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17 Best Hair Straighteners and Flat Irons of 2022

 

For every hair type, budget, and preference (yeah, I really did that for you).

act: Using a subpar hair straightener can destroy your hair. Take it from me, someone who straightens their fine, thin, curly hair once a month max. I thought it didn’t matter that my crusty ol’ flat iron had a bad habit of getting too hot, snagging my hair, and randomly turning off. As long as it gets the job done, right? But nope—a bad straightener can lead to excessive damage, breakage, and split ends. That doesn't mean you need to spend $$$, but a good hair straightener should be tailored to your hair type, straighten in one pass without pulling, and have a few heat settings.

And those are just the basics. You've also got the choice between auto shut-off features, wide or thin builds, and ceramic or titanium plates (fyi, ceramic = softer heat that’s better for finer, straighter hair; titanium = stronger heat that’s better for curlier, coarser hair). I know it sounds overwhelming, so to make it easier for you, I rounded up the best hair straighteners of 2022 for every different hair type, need, and budget.

P.S., This is new, up-to-date info, bb. We updated this article in October 2022 to add new flat irons the internet won't stop talking about, delete outdated oldies, and check in with new experts for the latest in hair straighteners, just for you.

Now keep reading for the full breakdown of my favorite hair straighteners—from drugstore-priced straighteners to flat irons for curly hair and more—along with explanations on how to minimize heat damage, how to choose the right flat iron for your hair type, and whether price really matters when it comes to quality.

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER ON AMAZON

Vanessa Pro Flat Iron Hair Straightener

 

PROS: HAS ROUND EDGES AND A CURVED DESIGN TO MINIMIZE CREASES

CONS: MAY NEED TO PRESS DOWN ON PLATES TO STRAIGHTEN SUPER-FINE HAIR

Okay, even though this straightener doesn't come from a big-name brand, it's clearly doing something right when it has more than 10,000 reviews on Amazon, the majority of which are overwhelmingly positive for being able to easily straighten coarse, 4b hair to fine, wavy hair without a zillion passes. It's also available in two plate widths—one inch and two inches—depending on how thick your hair is.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Titanium
Heat settings: 265 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: "I used heat setting 430 and I literally only have to glide the iron like once to get a silky-straight outcome," one reviewer writes. "Highly recommend. The side-by-side picture speaks for itself if you don’t believe me."

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR THICK, COARSE HAIR

Remington Shine Therapy

 

PROS: REVIEWERS SWEAR IT LASTS FOR YEARS WITHOUT ISSUES
SURPRISINGLY EFFECTIVE FOR THICK HAIR

CONS: DOESN'T HAVE SUPER-LOW TEMPS

Read just a few of the truly ecstatic reviews for this affordable hair straightener, and you will also be sold on its smoothing powers for super-thick and coarse hair (especially grays). The plates are wide—which means fewer passes per section—and are also infused with micro-conditioners during manufacturing to help keep poof-prone hair looking smooth and shiny.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic
Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: "I have super thick, frizzy, wavy hair that, when dyed, required 450 heat setting to work. I started growing out my silver and was so pleasantly surprised that it worked on 360 as high heat can ruin silver hair," one tester writes in their review. "I need to flat-iron my hair and was delighted, and about 10 women bought this from my suggestion and said it worked on their hair too as they also had very thick or frizzy hair."

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER OVERALL

Hot Tools Radiant Blue Digital Flat Iron

 

PROS: HEATS UP VERY QUICKLY AND EVENLY

CONS: EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE “OFF” BUTTON WHILE USING

This titanium iron heats up fast, bringing its plates back to the ideal temperature quickly after each pass, so you won’t need to go over each section multiple times and destroy your hair. To get your hair extra sleek and straight, brush through each section with a fine-tooth comb while following right behind it with the straightener.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Titanium
Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “From the moment I took this out of the box, I was impressed,” writes one tester. “It heats up quickly, it's easy to use, looks sleek, feels great as I grip the iron, and doesn't snag as I run it through my hair. It did not take me long at all to get my hair straightened, and I have naturally curly hair.”

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR COARSE HAIR

Revlon Salon Straight Copper Smooth XL Flat Iron

 

PROS: LOCKS SHUT FOR EASY STORAGE AND TRAVEL
CONS: COMB ATTACHMENT CAN GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH

Copper is famously known for being an even heat conductor (just ask any cook), which is why I love this flat iron for coarser hair: Its copper-infused plates will straighten hair with fewer passes, which means less heat damage for you. Bonus: The detachable comb also smooths and distributes your coarse hair evenly over the plates, so you’re left with stick-straight hair on the first pass.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Copper and ceramic
Heat settings: 180 to 455
THE REVIEWS: “I straightened my very coarse, thick hair quicker than I ever have before,” one review writes. “It warms up fast, and the copper plates glide across my hair without snagging.”

