I have always had I have a love-hate relationship with curling my hair, and it’s been a long journey to find the best curling irons for styling. My tumultuous tryst with curling irons probably started because not only is it difficult to curl my naturally flat and straight hair to begin with, but also because I’ve had my fair share of curling iron burns on various areas of my face and neck throughout my life. adolescence (don’t ask).
I hated the trial and error of learning. as I didn’t want to curl my hair in those days, but I loved how my curly hair transformed me every time, whether it was bouncy curls for my teenage stage performances, rounded curls for my senior prom, or loose waves for my college graduation. I’ve never reached a major milestone in my life without a curling iron, no matter how clumsy my hands were or how bulky the device was.
But curling irons have come a long way since the late 2010s and have followed me into adulthood as I test out various styling tools for my job as a beauty editor. Ceramic barrels, multi-style blow-dry curlers, and ion technology have introduced easier ways to control temperature and allow for greater dexterity, and are much quicker to use than their medieval counterparts from the early 1900s. .
Here, I tested some of the best curling irons on the market to find out which stylers came out on top for someone like me with very difficult-to-curl hair, plus which ones are best for wherever you find yourself on your curling iron journey. Whether you have long hair, are a beginner, or just want a beachy wave. These were my favorites and in case you’re wondering, I’m happy to report that they are. No Burn me with any of these!
For more hair tool guides, check out The Best Hair Dryers and The Best Hair Straighteners.
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Which is better, ceramic or titanium curling irons?
Curling irons are usually made of tourmaline ceramic or titanium, and although neither is necessarily better than the other, there are some differences to keep in mind when purchasing. Ceramic straighteners generally take longer to heat up and can also distribute heat more evenly, making them suitable for finer, finer hair. Titanium curling irons, on the other hand, heat up very quickly and are better if your hair is thicker or coarser. You’ll want to choose a ceramic or titanium curling iron depending on your hair type and texture. Since I have longer, finer hair, I found that the ceramic straighteners I tried were a little more suitable for me.
What is the difference between a curling iron and a curling iron?
A curling iron usually has a safety clamp that allows you to hold your hair in place without needing both hands. Curling irons do not have a clamp, so you will have to hold the end of your hair while you curl it. Both straighteners and wands have their pros and cons: the safety clamp can sometimes leave a weird curl in your hair (which I experienced while testing some of these), while wands unfortunately make it much easier to burn yourself. fingers (which fortunately, I was able to avoid).
I tested these curlers for a few months, right before some events and occasions where I wanted to add more volume and style to my look. My hair is fine and straight, but there is a lot of it, so what I was most excited about were the straighteners that not only successfully curled my hard-to-curl hair, but allowed me to do so in a short period of time.
I usually part my hair into strands from left to right. Although I tried the top and bottom section a few times, I found that the first one was more successful for me personally because it was easier on my arms and allowed me to focus a little better on each strand of hair. And for those science buffs: I tried all of these on my second-day hair, except for two (the Dyson Air Wrap and FlexStyle Shark) that require damp hair. I typically curl about three-quarters of my hair (from mid-lengths to ends), so I tested about that length for each straightener I tested. I also used a heat protectant spray and set most of these (except one…more on that later) with hairspray.
