Natural hair is often hard to manage, especially when you have thick frizzy curls. Despite various hair styling products being available on the market, it is often quite impossible to achieve completely straight silky hair without the help of a hair straightener.
Flat irons work with any volume and hair type. If you have damaged hair, don’t worry, you can adjust the temperature of the hair straightener depending on the hair type and your own preference.
On average, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to as long as an hour and a half to straighten the hair with a flat iron. The time spent styling the hair depends strongly on the volume, hair type and the length of it. However, the results are so worth it!
Below, there is a review of 17 best rated flat irons that will suit any budget and hair type.
HSI Glider Gold Professional Flat IronCeramic TourmalineCheck Price
The Glider Titanium Hairstyling Flat IronCeramicCheck Price
KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat IronNano-TitaniumCheck Price
Remington 1” Flat IronCeramicCheck Price
Remington S9500PP Pearl Pro Ceramic Flat IronCeramicCheck Price
xtava Infrared Hair Straightener Ceramic TourmalineCheck Price
Croc Classic Nano-Titanium Flat IronTitaniumCheck Price
Mondava Professional 1¼"Ceramic TourmalineCheck Price
Lanxim Professional Hair StraightenerCeramic TourmalineCheck Price
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening IronNanoTitanium-CeramicCheck Price
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening IronNano-TitaniumCheck Price
Megainvo Salon Steam Infrared Hair StraightenerCeramic TourmalineCheck Price
Remington S7310 Wet 2 Straight Hair StraightenerCeramicCheck Price
FHI Brands Platform Professional Hair Styling IronCeramicCheck Price
SUMLIFE Ceramic Flat IronCeramic TourmalineCheck Price
GHD Gold Professional 2 Inch - Straightener Flat IronCeramicCheck Price
GHD Gold Styler 1 Inch - Straightener Flat IronCeramicCheck Price
Best hair straightener review
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HSI Glider Gold Professional Flat Iron
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
If you are looking for the best flat iron in the world that will protect your hair from the overheat exposure, then this stylish flat iron might be exactly what you need.
This is the best flat iron used by professionals with ionic ceramic tourmaline-infused plates with 8 HeatBalance microsensors that help to control and distribute heat evenly to the hair.
The heat level goes up to 450°F with one or two passes being enough to achieve completely straight and smooth look. That way it protects the hair from the overheat exposure as fewer passes over the hair parts are needed to achieve silky results.
The floating plates of the hair straightener have curved edges, making it easy to straighten and even curl the hair.
Gilder Gold Professional Flat reaches the desired temperature in a matter of a few seconds which makes it extremely convenient if you are rushing to work in the morning or have other obligations that need to be taken care of.
Pros- Heats up very fast
- Comes with a special travel bag and argan oil
- Convenient for traveling
- Makes hair look shiny and healthy
- Eliminates frizz
- Best flat iron based on consumer reports
- Small size, can take a long time to straighten the hair
- No auto shut off
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The Glider Titanium Hairstyling Flat Iron
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This flat iron is another great choice if you are seeking to prevent future hair damage and achieve straight hair at the same time.
The Glider Titanium Hairstyling Flat Iron is one of the best hair straighteners and curlers at one that includes microsensors that prevent future hair damage and help to evenly distribute the heat to hair strands.
There is a great variety of heat settings ranging from 200F to 450F suitable for any type of curls as well as extremely frizzy hair.
Besides only straightening the hair, with this flat iron it is also possible to style your hair into waves and even curls due to the curved edges and the round body shape design of the plates.
Pros- Includes a heat glove, heat-proof storage pouch, and an argan oil treatment
- Various heat options
- Has the option of a large and mini option
- Efficient at curling the hair
- Best flat iron for curved edges
- No auto-shut off
- Can pull the hair at times
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KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener
$37.06 1 new from $37.06
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
Getting burnt by a hair straightener is never a pleasant experience. Although, most of us have experienced flat iron burns at least once in a lifetime. This is a good hair straightener that comes with a durable handle that keeps your hands away from the heat.
