The 10 Best Curling Irons of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

There’s no one right way to style hair, but few tools are quite so versatile as a curling iron. Whether you like your curls tight and coily, loose and wavy, uniform and polished, or textured and messy, using a curling iron makes it easy to create a vast array of looks with one simple tool. 

If you’ve never had a curling iron in your hair arsenal — or worse, have had one in your lineup but have been left unsatisfied — there is a lot to consider before investing, especially for these notoriously tricky tools. You’ll need to consider your natural hair type, the health of your hair, and (of course) the look you’re trying to achieve. Not to mention, the perfect curling iron needs to be a snap to use (no one has time for an extended learning curve). With so many different curling irons on the market, combing through all your options is no easy task —  so we did it for you.

Our team of InStyle editors rigorously tested the 14 buzziest and most popular curling irons out there. We used the tool across every hair type in our New York City-based Lab, as well as in our own natural hair for two weeks. For each curling iron, we measured the speed at which the iron came to our desired temperature, the ease of using it, the durability of the curl (using benchmarks of one hour, six hours, and overnight), clamp tension, range of heat settings, and then assessed our hair for any damage during and after use. We also considered the way our hair looked overall after each styling session. After compiling and evaluating all the testing data, we ranked each curling iron, and the highest scoring tools are featured on this list.

Best Overall

Hot Tools Pro Artist Digital Curling Iron

Hot Tools

What We Love: This tool performs flawlessly across all hair types.

What We Don't Love: Those with finer hair may find that their hair slips out of the iron during use.

It’s rare to find a curling iron that delivers a solid curl across all hair textures regardless of the size of the barrel, but this one from Hot Tools did just that. We tried three different sized barrels — 0.75-inch, 1.25-inch, and 1.5-inch —  and we found that each one delivered on their styling promises (beachy waves for larger sizes, tighter curls for smaller). Not only did our curls look great immediately after styling, but they also held their shape for the rest of the day, and even sometimes the next morning.

Design-wise, we were impressed with all the helpful features: It heated up in just a few seconds and conveniently beeped when it was ready. The clamp was comfortable and never caught or tugged at our hair, and the digital temperature screen made it easy to view and adjust the heat as needed. The extra long cord was another unexpected, but appreciated detail. Clocking in at nine feet, it was very easy to maneuver the tool around our heads, even when the outlet was a distance away from our mirror and our vanity was cluttered with beauty products.

Most hot tools will break when used with a power converter abroad, but because this tool offers dual voltage, we were able to safely style our hair while traveling outside of the country.

Though this curling iron worked beautifully across all hair types, the clamp wasn’t quite tight enough to fully secure our fine strands and the baby hairs sometimes slipped out. With a few spritzes of a dry shampoo or texturizing spray that have some hold and grip, we were easily able to touch up our curls. 

Barrel Size: Available in 0.75-inch, 1-inch, 1.25-inch, 1.5-inch | Barrel Material: Proprietary black gold styling surface | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

Best Budget

Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron

Amazon

What We Love: Beyond the price, we loved how smooth it made our hair and the even, consistent curl pattern it created.

What We Don't Love: The clamp is removable, which sometimes made it harder to use.

If you’ve ever experienced the phenomenon of never achieving the same result twice with a curling iron, this tool should be on your radar — especially at such a wallet-friendly price. The Infinitipro consistently spat out shiny, glossy curls that lasted through the day and beyond, especially on thicker and more textured hair. In fact, we found that our curls lasted up to four days on our very curly hair — no touch-ups required. 

With the unique removable clamp, this iron is actually a two-in-one: It can be used as a traditional curling iron or as a wand to achieve a wide range of styles. While we enjoyed the duality, if the clamp wasn’t correctly attached it fell off mid-use and snagged our hair. When we took the time to secure it, it was smooth curling. 

Finding a two-in-on hot tool under $30 is a rare gem, and despite the clamp mishaps, we still love the way our hair looked (and a good deal, too).

