Conair Instant Heat Curling Iron; 1 1/2-inch

Product Information

It’s rare to find a curling iron that delivers a solid curl across all hair textures regardless of the size of the barrel, but this one from Hot Tools did just that. We tried three different sized barrels — 0.75-inch, 1.25-inch, and 1.5-inch — and we found that each one delivered on their styling promises (beachy waves for larger sizes, tighter curls for smaller). Not only did our curls look great immediately after styling, but they also held their shape for the rest of the day, and even sometimes the next morning.

Rotating curling irons offer a wide range of heat settings (like most hot tools). “Before choosing a heat setting on a rotating curling iron, the user must first consider their strand volume, length, and most importantly, hair type,” says Holas. “That way, they are less likely to accidentally damage the hair or get sub-optimal curls.” If you’re not ready to splurge on the Airwrap but want a hot air-based curling iron that will care for your damaged hair, the Shark is your best — and most customizable — option. In this choose your own adventure, hairstyling edition, you’re free to select three attachments (out of eight total options), which include two curling barrel sizes, a variety of brushes, concentrator, comb, and even a diffuser.

An ergonomic handle that allows you to style your hair with one hand with flexibility, taking away pressure from your wrist As someone who prefers using a curling iron as opposed to a wand, I really enjoy the large clamp that this tool has. It securely holds my thin hair in place while it rotates, and it doesn’t leave crimps or bumps. Another underrated feature: It has a nine-foot swivel cord that makes maneuvering this curler around your head a breeze. If you have ultra-fine or damaged hair, you will want to select a curling iron that offers a low styling temperature. “Excessive heat will damage the cuticle further,” warns New York-based hairstylist Alwyn DiGregorio. “Lower temps with smaller sections will work just as well as higher temps and bigger sections.” What We Love: This interchangeable tool comes with three barrels, so it’s like three curling irons in one. Made with a one-inch ceramic barrel that heats up in under one minute, and a small grip clamp that effortlessly holds hair in place while it curls, this iron reduces the time it takes to style your hair. “Though the clamp is small, it manages to hold long hair securely in place while the iron does its job. There’s no tugging, and it releases hair pretty easily, too,” our tester adds. We appreciate that there are two curling speeds, too (fast and slow), so you can adjust it to your liking.

If you’re new to using a curling iron, you might find yourself getting tired while styling — they’re often so heavy that you end up getting a vigorous arm workout along with a head full of curls. Even though this tool is a premium and well-made device, it feels incredibly light (the lightest we’ve ever tried), making it a breeze to hold (an especially important quality for neophytes) as it works to give hair a lasting curl with minimal frizz. The Nume rotates in both directions making it seamless to get styles that curl towards or away from your face on both sides of your head. The tool is surprisingly lightweight and easy to manuver. The three barrel sizes allowed us to achieve different styles of curls and our hair felt soft and shiny when we were done. We did think the tool had a learning curve and was not instinctual to use. It also is difficult to get volume at the roots. Thoughtful Design - Have you ever accidentally shut off your curling iron before you were ready to stop using it? How about accidentally burning your hand while reaching for the handle? Conair's thoughtful design eliminates these inconveniences with its recessed buttons and cool tip for easy handling Most of the curling irons we evaluated came with detailed safety instructions. A study published in 2001 found that the most common injuries related to curling irons are burns.The only thing we will point out is that this device comes with two different curling barrels that can only curl hair in one direction (one curls hair to the left and the other curls hair to the right). This means you will have to swap out the barrel if you want to switch the direction of your curls. However, it’s really easy to change between attachments, so this shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.

Anti-Frizz Control - There is no need to worry about frizz with a Conair curling iron. With specialized ionic technology, Conair curlers come with the settings and properties to de-frizz your hair, even on the most humid days Farjo also says that products from hair salons and specialty stores are likely to be high-quality but more expensive. The difference between products at the convenience store and products at the salon is that the specialty ones tend to be more concentrated, so you can use less for the same benefit. That said, your choices can vary greatly "depending on the texture of the hair and the type of curl you are looking for," says Eugene Toye, stylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York City — and with so many options on the market, from titanium to ceramic, tourmaline and even clamp-less curling wands, hair rollers and heat-free hair curlers, it can be difficult to know where to begin finding the right hair curler for you.

FAQ's

A curling iron is one of the best ways to turn up the volume on your hair. But the market is awash in options: Titanium or ceramic? A ½-inch or 2-inch barrel diameter? Which is best for tight curls or loose waves? Do I really need one with the latest hair technology? What does that even mean??? Ultimately, though, “a curling iron versus a curling wand is a personal preference — some people just like one more than the other,” says Reed. Ginger has waist-length fine hair with medium density. It naturally falls into well-defined spiral curls. After straightening, her hair has trouble holding a curl without significant help. She’s looking for an iron that can give her bouncy, shiny curls that will last.