10 Best Curling Irons, According to Beauty Pros

Reaching the highest temperature in our tests, this curling iron came out on top 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. 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.

TESTERS SAY: Users loved "that the clamp is as long as the barrel," which is particularly useful for shorter hair, and that 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.

You can't beat the price of this classic, well-loved curling iron, and Amazon reviewers swear it's a worthy investment. Almost 89,000 five-star reviewers said it works great on fine and thick hair alike, plus it features adjustable heat and a ceramic coating. At such a bargain price, it may not last you for years and years, but it still does the job just fine.

CONSUMERS SAY: "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."

A GH Beauty Innovation Awards winner, this curling iron earned top marks for being easy to maneuver and creating well-defined curls that are soft to touch. One tester did note, however, that though the iron heats up quickly; they were concerned that it got too hot.

TESTERS SAY: "I think the 1.5 inch is perfect for my hair and gave me solid curls that lasted all day long and even into the next day," a tester said. "I also particularly like the long tip so I could hold it during styling." Testers also noted that the tangle-free swivel cord made handling the iron a breeze.

Created by hairstylist Sarah Potempa, this time-saving, automated curling iron is the only one GH Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino uses (pictured), and it's also the go-to curling iron for Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek—and that's saying a lot.

EXPERT SAYS: "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.

This tool fixes that issue that people with super-long hair know all too well: running out of space on the rod before reaching the full length of their hair. It works especially well for longer hair thanks to the extended length of the barrel, which is two inches longer than most curling irons. 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.

COMSUMERS SAY: 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." A former GH staffer also noted that she loves "that the clamp runs nearly the full length of the barrel as well for fast, easy styling."

A clever innovation, this iron is actually three tools in one: A flat iron, a curling wand, and a curling iron. 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 make 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.

TESTERS SAY: 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.

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. 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.

TESTERS SAY: 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.

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, too. 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.

EXPERT SAYS: According to a former GH staffer, it heats up quickly on every mode and every barrel is smooth and snag-free for glossy, smooth styling. 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. She noted, however, that she did wish there was a better kickstand to keep the heating element from resting on the counter, and found that it is easy to accidentally turn off while styling sometimes.

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.

TESTERS SAY: "It gives salon-level styling using lower heat, which can minimize damage as well," said one tester. Plus, a GH staffer said "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."

This sleek one-inch model has universal voltage and earned dozens of rave ratings from reviewers, including those with thin hair. 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.

CONSUMERS SAY: "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.