Best Curling Irons in 2022 – Top 5

Aside from your eyes, your hair is one of the first things people notice about you. How you style it can actually say a lot about your personality. It can also transform your appearance from drab to well put together. You don’t even need to be an expert hairstylist to manage your tresses with ease. With so many styling tools and products, achieving a fabulous ‘do isn’t impossible.

One of the best styling tools that you should have at home is a curler. Despite the vast array of options, the best curling iron is easier to find nowadays with the great amount of information that you can get from the manufacturers, professionals, and other users. So, if you’re worried about ruining your hair with a heat styling device, fret not, because that’s easily avoidable.

List of the Best Curling Irons

Buying guide: How to choose the best curling iron

So how do you choose the best curling iron that you can use at home? Here are some of the most important considerations that will help you narrow down your options.

The right material for your needs

Heat styling may have its own naysayers because of the odds of damage. However, heat damage can be easily avoided by using the right material for your hair. Curling irons come in different types of heating elements, each can work safely for a specific hair type.

Some will work best with thick, thin, wavy, frizzy, or pin straight locks. You just need to figure out which suits your hair needs best, so you don’t have to put your hair’s health at any kind of risk.

Ceramic is always a good material to opt for as it can evenly hold heat and work on various hair types. Metal is definitely a hard “no” for those with thin hair as this material can get very hot very fast. Those with normal to thick hair need higher temperatures to tame their hair better, so tourmaline-infused and titanium can be good options.

Design and configuration

Aside from materials, curling irons are designed differently as well to achieve various looks. They come in different barrel measurements that will create different curl sizes. Choosing one according to size should also depend on your hair length, as the largest barrels aren’t exactly very easy to work with if you have short hair.

The barrel shape is another consideration. Aside from the traditional wands and straight clamped barrels, you can also find conical and inverted conical shaped curling irons on the market today.

These are very interesting options as they can create highly defined curls in a jiffy. Double and triple barrel curling irons are also available, but they’re more for users with longer locks due to their size.

Choosing a curling iron for a specific purpose is essential as well. If you travel often, you should choose one that complies with aviation safety regulations. This way, you don’t have to get hassled by airport authorities regarding your baggage.

A good array of temperature settings

Different hair types have varied capabilities of tolerating heat, so having different temperature settings can also come in handy if you’re going to share the tool with someone else. Look for ones with a 200° to 450°F range as this can effectively work for every hair type.

Ease of use

The best curling iron should be very easy to wield and simple to operate so you won’t feel encumbered when styling your hair. This can also help prevent accidents and mishaps, ensuring the safe use of the device.

Quality

As you’ll be working with heat to style your hair, it’s very important to look for a high-quality product to ensure your safety. Keep in mind that you’re going to come in direct contact with these devices, so it shouldn’t put you in any kind of danger.

Be very particular about the quality of its craftsmanship and materials. It should also be from a reputable brand and have passed safety standards to ensure that it won’t unexpectedly blow up on you.

Remington CI9538 T|Studio Salon Collection Pearl Digital Ceramic Curling Wand

Curling wands are some of the most classic types of heat styling tools and are preferred by many. As they don’t have clamps to maneuver around, using them is as easy as wrapping your hair around a pencil and that’s basically it. No more going above and under a clamp. They also offer creaseless curls, which can be a bit hard to achieve with a regular clamped iron.

This is one of the many reasons why the Remington CI9538 T Studio Salon Collection Pearl Digital Curling Wand is one of the most popular heat styling tools for home use. It’s ease of use, simple design, and effective curling makes it a solid choice for those who want to change up their do every so often.

One of the biggest selling points of this item is its shape. While it’s not an eye-catching conical wand, it can still offer more defined curls with its tapered design. The barrel gets narrower as it reaches the tip, losing half an inch of thickness along the way. This helps you create more voluminous and natural looking curls that will really change up your look.

Its wide temperature range and pearl ceramic heating barrel are also some of the things that draw people. These make it ideal for various hair types, so you can easily ensure the health of your locks and prevent any kind of heat damage.

