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Hair Style tips

The 13 Best Hair Straighteners, According to Hair Stylists and People Who Straighten Their Hair

 

A hair straightener can be great for people who want to style their hair straight, but using the wrong one can leave your hair fried to a crisp. If you want to avoid damaging your hair—or at least keep damage to a minimum, selecting one of the best hair straighteners can help you achieve your desired hairstyle without singe-ing your strands in the process. These hair styling tools typically come in a range of materials like titanium, ceramic, and tourmaline, and feature various heat settings—and when choosing a hair straightener, the main factor to consider is your hair type.

Hair straighteners, like most other hair products, isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing as hair-care needs are unique to everyone. To help you find your ideal option, we spoke to three hair stylists for their tips on choosing the best hair straighteners for individual hair type and needs.

Experts In This Article

Monaè Everett, hairstylist and owner of the online educational platform The Monaè Life Academy
Patricia Silva, hair stylist and owner of Rock Rock Salon
Raven Hurtado, hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago

 

Shop the best hair straighteners

Best titanium: BaBylissPRO, Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron — $160.00

Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1, 1.5, and 2 inches | Temperature range: 240-450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

Both Everett and Silva recommend this BaByliss Pro hair straightener, which comes in three options with one, one-and-a-half, or two-inch plates. The plates are made from titanium for quick heat-up, and with a push of the button, you can select from up to 50 temperature settings up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The nine-foot-long swivel cord enables easy operation and tangle-free movement, and the tool’s lightweight body prevents arm fatigue while you straighten your hair.

Pros:

Available in three plate sizes
50 heat settings
Has a swivel cord

Cons:

Not ideal for brittle, thin, or damaged hair

Best ceramic: GHD, Platinum+ Styler — $279.00

Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1 inch | Temperature range: 365 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

If you often straighten your hair, the GHD Platinum+ Styler might be well worth the extra cost. It has a predictive heating feature that adjusts the temperature to your hair type and thickness while ensuring you’re not damaging or burning your hair in the process. The one-inch plates are made from ceramic to evenly distribute heat, and the hair tool heats up in just 20 seconds, making it the fastest-heating option featured on the list. Other notable features are the nine-foot-long swivel cord and auto shut-off feature that springs into action after 20 minutes.

Pros:

Predictive heat technology maintains 365℉ temperature
Heats up in 20 seconds
Has a swivel cord
Automatic shut-off after 20 minutes of nonuse

Cons:

Can’t adjust temperature

Best ceramic-tourmaline hybrid: Trademark Beauty, Sunny Styler — $89.00

Plate material: Ceramic tourmaline | Plate size:Not specified | Temperature range: 280-430 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

The Sunny Styler comes recommended by Hurtado. The tourmaline-coated ceramic plates have rounded edges to smooth (or curl) hair without snags, and the tool heats up to 430 degrees Fahrenheit. Like many of the flat irons on the list, this tool also has an easy-to-maneuver swivel and an auto shut-off feature that activates after 60 minutes of nonuse. What sets it apart are its extra features: it has a venting system that, according to Hurtado, helps to reduce the risk of damage, as well as a no-heat cool shot that works to set your hairstyle in place.

Pros:

Beveled plates allow you to straighten or curl hair
Venting system reduces risk of hair damage
Has a swivel cord
Automatic shut-off after 60 minutes of nonuse

Cons:

Iron plates are small

Best with a steam function: L’Oreal Professionnel Steampod, Flat Iron and Styler — $250.00

Plate material: Aluminum | Plate size: 1 inch | Temperature range: 350-410 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? No

This steam flat iron is like a clothing steamer for your hair—and, according to Silva, it treats your hair as delicately as a fine fabric. “I would actually use the Steampod by L’Oreal on someone who has very damaged hair, [in addition to] heat protective sprays or crèmes,” she says. The steam helps hair retain moisture, plus it’s a cinch to use. The tool lets you toggle among the temperature settings with just a push of a button, and the large water reservoir means less refills between uses. A bonus: It comes with a removable comb to remove knots as you style your hair.

