A portable electric curling iron comprises an upper movable iron body (20) and a lower movable iron body (40), which are connected to an upper stationary iron body (10) and a lower stationary iron body (30), respectively, such that the upper and lower movable iron bodies (20, 40) can be selectively retracted into an extended from the upper and lower stationary iron bodies (10, 30) through openings (11, 31) respectively. The upper and lower movable iron bodies (20, 40) are provided with guide grooves (22, 42), in which guide protrutions (12, 32) formed at the upper and lower stationary iron bodies (10, 30) are engaged, respectively, such that the guide protrutions (12, 32) can be guided along the corresponding guide grooves (22, 42). Heating members (50) are attached to the upper and lower movable iron bodies (20, 40), respectively, while being opposite to each other.