Best Flat Iron Curling Iron Combo Reviews

Most days, I usually go for pin-straight locks because I just love smooth sleekness, but I also like to mix it up with flowy beach waves from time to time. 

So naturally, a flat iron is in my styling arsenal, but do I really need a separate curling iron just for those occasions when I want flowy waves?

If you find yourself in the same boat, you might want to consider a 2-in-1 curling and straightening iron, which allows you to straighten and curl easily with one tool.

But what makes the best flat iron curling iron combo? Let’s dive into the details and see. 

Best Flat Iron Curling Iron Combo Reviews

Furiden 2-in-1 Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

If dry, frizzy hair is your achilles heel, consider looking for a styling tool with tourmaline ceramic plates. The Furiden 2-in-1 Tourmaline Ceramic Iron is a great choice, as it both smooths and straightens effectively in addition to being able to create beautiful, bouncy curls.

So how does tourmaline ceramic do this?

Ceramic heats quickly, maintains a constant, even temperature, and produces negative ions, which help neutralize all the positive ions found in dry, frizzy hair. 

The addition of tourmaline boosts the iron’s production of negative ions, giving you even more shine and smoothness. 

The iron has 5 heat settings between 250°F and 450°F, which can be selected by rotating the base.

It’s perfectly rounded outer barrel mimics a cylindrical curling rod when closed. The curved exterior allows you to create gorgeous, bouncy curls and waves with no kinks or odd creases. 

I’m a fan of its elegant bronze-golden color and sleek build too. Plus, it’s lightweight, and straightens without snagging.

But what I love even more are all the extras that come with it (yes, I am a gal who loves included accessories). In addition to the straightener, there are also 2 hair clips, a straight-edge comb, a heat resistant glove and a storage pouch included in the box.

The one thing I wish it had were more temperature settings. With only 5 heat options from 250°F to 450°F, there’s a pretty big gap between each setting. For example, there’s a 70° jump between the lowest setting (250°F) and the next one up (320°F)!

INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR 2-in-1 Stainless Styler

Curling with a flat iron can be challenging. Learning the technique requires practice and coordination, plus there’s the fact that the heated surface is only on the inside of the iron. If you need some extra heat around the barrel to ensure a solid curl, Conair’s 2-in-1 Stainless Styler is a good choice. 

This tool has 2 flat ceramic-coated plates for straightening. They’re 1” wide and heat up to a maximum temperature of 400°F.

On top of that, it also has a stainless steel outer barrel, which can also heat up to 265°F. The heated exterior is especially useful for curling, and helps style curls more efficiently and uniformly.

It’s plates produce negative ions to leave hair smooth and shiny. Be aware that the ion generator creates a buzzing noise, which is generally low volume but annoys some users. 

This combo iron is very lightweight and easy to use, with an ergonomic design. It’s narrow housing design also eliminates the space between the plate edges and the sides of the barrel so that your strands don’t get caught in the gaps.

While the heated exterior is beneficial for curling, there’s a danger of burning your fingers and even your hair with it. To avoid this, I would recommend using it at a lower heat setting.

There are cool silicone tips to hold onto at the tip, but they tend to come off rather easily. If you’re new to straightening and curling your hair, you may want to wear a heat-resistant glove for protection.

GFI Titanium Flat Iron

The GFI Turbo Flat Iron is a great choice for straightening and/or curling. It has 1″ floating titanium plates that make quick work of straightening even the curliest, kinkiest hair types into smooth, beautiful sleekness.

It also doesn’t snag hair along the edges or between the plates. Digital temperature controls goes up to 450°F and it heats up in seconds. That turbo heating element really lives up to its promise!

The tapered tip design keeps it nice and cool for hanging onto while you’re curling.

Many users have commented on how lightweight it feels too, making it easier to work with for longer periods of time without fatigue setting in.

The titanium plates help tame frizz and create smooth results in just one pass alone. Curls are easy to create – even for beginners – and stay throughout the day with minimal or no product at all.

On the downside, the GFI Turbo Flat Iron doesn’t have a lock mechanism to keep the plates closed together when storing away after use.

Though it does have auto shut-off so at least you have peace of mind that you won’t accidentally burn your house down if you leave in a hurry without turning it off.

CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Styling Iron

The CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Styling Iron is perhaps the ultimate combo iron, as it can be used both as a traditional flat iron or as a curling wand.