BEST STRAIGHTENER FOR FRIZZY HAIR

BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron

 

PROS: AVAILABLE IN THREE PLATE SIZES (ONE, ONE-AND-A-HALF, AND TWO INCHES)

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY THE BLUE COATING ON THE IRON CHIPS OFF AFTER A FEW MONTHS

If your hair tends to just look poofy and dull after a flat-iron session (been there), you need to try this hair straightener. It’s designed with titanium plates that heat up quickly and powerfully to quickly smooth your hair for a silkier finish. And because the tongs are ultra narrow, you can easily maneuver them close to your scalp to straighten curly or wavy roots, or to help lay frizz and flyaways.

Auto shut-off: No
Plates: Titanium
Heat settings: 240 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “I do my hair so fast now,” writes one tester in a review. “It used to take me about 35 minutes because I have a lot of hair and it's thick. Now it takes me between 15-20 minutes. This is the best straightener I've ever purchased.”

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR THICK HAIR

T3 SinglePass X Straightening Iron

 

PROS: REVIEWERS LOVE THE SLEEK DESIGN

CONS: HAVE TO MANUALLY CLICK A BUTTON TO INCREASE TEMP SETTINGS (WHICH CAN TAKE AWHILE)

Thick hair + flat-ironing can equal an hour of arm-exhausting, damage-ensuing labor. Enter: this tourmaline-and-ceramic straightening iron with one-and-a-half-inch plates. The wider plates (with softer ceramic heating) help straighten thicker, straighter hair types with fewer passes and less heat damage.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Tourmaline and ceramic
Heat settings: 260 to 410 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “It heats up super quickly with several adjustable temperature settings,” writes one reviewer. “It glides through my curly hair quickly, and best of all, my hair stays straight for days—even on hot, humid summer days."

BEST CERAMIC HAIR STRAIGHTENER

Ghd Platinum+ Professional Performance Styler

 

PROS: ISN’T OVERLY HOT FOR FINE-TO-MEDIUM HAIR TYPES
CONS: CAN’T CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE

Ceramic flat irons are excellent at straightening, smoothing, and adding shine at lower temps—but they can also take longer to heat up. But not this one, which only needs 20 seconds (yup!) to reach its maximum temperature of 365 degrees. According to the smarties in research and development at Ghd, this is the optimal temperature for changing the shape of your hair with as minimal damage as possible. You’ll get straight hair in one single pass and save a lil heat damage in the process.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic
Heat settings: 365 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “This is the best hair straightener I’ve ever used, and I’ve been straightening my hair regularly for 20 years,” writes one tester. “It glides through my hair, makes my hair unbelievably shiny, and in one pass, I get a sleek style that lasts all day, even when it’s humid.”

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR DAMAGED HAIR

InStyler Cerasilk Woven Ceramic Styling Iron

 

PROS: LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO HOLD

CONS: COMB ATTACHMENT SOMETIMES FALLS OFF DURING STRAIGHTENING (BUT CAN EASILY SLIDE BACK ON)

You obviously sleep with a silk pillowcase to protect your hair (if you don’t, do it now, k?), so why not heat style with silk too? The silk-and-ceramic ridges on this iron mean that less of your hair comes in contact with the direct heat, which equals less damage and breakage for you.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic
Heat settings: 300 to 440 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “My hair was left silky smooth and had a beautiful shine with minimal damage compared to my old flat iron,” writes one reviewer. “This product got to a perfect temperature of 450 degrees in seconds, and the comb attachment does a more thorough job straightening.”

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR CURLY HAIR

Bio Ionic 10x Pro Straightening & Styling Iron

 

PROS: REVIEWERS SAY IT STRAIGHTENS THEIR WAVY AND CURLY HAIR VERY FAST
CONS: HAIR CAN GET CAUGHT AND SNAG A LITTLE BIT IF NOT DETANGLED FIRST
Don’t let the light vibrations in this iron surprise you when you clamp down. The oscillating plates encourage your curls and waves to spread out evenly between the plates to help you get the smoothest, most even finish all the way down the length of your hair. It’s so good, Cosmo’s deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger uses it most times she straightens her own curly hair.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic
Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “Hands down, this is the best flat iron I've ever used,” writes one tester in a review. “It's a little pricey but well worth the money and makes my hair shiny and smooth.”

