14 Best Curling Irons of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Table Of Content

• Kristin Ess Titanium Pivoting Wand
• Best Heatless Curler for Short Hair: Heatless Hair Curling Ribbon Kit
• What features should you look for in a curling iron when you have short hair?
• Best for Voluminous Curls: CHI Textured Curl Wand
• Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron
• Xracephol No-Heat Curling Headband
• Best for Tight Curls: Conair ½ in Curling Iron

Don't be fooled — these rollers are not for big, bouncy curls as much as they are made for hair with tons of volume. Think of a flawless blowout that leaves your hair with movement and a soft bend. The automatic curling iron can be bought to its maximum heat within 30 seconds of turning it on. You have to section your hair and wrap it over the ceramic barrel, the hair gets heated and the hair gets curled in a matter of time and you get curly locks that are perfectly bouncy. To put together this list of the best curling irons on the market, our scientists and beauty pros parsed through over 103 test measurements and 836 survey answers. We also consulted hairstylists and our own beauty editors for additional insight on what makes the best hair tool, and considered online reviews and recommendations from GH staffers.

Kristin Ess Titanium Pivoting Wand

Folks looking for fine hair products to give texture and volume, meet the Invisibobble Heatless Curling Set. While you definitely need to secure the hair tightly, the silky material of the headband ensures that the process is relatively damage-free. And it works in an hour or two, which is also a plus (limiting the amount of time your hair has to spend tightly wound up). With a small barrel tip (that measures just 4mm), this brilliant tool can reach right to the roots to catch even the tightest curl for a uniform style.

Best Heatless Curler for Short Hair: Heatless Hair Curling Ribbon Kit

Then, do a final spritz at the end to hold the complete look in place. It gives you some versatility in styling options without requiring you to pack a bunch of extra attachments. Every option on the list is an excellent choice, but GHD Creative Curl Wand is our top pick for the best all-around curler. However, we’ve also include 6 other curlers that are also worthy of your consideration.

What features should you look for in a curling iron when you have short hair?

I obviously used the lowest one for my fine hair (370°F) but you can actually go upto 410°F if you’re not satisfied. I really liked the brush motor function as it helped keep my hair frizz-free curls without causing any kind of damage or breakage. And I give it bonus points since it saves time and gets heated up in 30 seconds. Just wrap a section of your hair on the barrel and use the ionic bristles to set it in place.

Also, any curling iron with a smaller barrel, such as one inch, will get the job done. A real challenge that rears its head with short hair is heat damage is more difficult to hide than with long hair. You should use heat protection spray in conjunction with curlers that cater to different hair textures and types. However, if you relegate yourself to the smallest size, you’ll only be able to curl tight curls.

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Start somewhere in the middle range and adjust from there to find your optimal temperature. What sets this iron apart from the rest are the 25 heat settings and the turbo heat button. The highest setting is 400°, but the turbo heat button adds an additional 36° blast for extra definition on your curls when you need it.

Conair InfinitiPRO 20-Roller Ion Generator Setter With Cord Reel

Even plain water can rinse out natural hair oils, leaving your hair dry and brittle. If these tips still aren’t enough to get your hair to hold a curl, you may need to take some extra steps to get your locks hydrated without being slippery smooth. A lot of people make the mistake of saving the hairspray for the end to lock in the finished look. However, for better results, you should add hairspray in batches throughout the process. Spritz a light coat over each lock just before you wrap it around the iron. Consider buying your own heat protective glove to go with this set, or check out a set like the Bestope 5-in-1, which includes a glove.

Always consider the length and texture of your hair when choosing an automatic curler. This 20-piece ceramic roller set from Conair was one of the easiest we've tried. The rollers come in three sizes ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches in diameter, so your curls won't feel too uniform. It only takes about 90 seconds to get hot, and then you leave them in for 10 minutes for loose waves and 20 minutes for tighter ringlets.

Best for Tight Curls: Conair ½ in Curling Iron

One of the most common curling devices that have gained popularity in recent times is the best automatic hair curler for short hair. They are quicker, safer and can be used easily since you do not have to manually twist your hair on the wand. Though we haven't tested this one in-Lab, the brand claims it heats up in 30 seconds, and we love that it has a swivel cord and adjustable temperature settings. It weighs in at just over 6 ounces, which makes it perfectly portable too. Keep in mind the shorter barrel is best-suited for short hair, though it'll work on any length with a bit more effort. While the barrel is fairly large for curling short hair, it does feature a clamp which helps to secure and hold each strand in place.

The tool is also ionic charged which helps to prevent hair from drying out, leaving it silky soft and shiny instead—something that we can definitely attest to. If you're on BeautyTok, you likely saw heatless curls become a trend overnight. The technique involves wrapping your hair around silk rods (and even socks or bathrobe ties), going to bed, and waking up with supermodel curls. However, most of the people who recorded this technique on TikTok had long hair. "Overnight curls for short hair can be a bit of a challenge," confirms Lopez. That's not to say it can't be done, it just requires the correct technique.

Once the curler was secure—doing so took about five minutes—our hair stayed in place and looked really nice the next morning. To use it, you just roll a section of hair around a rod and secure it by placing the net around it. As for the tech, the curlers are coated in gold-titanium which allows for consistent heat and, unlike ceramic, titanium can heat up much faster.

The Terviix Bubble Curling Wand makes it easy to get gorgeous curls in minutes. Consumers with fine, straight hair were astounded at how easily they created spiral curls that gradually fell throughout the day to produce soft ringlets. For short hair lengths, it’s more challenging to get curls that’ll stay put if you’re struggling to grip it and wrap it around the curler.

We’ve tested the following curlers for design, usability, and performance and separated them into various “best for” categories. We love the Caruso Ionic Steam Setter for damaged and/or chemically-treated hair. It relies on a steaming process that doesn't use heat so it's less damaging to the hair. We loved almost everything about this set, from how compact it is and how pretty (and frizz-free) the results were. That said, there was a bit of a learning curve as it pertains to the fasteners.

CHI is a brand that represents excellence, and its textured curl wand is no exception. Many consumers feel it’s easy to use, especially with the smooth glide barrel. The glove and mat with the curler help prevent burn injuries and protect the surface you sit the tool on. It’s a little expensive, and you can’t adjust the temperature, but the GHD Creative Curl Wand is easy to use and works quickly. The ceramic-coated wand features tri-zone technology, ensuring that your hair gets consistent heat levels when used. Though every curler on this list is suitable for short hair, our favorite is the GHD Creative Curl Wand.