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Hot Tools curling irons, curlers and hair clips

9 reports to CPSC, the latest made Feb 27, 2026. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search, on saferproducts.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

  • 9reports to CPSC
  • Feb 27, 2026the latest report was made
  • Dec 14, 2011the earliest
  • 7with the company’s comments
Brand
Hot Tools
Maker
Helen of TroyMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product
Curling irons, curlers and hair clipsCPSC’s product type: Hair Curlers, Curling Irons, Clips & Hairpins (code 1682), in Personal Care: Grooming
Other ways the reports write the brand (2)

“Hot Tools / Helen of Troy” and “Hot Tools 3/4 inch Brush Iron, Model 1141”

By month

1 report from March 2025 to February 2026; the most in February 2026, 1. 8 earlier reports, since December 2011, are in the table.
The numbers, as a table
Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
MonthReports
February 20261
January 20181
September 20161
May 20162
January 20161
December 20151
May 20121
December 20111

How badly anyone was hurt

  • First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
  • Hurt, no treatment 2 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  • Hurt, care not known 1 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known
  • No one hurt 5 CPSC: Incident, No Injury

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

Source:

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  1. No one hurt

    Made Feb 27, 2026, sent to the company Mar 4, 2026, published by CPSC Mar 18, 2026

    The product, in the report: Hot Tools Curling Iron

    My curling iron started sparking and then caught on fire.

    Model
    1181
    Where
    Missoula, Montana: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 9, Unspecified
    The reporter’s relation to them
    My Child
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  2. No one hurt

    Made Jan 23, 2018, sent to the company May 1, 2018, published by CPSC May 15, 2018

    The product, in the report: Hot Tools 3/4 inch brush iron. It’s a metallic wand with removable bristles that look like a brush or comb. It has 10 temperature settings and an on/off switch. Manufacturer states it can reach temperatures of 430 degrees F.

    I plugged in the brush iron with the rheostat set to 5 (highest setting is 10). I waited about 10 minutes before I started to use it. I set it down on the counter with it turned on for about 1-2 minutes. I smelled something hot/burning and looked down. The bristles were melting before my eyes and there were wisps of smoke! I quickly unplugged it and removed it from the room. Fortunately, I was not injured nor was the counter damaged from the melting plastic and the extremely high temperature.

    Model
    Model 1141
    Bought from
    online, I think
    Bought
    May 31, 2013, about then
    Where
    YORK, Pennsylvania: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 66, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools 3/4 inch Brush Iron, Model 1141, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  3. No one hurt

    Made Sep 12, 2016, sent to the company Sep 20, 2016, published by CPSC Oct 12, 2016

    The product, in the report: HOT TOOLS GOLD CURLING IRON 1-1/4” . Black grip and black cord. Iron barrel is gold. item purchased between the years 2012-2014.

    I was simply curling my hair in the same fashion that I have for the last 10+ years. I actually was not using any products this particular time (thank goodness), otherwise I’m sure my hair would have been on fire. I was using the Hot Tools 1-1/4” barrel curling iron when suddenly the base of the instrument where it meets the cord ignited into a flame! I quickly unplugged the iron slightly traumatized. I have purchased multiple irons from this manufacturer. I am scared now to use them all again.

    Bought from
    Ulta
    Bought
    Jan 1, 2012, about then
    Where
    Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 26, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand HOT TOOLS, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  4. Hurt, no treatment

    Made May 22, 2016, sent to the company May 31, 2016, published by CPSC Jun 14, 2016

    The product, in the report: Hot Tools hair straightener model 1188

    When using hair straightener for approx 10 minutes suddenly a bright flash & loud pop which burnt through my clothing burnt my chest

    Model
    1188
    Bought from
    Ulta, Washington
    Bought
    Nov 15, 2015, about then
    Where
    Vancouver, Washington: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 59, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  5. First aid

    Made May 17, 2016, sent to the company May 25, 2016, published by CPSC Jun 9, 2016

    The product, in the report: Hot Tools Hair Straightener Model HTKIS1 Type PC4200DE 120VAC 60Hz 0.33Amp

    My Hot Tools Straightener caught on fire. Model HTKIS1. I plugged it in as I normally do and immediately noticed smoke coming from the On/Off switch area. I attempted to flick the switch to the off position and saw flames coming from the area. I unplugged the straightener from the wall and took the straightener outside as to not burn down my entire house.

