8 Best Curling Irons

For a classic clamp curler, give the 1 ¼ -inch, highest-temp Ion a whirl — it won for forming lasting curls, even on coarse, thick hair. This iron blew away the competition, scoring highest in nearly a dozen categories including grip and maneuvering, easy controls, compact size and producing curls that stay put. Users loved that “that the clamp is as long as the barrel,” which is particularly useful for shorter cuts and the shorter handle length “keeps my hand in a perfect position to reach the thumb grip.”

Though we haven’t tested this pick in the Lab, you can’t beat the price of this 1-inch classic curling iron (currently less than $10!). Despite its eye-popping bargain price, is racking up the five-star ratings on Amazon. It’s barebones, but for the price, it’s a solid choice — just ask the 4,300+ five-star reviewers who say it works great on fine and thick hair alike.