How We Tested

The Ella Bella 1-Inch Curling Iron was evaluated by 10 judges and consumer testers, including experts in consumer products, personal care, packaging and sustainability. This combination allowed us to consider both the curling iron’s technical and design features and how well it performed under real-world household conditions.

All reviewers had a minimum of four weeks to use and assess the curling iron in their homes, following the manufacturer’s instructions, before completing their scorecards. They considered factors such as heating speed and temperature options, ease of handling, curl formation, overall quality, value and likelihood of recommending the product. The included accessories were also evaluated for their usefulness, ease of use and contribution to the overall styling experience.

Expert judges additionally considered the relevance of the curling iron’s design and features, the credibility of its performance claims and whether it offered meaningful advantages over other curling irons in its category.

Best of the Year analysts were also among those who used the curling iron and its accessories in their own homes. For the final assessment, they reviewed the completed scorecards and written feedback alongside their own testing observations, the product’s entry materials and supporting information before reaching a decision.

What Experts and Consumer Testers Said

Across the board, our judge and testers came back to the same things: thoughtful design, ease of use, and value that feels out of step with the price. One of our beauty product judges with color-treated hair, followed the booklet's recommended range for delicate hair and got defined curls without cranking up the heat, and praised the smooth, snag-free glide and the extras. As she put it, the iron delivers "thoughtful design, ease of use, and exceptional value, a premium-feeling, approachable at-home styling experience without the premium price tag."

“Thoughtful design, ease of use, and exceptional value. A premium-feeling, approachable at-home styling experience without the premium price tag.” -Best of the Year Beauty Judge and Beauty Product Expert

The consumer testers went further. Testers with hair from thin to thick, long and frizz-prone were equally enthusiastic: one loved that it worked on both her fine hair and her daughter's much thicker hair and tamed frizz in the process, and another with long hair used it for more than a month and said it had "no flaws." The feature that came up again and again was the temperature dial at the base of the handle, along with the glove and the mat that stores and travels. As one tester summed it up, "The design is genius. I love that you can change the temperature at the bottom of the handle. It's light, it has a long cord, and it comes with a heat-resistant case and a glove. They've thought of everything."

The design is genius. I love that you can change the temperature at the bottom of the handle. It's light, it has a long cord, and it comes with a heat-resistant case and a glove. They've thought of everything.” -Best of the Year Consumer Tester

Our packaging expert was a fan too, calling the unboxing "very high quality" and singling out the dual-purpose mat that keeps a hot iron off the counter and then stores it for travel.

A couple of things worth knowing: This is a well-made ceramic iron that is known for delivering even heat, rather a standard for the category. But the win here is the overall design, the extras, and the value. Curl-hold can take some experimentation, especially on fine hair, one tester with long fine hair found her curls didn't hold all day even with product. And a first-use tip from another tester: peel off every bit of the clear wrap around the barrel before you heat it up the first time.

Best of the Year Bottom Line

For $69, the Ella Bella 1-Inch Curling Iron punches well above its price. It won't reinvent how you curl your hair, but it nails the experience: an easy-to-read temperature dial, a smooth snag-free glide, and smart extras like the glove and travel-case mat, all from a woman-owned brand that stands behind it. Take it for what it is, a thoughtfully designed, well-equipped curling iron at a very fair price, and it's an easy one to recommend.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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