Abstract: A steam-producing curling iron includes a tubular barrel having a handle at one end and a liquid reservoir at the other end. An electrically-heated heating member is axially slidable within the barrel into and out of engagement with a stationary wick communicating with the reservoir. The heating member is guided by elongated depressions formed in the barrel surface and is spring biased to be normally spaced from the wick. A sliding seal is provided between the heating member and barrel whereby a steam chamber is defined between the seal and the wick. An actuating lever mounted on the handle is connected by a linkage to the heating member rearwardly of the seal for selectively moving the heating member into contact with the wick to generate steam in the steam chamber for discharge through holes in the barrel.