Barrel Size: 0.75-inch, 1-inch, 1.25-inch, 1.5-inch | Barrel Material: Tourmaline, ceramic  | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

InStyle / Jhett Thompson

Best Splurge

Dyson Airwrap

Nordstrom

What We Love: This styling system is basically an entire salon’s worth of hot tools in one device.

What We Don't Love: Because this tool harnesses air to curl hair, it sometimes sucks up pieces of already-styled strands when trying to work on a new section.

If you’re skeptical about spending so much money on a hot tool, believe us when we say that the Dyson Airwrap is worth the investment (and the hype). With just one purchase, you’ll get the tool itself, six attachments, and a sleek leather storage box to keep it all in, meaning you can cut down your collection of heat stylers to just this (amazing) one.

Unlike many other options, Dyson taps air instead of a heated surface to curl the hair, and to our delight, we experienced zero heat damage, even when we used it several times a week on bonded hair extensions. With the Airwrap, we didn’t have to get super close to our scalp and risk the integrity of the bonds in order to get our extensions to support a curl. It’s also worth noting that we used the second generation Airwrap that comes with barrels that allow you to switch the direction of the airflow. Although it's a small detail, it had a big payoff because it made it super easy for us to ensure our curls were all facing the right direction. Our curls held well, though on finer hair, the larger barrel resulted in more of a bouncy blowout effect than a true curl. 

The strong suction powers on this device created solid curls, but that also meant it often sucked in pieces we had already styled. We recommend pinning up finished sections — not only will this help keep them out of the way, it’ll also help the curl set and last longer.

Barrel Size: 1.2-inch, 1.6-inch | Barrel Material: Alloy | Automatic Shut Off: No

InStyle / Tamara Staples

Best for Damaged Hair

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System

Amazon

What We Love: This device from Shark offers similar technology to the Dyson, along with unique attachment options to choose from, at half the price.

What We Don't Love: There are barrels for both left- and right-facing curls, so you’ll have to switch them out as you work.

If you’re not ready to splurge on the Airwrap but want a hot air-based curling iron that will care for your damaged hair, the Shark is your best — and most customizable — option. In this choose your own adventure, hairstyling edition, you’re free to select three attachments (out of eight total options), which include two curling barrel sizes, a variety of brushes, concentrator, comb, and even a diffuser. 

Although the Shark looked intimidating, we got the hang of it quickly and were styling our hair like pros within minutes. While the tool does heat up, it never reached a temperature that scorched our hair or scalp, instead producing a lasting curl that required few, if any, touch-ups. We were never able to master a tight ringlet; we’d compare our final look as model off-duty beach waves, which is perfectly fine by us.

Despite how easy the Shark was to operate, it was a bit annoying having to switch out barrels to change the direction of our curl. That said, this only takes a few seconds, and  Shark clearly distinguishes between the two — there is a very clear “L” and “R” on the corresponding attachments.

Barrel Size: 0.59-inch, 1.25-inch | Barrel Material: Not applicable, uses air

InStyle / Jessica Juliao

Best for Beginners

ghd 1-Inch Curling Iron

Amazon

What We Love: This is the lightest curling iron we’ve ever held, making it very comfortable to use during long styling sessions.

What We Don't Love: There is only one heat setting, which may not work for all hair types.

If you’re new to using a curling iron, you might find yourself getting tired while styling — they’re often so heavy that you end up getting a vigorous arm workout along with a head full of curls. Even though this tool is a premium and well-made device, it feels incredibly light (the lightest we’ve ever tried), making it a breeze to hold (an especially important quality for neophytes) as it works to give hair a lasting curl with minimal frizz. 

Interestingly, the iron only has one heat setting (365 degrees); it’s considered a safe temperature for most hair types, so it didn’t really bother us. However, when we tested the iron on very fine hair, the heat zapped too much moisture from our strands and left our hair steaming after just a few seconds. We didn’t encounter any issues with thicker hair, though. In fact, when used on type 2 and 4 textures, our curls maintained their shape for days. 