Pros:

Steam function helps retain hair moisture
Comes with removable comb to remove knots while you style
Large water reservoir
Has a swivel cord

Cons:

Pricey

Best 3-in-1: Kristin Ess, 3-in-One Flat Iron Heat Styling Tool — $95.00

Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1.25 inches | Temperature range: 280-440 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

Kristin Ess’s multi-use hair straightener can smooth, wave, and even curl your hair, making it ideal for people who want a do-it-all tool. The titanium plates have rounded edges that make it great for curls and flicks without snagging your hair, and the size (1.25 inches) can help straighten more hair at a time in less time. Plus, you can select from four temperature settings, ranging from 280 degrees Fahrenheit up to 440 degrees Fahrenheit, for different hair types and textures. The nine-foot-long swivel cord also helps to bring some ease to the styling process.

Pros:

Beveled plates allow for versatile styling
Has a swivel cord
Automatic shut-off after 30 minutes of nonuse
Includes a heat-resistant cap

Cons:

Only four preset temperature settings

Best budget: Remington, Flat Iron With Anti-Static Technology — $18.00

Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1 inch | Temperature range: 310-450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? No

If you want a budget-friendly hair straightener, consider this ceramic option from Remington. W+G commerce writer Danielle Calma has been using it for years, and she loves that it’s lightweight and versatile. “I use this to straighten and create soft waves in my hair,” she says. “It has rounded edges that allow me to style without pulling my hair, and it works quickly, too—it heats up in 30 seconds, and one or two passes is all it takes to straighten my thick and, at times, frizzy hair.”

Pros:

Plates have rounded edges to straighten or curl hair without snagging
Heats up in 30 seconds
Has a swivel cord
The most inexpensive option on the list

Cons:

Not dual voltage

Best cordless: Lunata, Cordless Styler Pro — $260.00

Originally $260, now $180

Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1 inch | Temperature range: 200-450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

W+G former beauty writer Kara Jillian Brown has tried many cordless flat irons, and she wrote that this option is among the best. The hair tool is not too small to make straightening your hair a chore but not too big to take up too much space in your bathroom either. Plus, it has a wide range of temperature settings, which goes from 200 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. As for its runtime, “it lasts 60 minutes on a single charge and takes 90 minutes to reach a full battery,” says Brown, which means more time styling and less time recharging the battery.

Pros:

60-minute battery life
Eight temperature settings
Includes a heat-proof cap

Cons:

Has a charging time of 90 minutes

Best splurge: Dyson, Airstrait — $499.00

Plate material: N/A | Plate size: N/A | Temperature range: 175-285 degrees Fahrenheit (Wet Mode) and 250-285 degrees Fahrenheit (Dry Mode) | Dual voltage? No

W+G contributor Zoë Weiner has offered the Dyson Airstrait high praise. “It typically takes me half an hour to blow-dry and straighten my hair, but this process took—and this is not an exaggeration, because I timed it—seven minutes from start to finish,” she proclaimed. What’s more, it works without using hot plates, which earns it extra points in our book. One tradeoff is that it’s (very) pricey, but as Weiner wrote, “If you’re looking to save time and mitigate damage in your styling routine, the Airstrait is a worthy investment.”

Read the full review of the Dyson Airstrait here.

Pros:

Straightens wet or dry hair
Reduces the risk of damage
Automatic shut-off after 3 seconds of nonuse

Cons:

Most expensive option on the list

Amika, The Confidante Moisture Maintenance Titanium Flat Iron — $150.00

Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1 inch | Temperature range: 170-450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

Amika’s hair straightener features titanium floating plates to smooth your hair with little to no snagging, plus ionic technology helps reduce unwanted frizz and impart shine. You can adjust the temperature settings from 170 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and the straightener’s auto-shut off feature kicks in after 60 minutes of inactivity. It’s easy to maneuver, too: it has a nine-foot-long swivel cord that helps to prevent you from getting caught up in the cord as you smooth your hair.

