Abstract: An electric hair curling iron for producing curls of exotic shape includes elongated member of square transverse cross section incorporating an electric heating element and defining a hair engaging mandrel. The mandrel is provided at one end with a manipulating handle. A elongated spring-biased hair clamping member is pivotally mounted on the handle end of the mandrel and arranged for movement toward and away from the mandrel. The hair clamping member defines an elongated channel of U-shaped cross section having a first planar surface with second and third planar surfaces orthogonal thereto and disposed in such mutually spaced relationship as to provide a snug interfitting engagement with the mandrel when brought into clamping relationship therewith. The first, second and third planar surfaces of the clamping member are coextensive in length and the second and third surfaces have a width approximately one half of the width of a side of the mandrel.