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Of all the hair tools on the market, few are as polarizing as the curling iron. Choosing the best curling iron is just as important as learning how to use one properly—whether you’re creating subtle waves, tight coils, or flatiron curls.
The Best Hair Curling Irons, According to Reviews
- Best Splurge: Dyson Airwrap Styler, $600
- Best Overall: Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Marcel Iron,
$50, $32 - Most Versatile: Harry Josh Pro Tools 3-in-1 Ceramic Curling Iron, $185
- Best Budget Pick: Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron, $20
- Best Hair Iron for Beach Waves: Bed Head Wave Artist Deep Waver, $29
- Best Temperature Control Range: Conair Instant Heat Styling Brush,
$25, $20 - Best for Multiple Hair Styles: NuMe Octowand 8-in-1 Curling Wand, $249
- Best for Beginners: Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver PRO 1, $229
- Best Clamps: T3 Whirl Trio, $325
- Top Trending Hair Curler: Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Brush, $100
- TikTok’s Favorite Curling Iron: Shark FlexStyle, $299
In This Story
While both Sims and Courtney prefer traditional curling irons over wands or other tools, it’s worth exploring all the options available for your post-shampoo look. In fact, Courtney says that finding the most suitable iron is all about trial and error. To help inform your buy, we’ve tapped pro hairstylists to share the best curling irons they’ve tested and use on the reg—plus a few reviewed and endorsed by Vogue editors.
Best Overall: Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold Marcel Curling Iron
“This one is a go-to because it always gets the job done and lasts forever,” says Courtney. “I’m sure I still have one from more than 10 years ago, and it works better now than it did when I first bought it.” Sims prefers this Hot Tools model, too: “I love Marcel irons because they allow me to create curls and texture with an effortless flip of the wrist. The barrel rotates easily while creating your desired finish.” If that’s not enough, pro stylist Sal Salcedo describes this as his “undisputed go-to iron.” He tells Vogue, “through the years, this brand has proven to be consistently reliable, providing me with the right heat I need to curl or wave multiple hairstyles without issues,” as well as speed and flow for perfect waves and curls.
- Temperature Settings: This curling iron heats up to 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 0.375”, 0.5”, 0.625”, 0.75”, 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”
- Material: Gold surface barrel
- Best For: Waves or curls on a variety of hair types
Best for Tight Curls: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron
Celebrity hairstylist Nikkia Nelson also likes the BaBylissPRO curling irons, calling the temperature settings “phenomenal” in delivering an amazing curl. It’s made with a titanium barrel to heat the hair from within, creating everything from loose waves to tight curls.
- Temperature Settings: This curling iron heats from 250 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 0.75”, 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”
- Material: Titanium
- Best For: Everything from loose waves to tight curls
Best Rotating Curler: CHI Spin & Curl Ceramic Rotating Curler
CHI’s Spin & Curl is certainly one of the most unique tools you can use to curl your hair, especially for those who have trouble manipulating clip barrels or wands. The rotating curler effortlessly draws hair into a chamber, then uses ceramic heat technology to precisely curl the hair.
- Temperature Settings: This curling iron uses a rotating ceramic barrel that styles hair across three pre-set temperature settings up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1”
- Material: Rotating ceramic barrel
- Best For: quick and easy curls
Most Versatile: Harry Josh Pro Tools 3-in-1 Ceramic Curling Iron
Nation says the Harry Josh Pro Tools 3-in-1 Curling Iron is one he can’t live without. “With attachments, you’re able to use it as a Marcel iron, a wand, or an iron with a spring clip. This makes the iron super versatile and a staple in my kit.”
- Temperature Settings: Curls hair at temperatures from 190 to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1”, 1.25”
- Material: This interchangeable tool utilizes nano-ceramic titanium barrels
- Best For: all sizes of curls - tight coils to large curls
Best for a Silky Smooth Finish: T3 SinglePass Curl Professional Ceramic Curling Iron
“Lately, I’ve been really loving the T3 SinglePass Curl,” says celebrity hairstylist Ashley Stewart, who notes it forms beautiful, luxurious curls. “It’s such a sleek and functional tool. I like how it doesn’t have a typical on/off button but [rather] a knob on the bottom. This is very convenient because with other tools, the button is most likely located in a spot where you can accidentally shut it off without knowing.” Similarly, hairstylist Kahh Spence relied on this curling iron to recreate Beyoncé’s nostalgic B’Day album updo.
