Abstract: An electrically heated hair curling iron includes a sheet-shaped heater with electrodes affixed to an electrically resistive layer, wrapped around an elongated cylindrical support, and capable of being rapidly heated and maintained hot by electric current available from a rechargeable storage battery. The resistive layer has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance so that its temperature is self limiting. The storage battery is contained in a handle attached to the cylindrical support, and a battery charger is disclosed which comes into electrical contact with the battery when the handle is inserted in a cavity located in the battery charger. An elongated longitudinal clip is used to retain the hair in contact with the heater; a removable cap protects the heater and clip when the iron is not in use, and also engages a switch which ensures that the iron does not remain on.