It can also reach up to 410°F, which is the preferred temperature used by salons and hairstylists; this ensures that even if your hair needs high heat to style, it still won’t be too hot to damage your hair in the process.

Complete with digital controls with an LCD display to help you easily select the temperature you want to use, you’re guaranteed to use this product with great ease.

Features

• Tapered barrel shape
• 60-minute auto shutoff
• Digital controls and display
• Temperature lock

Pros

• 30-second heat up time
• Wide temperature range
• Easy to use
• Looks cute
• Ceramic heating element can work for a wide array of hair types
• Heat resistant glove included
• Great price
• Lightweight
• Safe for all hair types
• Two sizes available

Cons

• Putting it down while hot can damage surfaces
• Short cord

Summary

Affordable, easy to use, and is ideal for all kinds of hair types; the Remington CI9538 might just be the best curling iron for you. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s manufactured by one of the best-known electronics brands in the market today, so you can count on quality and performance with this item.

Hot Tools Professional 1110 Curling Iron with Multi-Heat Control

Hot Tools is one of the most popular go-to brands when it comes to heat styling tools. They’re known for their professional quality and friendly price, making it a fantastic investment for many who wish to expand their collections.

There are actually lots of things that make this product special. For one, it’s definitely eye-catching. Its gold-plated barrel certainly looks posh and elegant, not to mention highly capable of fast and even heating. So, it doesn’t just look great, but it’s also guaranteed to work wonders for your tresses.

Its heat controls are also very noteworthy. While it is equipped with a rheostat, a dedicated on-and-off switch is also available so you don’t have to reset the knob every time you’re going to use it.

This design makes it perfectly easy to operate and will also allow the unit to retain the same exact temperature setting so you can always use the same temperature when styling your hair.

In terms of use, you can also count on this Hot Tools product to make the process a lot easier. It’s very easy to hold and maneuver with its padded, easy-grip handle.

It also has an oversized cool touch tip so you can easily control and hold your hair in place. Its 8’ swivel cord also makes it very easy to wield, and its built-in stand will surely make your styling sessions less complicated and maybe even faster.

Features

• 24K gold-plated barrel
• 280° to 428°F heat settings
• Separate on/off switch
• Rheostat temperature memory
• 8’ swivel cord
• Oversized cool touch tip
• Padded easy-grip handle
• Built-In stand

Pros

• Looks really fancy
• 7 sizes available
• Very easy to wield and use
• Superb price
• Lightweight
• Heats up fast
• Great quality
• Suitable for all hair types

Cons

Heat spikes happen in some cases

Summary

Well-designed and made of high-quality products, the Hot Tools Professional 1110 Curling Iron is certainly one of the best options when it comes to heat styling tools. Add to the mix its very affordable price and you’re all set to have beautiful curls.

Conair Instant Heat Curling Iron

Many first-timers don’t want to spend a lot of money in curling irons because they’re not too sure yet whether they’ll like it or get great results from the process. However, not every cheap curling iron can do the trick. Some of them may even hurt your hair more than style it, so you should avoid them like the plague instead of using them for a quick fix.

Unlike its competitors, the Conair Instant Heat Curling Iron is a great choice for a quality, yet affordable styling tool. It can get the job done without costing you much, so any beginner who wants to try their luck might just find it with this product. With great features that you’d expect in a pricier unit, this little gem will really surprise you.

While its barrel is technically made of metal, it is carefully crafted to provide great results without singeing your hair. Its multi-layer technology is specially designed to create long-lasting results safely. It’s actually a good blend of nickel, chromium, copper, and steel, creating a heated surface that will effectively curl your locks and keep the frizz away.

For its super affordable price, it also surprises people with its dual voltage design. It can work with 110-125V power sources as well as 220-250V sockets outside North America. This means that you can take this curling iron while you are traveling abroad and always get a beautiful head of hair no matter where you are.