BEST CORDLESS HAIR STRAIGHTENER

Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener

 

PROS: COMES WITH A CHARGING STAND FOR EASY STORAGE

CONS: CORDLESS CHARGE ONLY LASTS 30 MINUTES

Yup, this is a Very Expensive Flat Iron. Yup, this is something you'd definitely splurge on, save up for, or beg for from the person who loves you most, but it'll be worth it. This cordless/corded—you can do both—flat iron uses flexible copper plates that subtly move with your hair to evenly distribute heat across every strand, leaving you with less damage and smoother hair. I've used it, and it really is a freaking thing of the future.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Copper
Heat settings: 330 to 410 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “I am SHOCKED at how freakin’ awesome this straightener is,” writes one reviewer. “After I completed the first section of hair my only words were ‘damn.’ My hair was done in half the time and looks better than it has before using the other higher-end straighteners out on the market.”

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR FINE HAIR

Conair InfinitiPro Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

 

PROS: EXTRA-LONG PLATES CAN CUT DOWN ON STYLING TIME

CONS: MIGHT TAKE A FEW PASSES TO STRAIGHTEN WAVY OR CURLY HAIR

This hair straightener is a dream for anyone who's absolutely terrified of destroying their damaged or fine hair with heat tools. It has 30 heat settings (so it's suuuper customizable for fine or damaged hair), and its tourmaline/ceramic combo means your hair gets straighter with fewer passes and less heat. If you don’t want to spend a bunch of money on more heat tools, you truly can’t go wrong with this one.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Tourmaline/Ceramic
Heat settings: 248 to 455 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “The Infiniti Pro does a great job of straightening my fine, wavy hair,” writes one tester in a review. “I have a short/medium bob, and it leaves my hair smooth and shiny in no time at all! My hair looks like I just came from the salon in just minutes.”

BEST STEAM HAIR STRAIGHTENER

Kim Kimble Vapor Infusion Iron with Silk Argan Oil

 

PROS: CAN BE USED WITH OR WITHOUT THE ARGAN OIL STEAM
CONS: REFILLING THE ARGAN OIL CARTRIDGE CAN BE MESSY

Steam-based hair straighteners can be tricky. Even though they can be magical for straightening 4c hair, they can also be hella drying (the steam attaches itself to the water in your hair strand, pulling it out and evaporating it). But this one from Kim Kimble uses a mix of steam and argan oil-filled cartridges to smooth and moisturize hair with fewer passes. And that means way less damage for you.

Auto shut-off: No
Plates: Tourmaline-infused
Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “This product left my hair completely straight, shiny, and very soft,” writes one tester. “I liked it so much that I bought one for my friend’s birthday. She also loved it.”

BEST STRAIGHTENER FOR A WIDE RANGE OF HAIR TYPES

CHI G2 Professional Flat Iron

 

PROS: EASY TO KNOW WHICH HEAT SETTINGS TO USE BASED ON YOUR HAIR TYPE

CONS: CORD IS EXTRA LONG (11 FEET), WHICH CAN BE A PAIN FOR STORAGE

If you plan on using your hair straightener on different hair types and textures (ahem, sharing with roomies or siblings), you want something versatile, like this titanium-infused ceramic straightener. It has a digital heat control panel that lights up in one of three colors (blue = fine/delicate hair, green = medium texture or wavy hair, red = coarse hair) to indicate when the temperature has reached the right range for certain hair types.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic and titanium
Heat settings: 370 to 425 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “As a hairdresser, I can say this is an excellent tool—no wonder why this product has won awards,” writes one reviewer. “It gives very professional results and doesn't damage the hair. Even with the most damaged hair, I get shiny and smooth results.”

BEST CHEAP HAIR STRAIGHTENER

Remington Pro 1" Pearl Ceramic Flat Iron

 

PROS: HAS A TEMPERATURE LOCK, SO THE TEMP WON’T CHANGE WHILE YOU’RE STYLING

CONS: THE HANDLE CAN GET PRETTY HOT AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES

If you flat-iron your hair a few times a year max, you’re probably not willing to spend a bunch of money on something that spends most of its time in your drawer. I get it. Enter: This inexpensive hair straightener will straighten, wave, bend, and curl with ceramic plates that heat up to 450 degrees. It also features “floating” plates that basically don’t press down as intensely on your hair, meaning your hair is less likely to get that crisp, fried feeling—and less likely to actually get fried.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic
Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “I want a simple tool to do a simple thing; I don't want to fuss with it or have to figure it out,” writes one reviewer. “This was perfect. I can get my super thick hair done in about 10 minutes with this, and it leaves my hair feeling soft.”

