Curling irons consist of a heating element, a barrel and a clamp. And most come with a variety of features, including digital display, adjustable heat settings and automatic shutoff. Barrels are available in chrome, ceramic, titanium, tourmaline and nano-silver and/or gold finishes.

Reviewers say the following about curling irons:

  • To protect against fire hazards, look for curling irons with automatic shutoff. 
  • Always use the lowest possible heat setting to curl your hair. Too much heat can harm your hair, especially if it's fine or damaged. Higher settings are needed for thick, coarse or curly hair.
  • Never use a curling iron on wet hair. Doing so can burn hair. 
  • Keep the barrel a safe distance from the scalp. Experts recommend keeping the barrel at least a half-inch away from the roots to avoid burning the skin or damaging the hair cuticle.
  • Let curled strands cool completely before touching them. This allows the curls to set and in turn will help your curls hold longer.
  • Choose a small barrel (1/2 to 1 inch) for short hair or tighter curls and a larger barrel (1 1/4 inches to 2 inches) for long hair or loose curls.

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