KIPOZI is the best affordable hair straightener that can easily replace the best cordless flat irons due to the convenient cord protector.
The special 1.75-inch floating plate evenly distributes the heat through the hair and leaves it shiny and smooth.
This product is the best hair straightener under $50 that delivers superior results.
Pros- Comes with an auto shut-off
- Includes a durable handle that protects from the heat
- Heats up quickly
- Does not pull or tear hair
- Has a cord protector that prevents it from getting tangled
- Plates are large, can be difficult to straighten hair close to the scalp
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Remington 1” Flat Iron with Anti-Static Technology and Digital Controls
For those who prefer having a digital control panel on the flat iron, this product would be a great pick.
The following function prevents from accidentally setting the temperature too high or even too low, you will always be able to know the exact heat temperature used on your hair.
This is one of the best affordable flat irons that includes a distinctive titanium protection coating which helps with styling the hair and fast heat-up. So, if you are often in a rush, this flat iron can save you some time.
Most importantly, the Remington 1 Flat iron is built with Anti-Static technology with up to 50% less flyaways and static. You might not even need to invest in best flat iron sprays with this product.
Pros- Built with anti-static technology
- Has a digital control panel
- Includes a titanium protection coating
- Lightweight product
- Affordable price
- Works well for curling hair as well as straightening it
- Has a specific smell to it, often associated with plastic
- The plates do not close tight enough for thin hair
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Remington S9500PP Pearl Pro Ceramic Flat Iron
$24.99 24 new from $24.99
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This hair straightener with 1-inch floating ceramic plates filled with real pears has only 30-second heat up time regardless of the chosen temperature.
It is built with an LCD temperature display allowing you to watch and regulate the heating temperature. The temperature control lock on the flat iron prevents the device from overheating.
If you are afraid of accidentally forgetting to turn the flat iron off, this product would be a great fit as it is constructed with a 60-minute auto shut off function.
Pros- Comes with an Automatic shut-off function
- Extremely fast heat-up time and hair straightening process
- Budget-friendly cost
- Takes away frizz from the roots of the hair
- Includes a digital display
- Does not pull or snag hair strands
- The buttons on the iron are hard to push
- The outside part of the hair straightener can be hot to touch
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Professional 2 Inch Dual Voltage Ceramic Flat Iron
$36.50 3 new from $36.50
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This is the best flat iron for coarse hair built with 2-inch wide ceramic tourmaline floating plates. It comes with various temperature settings suitable for any hair type.
There are 10 temperature settings to choose from which are displayed on the flat iron’s LCD digital display. The hair straightener works well with thin, normal, and thick or coarse hair type.
Ladies with thick long hair can especially benefit from this flat iron, as the wide plates can straighten hair strands of a large size at once without having to go over it several times and applying additional heat on the hair.
This product is best hair straightener for volumized hair which comes with a heat resisting travel case and a dual voltage plug, making it easy to style your hair wherever you go.
Pros- Suitable for traveling
- Provides multiple temperature settings
- Works well on thick natural hair
- Comes with an LCD digital display
- The straight effect lasts a long time even on thick curly hair
- The best flat iron under 100 dollars
- Can be challenging to straighten the roots due to the plate size
- The location of the buttons are not very convenient
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Croc Classic Nano-Titanium Flat Iron
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
If you are looking for the best hair straightener with temperature control, consider giving this flat iron with advanced nano-silver technology for deodorization and sterilization a try. This is one of the best flat irons for frizzy hair that has up to 25 heat settings starting at 200F and finishing at 450F.
The FND digital display built into the flat iron with the digital temperature control system maintains the desired heat temperature and protects the flat iron from overheating.
The product also comes with a useful auto-shut off safety feature. Therefore, if you often catch yourself forgetting to turn the appliances off, this flat iron might be exactly what you need.
Besides the auto shut-off safety feature, this flat iron is built with an advanced ceramic technology providing efficient and fast hair straightening regardless of the hair type.
