The Best Curling Irons for Every Budget

When you're wielding a curling iron in hand, you're usually envisioning smooth beachy waves minus the crispy ends and sick burns that can happen when there's a hot iron two inches from your face. Thankfully the hot tools of today are more primed than ever to save us the trouble. Here, our top picks in every price category for the hair curlers that are doing the most for the least amount of effort.

Revlon Rose Gold Curling Iron, $28

Design by Betsy Farrell

At its most basic, this clamping rose gold curler is all you need if you're only curling your hair every so often. It's easy to manage for people who aren't used to grip-less wands and it heats up quickly to the optimal 365 degrees for a perfect curl every time.

Hot Tools Rainbow Gold Tapered Iron, $57

Design by Betsy Farrell

Once you've got the hang of it, this *rainbow* Hot Tools iron is ideal for everyday use and gives you more bang for your buck than your average low-end iron. The tapered barrel makes it easy to create corkscrew curls and loose beachy waves without switching irons, and it comes with a professional 8 ft. swivel cord to make you feel like you're running your own salon.

Chi Pro Rotating Curling Iron, $95

Design by Betsy Farrell

Curling iron carpal tunnel could be a thing of the past with Chi's automatic rotating barrel that does the swiveling for you. The LCD heat system is another nice touch that helps you monitor the temperature so you don't deal serious damage to your hair.

Bio Ionic Long Barrel Styler Pro Curling Iron, $140

Design by Betsy Farrell

Long haired ladies: here's your new favorite curling wand. Bio Iconic's lengthy barrel means you can style a long strand in one-go instead of double wrapping. Other perks are the cool tip that prevents accidental burns (the worst), plus the Nanoiconic technology that's designed to banish frizz and add some extra *shine* to your strands.

GHD Creative Curl Wand, $199

Design by Betsy Farrell

GHD's newest curling wand looks kind of like an ink pen, and it turns out this streamlined barrel is ideal for creating all different types of waves. With six different heat sensors along the barrel, the iron curls your strands evenly without overheating. Plus, it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of non-use to make sure that you're, y'know, not accidentally burning down your apartment.

Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand, $270

Design by Betsy Farrell

Earlier this year, Blake Lively's hair stylist Rod Ortega revealed that the secret weapon to her perpetually stunning waves is this next-level interchangeable styling wand from Whirl. The best-of-all-worlds iron allows you to switch up the barrels, while the tourmaline technology means more smooth texture and less frizz. Yes, it'll cost you a little more than your average curling iron, but what lengths wouldn't we go to for red carpet-worthy waves?