I've dont eh wallpaper steamer thing and it works great for woods like oak and walnut, but NOT for curly maple!!!
don't ask how I know this!
the hair tongs WILL work.....
but.
because of the small radius you'll only be heating a thin line on the wood at a time and it'll be harder to get a smooth curve and you are MUCH more likely to get facets, like a UK 50p coin.
you COULD try to fit the tongs inside a metal pipe. that way you get the broader heating and because of the greater mass it won't cool as quickly (or heat as quickly, but that isn't so much of a problem)