5 Best Professional Curl Machines - May 2026

BEST OF THE BEST

BaBylissPRO

Nano Titanuum

The best professional curl machine that makes it easy to get high-level results quickly.

Check Price Check Price

PROS

Comes with a built-in steamer and sprayer to apply steam to enhance curling.
Heating element works quickly as it glides down thin strands of hair.

CONS

Steamer can only use distilled water to work properly.
Tap water will not work correctly.

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK

Conair

Infiniti Pro Curl Secret Curling Iron

An easy-to-use curl machine by a popular brand with a frequent sale price and exceptional warranty, all of which add to its overall value.

Check Price Check Price

PROS

Heats up fast and is easy to use.
Made by a recognizable name in hair care and is often available on sale.
Five-year limited warranty is one of the best in the industry.

CONS

Only has two heat settings with a maximum temperature of 400°F, which isn't quite as powerful as similar options we considered.

CHI

Air Spin N Curl Ceramic Rotating Curler

While it isn't the best option for short hair, it gets praise for producing soft, defined curls on longer styles with minimal effort once you learn how to use it.

Check Price Check Price

PROS

Heat level is easy to adjust to the desired setting;
a digital display indicates the exact temperature.
Not very heavy, so it's easy to maneuver.
Can curl hair in two directions.

CONS

Mastering it takes a bit of time and practice for novice users.
Somewhat awkward for styling shorter hair.
Placing too much hair in the chamber at one time can result in tangles.

Ouiast

Automatic Curler

Worth considering if you are looking for an affordable and easy way to create soft curls, but it may disappoint you if you want a very curly look.

Check Price Check Price

PROS

Has an automatic chamber that produces curls with its 360-degree rotation.
Heats up to 450°F on the highest setting.
Cord is 7 feet long.
Affordably priced.

CONS

Curling barrel is larger than one inch, which isn't ideal for creating tight, well-defined curls.

Infiniti Pro

Curl Secret 2

One of the few ionic professional curl machines that offers interchangeable attachments for certain styles.

Check Price Check Price

PROS

Comes with interchangeable curl chambers for different curl styles.
Curl chamber uses a circular heating element, providing heat around the hair.
Heater acts quickly up to 450°F.

CONS

Small curling chambers only allow for a small size of hair strand to curl at a time.

Why trust BestReviews?

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews

How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Click here for testing insights

First Reviewed

December 07, 2021

Models
considered

Hours
researched

Written by Eliza McGowen

Updated December 2021

Don’t you wish you could instantly create loose curls, easily and without winding hair around a burning hot iron, causing crimps, breakage, and even painful tangles? You can with a professional curling machine. Most curl machines allow you to customize the curl’s tightness, direction, time it’s in the machine, and lets you choose an optional steam setting. You simply feed a section of hair into the machine, set it to start curling, and then it releases when the curl is complete (or alerts you and lets you easily release if hair becomes tangled inside). If traditional curling methods have not worked, a professional curling machine is worth a try. The best models cost just shy of $150, but you can find a budget model for around $50.

Best Professional Curl Machines

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons