Styling thick hair needs some extra TLC – enter,  the best curling irons for thick hair. To maintain your mane and keep it healthy and luscious, you need the very best as not every hot tool from the bountiful beauty bazaar will work on your strands. Whether it’s soft lazy curls or beachy waves, a daily affair, or strictly special, the right curling iron will up the ante and let you enjoy long-lasting and damage-free curls. 

Based on our observations, when it comes to curling tools, the material, barrel shape, clamp quality, and temperature settings are a few things to fit the bill. You wouldn’t want to turn your style session into an arms workout session, right? To save you time, effort, and damage, an appropriate barrel size, a material that quickly and evenly heats up, and a wide range of temperature settings are most necessary.

Ahead are the best curling irons for thick hair that will give your mane exactly what it needs.

Choosing the best curling iron is not something one can do in a hot minute! You need to delve into the details and pick what your mane needs. Scroll on to find the top curling irons that are apt for thick tresses.

• 1
  Best budget

  Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron

  BUY ON AMAZON

Cop the Conair double ceramic curling iron to instantly upgrade your hair tools vanity with something that creates perfect curls effortlessly and is not pricey. This curling iron by Conair has double ceramic content that delivers even and quick heat. It features 30 heat settings that will let you create lovely and long-lasting curls, suitable for all hair types, especially thick hair. The unique aspect is the cool tip which makes the tool safer to handle. The high ceramic content also offers heat and damage protection, along with combating frizzy hair.

2

Best automatic rotation

CHI Spin N Curl

BUY ON AMAZON

Another hot tool under our radar is Chi’s spin n curl curling iron. We have found from our tests that, unlike traditional wrapping and clamping, the innovative curl chamber draws the sectioned hair strands and spins them into curls. You can choose the direction of your swirls with just a push button and achieve immaculately timed curls. The advanced heating system lets you customize your styling with a preset temperature setting suitable for your hair and restrain any damage. The ceramic heat technology controls the frizz, giving you fresh and healthy tresses. For long, thick, or coarse hair, the recommended heat temperature is 410°F.

3

Best for tousled curls

Hot Tools Pro Signature Gold Curling Iron

BUY ON AMAZON

A favorite among many professionals and celebrity hairstylists, Hot Tools’ styling products offer great and affordable technology. The pro signature gold curling iron has a 1-¼” gold barrel to create tousled curls that remain locked for a long time. The styling process can be sped up with the pulse technology that allows quick heat, evenly distributed. For achieving those salon-like soft, swirly curls, even in thick hair, all you need to do is clamp down the hair strands, gently curl upwards, and release. With this iron, you can also go for the wrap-around method and use the rather larger barrel as a wand.

4

Best overall

INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand

BUY ON AMAZON

The ceramic curling iron features a tapered barrel for crease-free and kink-free spirals that help you create well-defined curls. The tourmaline ceramic technology provides control over frizz for smoother and shinier strands. The conical barrel is clamp free which lessens the stress and heat damage on the hair. There are five temperature settings so you can choose the right one for yourself and the heat can go high, up to 400 degrees F. INFINITIPRO by Conair can be an ideal pick to wrap your locks into pretty curls.

5

Best budget

Conair Instant Heat 1 1/2-Inch Curling Iron

BUY ON AMAZON

As the name suggests, this particular curling iron by Conair delivers instant heat, within 30 seconds. It has 25 heat settings and a turbo heat mode to further ease the styling process for all types of hair. Be it tight curly spirals or just enhancing your existing waves for thick hair, the heat setting plays a crucial role and makes all the difference. The iron has multilayer barrel technology, which combines the elements of chromium, nickel, copper, and steel for even heat distribution and long-lasting results. The extra long cool tip is the added benefit along with the auto-off feature for safety measures.

6

Best heat adjustments

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron

BUY ON AMAZON

The slim and lightweight BaBylissPORO has a sol-gel nano titanium ceramic coated barrel that evenly distributes high heat for perfectly smooth and frizz-free hair. The most-loved features are the heat adjustments, instant heat boost by turbo heat feature, and long-lasting curls. The maximum heat is up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which is ideal for thick and coarse hair. The titanium barrel uses far-infrared heating which primarily heats the hair shafts from within for maximum styling and minimal damage.

7

Best beachy & loose waves

MODVICA 3 Barrel Curling Iron Wand

BUY ON AMAZON

For quick soft and beachy curly hair at home, MODVICA’s 3-barrel curling iron wand can be the bon produit for the job. This hot tool has a jumbo barrel that can heat up to 180℃ in approximately 30 seconds. The three barrels feature imported ceramic glaze coating technology that speeds up the styling process and provides even heat, all while protecting your precious tresses with the nano-technology. Be it any kind of curls, your locks will shine and last long. This hot tool spares you the spiral wrapping and chances of stings.

8

Best smooth curls

BIO IONIC Long Barrel Styler

BUY ON AMAZON

This hot styler has a lot more to offer than an average curling iron for long and thick hair. Its unique feature is the extended-length barrel that instantly creates lazy curls, retro curls, and natural waves, perfect for easier styling of long hair, even the shorter sections at the back! The barrel boasts a nanolonic MX and Bio Ionic moisturizing heat technology that collectively shapes quick curls and locks the moisture to zap frizz and lend luster. The BioCeramic heaters allow constant and even heat, up to 430°F. With added benefits, there is a one-hour auto-off button, a protective cool tip, and freshly done strands that are hydrated and bouncy.

9

ELLA BELLA® Curling Iron

Buy on Amazon

Engineered with the needs of thick hair in mind, ELLA BELLA's curling iron will blow your mind with its spectacular performance – taming and stylish your locks will become easier than ever! The ceramic wand can create an array of looks, ensuring that the heat is evenly distributed while doing so. With a customizable digital temperature display that ranges from 180°F to 410°F, you'll be in charge of the entire styling process. It also comes with a professional styling glove, a heat-resistant case, and a mat to rest the heated iron, making it a must-have tool for thick hair like yours.

