TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.7*
Why it's great: Readers say you don't need to drop big bucks to get a quality curling iron, and this one ranks high on their list. "The Conair curling iron is an oldie but a goodie," says one reader. "This delivers the curls you want and fast."
Users gush that the curling iron "heats up fast" and "seems to give the most perfect curls." Another favorite feature? The iron has a timer you can set, so it automatically turns off. Plus, readers say it's versatile. "I actually straighten my hair with this curling iron, and it works very well," says one user. "But it's good at curling too! It's well worth its reasonable price."
Why it's great: This curling iron actually curls your hair for you, which is basically the dream. It works by coiling your hair up in its chamber and swiftly heating it. It's quite fast (you can finish your whole mane in less than 30 minutes) and you can get lots of different effects with it too, from tightly defined curls to loose, beachy waves.
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.0*
Why it's great: "I love that you can achieve different curl sizes with one iron," one user says. "It gets nice and hot (410 degrees) and produces really shiny and defined curls. It was super quick to use, as each curl came out right the first time."
Other users appreciate the digital temperature screen on the wand and its lightweight feel, which they say makes it easier to use when you're learning how to maneuver the curling wand. "I tried it out on my hair, and it's magnificent," shares one user. "I really like it."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.3*
Why it's great: "I've tried high-end irons and numerous cheap drugstore ones," says one curling iron veteran. "Conair seems to be the one that is built to last." Other users agree, with one reviewer claiming that after three years, "it still works perfectly."
Besides its durability, readers say they love the temperature control and the fact that it heats up fast. "I'm in love with this curler," says one reviewer. "It works so well, and I have thick, long blonde hair. I use it almost everyday, and I only have to hold it in my hair for about four seconds and then let it out. It's the best curler I've had in years. I love it!"
Why it's great: Yes, at $270, it's quite the pretty penny. But when you factor in the fact that it has three interchangeable curling wands (each rendered in sleek white with opulent rose gold detailing), that price tag gets a lot easier to stomach. And did we mention it's very good at its job? It's so easy to work with and the curls you get from this really last — we're talking three days and up.
There are four things you should look for in a curling iron: One, does it get hot enough to adequately curl your hair? Two, is it the right size barrel for the curls you want to create (smaller barrels mean tighter curls, looser barrels mean bigger curls)? Three, is it easy to hold and use? And four, is it a high enough quality iron to last you a long time?
Obviously, it's difficult to know which irons will meet these criteria without road-testing each one. Luckily, TotalBeauty.com readers have tried them all and reported back to us on which ones lived up to their expectations and which ones fell flat — along with their hair. Read on to see which curling iron brands dominates TotalBeauty.com readers' bathroom counters, plus a few tried-and-true editors' picks.
