of a system, where I may be using other products to treat the hair,” she says.

Titanium irons we tried: Belisa by Lunata, BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Extended Barrel

“Gold-coated irons can hold high heat settings for a long time,” Parker says, “but they often don’t distribute the heat evenly.”

There’s also the problem of the coating. While other irons are made of solid material, gold-coated ones have another heating element underneath—often another metal. 

“The problem with any curling iron that just has a coating is that the coating is likely to come off,” Neal shared. “You want to make sure that whatever is under that coating isn’t going to scorch your hair, and it typically will—that’s why there’s a coating in the first place.” 

Gold-plated irons we tried: Hot Tools 24K Gold Professional, Hot Shot Tools Gold Series Spring

Curling irons come in many barrel diameters from as small as ⅜ inch to as large as 2 inches.

“The barrel size determines the size and tightness of the curl,” Parker says. Smaller barrel sizes will yield tight, corkscrew curls, while larger ones result in looser, bouncy curls. 

Josh Marquette, a hair designer for Broadway shows in New York, says 1 to 1½ inches is a good size for beginners: “The wands are nice for self-styling and angling the iron in different directions.” 

Lauren DeCosimo, a bridal hairstylist, agrees: “I typically recommend a 1¼ to a 1½ for most hair lengths. Longer hair can use a larger rod. One inch will be tighter and better for shorter hairstyles.”

Curling irons feature a clamp, which will hold your hair in place as you curl it. Curling wands, meanwhile, have no clamp—you simply wrap the hair around the barrel and then unravel it to release.

“A wand only produces a wave,” DeCosimo says. “A curling iron is more flexible and can create both a curl and a wave.”

Parker says a wand creates “more beachy” waves than the defined look you’ll get with a curling iron. Marquette, an expert in hairstyles across the decades, says contemporary hairstyles are “more carefree and undone”—a style curling wands are known to achieve. 

We decided to start with the classic curling iron for this evaluation and move on to wands in a future Outside the Labs review.

Many curling irons today advertise technologies designed to prevent heat damage, enhance your style, and even improve the health of your hair. This includes features such as variable heat settings, microchips that can detect heat changes and maintain the correct temperature, and far infrared technology—which supposedly penetrates deep into the hair shaft and heats hair from the inside out—as well as safety features, such as automatic shutoff.

Of all these bells and whistles, the most important feature is heat control. Marquette, who styles hair and wigs for Broadway performers who may use a curling iron up to eight times a week, says that being able to turn down the heat on your hair is key when it comes to preventing heat damage. 

Of the other claims? “They’re legitimate,” Parker says. “But how it works really depends on your hair type.”

“There are two types of action caused by intense heat, which causes great damage to the hair,” says Tony Maleedy, a cosmetic scientist and lecturer at the University of Bath in England. “Firstly, a general evaporation of moisture from within the cortical fibers of the hair and a loss of protective cuticle scales from the surface of the hair. Secondly, the water in the hair can literally boil and turn to hot steam. This steam damages the cortex and allows it to break down, resulting in the hair breaking within a few days.”

Curls that last are paramount for DeCosimo’s clients—brides who want their style to hold up from the ceremony all the way until the end of the after-party. 

“Without products, most textures will not hold a curl very long,” she says. “Layering mousse, setting spray, and hairspray creates the shape and longevity.”

She suggests people looking for a long-lasting style start with mousse when the hair is 80 percent dry. Setting spray, also called heat protectant or thermal iron spray, should be applied to dry hair before using a curling iron. She recommends using about two to three sprays, then combing it through each section before curling.

While curling, DeCosimo suggests setting the hair by pinning the curls to your head after you take them off the rod. Your hair will take about 20 minutes to cool down.

“The longer it sits in the shape, the longer it lasts,” she says. “I usually recommend doing your makeup during those 20 minutes.”

It’s important to make sure that your curling iron has a warranty and has an electrical safety certificate from a trusted third party. You can typically find these certifications on the packaging—the curling irons we tested had certifications from MET Laboratories, Intertek’s Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) or TÜV Rheinland.

“There are a lot of knockoffs with any electrical device,” Farjo says. “A warranty means that it should come from a legitimate company that has tested for heat stability and electrical safety.”

Though curling irons are a common household device, safety is still an important consideration. 