Because you have the option to heat up the inner plates and outer barrel independently, there are 3 different ways to use the iron.

First, it can be used as a regular straightener by selecting the ‘Smooth’ option, so that only the interior plates heat up.

Alternatively, you can lock the plates together and select the ‘Curl’ option so that the outer barrel heats up. You can then wrap hair around it just like a curling wand for casual beach waves or easy spiral curls.

Lastly, you can select both ‘Smooth’ and ‘Curl’ at the same time, to heat up both sets of plates. Then just sandwich sections between the plates and twist for the usual flat iron curling method.

While it’s arguably not the best CHI straightener in and of itself, it’s great for having different style options in one tool when you travel (it’s also dual-voltage).

The inner plates heat up to 425°F, and they also have silicone strips for enhanced grip. The exterior heats to a maximum of 410°F, and the lowest temperature for both surfaces is 160°F.

One thing I don’t like too much is where the power and temperature control buttons are located on the side of the handle where your fingers lay while holding it. It’s easy to accidentally change your setting if you’re not careful.

Also, I wouldn’t recommend this iron for those with very thick or hard to tame hair. You’re better off with a standard flat iron for both straightening and curling.

What Makes A Good 2-in-1 Hair Straightener/Curler?

Now that you’re familiar with some of the top curling iron straightener combos, let’s walk through the features that are important in a good 2-in-1 tool.

Streamlined Curved Exterior

First up, it’s important that the outer barrel be curved or rounded without angular edges. This helps prevent any odd dents or creases from forming as you rotate your strands around the exterior as you glide your hair through.

It also helps if the iron has a slim profile and a tapered tip. It’s harder to get bouncy curls when the exterior housing is too thick and bulky, particularly if you don’t have much length.

Floating Plates

Floating plates are important in a flat iron, and even more so in a combo iron. The ability of plates to tilt from side to side ensures constant contact between your strands and the heated surface as you rotate and turn the styler.

It’s important to have a good grip on your hair, but you also don’t want too much pressure between the plates, or you won’t be able to glide smoothly. 

Floating plates help ensure even compression and prevents you from having to press them together too hard.

Plate Material + Temperature Controls

This is fundamental to any flat iron or curling iron. Make sure to pick the appropriate plate material for your hair (usually either ceramic or titanium), as well as a unit that gets to the heat setting you need.

Adjustable temperature settings are always ideal, and finer hair types fare better with ceramic plates for gentler, consistent heat.

Should You Get A Flat Iron/Curling Iron Combo With A Heated Exterior?

You might be wondering if it’s necessary or beneficial to get a flat iron/curling iron combo with a heated exterior.

In general, I don’t think it’s necessary for most people if you’re able to curl your locks easily with your flat iron.

But if you have very thick, coarse, or extra long hair, you might want one with a heated exterior. 

It’s also useful if you prefer wrapping your hair around the entire barrel as a curling wand instead. Some gals find it more time-consuming to curl their hair with a flat iron compared to their wand. 

If this is you, then a 2-in-1 iron with a heated outer barrel is definitely helpful.

What About A Twisted Flat Iron?

Another type of flat iron curling iron combo that you may have come across is the twisted flat iron, where the plates themselves are curved:

While some users find a twisted flat iron to be fantastic, my humble opinion is that they don’t make that much of a real difference compared to using a non-twisted flat iron.

That’s because even though the plates are twisted, you still need to manually rotate the iron to curl or wave your hair. The plate design doesn’t make rotating and wrapping hair around easier, at least for me.

So even though the design seems engineered for effortless curls, it ends up taking the same amount of time and effort.

Final Verdict

As a straightener, combo irons usually perform as well as most regular flat irons do for sleek, smooth strands.

There is however a bit of a learning curve when using a flat iron to create curls and waves.

If you have a bulky or boxy housing on your straightener, it makes it harder to glide your locks through and around for smooth, bouncy curls.

So a good 2-in-1 straightener/curler combo with a rounded barrel plus minimized gaps between the plates and the casing are small but important details that can help make curling easier and more effective.

And if you prefer curling with a wand, CHI’s 3-in-1 Styler gives you the option to lock the plates together so you can just wind your hair around the heated outer barrel.

With a flat iron curling iron combo, the styling options are endless. It’s also more practical. Not only can you save money by investing in just one tool – you also save space in your bathroom drawer or in your suitcase when traveling.