Temperature aside, we liked the clamp’s nice, strong grip that didn’t yank at our hair, but kept it firmly in place as we styled, while the barrel was smooth enough to slide our finished curls right off. 

As a bonus, if you travel frequently, you’ll enjoy the universal voltage (no frying your hot tool on vacation!) and the automatic sleep mode, which kicks in after 30 minutes (it’s easy to forget to turn off a curling iron, especially when jet-lagged).

Barrel Size: 1-inch | Barrel Material: Ceramic | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

InStyle / Jhett Thompson

Best for Beach Waves

InStyler Cerasilk Curling Iron

InStyler

What We Love: The ultra-long barrel is perfect for creating loose, mermaid-like waves.

What We Don't Love: This doesn’t have a clamp, which is terrific for making waves, but requires a bit of a learning curve.

When creating beach waves, we find it’s easiest to achieve that look when using a long-barreled curling wand without a clamp, and this tool from InStyler fits the bill. Thanks to the clamp-free design, we were able to loosely wrap our hair along the barrel, creating elongated curls that even a mermaid would envy. That said, the tip of this styling tool features a unique “feeder” grip tip that allows for easy one-handed styling, so if you prefer a clamp, you do have options. 

The barrel of this curling wand features a special coating that allows heat to pass through without allowing hair to directly touch the heat source, ultimately cutting way down on potential damage. Even our fine hair, which never held a curl for more than two minutes, met its match with this curling wand — our waves lasted much longer than they did with any other hot tool. 

For many people, using a curling wand is far easier than a traditional curling iron because of the way you can customize your curl. On the flip side, it’ll take some trial and error to master your technique. If you’re winding your hair too tightly around the barrel of the InStyler, you’ll get tight ringlets, though they will relax and get beachier, especially if you brush them out. Practice makes perfect with this one! 

Barrel Size: 1-inch | Barrel Material: Ceramic | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

Best for Thick Hair

T3 Switch Kit Wave Trio

T3

What We Love: This interchangeable tool comes with three barrels, so it’s like three curling irons in one. 

What We Don't Love: It is hard to safely change out the barrels when they’re hot if you want to create a look with different types of curls.

This clever tool is perfect for cutting down on beauty bag bulk (the set comes with three barrels for triple the looks) and is particularly excellent for curling thick hair — a single styling session gave us shampoo commercial-level bounce that lasted for days. 

Somehow, we always end up losing a few good strands to deadly clamps, but with the T3, our hair never once got stuck. We also loved the huge variety of heat settings, so we didn’t have to settle for too-hot temps, which diffused evenly down the barrel (no fried ends!). It was also pretty light, and we managed to curl all the way around in 20 minutes. 

The interchangeable barrels set this pick apart from other options, too. Each attachment securely fastened into the base, thanks to a twistable locking mechanism, which doubled as a stand so the hot surface didn’t scorch our countertop. We also liked that this tool features universal voltage, making it travel friendly. 

Our only gripe was that you have to hold and twist the barrel itself to remove it and swap it out for another. Happily, this set comes with a heat-resistant glove, so you can wear it if you’re planning on creating a style with a range of curl sizes.

Barrel Size: 1-inch, 1.25-inch, 1.5-inch | Barrel Material: Ceramic | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

Best for Long Hair

Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron

Amazon

What We Love: The length of this barrel made it easy to style the back of our heads — a notoriously tricky spot to reach.

What We Don't Love: This hot tool didn’t provide a strong-holding curl on thicker hair.

