The 5 Best Curling Irons For Fine Hair, According To Experts (2024)

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Jessica Timmons

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Encouraging fine hair to hold a curl is famously tricky, and the best curling irons for fine hair are designed with appropriate heat settings (read: low) to get the job done while minimizing damage. “People with fine hair need to be very careful when working with a curling iron,” says celebrity colorist Sharron Doram. “The most important thing is not to overexpose the hair to heat.” Our top pick for fine hair, the T3 SinglePass X Curling Iron, features nine heat settings and has a ceramic barrel for fast, efficient styling and lasting results.

Before making a purchase, consider the heat settings, materials, barrel size and price. All of our experts recommend a ceramic barrel for fine hair, as this material distributes heat more evenly and prevents hot spots that may damage strands. Below are the best curling irons for fine hair, along with shopping advice from a variety of experts.

  • Best Curling Iron Overall For Fine Hair: T3 SinglePass X Ceramic Curling Iron

  • Best Value Curling Iron For Fine Hair: Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron

  • Best Curling Iron For Short, Fine Hair: Kristin Ess Ceramic Curling Iron

  • Best Curling Iron For Long, Fine Hair: Beachwaver B1 Rotating Curling Iron

  • Best Curling Wand For Fine Hair: GHD Classic Wave Hair Curling Wand

Best Curling Iron Overall For Fine Hair

A Top Pick With Precise Heat Control And One-Pass Styling

T3 SinglePass X Ceramic Curling Iron

Plate material:CeraGloss ceramic |Barrel sizes:1 inch, 1.25 inch, 1.5 inch | Temperature:260 to 410 degrees Fahrenheit |Heat-up time:90 seconds | Weight:10.6 ounces |Cord length:8 feet | Warranty:2 years

The Forbes Vetted team dubbed the T3 SinglePass our top luxury pick in our roundup of the best curling irons, and the latest model manages to improve on the original. It has nine settings for precise heat control and an extra-long ceramic barrel that allows for a range of styling techniques. An updated clip design gives the iron a super smooth glide and minimizes the potential for clamp marks, which can be an issue with fine hair. This model has the brand’s trademarked CeraGloss ceramic barrel to ensure even heat with no hot or cold spots for fast, one-pass styling. This minimizes heat exposure and helps ensure lasting curls, even on fine hair.

Best Value Curling Iron For Fine Hair

An Affordable Tool With Double The Ceramic Coating

MOST POPULAR

Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron

Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel sizes:0.5 inch, 0.75 inch, 1 inch, 1.25 inch, 1.5 inch |Temperature:260 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit |Heat-up time:Instant | Weight:15.2 ounces |Cord length:5 feet | Warranty:2 years

This classic curling iron from Conair has double the ceramic content for more even heat distribution, faster styling, anti-frizz control and longer-lasting curls, according to the brand. It has 30 heat settings, including a max temperature of 375 degrees and a Turbo Heat feature that adds a burst of extra heat-up by 27 degrees. Other bells and whistles include instant heat-up, a cool tip to make styling easier and recessed buttons so you don’t accidentally turn it off while you’re using it. The best part? It’s priced around $20, which is a fraction of the cost of others on our list.

Best Curling Iron For Short, Fine Hair

A Versatile Iron For Styling Curls And Waves On Short Hair

Kristin Ess Ceramic Curling Iron

Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel sizes:1 inch, 1.25 inch | Temperature:325 degrees to 425 degrees Fahrenheit |Heat-up time:60 seconds |Weight:2 pounds | Cord length:9 feet | Warranty:2 years

Use this versatile curling iron to style beachy waves and curls on shorter hairstyles, including pixies, lobs and bobs. The ceramic barrel helps retain moisture and closes the hair cuticle for smooth, shiny strands. Plus, it makes it easy to slide the iron through ends without snagging fine hair or leaving lines. The tool has a digital display with four temperature presets (325, 365, 400 and 425 degrees Fahrenheit), an automatic shut-off feature and negative ion technology for frizz-free styling. Keep in mind that this option is a bit heavier than others on our list.

