The Very Best Curling Irons

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Temperature:365 degrees |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:Also available in 1.25 inches

The clear favorite among the hairstylists I polled for this story was a one-inch curling iron from GHD. Mostmentioned how intuitive this iron is at minimizing hair damage — it heats up to exactly 365 degrees. “The material allows heat to distribute evenly, creating the perfect wave without damaging your hair,” Reavey says. (While 365 degrees is supposedly the optimal temperature for avoiding heat damage, those with very thick hair textures might want an iron that goes higher, which you can find on the list below).It’s her top recommendation for serial curlers, and others — like stylistsBenjamin MullerandNunzio Saviano— tend to agree. “The temperature is perfect, the hair never smokes or smells like burn, and the curl is perfect after four to five seconds from root to end — shiny and elastic,” says Saviano.

I’ve used and loved mine for years; I’ll even go so far as to say that it far surpassed my Airwrap when it came to creating long-lasting curls. Which is why I was surprised to find that last month, GHD claimed to improve upon its original design with the launch of the GHD Chronos collection. Like all GHD hot tools, the Chronos tools max out at 365 degrees, but the main difference is that the updated model does away with the silver clamp, and instead, the entire iron uses the ceramic coating, which I found did leave my curls even shinier and smoother. The Chronos collection includes a one-inch and 1.25-inch iron, plus two wands (more on that below).

Temperature:280–430 degrees |Plate material:24-karat-gold plated |Barrel size:Available in.375 inch, .75 inch, 1.25 inches, 1.5 inches, and 2 inches

HairstylistKendall Dorseyrecommends the Hot Tools 24K Gold Curling Iron as an especially great pick for textured hair because it gets hot quickly (it takes only a few seconds to reach 430 degrees, he says) and maintains its temperature for the duration of styling. But it also has lower heat settings for other hair types and comes in a variety of barrel sizes (three-eighths of an inch, three-quarters of an inch, an inch and a quarter, an inch and a half, and two inches), so you’ll be able to find an option that matches your particular curl type and hair texture.

Temperature:290–410 degrees |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:1.25 inches

When I first started curling my hair, I realized I lacked the coordination to clamp and curl at the same time. After a particularly harrowing incident in which I could smell (and see) my hair sizzling as I fought with the clamp on my mom’s curling iron, I thought about trying out a curling wand, but then a Beachwaver arrived from the brand in a gifted mailer at my door. It couldn’t be simpler to use: You clamp the ends of your hair, press a button on the handle that rotates the barrel for you, hold for a few seconds, and release the clamp. Then: Voilà, you’ve got a perfect curl every time. I’ve been using it for about four months, and as a truly hopeless novice, it was a complete game changer. I highly recommend it for any other struggling beginners out there.

Temperature:320°F–410°F| Plate material:Ceramic| Barrel size:1 inch

If you’re looking for a similarly easy-to-use tool for a cheaper price point, Strategist beauty writerKrista Bennett DeMaiobought her tween the Tymo CurlPro for Christmas. “I was amazed that all she had to do was slip a section of hair through the slit at the top, press a button, and the hair wrapped around the inside chamber. It beeps when it’s done, unraveling perfect curls,” she writes. She was so impressed, in fact, that she decided to try it out herself. “It really is as easy as she makes it look. (My daughter’s hair is much longer than mine, and it all fits in the barrel.) Once I brushed through my curls, I had bouncy, Old Hollywood–like waves that lasted all day.”

Temperature:250–430 degrees |Plate Material:Ceramic |Barrel size:Also available in.75 inch, 1 inch, and 1.5 inches

If you have hair extensions or naturally long hair, I highly recommend Bio Ionic’s curling iron, because the length of the barrel itself is about two inches longer than a standard curling iron. While I’ll always love my Ghd curler–which I still think its the best pick for most lengths–now that my hair is grown out, I find that I’m reaching for the Bio Ionic more often because it’s easier to wrap my long hair around and is much faster. The Long-Barrel styler is also available in four different widths ranging from .75 to 1.5 inches, so there’s an option for everyone whether you prefer tighter coils or beach waves.

Temperature:Up to 450 degrees |Plate material:Titanium |Barrel size:Also available in .75 inch, 1 inch, and 1.5 inches

If you have longer, thicker hair, chances are you need a curling iron with a slightly bigger barrel like this 1.25-inch BaBylissPro Nano Titanium. This one comes recommended by Dorsey, who likes that it goes all the way to 450 degrees and appreciates the ceramic barrel, which helps evenly distribute heat without damaging hair. “It also helps your hair glide through easily, so there isn’t breakage when you’re pulling your hair through to start a curl,” he adds.

Temperature:140–450 degrees |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:Also available in .75 inch, 1 inch, and 1.5 inches

The devilish appearance of this FHI ceramic iron may give away the fact that it can be scorching: Temperatures on this iron range from 140 to 450 degrees, which celebrity hairstylistTym Wallace— whose clients include Taraji P. Henson and Mary J. Blige — deems perfect for his curling needs. “Thus far, it’s the hottest curling iron I have used.” He likes that, similar to the Bio Ionic curler above, the FHI’s tourmaline-ceramic plates boast negative ions that seal in moisture, repel humidity, reduce frizz, and help eliminate static. “It makes the hair shiny and holds good curl memory for all hair lengths and styles,” he says. Everett also loves this curling iron, specifically the1.25-inch version, since she can use it on all hair textures. “Many of my clients love voluminous curls and waves, and this iron gives a beautiful frizz-free curl,” she explains. One of her tips for getting long-lasting curls with this iron is to start the curl at the mid-shaft of the hair and then twist the iron. “This allows the mid-shaft and roots to receive more of the heat from the curling iron,” she says. Afterward, she pins the curls until they’ve cooled.

Temperature:Up to 410°F |Plate material:Stainless steel and ceramic |Barrel size:Also available in 1.5 inches

If you dye your hair, you want to be careful about additional heat damage. This iron was recommended to our friends over atthe Cutby Devin Graciano, hairstylist and head of product development atGoldie Locks, because there’s a setting just for color-treated hair, “which helps to preserve hair-color retention,” she explains. “In addition to this, it has a stainless-steel barrel and ceramic heating to have a better distribution of heat.”

Temperature:260–410 degrees |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:1 inch, 1.25 inches, and 1.5 inches

If you aren’t sure what size curls you want to make or just like switching up your look, this T3 model will give you options. This set comes with three barrels — one inch, 1.25 inches, and 1.5 inches — and it has five adjustable heat settings that all create “defined and voluminous curls,” says Kadeisha Placide, the manager and lead stylist atClassic Beauty Studio. She says it won’t damage your hair and will even reduce frizz and create shine. She notes that the T3 is safe enough to use on a variety of textures, including natural hair, though she recommends only using it on pre-stretched or pre-smoothed hair, meaning hair that was blow-dried or flat-ironed beforehand. Hairstylist Monica Davis, who runs the blogMyStraightener, loves this T3 set for “the power of its guts and convertibility.” She appreciates how the iron comes with a control to avoid temperature drops. (If you prefer curling wands to clamp irons, T3 makes a similar interchangeable set — more on that below.)

Temperature:365°F |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:.9-1 inch

If you don’t want to fuss with a traditional clamp-style curler, Ghd also just released this tapered wand, which I found to be great at creating a softer, wavy look. My biggest tip would be to position the wand with the tip facing down before you twist your hair around the barrel. Then wrap, hold for a few seconds, release, and you’ll get a perfect wave every time.

Temperature:Up to 410 degrees |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:1 inch to 1.5 inches

For a cheaper alternative, seniorwriter Lauren Rosaysthis Remington wand is the closest she has come to mimicking the natural waves of a digital perm.It has a tapered tip — the bottom of the barrel is 1.5 inches, and it narrows to an inch at the top — that creates a range of curls depending on how you wrap it. “Instead of fussing with getting your strands into the clip, as with a traditional curling iron,” all you have to do is “wrap your hair around the barrel of the wand, hold for a few seconds, then release it,” Ro explains.

Temperature:240–430 degrees|Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:Also available in 1 inch and 1.25 inches

This wand is Everett’s go-to for mini-curls and coils that blend with natural textured hair. It’s one of the smallest on the market, she says, but don’t let the size fool you — it has a longer rod than most irons, “so I can curl clients with longer hair.” The wand shape lets her flat-wrap, twist, and wrap hair around the iron to create all styles of curls — which comes in handy with her celebrity clientele’s wide range of hair textures. Everett says she can easily control the iron’s temperature too. She’s a fan of curling irons made with titanium, like this one, since they can evenly circulate heat.

Temperature:Up to 410°F| Plate material:Ceramic| Barrel size:N/A

If you’ve ever used your flat iron to create waves, then T3’s newest launch is for you. The design is pretty ingenious: The flat iron’s extra-long plates are beveled and heat up on all sides, effectively turning them into a curling iron of sorts once closed. This means the tool can be used to straighten or create waves and curls, and it bends to the hair. I do think this styler, which has nine preset heat settings, has a bit of a learning curve, so I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners, but if you’re well versed in styling, I think this is a great two-in-one option that would save you a lot of space in your bathroom (or suitcase).Strategist writer Arielle Avila, who usually uses a straightener to achieve a beach-wave effect, notes that a traditional flat iron sometimes creates a “harsh crinkle that would throw off the look,” but with the T3, she gets “perfectly curled waves every time.”

Temperature:N/A |Plate material:N/A |Barrel size:1.25 inches

Launched this past fall, the FlexStyle is Shark’s answer to the Airwrap. Clocking in at $270, the FlexStyle is less than half the price of the Airwrap and utilizes the same high-speed airflow technology and temperature regulation to minimize heat damage. The FlexStyle for straight and wavy hair comes with five attachments: a round brush, a paddle brush, a concentrator nozzle, and two curling barrels. If you have curly hair, there’s abundlethat swaps out one of the brushes for a diffuser. I appreciated that the FlexStyle has a rotating handle that swivels down to turn it from a styler into a more traditional hair dryer. I also was impressed that the base of the wand works as a dryer without any attachments. When it comes to smoothing and drying, the FlexStyle gives the Dyson a run for its money. The main difference is in curling. The FlexStyle has two barrels: one that curls hair to the right and one that curls hair to the left. This is how the original version of the Airwrap worked until Dyson improved its tech. The latest Airwrap has barrels that can blow air in both directions, which I find significantly easier and faster for styling. I also found the Airwrap barrels did a better job of grabbing on to my hair while I was styling. So while I will personally still be reaching for my Airwrap, if you don’t want to drop $600 on the original, the FlexStyle offers a similar (if not exact) multi-styler for a fraction of the price.

Temperature:Up to 450°F |Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:.75 inch, 1 inch, and 1.25 inches

As the name would suggest, a waver is designed to give your hair waves as opposed to rounder curls like a curling iron would. There’s really no learning curve with a waver: Just clamp and hold as you go, though my one piece of advice is to try to get as close to your scalp as possible when you clamp; otherwise you can leave a visible crease mark in your hair. The Cut’s senior shopping editor, Bianca Nieves, uses this interchangeable Dry Bar curling iron to shape her natural waves and curls. Nieves loves that the iron has three different attachments that she can choose between depending on how she wants to style her hair, including a waver for beachy waves, a 1-inch barrel for defined waves, and 1.25-inch barrel for curls.