- Temperature Settings: This curling iron utilizes a ceramic barrel and smart microchip technology to style hair across five heat settings.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 0.5”, 0.75”, 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”
- Material: Ceramic
- Best For: luxurious, silky curls
Best Splurge: Dyson Airwrap Styler
“I love the Dyson Airwrap Styler. It works like magic,” says Courtney. “It gives the bounciest curls and waves with so much body. I’ve never experienced heat damage using this iron.” The styler uses the brand’s airflow technology to attract and wrap the hair around the barrel to curl, wave, smooth, and dry without extreme heat—much like the coveted blow-dryer. The styler recently received a high-tech upgrade, with its next generation providing increased customization and enhanced results.
- Temperature Settings: This tool uses Coanda airflow to style hair while keeping temperatures under 302 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Best For: blow outs, smoothing hair, waves and drying hair
- Available Attachments: Three barrels for curls and waves, two round brushes, four paddle-like brushes, two drying attachments
Best Temperature Control Range: Conair Instant Heat Styling Brush
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- Why We Love It: Thermal brushes have been taking over our TikTok feeds lately. Why? They allow for effortless ’90s blowout volume with just a flick of the wrist. Conair’s brush heats up in 30 seconds to create smooth, loose to medium, tangle-free curls. This is an excellent solution for quick styling sans hot air—meaning you could use this for touch-ups after air-drying or for on-the-go styling.
- Product Specs: This styles hair with nylon bristles across 25 heat settings.
- Available Sizes: 0.75”, 1.25”
Best Clamps: T3 Switch Kit Wave Trio
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The T3 Switch trio is another model acclaimed by the industry’s top stylists. Celebrity hairstylist Nikkia Nelson says it glides through the hair with ease: “The T3 curler comes with three barrel sizes [for] different size curls, which is super important when you don’t want to carry around a bagful of curling irons”—a convenience that celebrity hairstylist Mideyah Parker agrees with. Even more, hairstylist Angie Perrantes, who specializes in natural hair, says that once she tried the T3, it was hard to use another curling iron brand because it heats up quickly and leaves hair silky smooth.
- Temperature Settings: This set features three ceramic barrels that use the brand’s Rapid HeatIQ technology across five heat settings.
- Available Barrel Sizes: This includes a 1” straight wand barrel, 1.5” clip, and 1.25”clip barrel.
- Material: Ceramic
- Best For: Smoothing hair and all types of curls
Best Budget Pick: Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
Conair’s Double Ceramic Curling Iron is the ultimate affordable styling tool, ringing in at less than $20. Available in three barrel sizes, the iron reaches the desired temperature in 60 seconds and offers turbo settings for 30 varying levels of heat customizable to your hair type and desired look.
- Temperature Settings: This curling iron has a ceramic barrel that offers 30 heat settings, up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 0.5”, 0.75”, 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”
- Material: Ceramic
- Best For: Large curls and waves
Best Curling Iron for Long Hair: Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron
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Those with long hair should eagerly consider this Bio Ionic iron, which features a barrel two inches longer than traditional models. What’s more, this design can facilitate styling the back of your head too. Either way, this is designed to lock in moisture and create long-lasting curls sans crunchy texture.
- Temperature Settings: Heats up to temperatures from 250 to 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Sizes: 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”
- Material: Ceramic mineral complex
- Best For: All types of long-lasting curls
Best for Multiple Hairstyles: NuMe Octowand 8-in-1 Curling Wand
Courtney is also a fan of the NuMe Octowand “because it comes with eight different wand heads to achieve so many different styles. This one is cool when you want to include different styles of curls in one sitting.” Each of the wand attachments is made of tourmaline ceramic to help heat the hair evenly and reduce heat damage.
- Temperature Settings: Each of the included tourmaline barrels heat up to 170 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: This features eight barrel attachments: two cone wands (19mm and 25mm), one pearl-shaped wand, one reverse cone, and four traditional wands (13mm, 19mm, 25mm, and 32mm).
- Material: Tourmaline
- Best For: Any type of curl or wave
Best for Color-Treated Hair: GHD Curve Classic Curl Iron
Those with color-treated hair should look to the GHD Classic Curl—a model designed to intensify hair color and create curls that last. The ceramic iron uses the brand’s Tri-zone technology which celebrity hairstylist Graham Nation says “makes the hair easy to manipulate without overheating the hair” and maintains it across the entire barrel. (Plus, no extreme heat!) This was also pro hairstylist Clayton Hawkins’s pick to create romantic Botticelli-inspired waves on Maddie Ziegler in their installment of Hairdos.
