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Hair

12 Best Hair Straighteners and Flatirons for Smooth, Damage-Free Hair

 

New technology has revolutionized the humble hair tool.

The best hair straighteners and flatirons today are a far cry from the relics of the early ’00s that left strands fried and frizzy. To help you narrow down your choices, we tried more than two dozen of the newest models on the market and asked Glamour testers and editors to share their most beloved brands at a variety of price points.

After testing, our top pick was the Amika The Confidante Hair Straightener, which has gentle heat settings that provide remarkably shiny, frizz-free results at under $200. We also found options you can pick up at your local drugstore, Amazon bestsellers, and winners for natural and curly hair, all of which are highly praised by hairstylists. The experts we spoke with also gave us the TL;DR on whether you should reach for titanium or ceramic plates; plus what temperature ranges you should use based on your hair type. These winners won’t cause breakage, frizz, or flyways—but will leave you with shiny, sleek locks every time.

How we picked the best hair straighteners

How we tested

At Glamour we’re constantly researching, testing, and writing about the best hair tools, including curling irons, hair dryers, blow-dry brushes, and more.

While spec sheets and reviews are a crucial component of our research, we believe it’s important to put hair tools like flatirons to the test for practical feedback. That’s why we sent more than a dozen of the top-rated and most well-reviewed options to team members to assess both performance and long-term durability.

During evaluations we looked for a variety of qualities like material, temperature range, ease of use, and overall performance, plus convenience features like an auto shutoff (more on this below). We also considered how durable the tools were over time. Most important, our top hair straighteners had to deliver sleek and shiny results that lasted throughout the day—and, ideally, beyond.

Six months later we asked our testers to reevaluate each straightener. How well did each product hold up throughout continued use? Did our testers still stand behind their picks—why or why not? We also researched new and notable flatirons, and put four of the most promising to the test, ultimately selecting three standouts to replace two previously recommended models that we felt were either outdated or didn’t live up to the hype in the long run. After nearly three years of testing, these are the ones that rose to the top.

Note: Although we might receive gifted products, our recommendations come from months of testing and evaluating the very best products. We maintain complete editorial independence in the products we choose to feature meaning we do not benefit financially from including any of the products, except from purchases of products through our links.

Why you should trust us

Choosing a hair tool can be very overwhelming. We wanted to make sure to consider a variety of hair types in our testing, so we tapped Glamour staffers and reviewers with straight, curly, wavy, short, long, and thick strands to help test over a dozen flatirons. All together, the team brings more than 22 years of industry experience to the table.

As a beauty writer with almost a decade of experience in the industry, I’m also no stranger to searching for the right hair tool. In fact, I’ve been personally investigating hair straighteners to help combat my frizzy strands for 15 years. After evaluation, our team also created straightener’s comparison chart for details on how each one holds up against the other.

**September 2025 update: **We added the Conair Double Ceramic Flatiron in our ongoing effort to discover the best straightener for fine hair types. We also added the Wavytalk Airflow Styler Straightener and Curler because it has a ton of customizable settings, it’s great for short hair types, and it’s gentle on various textures, all for under $40. We removed the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1¼-Inch Flat Iron because it was a little bulky and hard to maneuver around your head. We also re-evaluted our best overall to the Amika The Confidante Flatiron in this iteration, simply because the results rival the more expensive options on this list for $150.

Best Overall: Amika The Confidante Flatiron

Plate material: Ceramic
Size: 1 inch
Temperature: Adjustable up to 450°F
Auto shutoff: 60 minutes
Cord: 9 feet

What we love: Easy to use; high-temperature settings; curved edges allow for curling
What could improve: Unstable when placed on countertop

This hair straightener has floating plates, meaning they’ll gently adjust position as you increase or decrease tension on the wand, so hair—even the curliest types—glides exceptionally well through the styling tool.