Features

• Turbo heat
• Multi-layer technology
• Smart technology
• Dual voltage
• 25 heat settings
• Auto shutoff

Pros

• Very affordable
• Available in six barrel sizes
• Great for traveling abroad
• Wide temperature range
• Lightweight
• Easy to use and wield

Cons

• Takes a while to heat up
• Limited warranty

Summary

Suitable for those who are looking for a magnificent but cheap curling iron, the Conair Instant Heat Curling Iron will really blow its competition out of the water with its affordable price, great quality, and fantastic results. While it’s not exactly made for those with thin hair, it can be a good pick for those with hard to manage, thick, and coarse tresses.

Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand

Ready to take your looks to the next level? Want a ‘do that will rival Goldilocks? Then the Infiniti Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand by Conair is a solid option for you. This cone-shaped curling iron offers large to tight curls in a flash, letting you achieve natural looking curls without too much fuss.

What makes the Infiniti Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand a stand out product is its barrel. Many shoppers don’t expect to find a tourmaline-infused ceramic heat styling tool at such a low price, so it’s a great pick for those on a tight budget who want the best materials and craftsmanship.

As tourmaline helps smoothen out a ceramic surface and provides additional negative ions to the hair, it offers shinier locks. It also lessens heat damage as it locks in moisture, lessening the odds of burning your tresses.

It also effectively applies heat to fine hair, so even if you think your locks are unmanageable, this material can work wonders for you. This makes such an affordable product an amazing one as it offers all the things you can expect from a more expensive item.

The shape of the barrel is worth noting as well. It tapers to 1”, ¾”, and ½” giving you options when it comes to how tight your curls can get. The larger sizes create bigger curls, while the smaller ones create smaller ones that can look as natural as it can get with the right styling and products.

When it comes to controls, this product’s design is hard to beat as well. Each temperature setting has its own dedicated button, so you won’t have to spend too much time fiddling with this unit just to get it to the heat level that you need.

Features

• Conical barrel
• 400°F high heat
• Tourmaline ceramic technology
• Auto off
• LED indicator lights
• 4 temperature settings (310°-400°F)

Pros

• 30-second heat up time
• Very affordable price
• Dedicated temperature setting buttons
• Tourmaline ceramic barrel
• Auto shut-off feature
• 3 sizes to choose from

Cons

Has a learning curve to use

Summary

If you want a curling iron that can easily perform as great as expensive units in the market, the Infiniti Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand might just be the right pick for you. With such a friendly price tag and wonderful features, it’s a bargain that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Bed Head Curlipops Curling Wand for Loose Curls

Not a fan of small, tight curls? Bed Head’s Curlipops Curling Wand for Loose Curls can be a good device to help you create those lush, voluminous curls you’ve always wanted.

This product from the Curlipops line guarantee a fuss-free styling experience with its single on/off switch, so you don’t even have to bother about temperature levels when you need to get your hair done.

With a tourmaline ceramic barrel, you’re also guaranteed effective styling and shinier locks. It can work great for those with unmanageable hair—but take ample precaution because if your tresses are fine, this tool’s high heat levels might not exactly be the best match for your hairs’ health. If you have thick, coarse, and frizzy strands, though, this will do a great job in giving you a fabulous transformation.

Features

• Tourmaline ceramic barrel
• Dual voltage
• 6’ tangle-free swivel cord
• Cool tip

Pros

• Clampless design
• Creates gorgeous loose curls
• Fuss-free controls
• Great for those with thick, coarse hair
• Free heat protective glove included
• Attractive look

Cons

• Requires some skill to make it more versatile
• Single heat setting

Summary

Hailed by many as one of the best curling irons on the market today, this Bed Head product can definitely be a great choice for those who are after an easy-to-use unit that will offer fantastic results. Its affordable price is a great plus, too.

Final verdict

If you like the occasional change in your looks, the best curling irons can do wonders for you without damaging your bank account. These picks are definitely some of the finest options available today, so go ahead and transform yourself from time to time with the help of a reliable styling tool.