The right curling iron can be make-or-break when it comes to long, straight hair. It’s already a process curling long hair, but the right barrel can make a huge improvement - speeding up the process, giving you better and bouncier curls, and helping the waves last all day.

My hair has always been long, and when I started curling my hair, I relied on a hand-me-down Conair curling iron from my mom. I finally taught my hair how to hold a curl, and we had a great run for about fifteen years until some of the buttons stopped working.

I bought a different Conair as a replacement, thinking curling irons weren’t that technical/ didn’t need that much research, and then grew frustrated when my hair just could not curl the same. I then bought a few different options at various price ranges, and that’s when I realized not all curling irons are created the same, especially if you have long, straight hair.

You want something that will work quickly but doesn’t get so hot that it burns and damages your hair (especially since longer hair is more prone to breakage). It’s also important to factor in barrel length; brands now make extra-long barrels, which is a lifesaver when you have long hair. This makes your waves more cohesive (no random creases) and speeds up the process a LOT.

Below, I’m sharing my top two tried-and-true favorites. Whether you want soft beach waves, a bouncy curl that will last all night, or a curling iron you can trust will work no matter how humid or dry it is outside, these irons won’t do you wrong.

best curling iron for long, straight hair

t3 singlepass curl x 1” ceramic extra-long barrel curling iron

Full disclosure: I didn’t want to like this curling iron, and never thought I’d be okay with spending over $50 on a curling iron. I tried a few cheaper ceramic curling irons, but my hair would NOT hold a curl and would get caught on random screws, which was painful and just a disaster.

When it comes to fine, straight hair, ceramic curling irons are typically better than titanium irons. You do want to spend a little more on a ceramic curling iron because the ceramic coating can wear off of cheaper models over time; look for a solid ceramic model to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

That being said, the T3 SinglePass Curl X 1” Ceramic Extra-Long Barrel Curling Iron is the real deal. The negative ions in the ceramic give you a very polished curl, as they help to eliminate and combat frizz, seal the hair cuticle, and boost shine.

This curling iron also does a great job of maintaining the same heat temperature throughout the barrel; you don’t have to worry about hot spots that could cause damage to your hair.

As far as cheaper options go, I also own the Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron. The curls are great (takes a little longer to curl than T3, and the curls fall quicker), but the design isn’t as thoughtful. There are a few screws near the clamp, and my long hair always gets caught on them, leading to tangles or yanked out hair, so I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s worth it to save and get the T3 (or try to grab it during a sale).

mane addicts 1.25" curling iron extended length attachment

This is a newer hair brand by Jen Atkin (who also started the haircare brand Ouai). I was a little skeptical at first, but I love Ouai so much that I wanted to give it a try.

This curling iron is going to be your new best friend if you have thick hair. It heats up evenly, even with the extended barrel, and although I tend to not like 1.25” barrels over 1”, it does a great job curling my straight hair and the curls last all day. You get an extra 2” barrel length compared to typical models, which makes a huge difference in speeding up the process of curling long hair.

The only downside to this curling iron is that it’s heavy - I work out daily but my arm still gets a little tired holding this up. I’m pretty sure because it’s because of the attachment feature - you buy one base, and then can add different attachments (1.25”, a waver, etc.). It’s a more sustainable way to build a larger collection of hair tools without taking up so much space. I thought it was a little annoying at first, but it really does streamline the process and helps make it easier to pack all of your hair stuff.

But yes, it takes a few sessions to get used to the extra weight. I’d still repurchase this in a heartbeat and still recommend it to friends, but if you have shoulder pain you may want to get the T3 instead.

how to use a curling iron on long, straight hair

If your straight hair struggles to hold a curl, I recommend sticking to a 1” barrel (even if you want loose, beachy waves). In my experience, it’s more about how long you hold the hair to the barrel than the size of the barrel - this is even easier for long hair now that brands are starting to make extra-long barrels. A shorter hold on a smaller barrel will give you longer-lasting curls than holding your hair for 30 seconds on a bigger barrel (it’s also way less damaging).
- Even now that my hair holds a curl pretty easily, I personally get much better results holding my hair to a 1” barrel for 3-4 seconds than 10 seconds (or more) on a larger 1.5” barrel.
The longer your hair gets, the more susceptible it is to breakage. To keep your hair as healthy as possible, always start with a heat protectant spray! No matter what curling iron you use, this will protect your hair, add shine, and give you a more polished, longer-lasting curl (even if you want an undone beachy look). I compare some of my favorites here.
Use the right heat setting:
- 250–300°F (120–150°C) for fine or damaged hair
- 300–350°F (150–175°C) for normal hair types
- 350–400°F (175–200°C) for coarse or extra-thick hair
Only hold your hair on the barrel for 5-10 seconds to minimize damage.

It may feel more tedious to curl long hair, but it’s becoming easier with longer barrels, better technology, and the right heat protectants. Ultimately, choosing the right curling iron will streamline the process and help your curls last even longer (with minimal damage). I hope that this post helped you!