The best curling irons and wands can turn “kind of waved” hair into actual, bouncy curls that last through a full night out. And as a beauty editor who’s tested countless tools over the years, I can confirm that not all of them deliver. The right barrel size, material, and heat settings can make all the difference, especially if you have long, hard-to-curl, or damage-prone hair. With holiday parties and festive events on the horizon, now’s the time to find a reliable curler that gives you shiny, long-wear curls without frying your ends.
At Glamour we regularly put the most buzzed-about hot tools-including hair straighteners, blow-dry brushes, and curlers-to the test on different hair types and lengths, evaluating important attributes like ease of use, heat range, and durability. Below are the best curling irons we’ve tried. Our top pick, the Bio Ionic Long-Barrel Styler, stands out because it creates genuinely long-lasting curls without getting overly hot, meaning it won’t singe fine or thin hair types. You’ll also find an unexpectedly affordable top performer from Hot Tools, a genius air styler from T3, and more standout picks that make styling almost effortless, no matter what look you’re after.
Our Top Curling Irons
When it comes to the best curling irons, size and shape really do matter. The right barrel determines the type of curl you’ll get-smaller barrels create tight, bouncy coils, while larger ones give you loose, beachy waves. There are also tapered, clipless, motorized, and interchangeable wands, offering total styling flexibility for everything in between. After extensive testing, we’ve rounded up the best curling irons for every hair length, texture, and budget. We included all the details, such as temperature settings and interchangeable attachments. So go ahead: Whether you’re splurging or saving, these hair tools make it easy to get gorgeous, healthy-looking waves and curls without unnecessary heat damage.
- Best Overall: Dyson Airwrap, $620
- Best Attachments: Wavytalk Multi Curl, $60
- Best Interchangeable: T3 Switch Kit Curl Trio, $320
- Best Self-Rotating: The Beachwaver Co. Talia Gutierrez
Why it's worth it: The Dyson Airwrap did receive six of our most prestigious awards in just four years, including a 2024 Best of Beauty Award, so is ita surprise that it landed on this list? This styler is one of the most versatile hair tools on the market and can create pin-straight hair, curly ringlets, sleek blowouts, and everything in between-thanks to its six different styling attachments that can be used in a myriad of ways. The multifunctional styling tool also serves as a hair-dryer brush, thanks to the Coanda effect airflow that wraps your hair around the tool-and uses less heat in the process.
Tester feedback from former associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez
“I love using the Airwrap to achieve loose, low curls while keeping hair sleek and smooth up toward the roots, which is why it's a staple in my blowout-refreshing routine. By day two [of my blowout], chances are the bouncy curls are still intact, but some touchups will be necessary. Before an event or dinner with girlfriends, I whip out my Dyson Airwrap.
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Why it’s worth it: The 2025 Best of Beauty Award-winning Wavytalk Multi Curl truly shines for its versatility. With two temperature settings, a thermal brush, and four curling wands of different shapes and sizes, this tool opens the door to practically endless styling possibilities-be it loose waves, tight curls, or anything in between. All of the attachments are made from ceramic, giving hair a silky, shiny finish every time. Swapping between the different wands and the thermal brush is easy, so you can go from soft waves to tight curls in seconds.
But the multitasking magic doesn’t stop there. Ingrid Fowler
“With so many multi-tools out there that focus on hair-drying, it's nice to find one that focuses solely on curling wands.
Why it's worth it: T3's Switch Kit Curl Trio, a 2023 Best of Beauty-winning curling iron, comes with three interchangeable barrels (0.5-, 1.25-, and 1.5-inches) that lock into place, producing loose waves, tight spirals, and almost any other kind of curl you might want. "It creates sleek and healthy waves with a ceramic barrel, which is more gentle on the hair and works to smooth the ends for glam looks," bicoastal hairstylist Leon Gorman tells Allure.
Psst: If you already know you want waves rather than curls, T3's Switch Kit Wave Trio is for you. Kara McGrath"I love using the tiny 0.5-inch attachment to enhance my natural texture when it’s falling a little flat. I take small sections of hair and only wrap it around the barrel for about two seconds, then gently tug at the section while it’s still warm. This creates a more defined, less frizzy version of my natural waves, rather than tight ringlets.”
- Barrel width: 0.5, 1.25, and 1.5 inches
- Heat settings: 9
- Attachments: 3
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Wattage: 96W
- Best for: all hair types and textures
Why it's worth it: Enough with the manual winding and twisting; The Beachwaver Co. B1 Rotating Curling Iron does all that annoying work for you. "I love the Beachwaver because it's consistent and super user-friendly for clients," Fairfax, Virginia-based stylist Nam Nguyen tells Allure. The push of a button spins the ceramic barrel toward your scalp with close to zero effort.
Read also: Effortless Curls with FoxyBae
Tester feedback from former commerce writer Jennifer Hussein
"I rarely curl my hair, and I constantly get confused with which direction to twirl the barrel, so Beachwaver's viral curler takes all of the guesswork out for me. I usually use the B1 (or any curler, for that matter) to style the front tendrils of hair that are too short to put in my updo, but I love that this curler has a long barrel for times when I feel like experimenting with my style. It also gets bonus points for its heat settings-usually, I need high heat for my hair to form a curl, but somehow this tool effortlessly creates them at its medium setting, which is 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why it’s worth it: Using this waver couldn’t be easier: Just grab a section of hair, clamp it, hold for a few seconds, and move on to the next. And don’t let its larger size fool you-the Beauty Award-winning GHD Wave is surprisingly lightweight at just 1.24 lbs, and the curved edges make it easy to handle and perfectly balanced. It may sound like a small detail, but that control is what lets you craft effortless, mermaid-worthy waves in under 15 minutes (even on long hair!). Jesa Marie Calaor“This waver looks like a giant crimper from the early 2000s, creating extra-cool S-waves without the smell of burnt hair.