With a barrel that’s two inches longer than the average curling iron, this iron is an excellent choice for those with long hair. We curled our almost waist-length strands in one go, never needing to go over the same section twice. We just kept wrapping our hair around the barrel until we reached the end. We bet even those with shorter hair will find the barrel length helpful to grab the hard-to-reach pieces in the back. One small but mighty detail we loved was the generously-sized cool tip at the end of the barrel, so we could control the iron without burning our fingers. We were able to craft loose, beachy waves without much effort — we didn’t even need to brush our hair once we were finished because this iron produced such natural-looking waves. 

For the most part, our finished look maintained shape throughout the day. Although when we tested it on thick hair, we found that our style didn’t last as long and required frequent touch-ups. With that in mind, it may not be the best pick for thick or heavy hair, but it was brilliant with fine to medium strands. 

Barrel Size: 1-inch, 1.25-inch, 1.5-inch | Barrel Material: Ceramic | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

Best for Short Hair

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Curling Iron

Amazon

What We Love: This tool’s clamp never left hard lines or crimps in our curls.

What We Don't Love: The temperature gauge isn't very straightforward.

When looking for a curling iron for short hair, it's important to get it right, since you have limited real estate to get the perfect ringlet — and irons with long barrels aren’t the easiest to maneuver. But because this BaByliss tool has a short wand and a gentle, yet effective clamp, it was super simple for us to form smooth, glorious curls, leaving our shoulder-length hair free of any harsh bends or creases that we sometimes get from other irons.

We had the option to choose between four barrel sizes, and we tested the 0.75-inch. At first, we were annoyed by how long it was taking us to curl our hair (after all, smaller barrels meant we had to use smaller sections of hair). Despite our grumbling, that extra time was worth the effort: Firm, stunning curls with kangaroo-levels of bounce. With a quick finger comb and light brushing, along with a spritz of hairspray, the style slayed all day and night. We even rocked the wavy remnants the next day.

The only downside of this tool is the temperature gauge — there are almost too many options to choose from and we’re still not exactly sure what some of the settings do (we’re talking to you, Boost mode). That said, we loved the results that we got from this tool, and the price is hard to beat.

Barrel Size: 0.75-inch, 1-inch, 1.25-inch, 1.5-inch | Barrel Material: Titanium, ceramic | Automatic Shut Off: No

Best for Fine Hair

TYMO Cues Curling Iron

TYMO

What We Love: This is the most affordable and interchangeable curling iron on our list.

What We Don't Love: The power button and temperature controls are awkwardly placed.

We’ve never seen much success when using a curling iron on our fine hair. We had almost given up, accepting that our hair would always just slide out of the clamp looking like a wet noodle. That all changed when we tested this hero tool. Though it’s pretty budget friendly, it comes with pricier features, including three detachable barrels in different sizes, an LED temperature screen, and accessories, like a protective glove, hair clips, and storage bag.

While we’ve used a lot of curling irons that snagged our fine strands in the past, the smooth barrels and an unfussy clamp (with a comfortable grip) on this one allowed our curls to gently roll off when we were done. Our finished look actually lasted four days with this tool — a downright miracle for our hair. We attribute the longevity in part to the helpful temperature guide, which taught us that we’ve been curling our hair with too much heat.

If we could change one thing about this nearly perfect curling iron, it would be the awkward button placement. There is just one button to power the iron on/off and to change the temperature (pressing and holding for a few seconds turns it on/off and simply hitting it, even softly, adjusts the temperature) and it’s unwisely situated right where you hold the handle. A mild annoyance is a small sacrifice for the fabulous curls it gave us.

Barrel Size: 0.5-inch, 1-inch, 1.5-inch | Barrel Material: Ceramic | Automatic Shut Off: Yes

Our Testing Process

To ensure we thoroughly analyzed the performance of each device, we tested each curling iron across many metrics. We started in our NYC-based Lab and used each iron to curl hair types 1–4, and evaluated the curls’ longevity by checking in at the one-hour mark, six-hour mark, and then overnight to see how well each held the curl.