- Temperature Settings: This iron offers a pre-set styling temperature of 365 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1”
- Material: Ceramic-coated iron
- Best For: All types of curls and waves for dyed hair
Best Professional Curling Iron Wand: Drybar The Wrap Party Styling Wand
For a tool your stylist would use during your routine blowout appointment, consider the Drybar The Wrap Party Styling Wand. Not only does the professional wand feature a no-slip barrel, but it also uses technology to reduce frizz and boost shine. The result? The beachy waves of your dreams.
- Temperature Settings: This curling iron heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1”
- Material: Plastic
- Best For: Reducing frizz, blow outs, waves and more!
TikTok’s Favorite Curling Iron: Shark FlexStyle
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This versatile hair dryer comes with five different attachments that can straighten, wave, dry, or curl hair, plus the base itself bends for easier styling. One round brush, one paddle brush, a concentrator nozzle, and two curling barrels are included in this kit; the curling barrel is the attachment most sought after and trending on TikTok as it uses a tried-and-true airflow technology that attracts individual hairs to the barrel wrapping around to curl hair in seconds. Pro tip: Hold the “cold shot” button for 10 seconds to set the curl and reduce frizz. It’s a solid pick for anyone keen to try its more expensive counterpart but hesitant on splurging on the technology.
- Temperature Settings: 4 heat settings and 3 airflow settings
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1.25”
- Best For: All hair styles - curls, volume, blowout, waves, hair drying and more
Top Trending Hair Curler: Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Hairbrush
While this isn’t a traditional curling iron, you’ve likely seen this trending hair styler all over TikTok. It makes sense—it’s great for smoothing, volumizing, and curling, with one Vogue contributor with thick hair saying she’s able to create bouncy curls in just 15 minutes. This is an excellent solution for quick styling sans hot air—meaning you could use this for touch-ups after air-drying or for on-the-go styling.
- Temperature Settings: 356 degrees Fahrenheit
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1.5” with .0” bristles
- Material: Ceramic barrel with nylon bristles
- Best For: Adding shine, smoothing hair, blowouts, curtain bangs, and quick styling
Best for Travel: Bed Head Curlipops Tourmaline Ceramic Spiral Styling Iron
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The unique spiral barrel on Bed Head's model sets it apart from other curling irons on the market. Achieving enviable, defined coils is as simple as wrapping your hair around the 1” wand. Pro tip: Curl while pointing the barrel downward to get the look.
- Temperature Settings: This tool uses tourmaline ceramic technology that styles hair at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1”
- Material: tourmaline ceramic
- Best For: Defined, tight curls
Best for Beginners: Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver PRO 1
Invented by celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa, the Beachwaver is a rotating curling wand that’s particularly simple to use—especially for a novice. The tourmaline-infused, extra-long barrel can rotate to the left or right for glam waves, defined curls, and everything in between.
- Temperature Settings: Reaches temperatures from 310 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Barrel Sizes: 1”
- Material: Tourmaline infused, ceramic barrel
- Best For: Everything from waves to defined curls
Best Heated Brush: T3 Edge
Laura Polko, the pro behind Emma Chamberlain’s 2022 Met Gala hair, notes the recently launched T3 Edge is great to curl curtain or traditional bangs. While this heated brush certainly offers uses beyond curling, thanks to its heated edges and ceramic surface, she believes this is a versatile styler to even reach close to your hairline and scalp. “Then you can wrap sections around the brush as you turn, creating a wave. You can also use it to turn ends under or flip out.”
- Temperature Settings: This heated brush uses T3’s Rapid HeatIQ Technology to style hair across three heat settings.
- Material: Ceramic
- Best For: curls bangs, waves and smooths hair
Best Hair Iron for Beach Waves: Bed Head Wave Artist Deep Waver
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The enviable tousled waves of your dreams are enabled by Bed Head’s deep waver. Through its deep barrel design powered by tourmaline ceramic technology, this sculpts fine to coarse hair types. Begin at the root and work your way down the hair shaft in one-inch sections, holding in each section for just a few seconds, to achieve the look.
- Temperature Settings: This waver uses tourmaline ceramic technology to style hair up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit across three heat settings.
- Material: Tourmaline ceramic
- Best For: Beach waves on all hair types - from fine to coarse
What to look for in a curling iron
“What makes a great curling iron is heat-protecting technology, so that the hair isn’t burned or damaged, [as well as] ergonomic control so that it’s comfortable and practical for the user,” says celebrity hairstylist Erinn Courtney, who adds that high enough temperatures are key too.