Testing notes: “My long, wavy, medium-textured hair slips right through the plates like silk, whether I’m styling it pin-straight, rounding out the edges, or using the tool to create long, loose waves reminiscent of those you might get from a large-barrel curling iron. Most times my hair goes pin-straight in a single pass. I’ve never experienced anything else like it—and I’ve tried at least a dozen hair straighteners over the years. I also like the easy-to-read digital display, which allows you to see the temperature you’re working with up to an impressive 450°F. The fact that it’s dual-voltage is also a nice bonus, since I can tuck it in my suitcase and travel globally without any issue. This is a highly durable pick too. I’ve been using the same Confidante for at least four years, and it’s still going very, very strong,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.

Best for Short Hair: Wavytalk Airflow Styler Straightener and Curler

Plate material: Ceramic
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: 5 settings up to 430°F
Auto shutoff: 60 minutes
Cord: 6 feet and auto-swivels

What we love: Versatile enough to straighten hair and curl ends; gentle heat settings great for shorter hair types
What could improve: The outer material is a little cheap and it’s loud to use because of the air mechanism

If you have short hair, finding a hair straightener that won’t cause breakage or shedding can be tricky. This easy-to-use multistyler helps protect your hair from damage and flyways and has smooth, thick plates that are perfect for grabbing onto shorter pieces of hair. It also allows you to wave out your ends or create curls at the end of your strands with the barreled iron.

Testing notes: “While the plates are too slim for my full head of hair, they’re ideal for getting close to the root and fixing my stubborn cowlicks. I imagine the straightener would be great for someone with fine, short hair looking to style their bob,” says Glamour contributor Emily Tannenbaum.

Best for Long Hair: Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron

Plate material: Titanium
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: Adjustable up to 450°F
Auto shutoff: 45 minutes
Cord: 8.53 feet

What we love: Heats up quickly; smooth glide; 12 temperature settings; doubles as a curling iron
What could improve: Outside of iron seems to get a bit hotter than others

Silk’n says the SilkStraight’s infrared red light therapy allows you to style at a lower heat to reduce overall damage and helps retain moisture, so it effectively smooths and minimizes frizz. We like that it’s a straightener and curling iron in one and that it’s quick to style hair while being extremely gentle on all hair types. It never (we mean never) gets overly hot.

Testing notes: “I’ve been a fan of this straightener from the moment I turned it on. The iron quickly heats up—it took no more than 30 seconds—and glides easily through my strands. It didn’t get caught or snag at all. It maintained a consistent temperature that didn’t feel hot enough to singe my hair and gave me a velvety-soft finish. My hair looks super sleek after using this, and I can tell I’ll definitely be reaching for it again and again,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.

Best for Less Heat Damage: T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron

Plate material: Ceramic
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: 9 settings up to 410°F
Auto shutoff: 60 minutes
Cord: 7.9 feet

What we love: Smart temperature selection; heats up quickly; can straighten and curl
What could improve: Shorter power cord; doesn’t glide as smoothly over hair as we hoped

When you straighten your hair, you want the process to be as simple as possible and the result as sleek as possible. Of course, you also want to minimize any damage to your strands. T3’s Single Pass StyleMax delivers on all fronts, thanks to a unique technology that customizes the styling process for you—no fiddling with different temperatures. You simply select your hair texture and styling goals via buttons on the flatiron, then get to work—the iron will heat to one of nine temperatures selected for you.

Testing notes: “While there is a bit of a learning curve to the smart heat settings, once I figured it out, things came to temperature exceptionally quickly. I appreciated that the rounded edges allow you to both straighten and curl, but I was disappointed with the feel of the plates. The iron didn’t swipe effortlessly but rather stuttered over my hair. It did, however, do a pretty solid job in a single pass,” says Earley.

Best for Curly Hair: Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener

Plate material: Titanium
Size: 1.25 inches
Temperature: Adjustable up to 440°F
Auto shutoff: 30 minutes
Cord: 9 feet

What we love: Affordable; lightweight; easy to handle
What could improve: Gets a little too hot

This affordable straightener is one of the best titanium picks on the list because it’s suitable for a variety of hair types, including curly hair. It has wide, 1.25-inch plates that catch a good amount of hair, and the temperature goes up to 440°F, which helps you achieve a smooth, frizz-free finish.

