A curling iron is a go-to styling tool for all the parties and gatherings around the holidays—a good one creates shiny waves and curls that last, without creasing or snagging strands in the process. After extensive testing, the Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron earned the top spot thanks to its impressive heat range, ceramic blend plates and ergonomic design. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron is priced under $60 and has a titanium-coated barrel that is helpful for thick hair.
After researching the top contenders, our panel conducted a firsthand evaluation of the five most promising models. We analyzed key factors like plate material, barrel size and temperature range to name our category winners.
When choosing the right curling iron, it’s important to consider your hair type and texture. This helps you determine the optimal plate material and temperature range for creating lasting curls. For example, thinner strands benefit from gentle, even heat and don’t need temperatures above 350 degrees Fahrenheit for effective styling. Thick or coarse hair can handle temperatures up to 400 degrees—although it’s helpful to start with a more moderate temperature and work your way up to avoid heat damage. See our recommendations for the best curling irons below, plus details on hair type compatibility and our personal experiences with each.
With a wide range of temperature options, long barrel and ergonomic design, this curling iron easily earned the top spot in our roundup. The lowest setting of 250 degrees Fahrenheit makes it ideal for styling fine or damaged hair, and it goes it up to 430 degrees for thicker strands. One of our testers with medium-thick 1c hair used this curling iron at 360 degrees, which gave her glossy curls that typically lasted for two days. The styling tool is also light and maneuverable—the handle has a tapered design with well-placed controls and a smooth, matte finish that makes it easy to grip.
Another benefit is the ceramic blend material of the barrel; according to the brand, it’s designed to release negative ions when heated, leaving hair shiny and less frizzy. And, according to our tester, it works. “My hair feels great after using this curling iron,” she says. “With older curling irons, my hair felt noticeably dryer, but this is not the case with the Bio Ionic, as it seems to somehow hold the moisture in my hair.”
One potential downside to watch out for: After owning this curling iron for a year, our tester pointed out that the plastic stand that keeps the curling iron elevated on the counter snapped off. However, since the plastic tip at the top of the iron doesn’t heat up, she reports that this hasn’t caused any issues.
The 2025 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.
Although this model is more affordable than others on our list, it still has plenty of useful features. Like our best overall pick, the BaBylissPro curling iron has an extensive heat range (from 250 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit) so it works on all hair types. During testing, I used it at 330 degrees, which I found to be the sweet spot for curling my hair without causing heat damage.
It felt slightly heavier than other models I’ve used but not so heavy that it was cumbersome to style my hair. The 1.25-inch barrel creates beautiful curls and waves, although there are three other barrel sizes to choose from. I also appreciated the fabric-covered swivel cord, “turbo heat” button and metal kickstand that ensures it rests safely on countertops.
GHD is known for its sleek, luxurious hair tools that produce consistent results (the GHD Platinum+ Styler earned top marks in our guide to the best hair straighteners). Hair stylist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio Rodrigo Padilla is also a fan of this product thanks to its reliability and high-quality materials that are built to last. During testing, I was shocked by how quickly this curling iron heated up and how effortless it was to use. It felt light in my hands and didn’t snag or pull my thin, wavy hair. I love that it beeps when it’s ready to be used and automatically turns off after 30 minutes of non-use.
The single preset temperature worked well for me, and I didn’t have to worry about heat damage or fiddling with multiple settings. The one downside is the barrel length, which is roughly one inch shorter than the other irons I tested. If you have long, thick hair, this may not be ideal for you—but this wasn’t an issue for me, as I have thin hair that doesn’t take long to style.
The popular T3 SinglePass Curl X curling iron has nine heat settings and an easy SmartTwist dial that eliminates the guesswork of finding the optimal setting for your hair type. The first four settings are ideal for fine hair, five and six are ideal for medium-thick hair and seven through nine are best for thick, coarse hair. Our tester with thick, straight hair opted for the fourth setting and found that her curls lasted throughout the day without requiring touching up.
Because there are no buttons, you just twist the dial to adjust the heat setting, which makes it very user-friendly and helps to avoid accidental adjustments. The curling iron also has an auto shut-off feature, a 360-degree swivel cord and an extended barrel (6.5 inches) that makes quick work of styling long hair. “I’ve traveled with it all over and used it to help get me ready for many weddings and events since [the official testing period], and it shows no signs of wear,” says our tester. “The device is very intuitive and remains very easy to use and hold because of the swivel cord. The top of the barrel also does not get hot, which I find helpful to hold on to for added support.”
