The Best Steam Curling Irons

Automatic Curler

YITRUST Automatic Curling Iron Steam Hair Curler

• Auto-rotating barrel for perfect curls
• Optional steam function
• Leaves hair looking shiny

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Budget Pick

Infiniti Pro by Conair Steam Waver

• Great for crimped (tight) waves
• Easy-to-use
• Very economical

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2-in-1 Styler

Dorisilk Steam Vapor Styler 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curler

• 2-in-1 straightening and curling iron
• Adjustable steam settings
• Makes hair look healthy

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One of the easiest ways for me to tame bedhead in the morning has always been to spritz a bit of water on my hair before brushing it.

So when my best friend complained about how difficult it was to get curls to stay in her hair, I suggested she try a steam curling iron to see if it would make a difference.

Lo and behold, it was just the thing she needed to get the flowy waves she loves, and nowadays I actually prefer her in curls because it gives her hair so much movement and volume.

But which product out there is the best steam curling iron to use? Here are my picks:

Best Steam Curling Iron Reviews

YITRUST Automatic Curling Iron Steam Hair Curler

Features

• Automatic Steam Curler With Ceramic Barrel
• Water Reservoir + Optional Steam Function
• 3 Heat + Timer + Directional Curl Setting
  
• Max Temperature 450°F
• 60-min Auto Shut-Off

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This YITRUST iron is an automatic steam curler, which makes it a double duty steam and automatic curling iron in one. 

Unlike traditional curling irons or wands, you don’t have to manually wrap hair around the barrel yourself. The chamber is equipped with a motor that sucks hair in and wraps it around the ceramic barrel inside once you place a section of hair between the two sides and clamp it shut. 

There’s a water compartment at the top of the unit that you can fill with a small amount of water for steam. It also comes with a small squeeze bottle for filling the compartment.

The Yitrust has three temperature settings from 380°F to 450°F, and three timer settings – 8, 10 or 12 seconds long – for the amount of time to hold the curl before releasing. For a more defined, longer-lasting curl, use either the 10 or 12-second setting to ensure the curl sets properly.

You also have the option to turn the steam function on or off, as well as control the curl direction – right, left, or alternate. 

While there is a bit of a learning curve, once you’ve gotten the hang of it, it makes pretty short work of making pretty spiral curls.

The steam function also gives hair a nice sheen as it’s more hydrated while setting.

One thing to be aware of is which side of the iron you hold towards your head. There’s a label that indicates which side should be facing you while using.

Lastly, you’ll also need hair that’s at least shoulder length or longer for good results. Anything shorter won’t work well.

Infiniti Pro by Conair Steam Waver

Features

• Ceramic Steam Crimper-Style Waver
• Frizz-Taming Ion Generator
• Adjustable Heat Settings
• Optional Steam Function

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Despite the fact that it’s called a waver, the Infiniti Pro by Conair Steam Waver is actually more of a crimper. It’s similar to a 3-barrel curling iron but with smaller barrels, so you’ll get more of a tight wave or crimp than a loose, beachy wave.

If you like the 90’s crimp that’s making it’s way back into style, you’ll want this one. 

It comes with ceramic plates and has a fancy ion generator that produces negative ions to tame frizz into smooth and sleek strands. 

The middle barrel has 5 small vents where steam emits from, and you can customize your steam level to none at all, low, or high. The water tank is easy to remove, fill, and replace into its slot between the two sides of the handle.

Just remember to fill and replace the water tank while it’s unplugged so you don’t drip water onto a hot appliance. 

The key to using this waver properly is to not hold it in one place for too long, or else you can end up with stiff waves that don’t move too naturally. Press hair between the barrels for a few seconds before moving onto the next section down.

Dorisilk Steam Vapor Styler 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curler

Features

• 2-in-1 Steam Flat Iron/Curler
• 1 ¼” Tourmaline Ceramic Plates
• Adjustable Steam + Heat Settings
• Dual Voltage + Auto Shut-Off

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As the name suggests, the Dorisilk Steam Vapor Styler is not exactly a curling iron, but a flat iron which can also double up as a curling tool. 

It has a 15ml water tank located on top of the handle, and comes with a small applicator bottle for filling the compartment with water. It’s simple to remove and produces enough steam for most styling sessions without needing to refill. 

The tourmaline ceramic plates on this flat iron curling iron combo are 1 ¼” wide, so it works best for large waves on medium to long hair. 

One of the best parts about curling hair with a flat iron is that the plates smooth the cuticle layer so your waves are sleek and shiny. Steam comes out from a thin panel of vents in the middle of the top plate, behind the water chamber.

Obviously, you can also straighten your hair with the Dorisilk Steam Hair Straightener, as well as flip out or curl in your ends for a more polished style.

It’s got a decent selection of heat settings, and you can also customize the amount of steam it produces based on your needs. 

For a 2-in-1 hair styler, it’s a very decent tool for both straightening and curling, and manages to leave hair looking healthy too.

What Are The Benefits Of A Steam Curling Iron?

The biggest downside to curling hair with a regular curling iron is the risk of heat damage and drying your hair out. Some of this can be mitigated by adding moisture back into your strands in the form of steam, which helps hydrate and protect your strands from excessive temperatures.

At the same time, added moisture helps seal the cuticle layer to give hair more shine, and also keeps the curl or wave in longer.

For many, the extra bit of moisture is also key for styling resistant hair that won’t otherwise hold a curl.

Steam Curling Irons vs. Regular Curling Irons

Besides the additional moisture steam curling irons produce to hydrate hair while you style, the main difference between a steam curling iron and it’s standard counterpart is that you won’t find spring curling irons or curling wands equipped with the steam function.

As we’ve seen, steam curling irons generally come in the form of an automatic curling iron rather than a traditional wand or rod.

So one consideration to take into account is whether you’re ok with using an automatic curler or flat iron-type styler to get those luscious curls you’re after.

You’ll also generally have to wait a bit longer for a steam curler to be ready, but it’s pretty negligible. 

That said, if you find it hard to keep a curl for more than a few hours with your regular curling iron, you may find that added moisture is just the thing you need to seal the deal when creating those S-spirals or glam waves.

Is It Safe To Use A Steam Curling Iron?

Steam curling irons are generally as safe as a regular curling iron/wand or any other styling tool, as long as you take proper precautions. 

There are a few points to keep in consideration when working with steam curlers.

First, you should always take care to position the iron properly so that steam escapes on the side opposite your head.

If the steam side faces your scalp, you may end up scalding your skin.

When removing, refilling and inserting the water cartridge, always ALWAYS turn off and unplug the appliance before doing so. The risk of electrocution is small, but why risk it?

Also, don’t use a steam hair curling iron on wet hair – it’s meant for use on dry hair only.

There’s sometimes a misconception that steam irons can be used on wet hair, but it’s not a good idea because wet hair is more fragile than dry hair. If you try to curl damp or wet hair, there’s more risk of breakage.

How To Use A Steam Curling Iron

Learning to use a steam curling iron is fairly simple once you get it down. Here’s a good demonstration of the kind of results you can get plus how to use an automatic steam curling iron:

Final Thoughts

Compared to regular curling irons, steam curling irons are beneficial in curling super straight or hard-to-curl hair types hold a curl and last longer. 

They also help protect your strands from drying out too much and promote shine too. 

Your results may vary depending on your specific hair texture and condition though, as some find the steam to actually cause their hair to frizz. In that case, you’ll want to experiment with the available steam settings to see which one works best for you (which may turn out to be no steam at all).