10 Best Curling Irons, Tested by Beauty Pros
We tested over 20 top hair curlers to find the very best.
Tested by Sabina WizemannBeauty Lab Director
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When it comes to curling irons, your choices can vary greatly "depending on the texture of the hair and the type of curl you are looking for," says Eugene Toye, stylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York City — and with so many options on the market, from titanium to ceramic, tourmaline and even clamp-less curling wands, hair rollers and heat-free hair curlers, it can be difficult to know where to begin finding the right hair curler for you.
That's why we put over 20 curling irons to the test in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, to help you find the ones that make curling your hair easy. We Lab test features like preheat time, temperature range, overall settings and ease of use and have at-home testers try the irons at home and report back on the curls' staying power and the iron's ease of use.
Pros
- Top scores across testing categories
- Works on many hair types
- Creates long-lasting curls
- Easy to use
Cons
- Takes a while to heat up
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 450ºF | Barrel size: Available in 1" and 1¼" | Material: Titanium
Reaching the highest temperature in our tests, this curling iron came out on top in our tests for forming lasting curls, even on coarse, thick hair. It blew away the competition, scoring highest in nearly a dozen categories including grip and maneuvering, easy controls, compact size and producing curls that stay put.
Users loved "that the clamp is as long as the barrel," which is particularly useful for shorter hair, and the shorter handle length "keeps my hand in a perfect position to reach the thumb grip," although it may get a bit hot when set up to the highest temperature.
In Lab testing, we also found that it took longer than other curlers to reach the highest temperature (160 seconds), so just be sure to give it ample time to heat up before styling.
Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
Pros
- Affordable
- Amazon's top seller
- Versatile heat settings and barrel sizes available
Cons
- May not be durable
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 400ºF | Barrel size: Available in ¾" to 1½" | Material: Ceramic
You can't beat the price of this classic and well-loved curling iron. Its bargain price is a huge selling point, and Amazon reviewers swear it's a worthy investment. It has adjustable heat and a ceramic coating, and for the price, it's a solid choice — just ask the almost 89,000 five-star reviewers who said it works great on fine and thick hair alike.
"The adjustable temperature settings provide flexibility, allowing me to choose the heat level that works best for my hair type," said one Amazon reviewer. "Whether my hair is fine or thick, I can achieve the perfect balance of heat without causing excessive damage." At such a bargain price, it may not last you for years and years, but it still does the job just fine.
Beachwaver PRO Curling Iron
Pros
- Rotating mechanism curls hair for you
- Creates well-defined, lasting curls
- GH Beauty Lab favorite
Cons
- Learning curve
- Small clip may be tricky for short-haired users
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 410ºF | Barrel size: Available in 1" and 1 ½" | Material: Tourmaline
Created by hairstylist Sarah Potempa, this time-saving, automated curling iron is the only one GH Beauty Director April Franzino uses (pictured), and it's also the go-to curling iron for Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek as well — and that's saying a lot.
"It rotates away from your face, taking the guesswork out of curling hair," Franzino said. "All you have to do is clamp a section of hair at the bottom, press the button and watch as it winds around the curler. Hold for a few seconds, release and you have a perfect loose curl."
Lab testers noted that "it grips hair well," and the resulting "curls are well-defined and stay in place" for "beautiful, natural looking curls in no time." There's a bit of a learning curve, though, and it's best for long hair; testers with short hair found the small clip difficult to use.
Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler Pro Curling Iron
Pros
- Extended barrel is great for longer hair
- Creates lasting curls
Cons
- Barrel may be too long for short hair
Temperature settings: Adjustable heat up to 430ºF | Barrel size: Available in 1" and 1 ¼" | Material: Ceramic
As someone with super-long hair, I often struggle with real estate on my curling irons; I'm always running out of space on the rod before I can reach the full length of my hair. This tool fixes that issue and works especially well for longer hair thanks to the extended length of the barrel, which is two inches longer than most curling irons. I love that the clamp runs nearly the full length of the barrel as well for fast, easy styling.
Fans say that their style lasts for hours, and one reviewer said her "curls last the whole day and I still can have loose curls the next day." While we think the long barrel is a brilliant solution for those with long hair, it may not be best-suited for those with shorter hair — and the long barrel can take some getting used to at first, too.
Bio Ionic 3-in-1 Styling Iron
Pros
- 3-in-1 flat iron, curling wand and curling iron
- Compact barrel
- Easy to maneuver on short hair
Cons
- May be too short for longer hair
Temperature settings: Adjustable temperature 240ºF to 430ºF | Barrel size: 1 ¼" | Material: Ceramic
This clever iron is actually three tools in one: A flat iron, a curling wand and a curling iron. The 1 ¼-inch barrel is perfect for glam waves and curls, and our short-haired testers particularly loved it, saying "it was easy to maneuver and keep from touching the face or scalp," and that it felt the safest of all options with a low burn risk.