Testing notes: “As someone with extremely curly 3C hair, I found this iron to be very effective. It heats up quickly and offers three distinct heat settings. The lowest setting was my preferred choice. My hair felt smooth and manageable after use. I appreciate the sleek design and was able to utilize the three-in-one function to add some body to my hair, as I typically prefer it with volume rather than styled sleekly,” says Glamour tester Kristine Straker.

Best for Natural Curls: T3 Lucea 1-Inch Professional Straightening and Styling Iron

Plate material: Ceramic
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: 9 heat settings
Auto shutoff: Yes
Cord: 8 feet

What we love: Nine adjustable settings make it gentle on hair; easy to use
What could improve: A bit pricey

If you have type 4 curls, Glamour contributor Tanisha Cherry swears by the T3 Lucea Flat Iron. This ceramic-plated pick is super gentle on hair and styles quickly, without the need for dozens of passes.

Testing Notes: “I’ve been using this pick for my silk presses for five years now, and she delivers every single time. With natural type 4 hair, I’m super picky about my heat tools. I want that bone-straight finish without compromising my curls. Depending on how well my blow-dry turns out, I don’t always need high heat, and that’s where this flatiron shines. It heats up fast and has nine adjustable heat settings, which gives me total control. What really seals the deal is that I can do just one pass on blow-dried hair and still get a straight and smooth finish. And it gets super close to my roots without burning me, which is major. I only use it on freshly washed and blow-dried hair when I’m going for a silk press, so about two to three times a month, and it never disappoints,” says Cherry.

Best Cordless Hair Straightener: Dyson Airstrait

Plate material: N/A
Size: 1.6 inches
Temperature: Three presets in wet mode (175°F, 230°F, 285°F); two presets in dry mode (250°F or 285°F)
Auto shutoff: Auto-pause after 3 seconds of inactivity; standby mode after 5 minutes
Cord: 9.6 feet

What we love: Less direct and intense heat means less damage over time; wide range of styling settings and modes (wet, dry, rough-dry, smoothing boost); LCD screen; intelligent airflow; temperature control
What could improve: Slower process than traditional flatirons

The Glamour commerce team put the buzzy Dyson Airstrait to the test and found it to be best overall on our list. Think of it as a flatiron and blow-dryer in one. Instead of pressing your hair between hot plates, it dries strands with hot air (using the same technology as our favorite Dyson Airwrap)—which is way less damaging than your standard straightening iron.

Testing notes: “Though it’s gentle on hair, the process is a bit lengthy, since you have to first use the tool to rough-dry your roots. This is an important step, because the shape and size of the Airstrait is a bit bulky and the air shoots down toward your ends, so you can’t clamp hair all the way at the top to smooth it during the straightening process. Once I was ready to work on individual sections of hair with passes closer to that of a traditional flatiron, I found there was a bit of a learning curve to keeping hair inside of the tool. But I figured out that it helped to hold my hair, guiding it through. Even though this whole process takes a bit longer, the effort paid off. My finished style was incredibly soft and shiny, plus had impressive staying power,” says Earley.

Best for Fine Hair: BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1"

Plate material: Ceramic
Size: 1 inch
Temperature: 210°F–480°F
Auto shutoff: Yes
Cord: 10 feet

What we love: Ceramic-coated plates; even heat distribution
What could improve: Pricey

If you have color-treated hair, it’s understandable to be a little wary of straighteners—high heat can be extra brutal on your strands and can fade your color. This flatiron solves that dilemma, thanks to its gentle ceramic plates that are coated with aloe vera to help hydrate, minimize frizz, and ensure little to no breakage and hue damage.

Testing notes: “I recently did a salon gloss on my hair, so I was a little hesitant to use hot tools on it for a bit. This straightener was actually quite gentle because it has a wide temperature range that you can easily adjust, and the plates themselves never get overly hot, even if you crank it up a bit. The ceramic material and aloe vera coating keep them relatively cool but don’t get in the way of styling. After using this for a few sessions, my hair looked smooth and velvety, and I didn’t see my color fade in the slightest,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best for Thick Hair: GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron

Plate material: Ceramic
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: 365°F
Auto shutoff: 10 minutes
Cord: 8.8 feet

What we love: Ultra-smooth glide; delivers a sleek and shiny look in just one or two passes; shuts off after just 10 minutes
What could improve: Cannot control temperature manually; not as well-suited for curling

We’ve long been fans of GHD’s flatirons—one of the brand’s iconic models, the GHD Platinum, won a Glamour Beauty Award in 2020. And we’re pleased to say this one is even better. Yes, the price tag is steep (very steep), but there’s really no guesswork here, and even Rogerio Cavalcante, hairstylist and owner of the Second Floor Salon in New York, shares that this is one of his favorites. There’s no temperature to choose from; instead, it’s a smart iron that uses predictive technology to recognize the thickness of your hair and the speed at which you’re styling. It then adjusts its power accordingly, operating at an optimum temperature of 365°F.

Testing notes: “In tests we found that GHD’s Chronos Styler heated very quickly, plus it emits a satisfying ping to alert you that it’s ready to use. We also appreciate the 10-minute auto shutoff, which is much faster than all of the other products we evaluated—a nice safety feature. On the downside, I didn’t have as much success curling my hair with this flatiron, despite the rounded edges—and I’d consider myself pretty advanced in this department. I did, however, successfully execute a sleek, straight style with plenty of shine and the type of rounded ends you might get from a blowout,” says Earley.

Best for Frizzy Hair: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Flatiron Hair Straightener

Plate material: Titanium
Size: 1 inch
Temperature: Adjustable up to 450°F
Auto shutoff: 60 minutes
Cord: 9 feet

What we love: Wide temperature range; extremely light; works on all hair types
What could improve: Longevity isn’t great

This titanium flatiron has a huge temperature range that makes it easy to customize your hair-straightening routine (up to 450°F). It’s quite easy to maneuver around your head and kills frizz upon contact, making it a great pick if you’re looking for a no-nonsense straightener that gives you smooth, velvety hair.

Testing notes: “This is probably one of the most straightforward, easy straighteners I’ve ever used, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re new to straightening your hair on the regular. There are five heat settings—I usually switch mine on to the middle temps since I have fine strands—and the plates heat up extremely quickly. My hair overall looks much silkier after using this one, and I’ve been repeatedly reaching for it whenever I wake up with bedhead,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best for Travel: Conair Double Ceramic Flatiron

Plate material: Ceramic
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: 410°F
Auto shutoff: No
Cord: 5 feet

What we love: Affordable; no-nonsense and easy to use
What could improve: No auto shutoff

This pick heats up to 410°F with adjustable settings, so it’s suitable for all hair types and quite gentle on fine strands. It has ceramic plates that flatten out frizz, and you can even use the long plates for flipping up the bottom of your strands for a slight curl.

Testing notes: “My fine hair sometimes sizzles when I use heat tools, so I was eager to try this gentle pick. It definitely de-frizzed my strands, which I loved, and never got overly hot (I kept it on the lower heat settings). I also thought that it did a great job of sliding through my hair without getting snagged or breaking off any pieces,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best Multistyler: Drybar All-Inclusive Air + Active Heat 8-in-1 Multi-Styler

Plate material: Ceramic
Plate size: 1 inch
Temperature: 4 heat settings
Auto shutoff: No
Cord: NA

What we love: Ceramic plates are gentle on hair; can be used on wet or damp hair
What could improve: Pricey; heavy

Multistylers are all the rage, especially if you’re looking to invest in a hot tool without fully breaking the bank. This eight-in-one option has a ceramic flatiron attachment that can be used on wet or dry hair and makes it easy to customize your look, whether you want a pin-straight finish or straight hair with curled ends.