BEST MINI HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR BANGS AND SHORT HAIR

Amika Mighty Mini Styler

PROS: CAN EASILY BE PACKED AWAY FOR TRAVEL OR ON-THE-GO
CONS: DOESN’T HAVE A SWIVEL CORD

No joke: I have this mini hair straightener in my drawer right now, and I freakin' love it for touch-ups. The half-inch-wide plates make it super easy to straighten bumps near your roots, along with messed-up bangs that wider hair straighteners usually can’t touch without burning your forehead. It also comes in a cute pouch, so you can keep the cord wrapped up and stowed away if you bring it in your purse or carry-on.

Auto shut-off: No
Plates: Titanium
Heat Settings: 400 degrees
MY REVIEW: I entirely rely on flat irons to style my curtain bangs and not make them look flat and blah against my forehead. But I also don’t want to bring a big, bulky flat iron just to do my bangs when traveling, which is where this iron comes in. It’s so compact and beyond easy to use, but it has some power—enough that I’ve straightened my whole head of short hair with it before.

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR CURLING

Kristin Ess Hair 3-In-One Titanium Flat Iron

 

PROS: LOOKS V LUXE ON YOUR VANITY

CONS: REVIEWERS SAY THE IRON SOMETIMES AUTO SHUTS OFF WHILE USING

You know when you try to curl your hair with a straightener, and you're left with creases, bumps, and snags? Yeah, that won't be the case with this rounded-edge hair straightener. It's smoothly curved to allow you to clamp, twirl, and twist your hair without crimps, so your flat-iron waves and curls look genuinely good, not just good-for-a-flat-iron good.

Auto shut-off: Yes
Plates: Ceramic
Heat settings: 280 to 440 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “My hair is fine and straight, and this tool does a fantastic job putting a little ‘bend’ in my usual blow-dry style,” writes one reviewer. “Very easy to use, and I really like the temperature control feature.”

BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR NATURAL HAIR

Deeper Than Hair 22TiTania Flat Iron

 

PROS: REVIEWERS SAY IT DOESN’T LEAVE THEIR TYPE-4 HAIR FEELING DRY OR FRIED

CONS:OUTSIDE PLATES GET VERY HOT, SO YOU HAVE TO WEAR GLOVES

This titanium hair straightener can reach super-hot temps (a max of 465 degrees) to evenly straighten type-4 hair without as much damage as other models, thanks to its floating plates that help reduce pressure while clamping down on your hair. And because the rounded metal casing also heats up, you can easily create bends and waves once you’ve smoothed out your hair.

Auto shut-off: No
Plates: Titanium
Heat settings: 300 to 465 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “I have 4b-4c natural hair, and I don't have to run the iron on my hair multiple times to get it straight,” writes one tester. “It does the job right the first time.”

Is ceramic or titanium better?
 

Neither ceramic nor titanium is necessarily better or worse—it's just that one plate is likely better for your specific hair type. “Ceramic plates are often ‘safest’ for dry, damaged, or fragile hair,” says hairstylist Amy Abramite, adding that these plates, in general, don’t get overly hot, so the overall temperature of ceramic irons stays in a relatively safe range.

The only potential downside? Ceramic usually takes a little longer to heat up. Meanwhile, titanium plates heat up very quickly and can reach higher temperatures than ceramic irons, which is why they’re recommended for thick and curly hair that requires extra heat to get smooth.

But those aren’t the only type of plates out there. Here’s a quick breakdown of the four most common types of plates in a hair straightener:

Ceramic: Heats evenly and slowly and can be less damaging on fine and fragile hair because it often doesn’t reach high temperatures
Titanium: Heats very quickly to high temperatures, so it requires fewer passes, making it great for thick, curly, and coarse hair
Tourmaline: A coating that can be added on top of ceramic plates that heats quickly, adds shine to hair, and is good for all hair types
Copper: Plates get an even amount of heat very quickly, so it’s suitable for all hair types

All of these will straighten your hair, but the type of plates on the iron you choose should align with your hair type and goals. When in doubt, a tourmaline or copper iron can work for most all hair types, while titanium should be reserved for hair that is hard to straighten.

Which straightener is best for damaged hair?

Before we get into the “best” straightener for damaged hair, you need to know that all hair straighteners can be damaging to some extent, especially with repeated use, so there’s no magical flat iron that will inflict zero damage on already damaged hair. You’re putting your hair in between two super-hot plates, and if it’s not a good iron, you’re likely going over and over the same piece of hair to flatten it. This can all lead to dryness, split ends, dullness (especially if your hair is color-treated), flyaways, and hair breakage.