In Lab tests, it scored in the middle of the pack in everything from ease of use to performance to user satisfaction. While short barrel and compact design makes it foolproof to use on shorter tresses (and the perfect size for travel, too), the tool may be too short to use effectively on longer hair.
Hot Tools Signature Series Gold Curling Iron/Wand
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Lightweight, ergonomic and easy to use
- Salon pro favorite
Cons
- Temperature control dial is tricky to set
- No alert when tool reaches temperature
Temperature settings: Adjustable temperature 280ºF to 430ºF | Barrel size: Available in barrels ranging from ½" to 2" | Material: Steel with 24K gold plated
Scoring tops for easy maneuverability and ergonomic design, this curling iron is great for beginners — plus, it's budget-friendly if you're just getting into styling your own hair at home. Testers loved that "the clamp is long and clips hair well; it does not pinch it at the end," making it easy to use for novices.
At just under one pound, testers also found it lightweight and easy to control with "a classic design, simple and functional," though the temperature is controlled via dial instead of specific buttons, and it lacks an alert when it reaches temperature. Its slimmer-than-average handle is comfortable to hold.
It's also the go-to curling iron for many of salon pros we spoke with: "I use Hot Tools curling irons both at home and in salon," Toye said. We just wish it had an audible indicator when it reached temperature.
Pros
- Scored tops for long-lasting curls in Lab tests
- Smooth barrel and ergonomic operation
- High scores for ease of use, performance and satisfaction
Cons
- Testers found the thumb grip a little hard to press
Temperature settings: Adjustable temperature 250ºF to 450ºF | Barrel size: 1 ¼" | Material: Ceramic
This solid iron scored high in ease of use, performance and satisfaction in our tests and performed better than any of the irons we tested for creating curls that lasted throughout the day, which is perfect for thick hair that might typically be resistant to holding a style. It scored highest for releasing hair from the clamp without snagging or pulling hair, including a perfect score for its clamp.
Testers said, "the barrel is smooth and clip works well," though some found the thumb clamp tricky to press. This iron also reaches the highest temperature that we tested, a whopping 450ºF which is ideal for forming long-lasting curls in even thick, coarse, natural textured or hard-to-curl hair.
Drybar Mixologist Interchangeable Styling Iron
Pros
- Comes with curling iron, wand and waver attachments
- Wide temperature range for all hair types and textures
- Smooth, snag-free operation
- Intuitive display and buttons
Cons
- Heat element rests very closely to the counter
Temperature settings: Adjustable temperature 200ºF to 450ºF | Barrel size: Three attachments: 1" wand, 1 ¼" curling iron, 3-pronged waver | Material: Ceramic
Drybar's curling wand has performed well in our Lab tests, so it's no surprise this three-in-one pick is a fan favorite (it's also the only one I use at home!). In my experience, it heats up quickly on every mode and every barrel is smooth and snag-free for glossy, smooth styling.
The mechanism to switch the attachments is easy to use and feels secure and safe, while the display is bright and the rubberized buttons are intuitive and simple to press. It has three useful attachments for all of your curling needs and then some: A 1-inch wand for undone beach waves, a 1 ¼-inch curling iron for polished curls and a three-pronged waver for messy texture.
Plus, the clamp on the curling iron is heated so you can also use the larger barrel as a wand or a smoothing flat iron, of sorts. I do wish there was a better kickstand to keep the heating element from resting on the counter, and I find it's easy to accidentally turn off while styling sometimes.
Dyson Airwrap™ Styler
Pros
- Best Curling Iron/Hair Dryer Combo
- Prevents excessive heat damage
- Can be used for curling or straightening
Cons
- Extremely expensive
Temperature settings: Three heat settings plus cool shot | Barrel size: Comes with 1.2-inch, 1.6-inch barrels
Our Beauty Lab pros love the Dyson Airwrap: Like a hair dryer and curling iron in one, this high-tech styling tool uses six powerful streams of hot or cool air to magically style your hair from damp to dry.
Our Lab pros appreciate the genius air jet design, which makes hair strands, as if by magic, wrap themselves around the curler attachment. The result: Bouncy bends that rival a professional blowout. "It gives salon-level styling using lower heat, which can minimize damage as well," said one tester.
I use this at home and find it creates curls that stay pretty well in my hair (I have fine, curly strands but a lot of them, so it tends to hold styles well). The resulting style isn't stay-all-day, super-defined curls, but rather creates effortless movement and full body (pictured on another GH editor here). It's gorgeous, but should definitely be considered if you have hard-to-curl hair or prefer a more polished and defined curl.
