Top 10 Best Curling Irons
With a huge variety of styles how do you find the perfect curling iron for your hair? First you need one that gets hot enough to properly curl your hair – the thicker your hair the hotter it needs to be. Secondly you need one with the correct barrel size for the style you want to create – a smaller barrel will create tighter, bouncier curls; while a larger barrel means bigger curls or a more beachy wave look. Lastly, it needs to be easy to hold and use.
You also might hear the term curling wand instead of curling iron. A curling iron has a barrel and a clip to hold your hair, a wand does not have the clamp and usually features a tapered barrel that goes from wider at the base to narrow at the tip.
It is easy to burn yourself or damage your hair if you don’t know what you are doing. Therefore, before you use any curling iron we recommend watching some tutorial videos demonstrating how to use it most effectively. Then practice with it before you plug it in and gets hot. Once you are confident in how to handle it, then get to work created those beautiful curls or beachy waves.
To determine which one was best we looked at dozens of models including both irons and wands and read reviews from many of the top beauty-related websites and magazines. We compared the top choices and came up with our list of the top 10 best curling irons which we review below.
9.3
Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver S1
The one negative is that the Beachwaver S1 takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but once you figure out exactly how to use it you will save time. It is also the most expensive curling iron on our list.
For many people this is now their go-to curling iron to create loose beachy waves or more defined tight curls.
9.2
Sultra The Bombshell Rod Curling Iron
As for negatives, it is obviously more expensive then many other options so if that is a concern then look for another choice that is cheaper. It also does not have a temperature adjustment which gives you less control and adjustability.
9.1
Remington CI9538 T|Studio Salon Collection Pearl Digital Ceramic Curling Wand
The rod is a 1 to 1.5 inch tapered wand without a clamp so you don’t get dents or bends in your hair. This Remington T|Studio model also has a ceramic pearl technology for the smoothest finish. The temperature ranges from 270 – 410 degrees which will heat up in under 30 seconds and it has an auto shutoff.
Overall we highly recommend this Remington curling wand for anyone who wants a quality cheap curling wand. Buyers should note that this version creates bigger, looser curls, but there is also a 1/2 to 1 inch model that can create tighter curls.
9
Hot Tools Professional 1110 Curling Iron
A few people have complained about the construction quality and some do seem to fail prematurely, but that is not completely unexpected at this price. Users should also be careful of high temperatures and start off on a low heat setting. Some people have burned chunks of their hair off because it was too hot.
9
Bed Head Curlipops BH313 1" Curling Wand
It has a 1-inch barrel designed for loose waves and curls. In addition to the BH313 there are also 4 other units in the Bead Head Curlipops lineup each designed to get different results from springy spirals to waves galore.
The BH313 has only one heat setting of 400 degrees F. While this works for most women, it may be too hot or too cold for certain hair types.
9
Kiss Products Instawave Automatic Hair Curler
This Kiss Products curler has two heat settings with the max being 420 degrees. It also contains an automatic shutoff.
It does take some time to get the hang of using the Instawave Automatic Hair Curler, but almost all users say it is easy to use after a bit of experimenting and does not tangle your hair.
9
xtava Satin Wave 5-in-1 Curling Iron and Wand Set
The set is comprised of two tapered clipless barrels (1 0.3″-.75″ and 1 0.7″-1″) and three barrels with clips (0.7″-1″, 1″, and 1″-1.25″). However, none of them have a cool tip. There is nine heat settings between 250 and 410 degrees.
Overall the xtava Satin Wave 5-in-1 Curling Iron and Wand Set is a great option since it can create any type of curl you desire, but the lack of a cool tip on the clip barrels is a turnoff. It also might not be perfect for you if you need a really hot iron since this unit has a bit of trouble staying hot and recovering heat while you are using it.
8.9
BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium ConiCurl Iron BABNT125TB
It does not come with a heat glove, so you will need to purchase one if you don’t want to burn yourself.
8.7
Hot Tools Professional Marcel Curling Iron
This model is available in 5 sizes including 3/8″, 1/2″, 1″, 1.25″, and 1.5″ and has variable heat settings up to 430 degrees. Overall this Hot Tools Marcel Iron is a solid performer with an affordable price tag.
8.5
Conair Infiniti Pro Professional Nano Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron
Does this thing work as well as the more expensive models? Not quite, but it still is pretty decent for this price. One other main complaint from users is the on/off switch is in a place where you accidentally hit it while you are using it.
Best Curling Iron Comparison Chart
Model | Rating | Price | Barrel Material | Barrel Type | Barrel Size | Clamp | Temperature (Degrees F) |
Auto Shutoff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver S1 | 9.3 | $129.00 | Ceramic | Rotating Cylindrical Rod | 1″ | Yes | 290 – 410 | Yes |
Sultra The Bombshell Rod Curling Iron | 9.2 | $82.16 | Ceramic | Clipless Cylindrical Wand | 1″ | No | 380 | Yes |
Remington CI9538 T|Studio Pearl Ceramic Curling Wand | 9.1 | $24.99 | Pearl Ceramic Coating | Clipless Conical Wand | 1″ – 1.5″ | No | 270 – 410 | Yes |
Hot Tools Professional 1110 Curling Iron | 9.0 | $31.75 | 24K Gold Plated | Cylindrical Rod | 1.25″ | Yes | 230 – 430 | No |
Bed Head Curlipops BH313 1″ Curling Wand | 9.0 | $19.97 | Tourmaline Ceramic | Clipless Cylindrical Wand | 1″ | No | 400 | No |
Kiss Products Instawave Automatic Hair Curler | 9.0 | $34.97 | Ceramic Infused | Clipless Cylindrical Wand with Rotating Spinner | 1″ | No | 300? – 420 | Yes |
xtava Satin Wave 5-in-1 Curling Iron and Wand Set | 9.0 | $36.99 | Ceramic Ionic | Variety | 0.3″ – 1.25″ | Yes/No | 250 – 410 | Yes |
BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium ConiCurl Iron BABNT125TB | 8.9 | $49.99 | Nano Titanium | Clipless Conical Wand | 0.75″ – 1.25″ | No | 250 – 450 | No |
Hot Tools Professional Marcel Curling Iron | 8.7 | $31.76 | 24K Gold Plated | Marcel Cylindrical Rod | 1.25″ | Yes | 280 – 430 | No |