Once this portion of the test was complete, we sent each curling iron to three editors, each with a different hair type and texture, to incorporate into their hair styling routine over a two-week period. During this portion, we evaluated each iron for ease of use, the shape and endurance of the curls, the heat damage it caused (if any), and the overall quality of the final look. At the end of the two-week test, we compiled and digested the data from each editor, and then ranked each iron accordingly. Our very favorite curling irons earned the highest marks, and are featured on this list.

The InStyle Team Tests Curling Irons

What To Keep in Mind

Hair Type

When selecting a curling iron, you’ll want to consider the qualities of your hair itself — not just the length, which may benefit from an extra-long curling rod like those found from InStyler Cerasilk Curling Iron and Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron. Think about the density, condition, and the texture of your hair as well, all of which will help you determine the optimal temperature setting, and narrow down your options.

If you have ultra-fine or damaged hair, you will want to select a curling iron that offers a low styling temperature. “Excessive heat will damage the cuticle further,” warns New York-based hairstylist Alwyn DiGregorio. “Lower temps with smaller sections will work just as well as higher temps and bigger sections.” 

For hair that falls into this category, aim for a temperature of 350 degrees or below. Look at the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Digital Curling Iron, which features a very low starting temperature of 265 degrees, or an air-powered model, like the Dyson Airwrap or the Shark Air Styling and Drying System.

Thicker or coarse hair can withstand more heat — this is a good thing, because these hair types may find that their curls fall within an hour or two, due to the weight of their hair. For these hair types, New York City-based hairstylist Vennela Chamarti uses medium to high heat settings (around 375 degrees or above). This goes for super healthy hair, too. “Often, very silky and healthy hair doesn’t hold a curl as well, and therefore needs more heat,” she says.

ARKIVE Headcare founder, Adam Reed, prefers using one flat temperature for all hair, regardless of its texture or type — 365 degrees, which he says is the best universal styling temperature. “365 degrees is the most respectful temperature to any hair type,” he says. “It’ll warm any hair type enough to mold it into the curl you want — if you go above that you risk higher damage, and if you go below that the curls will fall.” Conveniently, ghd Classic Curl 1-Inch Curling Iron is set at this precise temperature.

However, if your hair stubbornly refuses to hold a curl at all, we hate to admit it, but it’s likely due to user error. DiGregorio recommends taking smaller sections and using a slightly smaller barrel size, like the 0.75-inch version of Conair InfinitiPRO Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron. “Be mindful that each hair section can easily wrap around the iron with a little room to spare,” she says. “This enables the heat to reach every hair in the section.” 

Charmarti also says to let your hair cool down completely after styling. Pinning your curls up (with rollers or clips) for at least 20 minutes will help them set.

Barrel Size

Perhaps the most daunting aspect of selecting a curling iron is navigating all of the barrel sizes. “Choose your barrel based on what look you’re going for,” says Reed. The larger the barrel, the looser your curl will be, so if you want a faux blowout effect or a beachy wave, look for a thick barrel. 

DiGregorio recommends keeping your hair length under consideration, too. She uses 1-inch barrels for above-the-shoulder-length hair, 1.25-inch to 1.5-inch barrels for medium length hair, and 2-inch barrels on hair that’s lower than a bra hook. As mentioned, if your hair doesn’t hold a curl well, go with a smaller-sized barrel. 

Ultimately, your hair type plays no role in what barrel size you should pick, just in how you style: “If you have thicker hair, use smaller sections on your hair; if you have thinner hair, you can use larger sections,” explains Reed.

Barrel Material

You’ll really only see three kinds of materials when it comes to curling iron barrels: Ceramic, tourmaline, and titanium. If you have coarse hair that is heat resistant, titanium is the way to go. “It’s a natural metal that heats up very fast and will help the heat penetrate fully through the hair,” says DiGregorio, who adds that it’s also a lightweight material to hold. You’ll find it in the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron.