Best Curling Iron For Long, Fine Hair

A Lightweight, Rotating Pick That's Easy To Use

Beachwaver B1 Rotating Curling Iron

Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel sizes:0.75 inch, 1 inch, 1.5 inches | Temperature: 290 to 410 degrees Fahrenheit |Heat-up time:45 seconds |Weight:16 ounces | Cord length:8 feet |Warranty:1 year

The Beachwaver B1 is a rotating curling iron, which means it does most of the work for you—a particularly helpful feature if you have long hair. Two arrow buttons rotate the barrel in either direction for easy styling, while a signature beveled, one-inch clamp ensures smooth curling and no kinks or dents as you curl. The ceramic iron has three heat settings to suit different hair types: high (410 degrees), medium (350 degrees) and low (290 degrees). It’s also lightweight, which gives your arms a break while you work through all that hair.

Best Curling Wand For Fine Hair

A Tapered, Oval Barrel That Won't Scorch Delicate Strands

GHD Classic Wave Hair Curling Wand

Plate material:Ceramic |Barrel size:1.5 inches | Temperature:365 degrees Fahrenheit |Heat-up time:25 seconds | Weight:14.4 ounces |Cord length:6 feet | Warranty:2 years

This curling wand skips the temperature dial completely. Instead, it’s designed to heat up to 365 degrees Fahrenheit for what the brand calls optimal styling—hot enough to style without causing damage, even for fine strands. The 1.5-inch ceramic barrel has an oval shape for a loose, modern wave and a protective cool tip that makes it easier to twist strands around the barrel. The iron comes with a safety stand and a protective glove, too.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of haircare stories.

  • The author of this piece Jessica Timmons is a regular contributor with over a decade of experience covering beauty and lifestyle topics. As someone who spent years straightening and then painstakingly adding waves to her own long, fine hair, she has tested some of the curling irons on this list.
  • The story has been overseen by deputy editor Jane Sung, who leads coverage on a wide variety of haircare topics including the best conditioners for dry hair and the top hair straighteners, according to rigorous testing.
  • In addition, Timmons gathered key insight and guidance from five industry professionals: Kimberly Gueldner, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Voël Hair Studio; Sharron Doram, celebrity colorist and owner at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon; Christina Hayes, senior hair designer at Hainsworth & Company Salon in Arizona; Jen Ju, director of brand and product marketing at T3; and Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist and founder of The Beachwaver Co.

How We Chose The Best Curling Irons For Fine Hair

To select the best curling irons for fine hair, we started with brands we know and love and then looked for features that specifically benefit fine hair.

  • We prioritized ceramic curling irons over titanium and looked for options with a range of heating settings.
  • We also kept barrel size in mind to ensure we had options for both long and short hair.
  • Our experts chimed in with recommendations based on their own experiences, while customer reviews were examined for standout product traits.
  • As everyone’s budget looks a little different, we included both affordable and luxury options.

What To Consider In A Curling Iron For Fine Hair

“People with fine hair need to be very careful when working with a curling iron,” says Dorram. This means using lower temperatures and opting for barrels made with certain materials. Here’s what else to keep in mind.

Heat Settings

Dorram says that fine hair is more responsive than thick hair, which means it’s important to find an iron with multiple settings. “Look for irons where you can adjust and control the heat setting by degrees, versus only on/off or low, medium and high,” says Hayes. “This gives you much more control over exactly how much heat your hair is being exposed to.”

For fine hair, always start with low heat. “Those with fine hair do not need to turn up the heat to the highest heat setting,” says Ju. Keeping the temperature on the lower end won’t just protect your strands—it may encourage a better curl. “If the iron is too hot, it can actually have the opposite effect and prevent the hair from being able to hold shape, making it more limp because it can’t handle such high heat,” says Hayes.

Materials

All of our experts recommend a ceramic barrel for fine hair. “Ceramic plates distribute the heat more evenly than titanium, so there are no ‘hot spots’ on the iron that could cause more heat to be applied on one spot of your hair than others,” says Hayes. “This minimizes potential damage and produces a more even curl.” Titanium barrels can sustain higher temperatures for longer, she adds, but it’s not something that fine hair needs. Ceramic barrels have another benefit, too. They help smooth the hair by closing the cuticle and minimizing frizz for a glossy finish.

Barrel Size

Barrel size determines curl size, so the bigger the barrel, the looser and larger the wave. But hair length and texture can also steer you toward a bigger or smaller barrel. “Those with fine hair may struggle with their curls not holding the shape or lasting as long,” says Hayes, so you might want to opt for a smaller barrel size. “If you start with a tighter curl, knowing that it may fall and loosen fairly quickly, then you are more likely to end up with the desired result of that perfect wave,” she says.

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