But all of this innovation comes with a sky-high sticker price. If it means you're able to swap out your hair dryer, flat iron and curling tools for one item, though, we think it's justifiable. You can also opt for sets that target different hair types and textures, including long or short barrel sets, and attachments for kinky hair.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: We Tried the New Dyson Airwrap
ghd Classic Curl Curling Iron
Pros
- Claims to prevent excessive heat damage
- Maintains consistent 365º temperature
- Auto shut-off after 30 minutes
Cons
- No adjustable heat settings
This sleek one-inch model has universal voltage and earned dozens of rave ratings from reviewers, including those with thin hair. "I have fine hair and it is wonderful to find a curling iron that actually does what I need it to," one Nordstrom reviewer said. We haven't Lab-tested this iron, but it's a consistent top-seller with a cult following (and a GH beauty editor fave!).
While no heat tool can be "damage-free," in our Beauty Lab's test of flat irons, we found that ghd's tools maintained a steady temperature of 365º which helps prevent excessive heat damage, unlike other models that can exceed 450º, so we expect the brand's curling iron to perform similarly. The downside, though, is that a single temperature may not suit all different hair types, textures and thicknesses.
Temperature settings: Maintains a steady temperature of 365º | Barrel size: 1" | Material: Ceramic
How we test curling irons
To put together this list of the best curling irons on the market, our scientists and beauty pros started with a pool of 20 irons in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. We tested curling irons for speed of preheat, whether the tools actually heat up to (or exceed) the temperature settings indicated on the tool and whether other parts of the iron get hot to the touch. Our Lab tests amounted to a total of 103 measurements we considered when making our selections.
We also had a panel of testers try them out at home and report back (in a total of 836 survey answers) on how well the curling irons create curls, how long the curls last and how easy and comfortable the tools are to use. We also consulted hairstylists and our own beauty editors for additional insight on what makes the best hair tool, and considered online reviews and recommendations from GH staffers.
How to find the right curling iron for your hair
There are a few features and considerations you'll want to look for to ensure you're choosing the right curling iron for your hair type and goals. Here's what to keep in mind as you get started with shopping:
✔️ Barrel size: "Depending on the texture of the hair and the type of curl you are looking for, then you would determine which size barrel to use," Toye said. If you want relaxed, beachy waves, reach for a larger barrel (1 ¼-inch and above). The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl will be. If your hair is hard to curl, look for a 1-inch barrel for a curl that is less likely to fall flat through the day. Want a do-it-all size? "A curling iron with a 1 ¼ inch barrel is a good size for everyday curls, no matter what look you are going for," Toye said.
✔️ Material: The GH Beauty Lab has found both ceramic and titanium curling irons are good conductors of heat and will work on all hair types, so try not to get persuaded by marketing claims that state one is better than the next. Toye, however, says that stylists tend to opt for titanium irons, since he finds they are lighter-weight than ceramic and can more effectively hold high temperatures, although ceramic irons can be more user-friendly due to their ability to evenly distribute heat.
✔️ Clamp: For ultimate versatility, look for an extended clip that spans the full length of the barrel. This way, the curling iron can also be used to somewhat smooth hair too, if you need. Some models can be used as wands by wrapping hair over the clip for looser curls and waves. "Clamps tend to leave marks in the hair if they are not properly used," says Toye, which is why some "prefer a clamp-less wand: because it is more user-friendly."
✔️ Adjustable heat settings: "I recommend a curling iron with adjustable heat settings," says Toye. Lower temps are great for fine hair and for those thinner hairs around the face, while higher temps are great for coarse, natural or hard-to-curl hair. As a rule of thumb, our Beauty Lab experts say you should use low heat on fine, chemically processed or fragile hair (180ºF to 370ºF); medium heat on easy-to-curl, healthy hair (375ºF to 395ºF); and high heat on thick, wavy or natural hair (400ºF to 420ºF).
✔️Cord: It might not seem important, but a good cord can make or break the styling experience. A professional-length cord on a curling iron is nine feet long — anything shorter may make it difficult to maneuver when styling. We also love a swivel mechanism, which prevents the cord from getting tangled or wrapped up as you style.
✔️Automatic shut-off: Our testers love irons with an auto shut-off feature. You'll never have to worry about remembering to unplug your curling iron because it shuts off for you.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Director of Editorial Commerce Jessica Teich teamed up with Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann for this article. Wizemann led Lab and consumer tests, analyzed the data and compiled the results in a technical report, and Teich then distilled the findings, gathered additional recommendations, interviewed celebrity hairstylist Eugene Toye and wrote this roundup.
An authority on (and a guinea pig for) new-to-market tools on curly hair, Teich has over 10 years of experience formally researching, testing and writing about haircare products, hair tools (like hairdryer brushes, curling wands and flat irons) and styling tips (like how to get beach waves, how to use a diffuser and how to cut your own hair).
With a background in hair dye research and synthesis, Wizemann loves everything hair-related. Over her years in the GH Beauty Lab, she has led Lab and consumer studies on at-home hair dyes, shampoos and conditioners, hair serums, hair volumizers, hair dryers and more.
Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today's Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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