Why it's worth it: The skyscraper-like length of Bio Ionic’s Long Barrel Styler Curling Iron, a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, is ideal for anyone with hair grazing their mid-back (or beyond). This ultra-long, ceramic-coated curling iron is two inches longer than the average barrel curling iron and available in four different widths to suit your usual style.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“I struggle to find irons that actually reach the end of my very long hair, but the Bio Ionic Long Barrel Iron is perfect. The grip at the end of the barrel is excellent for ease of use, and for a burn risk like myself.
Why it's worth it: When it comes to the Best of Beauty-winning Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Curling Iron, you can choose from seven different barrel sizes depending on what kind of curl you go for, ranging from 0.5-inch (tight, bouncy curls) to two inches (loose, beachy waves). And, whether you're looking for waves, curls, or tight spirals, this evenly heated curling iron will work magic without breaking the bank.
Read also: Is the Cloud Nine Curling Wand Worth It?
Lily Wohlner“I’m honestly terrible at doing my own hair-period, end of story.
Usually, I’d just book a salon appointment when I want curls. But this curler has completely changed the game. It makes my hair look silky and shiny, never dry or frayed.
Why it’s worth it: The Dyson Airwrap Coanda 2x is a next-level tool for those with curls. It isn’t just a blow-dryer-it’s a ringlet-defining, frizz-taming powerhouse. With six attachments that adapt to individual styling preferences, it smooths, shapes, and stretches curls faster than ever, thanks to double the airflow and the powerful suction of the original Dyson Airwrap. Users can also connect it to the MyDyson app, creating a custom hair profile that fine-tunes heat and airflow to their exact texture.
Shanna Shipin“This is the best Dyson tool I have ever tried-period.
I have type 3A curly hair that I sometimes wear natural and sometimes blow-dry; this version of the Airwrap gets whatever look I want to achieve done in 15 minutes or less (yes!). This is coming from someone with low-porosity hair that takes seemingly forever to dry. The fact that I can get my curly hair handled before one of my two kids notices I'm gone is a miracle in itself. I love to use the round brush to create gentle tension that makes my blowouts last for days on end; the attachment is a vast improvement over the older version, IMO. This new iteration gets far closer to the roots for a more natural finish. There's zero frizz, all volume, and just the most Farrah Fawcett-like hair of your life-no tugging, singing, or sore arms necessary. And the diffuser? There are two settings and both are so effective at giving you bouncy and juicy curls. One really amazing feature is that the tool automatically shuts off when it senses that it’s been put down, an unexpected but much-loved perk for routine stylers like me.
How to Choose the Right Curling Iron Size | T3 SinglePass Curling Iron
- Barrel width: 1.6 inches
- Heat settings: 4
- Attachments: 6
- Weight: 2.14
- Wattage: 1700W
- Best for: curly hair, thick hair
Best Curling Irons at a Glance
Here's a quick look at some of the best curling irons mentioned in this article:
| Curling Iron | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bio Ionic Long-Barrel Styler | Long hair that needs to hold curls for an extended period of time | Extra-long barrel, creates long-lasting curls |
| Hot Tools Professional Gold Curling Iron | Hard to curl hair | Long barrel, five temperature settings |
| T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit | Smooth waves with limited heat | Less heat damage, lightweight and easy to use |
| T3 SinglePass Curl X Curling Iron | Fine Hair | Lightweight, easy to maneuver |
| GHD Classic Wave Oval Curling Wand | Thick Hair | Heats quickly; automatic shutoff after 30 minutes; two ways to style |
Frequently Asked Questions
What to look for in a curling iron
Size, size, and size. According to Columbus-based hairstylist Mia Santiago, "Smaller barrels create tighter curls whereas bigger barrels create looser, almost blowout-level curls." Another key component is being able to control and customize your heat settings. Santiago says that "safe" heat settings are 360 degrees Fahrenheit and below, so keep that in mind if you want to avoid unnecessary heat damage. (Don't we all?)
In terms of shapes and designs, curling irons come in quite a few options. Wands have no clamps and rely on the user's ability to wrap around and hold their hair in place, which is why most wands come packaged with a heat-resistant glove (to avoid close-contact injuries). Curling irons with spring-loaded clamps are probably the most common type and allow you to create a variety of curls depending on how you feed the hair, twist/roll the wand, open/close the clamp, and release.
Automatic curling irons are relatively user-friendly (please read the instructions) and have small springboard clamps that wrap the hair for you. Then, there's the Marcel iron, which has a manually controlled clamp, that Santiago says is mostly for professionals, as it has a manual handle that's not as user-friendly to the masses. "However, it allows for a smoother transition while curling," she notes.
How to use a curling iron
No matter what kind of curling iron you choose, the pro advice for long-lasting curls remains the same: Curl from the roots down. "The ends of your hair are more delicate and don't need nearly as much heat to curl," Dallas-based hairstylist Kirsten Patterson told Allure. If you're going for glam waves, you'll want to curl in the same direction throughout, while you should curl sections in alternate directions for beachy waves.
Another smart tip from Patterson: Never use hairspray before curling-only after. "Hairspray and heat from the curling iron can dry your hair out, so it's important to only use hairspray once you're finished styling," Patterson adds. Instead, use a heat-protectant spray before.