“There are many factors as to why safety risks may arise, such as overloading outlets with multiple adaptors, connecting an electric device with several extension cords, etc.,” says Ashita Kapoor, associate director of product safety at Consumer Reports. “Some minor flaws can also lead to burns and other injuries. Curling irons emanate excessive heat. If the curling iron is plugged in, it should never be left unattended. Users should always unplug the curling iron after use.”

Most of the curling irons we evaluated came with detailed safety instructions. A study published in 2001 found that the most common injuries related to curling irons are burns. 

It is also possible to shock, or even electrocute, yourself. That’s why it’s important to never use a curling iron in the bath or near water. Do not place or store your curling iron where it can fall or be pulled into a tub or a sink. If your iron does fall into water or any kind of liquid, unplug it immediately—do not touch the liquid. 

Fires are also a danger. Always unplug your curling iron after use. Leaving it plugged in is a fire hazard. Using an extension cord is also a fire hazard. If you see that the cord on your iron is frayed or damaged, do not plug it in. 

Never leave a hot curling iron unattended. When the iron is hot, do not touch the barrel with your hand and avoid touching your scalp or face. Ensure that the heated part does not touch any surface when the iron is on and hot. Children and people with certain disabilities should not use curling irons by themselves, or they should at least be closely supervised.

The average age of pediatric injuries in children under the age of 11 resulting from curling irons was about 2½ years old, according to a 2019 study. Most of the injuries happened when the child touched the iron while it was within reach. But other injuries occurred because the child pulled the power cord to the curling iron; the child stepped, rolled, or jumped onto a hot curling iron left on the ground; or the curling iron fell, injuring the child. 

We found that even after curling irons have been turned off, they can take up to 20 minutes to cool down. Be sure to warn anyone in your vicinity that might come near the curling iron that it’s still hot and they shouldn’t touch it. Store the curling iron only after it has completely cooled, to avoid setting anything that might be stored near it on fire.

I selected eight curling irons based on search data; they were best sellers on popular sites such as Sephora, Sally Beauty Supply, and Amazon. I also looked for a range of prices and materials. 

I decided to go with 1-inch barrels for all the irons so that we would be able to compare results. 

Lastly, I recruited four co-workers to help me evaluate the curling irons. 

Ginger has waist-length fine hair with medium density. It naturally falls into well-defined spiral curls. After straightening, her hair has trouble holding a curl without significant help. She’s looking for an iron that can give her bouncy, shiny curls that will last. 

Angela has fine but dense hair that’s somewhat porous because she highlights it. It’s naturally pretty straight, with a slight wave to it. She’s a curling iron newbie—she’s never used a curling iron before! She wants a curling iron that’s easy to use.

Perry has thin, fine hair with low porosity that’s straight, with a slight wave to it. She does not use any hair products aside from shampoo and conditioner, and she hasn’t used a curling iron since “middle school, maybe?” She wants a curling iron that’s easy to use and can deliver natural-looking results. 

Daniela has thick hair that falls naturally into loose but well-defined S-shaped curls. She wants a curling iron that doesn’t take forever to style her hair, has great curl definition, and is easy to use. 

I have highly porous, highlighted hair. It’s fine but has medium density. In the winter, when humidity is low, it’s straight, with a slight wave to it. In the summer, when humidity is high, it’s wavy. It curls easily and can hold a style for days. I want a curling iron that won’t damage or dry out my hair and yields shiny, soft-to-the-touch curls. 

Over the course of many weeks, we each curled our hair with all eight curling irons. We looked at criteria including:

• Whether the iron had adjustable heat settings.
• How long it took to heat up and cool down.
• How easy it was to use.
• Whether we achieved the style we wanted.
• Whether the iron incurred any damage on our hair.
• Safety features such as a cool tip, a barrier between barrel and handle, and automatic shutoff.
• Other features, such as specialized technologies, dual voltage, and cord length.
• Whether the iron has a warranty.
• And whether we would use it again in the future or recommend it to a friend.

At a certain price, it strikes me that manufacturers should include nice-to-have accessories with their irons, such as a heat-resistant mat upon which to rest the iron, a bag for storage—or, even better, a silicone sleeve like the one the Belisa by Lunata provides. 

Furthermore, a few of the user manuals describe medium or average hair—that which is neither thick nor thin, fine nor coarse—as “normal.” What is normal? The language here is unimaginative at best and vaguely insulting at worst.