There’s a lot to know about curling wands; after all, they’ve been around forever, and there’s so much variety. One of the things to keep in mind is the different types of curling wands: ceramic, titanium, and tourmaline are the most common. According to Rogerio Cavalcante, stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York, the distinction between various materials lies in their response to heat. Ceramic barrels distribute heat evenly, reducing the risk of hot spots that may cause damage; this makes them a safe and effective choice for most hair types.
Celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims also shares guidance on choosing the right model for you: “To sum it up, go for a ceramic curler if you have hair that holds a curl easily or is fine and prone to damage. A titanium curling iron is better for coarse, thick, or curly hair.” According to Courtney, a ceramic barrel takes longer to heat up and heats hair from within, so it’s gentler on thin or damaged hair.
Titanium heats up faster than other options, which may pose a challenge for fine hair. “However, it is a suitable option for those with thicker or coarser hair, offering efficient heat distribution while minimizing the risk of damage,” Cavalcanta adds. A tourmaline curling iron is a styling tool designed with tourmaline-infused ceramic plates. “Tourmaline, a semi-precious gemstone known for its unique properties, produces negative ions and infrared heat when incorporated into hair tools. This feature contributes to smoother, shinier, and less frizzy hair,” he says. Cavalcante likes to use tourmaline for individuals with frizzy hair due to its efficient heat distribution and its ability to reduce damage compared to traditional styling tools.
Different barrel sizes yield various styles, allowing you to choose based on the desired look. Thinner barrels, ranging from ⅜ to ½ inch, create tight curls that, when brushed through, achieve a voluminous ’70s aesthetic, explains Cavalcante. Medium sizes, between ¾ and 1 ½ inches, produce curls reminiscent of Sarah Jessica Parker in her Sex and The City days. Larger barrels, on the other hand, result in waves rather than curls. (You’ll love these for a natural wedding guest hair styles; they’re great for styling long hair as well, including creating some of the best long hairstyles for women over 50.) He suggests breaking the waves with a finger or comb after cooling to achieve a soft, natural wave look. Alternatively, gently organize them with your fingers for a more polished appearance. “While there isn’t a strict rule about which hair length pairs best with a specific barrel size, shorter hair, particularly above the neckline, tends to fare well with smaller wands. This is because there may not be enough length to wrap the hair around a larger curling iron,” Cavalcante says.
Temperature also plays a major role in styling and maintaining the health of your hair! For individuals with fine hair, there are fewer layers to protect the strands, so you should use less heat when styling. Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair, recommends lower heat (250F - 300F) for fine hair, as each section will shape much quicker than the same section of denser/thicker hair. “Normal hair is best styled with medium heat of 350F, while thick hair can be styled with 375 F-450F. The thicker the hair, the more heat is needed to penetrate and create shape and curl in the hair,” she adds.
How to best use a curling iron
Regardless of your hair type, it’s always important to apply the best heat protectant spray to safeguard the cuticle. When it comes to whether your hair is wet or dry, it depends on the tool itself. “Always use hot electrical curling tongs on completely 100% dry hair, while heatless curls and air-styling tools should be used on damp or 90% dry hair,” warns Simich. She explains that hair generally curls better with hair tongs the next day, as the hair cuticle will be open and will have some natural oils that will add grit to help the curl hold. This is why sometimes your hair falls out after it's freshly washed. If you can’t wait until the next day to curl or wave your hair, use a texturizing spray. “If your hair is too clean or slippery, a texturizing spray can provide grip and help the curls hold.”
Meet the Hair Experts
- Erinn Courtney is a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Eva Marcille and Trevor Noah.
- Graham Nation is a celebrity hairstylist and educator who counts Venus Williams, Emma Chamberlain, and Maddie Ziegler as clients.
- Nikkia Nelson is a celebrity hairstylist and barber who has worked with Ruth E. Carter, Angela Simmons, and Brandy.
- Mideyah Parker is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Precious Lee, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Naomi Campbell.
- Angie Perrantes is a pro hairstylist and natural hair specialist whose clients include Paige Hurd and LisaRaye McCoy.
- Laura Polko is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Madelyn Cline, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Hailee Steinfeld.
- Sal Salcedo is a professional hairstylist and founder of Nova Arts Salon in Los Angeles
- Ashley Stewart is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Simone Biles and La La Anthony.
- Larry Sims is a celebrity hairstylist who counts Gabrielle Union, Regina King, and Kerry Washington as clients.
- Rogerio Cavalcante, stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York
- Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair