The Best Curling Irons For Fine Hair

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When you have fine hair, curling your hair can be a tedious — and even slightly dangerous — game. Celebrity hair stylist Sally Hershberger told Byrdie that fine hair can be prone to heat damage. "Fine hair is more susceptible to heat damage, so finding one that allows you to keep a steady temperature is major," she shared.

But finding the right curling iron for your hair type can feel like a never-ending challenge primed with question after question: What's the difference between a curling wand and a curling iron? What are the biggest mistakes you can make when curling your hair that lead to heat damage and fried ends? Should you give up on curling irons, wands, and rollers all together and search for ways to get beautiful curls and waves without heat?

Don't give up on curling irons just yet. So long as you're following some basic rules while using heat on your hair — like never curling it wet, curling strands of hair in the right direction, and not applying too much heat, stylists Jarrod Harms and Dani Everson previously told us — you're fine to use curling irons to attain the voluminous waves you've been looking for. These are the best curling irons for fine hair, organized to help you find your best fit based on your budget, hair length, and styling experience.

The Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron is great for anyone looking to make a budget-conscious choice when finding their ideal curling iron for their fine hair. Like the Hot Tools 24K Marcel Curling Iron, this Conair curling iron has a limited and moderate heat range that will help keep you from frying your fine hair (per Byrdie). Good Housekeeping also loves the range of heat settings you can get on a budget with this Conair item. About 70% of the over 28,579 Amazon customer reviewers gave the iron five out of five stars.

And while you won't have to empty out your bank account for this much-loved item, it still made Vogue's best curling iron list, too. Vogue dubbed the Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron "the ultimate affordable styling tool." Byrdie editorial and strategy director Kathryn Vandervalk opened up about why she loves Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron, which she calls "ultra-affordable" and her "go-to curling iron": "It heats up quickly and simply works in a way other, more expensive models haven't for me. The double-ceramic barrel protects against damage, and it means you can also use the tool like a curling wand if you don't want to clip in for tight curls."

Priced for less than $20, even the most budget-conscious beauty fans will be able to take part in making gorgeous waves.

If you have extra fine hair, you'll need to be especially careful with ensuring you don't burn your lovely locks. Keeping the temperature of your iron low and practicing patience is key to keeping your hair healthy. That's why we'd recommend the Revlon Salon Long Lasting Curls Titanium 1.25 Inch Curling Iron for those who have extra fine, fragile hair. With temperature settings that go down to as low as 225 F, you will be able to get soft curls without giving your hair heat damage.

Good Housekeeping's "Lab" found that the Salon Long Lasting Curls Titanium 1.25 Inch Curling Iron "had good instructions that may be helpful for fine haired users to prevent over-experimentation (a.k.a. increased risk of damage)." But remember: Keep that temperature at or below 310 F and use heat protectant spray for an additional layer of hair care (per Well And Good).