    Model
    Model HTKIS1
    Bought from
    Ulta, New Jersey
    Bought
    Dec 13, 2015, about then
    Where
    Rahway, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 45, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand HOT TOOLS, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
  6. Hurt, no treatment

    Made Jan 5, 2016, sent to the company Jan 13, 2016, published by CPSC Feb 1, 2016

    The product, in the report: Hot Tools Model 1101 Curling Iron

    The Hot Tools Model 1101 burned my wife and singed her hair this morning. I have taken a picture of her hair burned on to the barrel. It got so hot, the black plastic end melted. She has the temperature setting at one of the lower numbers. Please give me your e-mail address so I can forward the picture I took of your curling iron. I don’t know if the product is covered under warranty but this product is dangerous! Fortunately, she was not seriously injured but there is a clump of hair missing from the top of her head and she is not happy, at all.

    Model
    Model 1101/ Intertek 2001645
    Bought from
    Ulta
    Bought
    Jan 2, 2014, about then
    Where
    Naperville, Illinois: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 70, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    My Spouse
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
  7. No one hurt

    Made Dec 21, 2015, sent to the company Dec 30, 2015, published by CPSC Jan 22, 2016

    The product, in the report: Hot Tools 1.5” curling iron.

    I was curling my hair with the iron when a small popping noise occurred and the section of where the wand and the cord meet caught on fire, there was about a 4” flame, more than I’d like anywhere near my face. I promptly unplugged the unit and it threw it outside in the snow bank. Really scary.

    Bought from
    I don’t know, was a gift
    Where
    Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Age 34, Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury
  8. Hurt, care not known

    Made May 1, 2012, sent to the company Jun 20, 2012, published by CPSC Jul 5, 2012

    The product, in the report: Curling Iron

    The consumer says that she sectioned off her hair to curl it. She started using the curling iron when she saw smoke. She says that she got a bald spot on the top of her head down to the scalp. The curling iron had a 3” in length of hair was wrapped around the curling iron.

    She tried to get a [REDACTED] to wipe the unit off but it was so hot that it caught the [REDACTED] on fire. She contacted the manufacturer on April 23rd, who told her they would like the product returned to them. They said they had not received any information about this occurring. She says there are many online reports of the same thing happening with this brand.

    Model
    1181
    Bought from
    Ulta
    Bought
    Feb 24, 2012, about then
    Where
    Richfield, Minnesota: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Unspecified
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Injury, Level of care not known
  9. No one hurt

    Made Dec 14, 2011, sent to the company Dec 22, 2011, published by CPSC Jan 9, 2012

    The product, in the report: Regular 3/4 inch professional brush iron. Model 1141. Black handle; gold barrel with black plastic bristles; 10 heat settings; on/off switch. Picture available at http://www.hottools.com/catalog2011/index.html on page 18.

    My hot tools curling iron model 1141 emitted a bright red flash and a loud explosive sound which made my ears ring. It had been preheated for under 10 minutes at the mid-point setting. Fortunately it was in my hand and not near my head. It is UL listed 575T; type PB1141WS E65995.

    I am not a “local government agency” though your form automatically indicated that I am.

    Model
    Hot Tools Model 1141, UL listed 575T, Type PB1141WS E65995
    Where
    Denver, Colorado: Home/Apartment/Condominium
    Who was involved
    Female
    The reporter’s relation to them
    Self
    As this report names them
    Brand Hot Tools / Helen of Troy, made or sold by Helen of Troy
    How badly, in CPSC’s words
    Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Source:

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

    Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Back to Curling irons, curlers and hair clips

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Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

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An example nursing home

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Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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