10

Best for beginners

SalonTech SpinStyle Pro Curling Iron

BUY ON AMAZON

Curling your hair can be a warm breeze with this hot tool. The automatic hair curling iron by SalonTech has an adjustable heat setting, of up to 450 Degrees Fahrenheit. You can ditch the sectioning and let the curling tool gently spin the strands. For loose curls, you can section your hair and get the spinning-swirling on. The ceramic barrel is also coated with nano-diamond particles. The key inputs increase the durability, conductivity and zap the frizz with the far infrared heating system.

11

Best rotating barrel

The Beachwaver Co. Ceramic Rotating Curling Iron

BUY ON AMAZON

The Beachwaver^® S1 lives up to the GRWM videos on social media. The medium-sized barrel is perfect for longer and thick hair. The curling process is effortless and quick with this iron. The distinct feature is the rotating barrel that you can direct with just the push of a button. The mini clamp keeps the locks intact for perfectly bouncy curls- be it relaxed waves, tight curls, or glam waves. The base of the barrel is ceramic which gives you healthy, shiny, and long-lasting cute curls. The curling iron boasts features like auto-off, dual rotation buttons, a digital temperature range display, and an easy grip clamp.

12

Best long barrel

MINT Professional Series Ultra-Thin Curling Wand

VIEW ON AMAZON

Something to get a contemporary vibe with tight ringlets and more is exactly what this petite curling wand offers. A dual heater system is provided for fast and even heat up, while the long barrel avoids overlapping of hair for perfectly shaped curls and waves without kink. The Pro series is backed with ceramic, ionic, and tourmaline barrels that deliver healthy and lustrous locks, besides durability for daily use. This product includes a protective glove too!

13

CHI Lava 1

BUY ON AMAZON

Combining volcanic lava with CHI ceramic makes the best duo for a mane of lustrous and bouncy curls. The heat-isolating curl chamber draws hair automatically to serve fresh and warm curls that are perfectly timed. There is a preset temperature setting to suit your hair type and minimize heat damage. The pro spin n curl tool has a digital display, a maximum temperature of up to 410°F, a protective heat barrier, and auto-shutoff.

Creating those beautiful curls and waves to thick hair can be tricky at times, but the right hot tool can make all the difference. To ease your selection process, here are a few things to keep a note of:

• Barrel Size

To achieve voluminous locks for thick or coarse hair, and a hair length beyond the shoulders a barrel size over an inch will be the right choice. The size of your curls will be determined by the size of the curling iron barrel. A slimmer barrel might leave your ends unfinished, make you wrap the strands multiple times, and consume a lot of time. For a head full of gorgeously polished curly locks, a barrel ranging from 1-2 inches will be your go-to. 

• Material

Just as you look for the ingredients in your skincare bottles, choosing the right material for your styling tool is equally essential. Ceramic is the most affirmed material among others like tourmaline, gold plate, or titanium. The material infused the barrel that stays in contact with your thick hair, must heat up quickly and evenly. The heat must remain consistent to lessen hair damage and deliver fresh and flawless curls. The blend of technology with the materials like ceramic will tame the frizz in coarse tresses, leaving them shiny and smooth. 

• Temperature Settings

Based on how thick and long your hair is, a higher temperature will result in appropriate curls. For coarse and thick hair strands, the temperature required can range from 300-450 degrees Fahrenheit. With multiple settings in a hot tool, you can customize the heating temperature and create healthy curls in less time. With a few trials, you will get used to the ideal heat setting and hold time to gain the best results, while mitigating hair damage. 

• Wand

Curling irons these days have an array of wand styles. It can vary from traditional wands, clamps, curling chambers, rotating barrels, and multiple tubes in one, to detachable accessories or an amalgamation of all options. If you are a beginner, you might want to go for automatic options or wands with clamps for an easier process. If you are a professional striving for immaculately tight curls, a simple wand will be your best friend. Clamps tend to increase heat exposure while wands have a chance of stinging and require some practice.

While engaging with a hot styling tool for thick hair, one wishes for perfectly shaped, shiny, and long-lasting curls, along with minimal heat damage. So what’s the best way of using an iron? Here are the essentials to keep in mind:

1. Make sure your hair is completely dry. Wet or damp hair will expose the open cuticles to direct heat, causing damage and weakening your hair strands. You can use a hair dryer before styling. 
2. Avoid using hot tools every day, especially with damaged hair. The broken bonds, extremely dry or frazzled hair, and split ends will not hold up the curls, but instead burn out your tresses.
3. Start by prepping your hair with serum massages and heat-protectant sprays over the locks.
4. Determine the appropriate barrel size and temperature setting for effective and quick results.
5. Next up is sectioning your hair. The way you section your hair highly affects the resulting curls. For loose and lazy hair a thick section is required, while thinner sections must be done for tighter ringlets. Similarly, horizontal sections are best for voluminous curls and vertical sectioning will help achieve the best beachy waves. 
6. After your hair is uniformly styled, you might want to gently brush them or run your fingers through it for a naturally enhanced look. 
7. Post styling and cooling your hair down, don’t forget to use a hair spray. Hairspray will keep your curls intact and make them last long. 

With any one of the best curling irons for thick hair at your disposal, you can pull almost every type of curl style at your home with minimal effort. All you need to do is make sure to get the right barrel size, material, temperature setting, and some practice in tool handling for effective results. Also, be certain to follow protective steps in order to curb heat damage and maintain a healthy mane and get cracking with all the nuanced curls and waves you dig from the hottest social media trends!