Ceramic and tourmaline tools are a bit gentler on the hair as they don’t get quite as hot. DiGregorio likes ceramic, as she finds they create the most even heat throughout the iron. If you have an issue with the smoothness of your hair, check out a tourmaline tool. “Tourmaline is a crystal mineral that emits negative ions to counteract positive ions, which helps keep moisture and shine,” says DiGregorio. 

Your Questions, Answered

What's the best way to use a curling iron?

The best way to use a curling iron is whatever way it feels most comfortable for you. Some people may prefer a wand, while others may prefer a traditional curling iron with a clamp. “Being able to curl your hair in a way that’s comfortable and doesn’t strain your arms will yield better results and less damage,” says Chamarti (that includes avoiding burning yourself!).

When it comes down to specific looks, you can create a tighter curl by using your iron just off the scalp. Meanwhile, you’ll achieve a looser style if you skip the root and start wrapping your hair about a third of the way down the shaft. “Holding the curl horizontally will make the curl fuller, vertically will provide a more relaxed look,” adds DiGregorio. If you’re going for a beach wave or modern vibe, Reed loves to curl hair in different directions to prevent uniformity or an overdone look. “If you’re looking for classic curls, keep the iron going in one direction,” he says. 

The most important thing to do when styling your hair with a curling iron is to keep things moving to avoid heat damage. “Do not leave the iron on your hair for too long,” warns Reed. “If I’m doing a wave or a curl, I’m always moving the tool underneath the hair to evenly distribute the heat and make sure one section isn’t being overheated.”

What's the difference between a curling iron and a curling wand?

The only true difference between curling irons and curling wands is that an iron has a clamp to hold your hair in place while you style. You’ll also find that wands come in more shapes than curling irons do, such as conical and bubble, says DiGregorio. The one-two punch of a unique shape, plus a lack of clamp makes it simpler to achieve beachy waves or undone look — putting less tension on the hair with your fingers will make for a looser curl. Curling irons will often result in a cleaner and tighter curl. 

Ultimately, though, “a curling iron versus a curling wand is a personal preference — some people just like one more than the other,” says Reed. 

How can I protect my hair from heat damage?

When it comes to heat damage, prevention is better than a cure. “If you know that you use a lot of heat on your hair, make sure a hair oil and a hair mask are a regular part of your hair routine,” says Reed. 

DiGregorio also likes working Schwarzkopf Professional Fibre Clinix Fortify Sealed Ends from the mid-length to ends before going in with heat. “It’ll help nourish and repair bonds while keeping hair strong, soft, and shiny.” 

Whatever you do, don’t take any kind of hot tool to your hair without priming your hair with a high-quality heat protectant first. If you prefer a cream styler, which will be best for dry or damaged hair, try DiGregorio’s pick, OSiS+ Tame Wild Cream, that will defend against temperatures up to 428 degrees. If a lightweight formula is more your thing, Chamarti likes working the L'Oréal Professionnel Vitamino Color 10-in-1 Multi-Benefit Leave-In Spray into hair before blow drying with a hair dryer that's good for curly hair. 

What is InStyle Picks?

Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it's really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle picks are products we love, and we've put them to the test to be sure you will too.

Want more product recommendations? From best-in-class concealer to the black pants you need for work, check out all of our InStyle Picks content.

Why Shop With Us

Emily Orofino is a beauty writer, editor, and consultant with more than a decade of experience in the industry. She has stubbornly straight hair that refuses to hold a curl without aggressive amounts of product, but has found success in using tools from Dyson, Sarah Potempa, and Conair. For this piece, she carefully sifted through the research performed by the InStyle testing team who rigorously tested multiple curling irons to narrow it down to the best devices. She also tapped three stylists — ARKIVE Headcare founder Adam Reed, Vennela Chamarti at Blandi on 5th, and Alwyn DiGregorio — who shared their insights into curling irons and how to get the best curl out of your hot tool.

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