Still, there are a few features in a straightener that is best for damaged hair, specifically a flat iron with ceramic plates, super customizable heat settings, and excellent reviews backing up claims that it really does straighten in one pass, since more passes = more damage, even at low heat, says hairstylist Anthony Dickey. And when you do flat-iron your hair, keep the temp low (under 350 degrees) and dial-up the temp little by little. Final reminder? Always, always use a heat protectant first to help your hair resist some of the damage.

Are more expensive hair straighteners better?

How much money you spend on a hair straightener definitely comes down to preference. Expensive hair tools aren’t necessarily “better;” they often just have more accessories and controls—basically, the difference between a five- and three-star hotel. If you want a tool with unique features (like cordless, “smart” technology, copper and ion-infused plates, etc.), you can expect to pay a bit more.

But if you just want to efficiently straighten your hair on a budget, give it a beachy wave once in a while, or use your flat iron four times a year max, you can absolutely find an excellent straightener for less than $50 (ahem, see the options above).

How to choose the best hair straightener:

I wish the only factor to take into account when buying a new hair straightener was the price, but that's really only a fraction of the decision. Of course, the price tag might help you narrow down the selection, but you still gotta decide between all the devices within your budget. So while shopping, remember to:

Consider your hair type and condition

The best hair straightener will depend on your hair's thickness, texture, length, and condition. Thin, fragile, or damaged hair should stick with flat-irons with lower heat settings. “Hair that's finely textured, or compromised by chemicals, or already damaged may not be able to handle hot temperatures and still remain healthy,” says Abramite, so instead look for a hair straightener with adjustable controls and low-heat options (like 350 to 375 degrees). But hair that’s coarse, curly, and thick will likely need an iron that heats to 400 degrees or higher.

Long hair that takes forever to straighten will appreciate an iron with extra-long and wide (like one-and-a-half or two-inch plates) plates that can fit larger sections of hair to cut down on styling time. But if your hair is short, you’ll maybe prefer a shorter, narrower iron that can get close to the root. Think about what you love and hate about straightening your hair (give me low heat that doesn’t fry my fragile hair all day, pls)—choose your hair straightener based on those parameters.

Compare the features

If you’re still overwhelmed by the options, look for added features that you’ll actually use, like an auto shut-off if you're always forgetting to unplug it, ion technology for extra shine and silkiness, vibrating plates if your hair is coarse or curly, or floating plates for less tension and breakage. You might have to pay a little more for a tool that has more than just the basics, but hair pros argue that a nice design can really be worth it.

“A well-designed flat-iron should close evenly on the hair to prevent pulling or uneven tension,” says Abramite. “It should glide smoothly through the strands and feel comfortable when maneuvering.” So if you try a flat iron and it snags, pulls, or leaves your hair feeling anything but good on the first try, check the return policy (Sephora and Ulta will always let you return within 30 days, even if the box is opened, but check your Amazon seller before purchasing as they can have varying return policies).

Choose the intended use

Are you wanting a flat iron for both straightening your hair and curling it? Are you using it to style bangs or a short pixie cut and need something that can get close to the root? Are you planning on traveling with your flat iron? These are all questions to ask yourself before clicking that “Place Order” button so you don't end up with a device that doesn't fit your needs. Because at the end of the day, even the best hair straightener won't do you any good if it doesn't have the shape, design, features, and modes that you're looking for.

Meet the experts:

Amy Abramite is a hairstylist and the creative director at Maxine Salon in Chicago, IL. She’s an expert in hair cutting, styling with flat irons and curling irons, and blowouts.

Anthony Dickey is a hairstylist and the founder of Hair Rules salon in New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Atlanta, GA, and Hair Rules, a line of hair products for every texture. He is known for his ability to work with and enhance all hair textures through haircutting and styling.

 

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing haircare stories in print and digital, including the best diffusers for curly hair and the best hair dryer brushes. Her hair straightener picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing haircare stories that range from the best wavy hair products to the best conditioners for curly hair. She’s an authority in all haircare categories but is an expert when it comes to hair straighteners, thanks to a decade of trying flat irons on fine hair. She regularly tests and analyzes hair tools for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top hair stylists to assess new products and brands.

Brooke Shunatona was the senior beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly five years and has eight years of experience writing about beauty and lifestyle across print and digital, including how to treat a curling iron burn and how to defrizz your hair.