Testing notes: “If you want a multistyler that does it all, this is the only tool you’ll need. The best way to use it is to take advantage of all the styling heads. My hair is wavy, and after showering it gets puffy and frizzy, so I normally style it right away. In order to get a quick sleek look, I use the air brush and then finish with the iron. It heats up fast, doesn’t burn my strands, and keeps it straight for days,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.

Frequently asked questions

What to look for in a hair straightener, and what straightener do hairdressers use?

When choosing a hair straightener, there are a few things to look out for, according to Cavalcante, whose favorite hair straightener is the GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron. Consider the following attributes.

Temperature range: “Choosing the right tool really depends on your hair texture, density, and the style you’re going for, but temperature is an important factor to always keep in mind,” he says. If you have fine or fragile hair, opt for straighteners that have a lower temperature range (around 250°F–300°F). If you have thick or coarse hair, reach for a tool that has a higher temperature (up to 400°F). “Use wider plates to cover more hair at once, and always work in smaller sections so the heat can reach all strands. “Finally, if you have textured or curly hair, you can use straighteners at higher temperatures, but it’s important to use heat protectants and avoid going over the same sections multiple times,” he says.

Material: Ceramic plates are good for fine, thinner hair, while titanium plates are good for thick and curly hair.

Ease of use: No matter what your hair type is, Cavalcante recommends picking a tool that feels good in your hand: “You want your straightener to be comfortable, not too heavy and easy to maneuver.”

Performance: We looked for straighteners that heated up quickly and left our hair smooth, silky, and frizz-free after use.

Features: Cord length and customizable heat settings that didn’t get overly hot

How do you choose the best hair straightener for your hair type?

There are two main types of hair straighteners: those made with ceramic plates and those made with titanium plates. Less commonly, some flatirons feature a combination of the two. There are also outliers, like the Airstrait, which use air rather than hot plates.

For fine or relatively easy-to-straighten hair: Set your sights on a flatiron with ceramic plates, since this material takes longer to heat up and has more-even heat distribution, says Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. Sometimes you’ll find ceramic tourmaline options; these offer added hair care benefits, since tourmaline is a mineral that helps smooth and boost shine while locking in moisture, helping to minimize both frizz and static.

For coarse or curly hair: A titanium flatiron may be preferable for these hair types, since this material heats up faster and can maintain a higher temperature that requires fewer passes on the hair, says Lacy Redway, Unilever stylist and celebrity hair artist.

What temperature setting should you use in a flatiron?

Fine to medium hair: Experts recommend lower temperature ranges of 250°F to 300°F.

Curly to coarse hair: Experts recommend staying within the 350°F to 450°F range. But you’ll want to use a protective spray or serum beforehand and smoothing oils afterward to balance out the extreme heat.

Colored or damaged hair: Experts recommend using heat sparingly, as bleaching and highlighting dries out and damages hair—and if you do use heat, stick to the lower ranges of 250°F to 300°F.

How to prevent hair damage when using a flatiron

The hotter your setting, the more likely it will damage your hair—no matter what type of straightener you’re using. After all, you’re applying direct, intense heat to your hair. Always apply a heat protectant before you begin, and choose a safe temperature (as outlined above) for your type of hair, says Redway. Our favorite heat protectants to use are the Dae Agave Dry Heat Protection Spray and the Amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum.

Are titanium or ceramic plates better?

While no material is necessarily better than the other, you’ll want to choose between ceramic and titanium straighteners based on your hair type. “Look for ceramic plates, which will heat more evenly and gently if you have fine or damaged hair,” says Cavalcante. Thick, coarse, and textured hair types can take titanium tools because they get hotter more quickly, retain heat for longer, and can even help speed up your straightening process. To ensure that you don’t damage your hair, though, it’s important to always use heat protectant and limit usage to twice a week, max. “If you feel like you need to flatiron your front pieces every day, consider a more permanent option like a Brazilian blowout or a keratin treatment,” Cavalcante says.