Pros:

Ionic technology helps reduce frizz and impart shine
Has a swivel cord
Automatic shut-off after 60 minutes of nonuse

Cons:

Pricey

CHI, G2 Ceramic and Titanium 1 ¼-inch Straightening Hairstyling Iron — $120.00

Originally $140, now $120

Plate material: Ceramic titanium | Plate size: 1 and 1.25 inches | Temperature range: 370-425 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

When it comes to hair straighteners, CHI is an old reliable—and this option from the brand is worth consideration. It has plates made from both titanium and ceramic to offer the best of both worlds, and they heat up within 40 seconds to help you smooth your hair faster. Plus, it comes with three preset temperatures for fine, medium, and coarse hair, taking the guesswork out of selecting the right temperature for your hair texture. It’s available in two plate sizes: 1 and 1.25 inches.

Pros:

Available in two plate sizes
Heats up in 40 seconds
Has a swivel cord

Cons:

Only three preset temperature settings

FHI, Heat Platform Tourmaline Ceramic Pro Styler — $140.00

Plate material: Ceramic tourmaline | Plate size: 1.25 inches | Temperature range: 140-450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

FHI’s multi-tasking hair straightener can give you straight hair or bouncy curls. The plates have beveled (read: rounded) edges that allow for snag-free straightening (or curling), and the ceramic-tourmaline material helps to ensure even heat distribution. The hair tool also has a 12-foot-long swivel cord and a wide temperature range, from140 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it ideal for most hair textures, including those with fine and/or damaged hair.

Pros:

Beveled plates allow you to straighten or curl hair
Wide range of temperature settings
Has a swivel cord

Cons:

Pricey

Tymo, Sway, $70 — $70.00

Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1 inch | Temperature range: 250-450 degrees Fahrenheit | Dual voltage? Yes

Another recommendation from Silva is the Tymo Sway, which she says is one of the “best in value and quality” for thick hair. Its titanium plates heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit in 30 seconds, and you can toggle among the 32(!) heat options by hitting the plus or minus buttons. With its lightweight design and 360-degree swivel cord, it allows you reach all the way around your head and make the styling process even easier. What’s more, it comes with hair clips, a glove, and a travel bag.

Pros:

Heats up in 30 seconds
Has a swivel cord
Comes with hair clips, a glove, and a travel bag

Cons:

Limited range of temperature settings

What to consider when shopping for a hair straightener

According to hairstylists, there are a few things to consider when shopping for a hair straightener.

Plate material

Firstly, you’ll want to think about the plate material of a hair straightener. Typically, they’re made from ceramic, titanium, tourmaline, or a combination of the above, but to determine which material is best for you, you’ll want to consider your hair type.

If, for example, you have curly and/or thick hair, you might want to opt for a titanium iron. “Titanium heats extremely quickly,” says Patricia Silva, hair stylist and owner of Rock Rock Hair. According to Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon, titanium can also retain and maintain heat well, which makes it easier to straighten coarse, curly, or thick hair in less time.

Alternatively, if your hair is prone to frizz, flyaways, or static, you may want to opt for plates made of or coated in tourmaline. This material emits negative ions, which according to Monaè Everett, hairstylist and owner of the online educational platform The Monaè Life Academy, “helps fight frizz.” Hurtado adds that tourmaline can also make hair shine.

While ceramic hair straighteners aren’t as quick-working as the previous options, it’s ideal for those who want to minimize the risk of damage. According to Hurtado, ceramic is gentle on all hair types, including those with color-treated or damaged hair.

Plate size

Hair straightener plates also come in various sizes. You’ll often come across options with one-inch plates, but if you have long, curly, coarse, and/or thick hair, you may want to opt for one with larger plates to cut down on styling time, says Hurtado. Conversely, if you have short and/or fine hair, a straightener with smaller plates will work just as well.

Heat settings

Many hair straighteners offer the versatility of multiple heat settings—and typically, the higher the temperature, the quicker a straightener will style your hair. Just keep in mind that if you have brittle, thin, or damaged hair, you’ll want to use a lower temperature setting, says Hurtado. In any case, you’ll always want to apply a heat protectant before straightening your hair. “A heat protectant [creates] a protective barrier to prevent breakage and split ends with any heat setting using a hair straightener,” she says.

With all this in mind, we’ve rounded up 13 hair straighteners for different hair types below, including options that come recommended by hair stylists and the W+G team.