Health & Wellness · Head-to-head
T3 SinglePass Curl X 1-Inch Curling Iron vs Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Extended Barrel Curling Iron (1.25-Inch)
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Curling Irons: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The T3 SinglePass Curl X is the best blend of curl quality, heat intelligence, and hair health for most people who curl regularly. The Hot Tools 24K Gold extended barrel delivers most of that performance for far less money, especially on thick or coarse hair.
T3 SinglePass Curl X 1-Inch Curling Iron
Buy itA precise, gentle-heating ceramic iron that produces polished, long-lasting curls with a single pass - the best all-around tong you can buy.
- Nine heat settings across a wide range, so fine, color-treated, and coarse hair all get an appropriate temperature
- Even ceramic heat means curls set in one pass with less cumulative damage, per independent testing
- Long barrel handles thick and longer hair without awkward sectioning
- Comfortable clip tension and auto-off safety
- Premium price for a single-barrel tool
- Tops out below the extreme temperatures some very coarse hair types prefer
Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Extended Barrel Curling Iron (1.25-Inch)
Buy itThe stylist-kit classic: a gold extended barrel that gets seriously hot, holds its temperature, and costs a fraction of the premium tools.
- Gold-plated extended barrel maintains consistent heat, with settings that climb high enough for coarse and resistant hair
- Extra barrel length makes long, layered hair much easier to wrap
- A decades-long salon favorite with a strong reliability track record in owner reports
- Costs far less than premium and flagship rivals
- Dial control is more basic than digital rivals, and top temperatures can be punishing if misused on fine hair
- Barrel exterior and clip get very hot - technique and a heat glove matter
Side by side
| T3 SinglePass Curl X 1-Inch Curling Iron | Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Extended Barrel Curling Iron (1.25-Inch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who curls regularly and wants salon-quality, repeatable results with the least heat damage - especially fine or color-treated hair. | Budget-conscious buyers, thick or coarse hair, and anyone who wants the same style of iron working stylists actually keep in their kits. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the T3 SinglePass Curl X 1-Inch Curling Iron - A precise, gentle-heating ceramic iron that produces polished, long-lasting curls with a single pass - the best all-around tong you can buy. Choose the Hot Tools Pro Artist 24K Gold Extended Barrel Curling Iron (1.25-Inch) instead if budget-conscious buyers, thick or coarse hair, and anyone who wants the same style of iron working stylists actually keep in their kits.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Curling Irons: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).