In my official test of the best curling irons, Kristin Ess 1.25″ Curling Iron It has great performance and quality at a solid price point, earning it the best value spot on my list.
You don’t have to spend money or go to a hair stylist to create the perfect beach waves or spiral curls. A best value curling iron, the Kristin Ess 1.25 Inch Curling Iron easily provides a salon-worthy look without a big investment. This affordable model works efficiently, gives long-lasting results, and is perfect for a wide variety of hair textures and lengths.
The Kristin Ess 1.25 inch curling iron works efficiently, gives long lasting results and is a great product. … [+]
After testing 10 curling irons over the course of several weeks, this Kristin Ess iron is designed with all hair types and users in mind, versatile built-in heat settings, and a powerful grip that grips even the shortest and finest hair. Clamp, and a gorgeous design that rivals our favorite luxury models. Other notable features include her 9-foot swivel her cord that spins like a dream, heat-up time of just 30 seconds, automatic shut-off, and her 2-year limited warranty. Ahead, find out why this tool is better than other comparable curling irons on our list.
Plate material: Titanium | Barrel size: 1 inch, 1.25 inch, 2 inch | temperature: 325°F to 425°F | Heating time: 30 seconds | weight: 9.2 oz | Cord length: 9 feet | guarantee: 2 years
Best for:
- Advanced users and beginners alike thanks to pre-programmed temperature settings based on hair type
- hold fine and short hair
- Efficient with 30 seconds heating time
Skip if:
- Likes to grab the tip of a curling iron
Easy heat settings for all hair types
One of the tricky parts of operating a curling iron is deciphering the temperature selection. We love how this Kristin Ess iron makes it easy to choose heat settings based on your hair type and skill level. The brand recommends Level 1 (325 degrees) for fine or fine hair, Level 2 (365 degrees) for medium or wavy hair, Level 3 (400 degrees) for coarse or curly hair, Pro or Advanced We recommend level 4 (425 degrees) for users. .
This budget-friendly model has four built-in temperature settings to choose from.
As far as heat goes, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the curling iron heats up in 30 seconds. This is not a common feature in more affordable options so it’s a nice touch for a version that doesn’t cost triple digits and when the job is done the tool will auto shut off after 30 minutes to prevent accidents increase.
Powerful clamp that firmly grips ultra-fine hair
I didn’t realize how important a strong grip clamp was with a curling iron until I tested this with other weaker ones. Grab the thinnest, tiniest hairs along the temples. It really made a big difference to the final look of my style, as there were no messy, uncurled strays along my hairline. Instead, they all blended into my curls. . It also makes styling the whole thing quicker and easier.
The Kristin Ess tool’s powerful clamp allows you to grab the finest, finest strands along the length of your hair. … [+]
My hair tends to slide off other curling iron clamps, but this one kept my hair taut while twisting the iron back and forth without creating creases. It’s especially important for those with thin, short, slippery strands that struggle to straighten.
Easy styling that lasts up to 2 days
The beauty of using a curling iron with a clamp compared to using a wand (without a wand) is the shape of the curl it gives.
My only complaint is the barrel tip design. With traditional curling his irons, he likes to hold the handle in one hand and the tip in the other and wrap the barrel around his hair, but the tip on this Christine Ess model is too thin and only a few I can’t get a firm grip on it with my fingers. I was able to adapt and get around it, but it wasn’t as comfortable as I thought it would be.
The tip of the Kristin Ess curling iron barrel is tapered for … [+]
How does the Kristin Ess 1.25 inch curling iron compare to other curling irons?
Even after using countless curling irons over time and during testing, this did not disappoint. I was immediately impressed with the quality feel, sleek design (comparable to his more expensive T3 curling iron) and performance, despite the much lower price. The bright white handle features a velvety soft finish and a hidden digital display panel that feels great in your hand and looks great on your bathroom counter.
I also like that it comes in three different barrel sizes, which some luxury brands don’t always offer. This particular curling iron has 1 inch, 1.25 inch, and 2 inch barrels.
my expertise
For almost ten years I have covered all things beauty in publications such as: allure, elle, women’s health, bride more. Major aspects of my work include testing skincare, makeup, styling tools, beauty services, and more. Identifying the pros and cons of every product in my medicine cabinet has now become second nature. It’s important to me to regularly interview doctors, makeup artists, and manicurists to get expert advice and tips.
In our quest for the best curling irons, we reached out to several leading hair experts to determine scores for each tool’s operability, barrel material, styling ability, and more.Lily Collins, Chloe Grace We asked celebrity hairstylist Gregory Russell, who regularly works with Moretz and others, for the best curling tips. Trichologist and hair stylist Shab Lesland looks at all things hair health, from curling iron materials to his styling with minimal damage. We also consulted Sophie Gutterman, a hair stylist with experience in editorial, film and television. american horror stories series) tested the Kristin Ess 1.25 inch curling iron along with all other competitors in a variety of hair type jobs.
How we tested the best curling irons overall
When evaluating each curling iron, I considered factors like price range, aesthetics, and customer reviews, but I also dug into temperature range, barrel size, handling, and performance. Because of the possibilities, we investigated cord length, button placement, product weight, and heating time.
For reference, my hair is long and thick with an inconsistent wave pattern all over that sometimes ends up on the frizzy side. I always started with freshly washed hair that was washed, conditioned and air dried, then protected the strands with a heat protectant. I started with 2 inch sections and worked my way up to my hairline. When I tested the performance of each curling iron, I took into consideration the time it takes to create and set the curls. We monitored how long it would last.
Gutterman also evaluated top models for a week and tested each tool on three hair types. One was thick, wavy, and color-treated. The other was curly and frizzy. The third is healthy, unpigmented hair. To rate each curling iron, she considered the curl pattern it imparted, the ease of use, the overall feel of the hair, and how long the style would last. Results were monitored four times a day for two days, including the following morning.
