Best curling iron

The best curling irons will give your hair life and volume with minimal volume, and we've found some fantastic options for every budget right here. That includes curling irons for waves, tight ringlets, or that classic bouncy blow-dry style. 

Our favorite curling iron is the T3 Twirl Trio interchangeable curling iron. This three-in-one curling wand has five different heat settings and comes with a stand to prevent it from damaging your dresser. We've found some brilliant options when it comes to safety, with some of these curlers offering automatic shut-off because there's nothing worse than worrying you've left your curlers on when you leave the house.  We've also included smart curlers that do all the work for you, twisting your hair into the inner mechanism and releasing it for smooth curls in seconds. For our top picks, keep reading. 

The T3 Twirl Trio interchangeable curling iron is, without a doubt, one of the top curling irons money can buy because it's interchangeable. Three barrels come included so you can style your hair in several ways, using just one tool. All three barrels have a custom blend ceramic seal for a smooth and shiny finish, as well as a cool tip for easy holding. This curling iron has five different heat settings from 270ºF to 460ºF.

The T3 Twirl benefits from a one-hour auto-off function for safety purposes as well as a nine-foot, 360º swivel cord. It also has a built-in stand so you can pop it on a surface without damage. In the box comes a storage tote and a heat-resistant glove for safer use.

The Conair double ceramic curling iron is a great budget-friendly option. This curling iron comes in five different barrel sizes from 0.5-inch to 1.5-inch. For tight curls, classic curls, soft curls, loose waves, and more. These barrels have a high ceramic content for even heat distribution and to help tame frizz. This curling iron boasts 30 different heat settings up to 400ºF. There's also a Turbo Heat function for difficult-to-style areas.

The Conair curling iron has a cool tip to make it easy to hold and safe for safe use as well as an auto shut-off feature. It also has a built-in stand.

The CHI Spin N Curl makes an easy job of curling hair—this curling iron draws your hair into its chamber where it's heated and timed to create perfect curls. This curling iron has a one-inch ceramic rotating barrel and it can heat to three temperatures from 370ºF to 410ºF. 

Not only does this curling iron play the part, but it looks the part too – it comes in four different colors! It also has a one-hour auto shut-off mode and a cool-touch housing for safety purposes. It has an anti-tangle feature so that should your hair become stuck, this curling iron beeps to alert you and releases it.

The Parwin Pro 7-in-1 curling wand has seven attachments for every type of curl. That includes a 13mm, 19mm, 25mm, 25mm cone, bubble and oval size wand, and it comes with a carry bag and protective glove. 

This wand takes 30 seconds to heat up and has a 360-degree swivel cord that will stay out of the way when you're curling. It also has a lock to prevent it from accidentally switching on, and if you do happen it leave it on, it switches off automatically after an hour. 

The GHD curve wand is a great curling wand for waving hair: it has a one-and-a-half-inch oval-shaped barrel that boasts a cool tip for easy handling. The barrel is ceramic coated and Ultra-zone Technology gives consistent heat—results can be seen in just five to eight seconds while the barrel heats up in 25 seconds. The GHD curve wand has just one temperature setting—365°F.

This curling iron benefits from an auto shut-off mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. It also has a built-in stand for popping it on a surface. In the box comes a glove to help hold the curling wand safely.

The Alure three-barrel curling iron wand is our best pick if you love beachy waves. This curling wand boasts three barrels that are an inch wide and have a protective coating. Since this curling tong clamps your hair, it's very easy to use. It takes just 60 seconds to heat up while the temperature can be adjusted up to 410ºF—it does the job in seconds. 

This three-barrel curling iron works on all types of hair and is also good at eliminating frizz. It features an LCD screen to show temperature while it has a 360º rotatable and tangle-free cord. It also benefits from having a non-slip handle and a stand.

Our verdict

The T3 Twirl Trio interchangeable curling iron is the best curling iron. It has three interchangeable curling wands and five heat settings, so you're guaranteed to have all your bases covered. We also love the Parwin Pro 7-in-1 curling wand for this same reason. It's got options galore, with seven attachments on offer as well as a safety glove for fiddly tasks or those new to hair curlers. 

The best budget option is the Conair double ceramic curling iron. It has 30 temperature settings and automatic shutoff. If you've got a bit more to spend though, the CHI Spin N Curl curling iron is our best easy-to-use pick because it does all the hard work for you. 

The GHD curve wand is great for those seeking loose curls, and for soft and beachy waves we recommend the Alure three-barrel curling iron wand is great.

Why trust us?

At Real Homes, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.