While this option does have a small clamp to secure sections of hair in place, the standout feature is a rotating barrel that does the work for you. A dual button with arrows (left and right) at the top of the handle allows you to control the movement. I’ve used this Beachwaver curling wand for a year and a half, and I like how substantial the handle feels—it has a little more heft that’s probably due to the technology—and how easy the buttons are to press while I style my hair.
I also appreciate the three temperature options: 290 degrees, 390 degrees (this setting works best for my hair) and 410 degrees. I’m not remarkably talented at styling my hair, so I’ve appreciated how beginner-friendly and intuitive this iron is—making it a mainstay in my styling routine.
How We Tested The Best Curling Irons
Our testing panel consisted of three Forbes Vetted team members, who tested a total of five curling irons. In addition to myself, I recruited partnerships operations manager Catherine Miller and senior partnerships operations manager Blaire Tiernan—the three of us represent a range of hair types including thin, wavy, thick and straight. Each curling iron was formally tested for at least one week, with long-term testing insights gathered after eight months.
- To determine maneuverability, we assessed each product’s weight, cord length and whether it swivels, which contribute to overall ease of use. Most options weigh around 13 ounces, but our best overall pick the Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron weighs just 8 ounces.
- We also assessed whether the iron worked as advertised and if our curls held throughout the day without requiring touchups.
- I asked each tester to note the temperature range if there was one, and whether they could create soft curls without visible heat damage (dry, brittle ends; breakage; or excessive flyaways).
- Our testers followed the same steps with each curling iron to ensure we were evaluating them fairly. Before testing each tool, we started with clean hair that had been freshly washed, conditioned, air-dried and prepped with a heat protectant.
- Finally, I had each tester give their curling iron a numerical score out of 10 for three categories—maneuverability, effectiveness and temperature range. I calculated the overall rating for each curling iron by finding the average of these three scores.
How To Pick The Best Curling Iron
To ensure you pick the right curling iron for your hair type, we consulted two professional hairstylists with extensive experience using hot tools. Here’s what to consider.
Plate Material
Curling irons can have ceramic, tourmaline or titanium barrels, but ceramic is the most popular choice for how gentle it is. “Ceramic delivers even heat and helps reduce hot spots. It’s great for fine to medium hair types and minimizes frizz,” says Padilla. On the other hand, tourmaline is said to produce more negative ions than ceramic, which helps create smooth, glossy hairstyles. “Tourmaline is known for adding shine and reducing static—perfect if you’ve got frizz-prone or damaged hair,” says Padilla. However, titanium might be the best option if you have thick or coarse strands and need a more effective iron. Both experts agree that titanium heats up quickly and can handle stubborn hair.
Temperature Settings
The best temperature setting for you depends on your hair type and texture. If you have thin hair, a temperature setting between 250 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit should be enough to create soft curls. However, thick hair may require a higher temperature setting for the curls to last. “To avoid heat damage, keep it under 400 degrees if possible,” says Padilla. “Fine or fragile hair might do better around 350 degrees, whereas thicker hair can push a bit higher. Just remember, cranking it to the max can fry your hair in no time.” Most curling irons offer a range of temperatures, starting around 250 degrees Fahrenheit, but the GHD Curve Curling Iron has one preset temperature (365 degrees).
Maneuverability
To avoid arm fatigue, look for a curling iron under 1.5 pounds. A good iron should be lightweight, easy to maneuver and comfortable to hold for long periods. Features like an extra long or swiveling cord can also make styling easier.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of beauty and grooming stories. Specifically, our team has covered a variety of haircare topics.
- We’ve also researched and tested our way through the best hair straighteners, best hair dryers, best blow dryer brushes and more.
- Author Katherine Louie is a lifestyle editor with extensive experience covering beauty and lifestyle topics. She has over seven years of experience evaluating haircare products and tested three curling irons in this guide.
- This story was reviewed by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the beauty and grooming category and has over two decades of experience covering lifestyle topics.
- Louie also gathered key insight and guidance from Rodrigo Padilla, a hair stylist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio, and Raven Hurtado, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
- We regularly update this article to ensure all information is accurate and relevant. It was last refreshed in October 2025 by beauty writer Claire Epting, who routinely refreshes this story.
Coupons
Arhaus
Open An Archarge Credit Card To Earn $100 In Rewards For Every $1,500 Spent
Explore Arhaus Coupon