Can you use a flatiron to make curls?

“To create curls with a flatiron, clamp the top of a section of hair between the plates, twist the iron once, and glide it down. The angle at which you hold the flatiron affects the curl type—holding it horizontally creates tighter curls, while a diagonal angle results in looser waves,” says Cavalcante.

What does Glamour do with the products after testing them?

We tracked all the straighteners tested for this story. In general, Glamour testers either donate, gift, or keep the products we test, incorporating them into their everyday beauty routines for long-term testing. We’re happy to report that most of the straighteners we’ve tested still have homes in our respective beauty closets to this day.

Can hair straighteners help with frizz?

Straighteners can definitely help with frizz, according to the hairstylists we spoke with. “Excessive dryness, open hair cuticles, and high porosity combined with humidity,” says Cavalcante. In addition to choosing a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, using a flatiron can temporarily minimize frizz and flyways by helping seal the cuticle. It is key to pick a gentle straightener for this though, with ceramic plates.

Meet the experts

• Raven Hurtado, hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
• Lacy Redway, Unilever stylist and celebrity hair artist
• Rogerio Cavalcante, hairstylist and owner of the Second Floor Salon in New York

Other hair straighteners we tested

• Conair Double Ceramic Flatiron: It heats up to 410°F, so it’s suitable for all hair types, from fine to coarse and curly. But the heat settings weren’t quite as numerous as some other more sophisticated models. We were impressed with the $25 value, but it would have been nice to have a longer cord and, more importantly, an auto-shutoff feature.
• Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener: Glamour tester Gabriella Cuzzone was a big fan of this straightener because it’s cordless and “it heats up wildly fast.” The downside: “On the lowest heat setting, I had to run the straightener through my hair several times over,” she says.
• The CHI Original 1-Inch Ceramic Hairstyling Iron: It’s a bestseller and worked well on our testers, but we found that it doesn’t heat up as much as others on the list for the price. “While it did take approximately two solid passes per section to straighten my hair, the end result was nice and sleek while still maintaining some volume,” says Earley.
• Drybar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron: Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz has owned this straightener for more than five years and is a fan of how straight it gets her 3C curls. “I’ve been using a flatiron for over 25 years, and I’ve tried at least 10. I used to be loyal to the popular GHD, but I find the Dry Bar option is even better for my fine mid-length curly hair since it has a narrow barrel and is super lightweight so my wrists don’t hurt after a styling sesh. This has by far been the easiest to work with. It has stayed in great shape, and despite my dropping it countless times, it hasn’t broken. The one thing to note is that, after about a year, the outside started getting hotter to the touch, so I’ve had to be careful about how I grip it.” Schwartz also likes the digital temperature control that lets you know what temperature you’re operating at, up to 450°F.
• Bio Ionic Onepass Styling Flatiron: We liked this iron because the plates are quite thick, and it’s gentle on hair thanks to its ceramic finish. “I have very thick hair, but luckily with this hair straightener, I didn’t have to do so many passes the way I do with other flatirons. I haven’t noticed any serious hair damage, and my hair stays super straight for days,” says Calle.
• Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual-Plate Flatiron: A smaller plate size (between ½ inch and 1 inch) is best for shorter hair, and this Hot Tools flatiron can help you get an ultrasmooth finish. “The dual plate was very cool (it allows you to iron bigger sections of hair), though the ability to heat up each plate individually was a nice feature. I’d definitely use it again at a higher heat,” says Condé Nast content licensing associate Paton Hardy, who has fine curly hair cut at a short length.
• Remington Argan-Oil Infused-Hair Straightener: We found this straightener while browsing an Amazon bestseller list, and knew we had to give it a go. This compact option heats up to 450°F for a sleek finish. The plates are also infused with argan oil to give your hair some extra shine.
• Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1¼-Inch Flat Iron: This flatiron keeps hair frizz-free and shiny post-straightening and has a wide temperature range with easy-to-adjust heat settings. It has an easy-to-read LED screen as well.