11 Best Curling Irons, According to Rigorous Testing
Our beauty experts found the top curlers for all hair types and all budgets.
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The best curling iron is more than just any old hair tool. You'll want to find one that's easy to use without creating kinks or snagging hair; it should heat up quickly so you're able to style and curl hair fast; and it should be make it easy to create perfect beach waves or pristine curls with enough heat to set the style without damaging your hair. And of course, it should do all that at a reasonable budget.
That said, 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 all types of curling irons to the test in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, to help you find the best curling irons that are actually worth your money. During our evaluations, our testers assess features like preheat time, temperature range, overall settings and ease of use. We also have a panel of at-home testers try the irons at home and report back on factors such as the lasting power of the resulting curls and ease of use.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Ion Golden Titanium Curling Iron
- Best Value: Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
- Best for Beach Waves: Beachwaver PRO Curling Iron
- Best for Long Hair: Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler Pro Curling Iron
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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