Pros- Includes a safety shut-off feature
- Has an FND digital display and a digital temperature control system
- Built with a nano-silver technology
- Heats up quickly
- Works well with frizzy curly hair
- The digital temperature control system is easy to operate
- Short lifespan
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MONDAVA PROFESSIONAL 1¼” Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron Hair Straightener
$38.99 2 new from $38.99
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
For the ladies who want to rock smooth and silky hair every day without spending a lot of time styling it, this hair straightener with a special vibration feature can be the perfect fit.
This flat iron with digital IONIC technology built with pure ceramic tourmaline turns curls and waves into smooth and straight hair in a matter of minutes.
Mondava Professional has 1-¼ ceramic plates that are wide enough to cover and style big strands of hair at once, saving a lot of time in the morning.
Pros- Has digital IONIC technology
- The vibration feature is efficient at straightening the hair
- Does not pull or rip the hair
- Leaves the hair smooth and healthy looking
- Has the effect of the best salon flat irons
- Works well with extremely curly hair
- The position of the on and off button is not convenient
- Does not have a tight grip on the hair
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Lanxim Professional Flat Iron Hair Straightener
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This product’s ceramic plates are infused with tourmaline, argan oil, and nano-silver. If you want smooth and salon-like results at home, this product should be your go to.
The plates of the Lanxim Professional Flat Iron include a 3D floating design that is able to straighten more hair at the same time, that way less time and heat are needed in order to achieve straight results.
In addition to straightening the hair, this device also works well with flipping and curling the hair.
The product comes with 11 heat settings ranging from 130C to 230C and takes only about a few seconds to heat up. There is also an auto-shut off function, in case you happen to leave the flat iron on.
Pros- Includes an auto-shut off button
- Various temperature settings
- The plates are already built with argan oil
- Efficient at curling and straightening the hair
- Heats up and cools down quick
- Eliminates frizz
- The material of the iron starts to ship off after some time
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BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This is a good option for those seeking the best mini flat iron. BaBylissPRO is a small stylish hair straightener that is convenient for traveling and carrying around.
It fits in the small bag or a purse and includes a dual voltage for international usage.
BaBylissPro is the best flat iron for short hair that works efficiently at straightening the hair close to the scalp.
Pros- Convenient for traveling
- Comes with a dual voltage that can be used worldwide
- The plates are able to get close to the scalp and efficiently straighten the roots
- Heats up quickly
- The best hair straightener to use on extensions
- The handle gets hot
- Not suitable for long thick hair
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BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
If you are looking for the best flat iron for natural black hair, then this product is exactly what you need.
This flat iron with ultra smooth titanium plates that resist corrosion is a bigger version of the previous Babyliss hair straightener.
The ceramic heater built in the plates provides fast heat-up up to 450F.
This product is suitable for longer hairstyles and the digital ionic technology helps with eliminating frizziness in the hair and makes it look softer and shinier.
Pros- Eliminates frizziness in hair
- Corrosion resistant
- A long lasting effect in humid weather
- Works great on African American thick hair
- The back side of the iron can get hot
- Does not get close to the roots
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Megainvo Salon Steam Infrared Hair Straightener
$60.99 1 new from $60.99
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This product is one of the best steam hair straighteners available on the market. It works well with dry and damaged hair due to the advanced infrared heating technology, which brings out the natural moisture and gives the hair a shiny look.
If you are in need of a hair straightener that will work without damaging your hair, I recommend considering this flat iron. It includes an upgraded adjustable steam outlet that helps to fasten up the hair straightening process of hair, including the frizzy and coarse types of curls. The steam moisturizes the hair and prevents it from breaking.
This hair straightener is especially beneficial for long and thick hair. The straightener plates are 2 inches wide and are made of Ceramic Tourmaline and have 6 temperature settings from 200 F to 460 F.
Megainvo Salon Steam Infrared Hair Straightener is the best flat iron for damaged hair and can be the perfect gift idea due to its unique and attractive design made of high-end rubber matte surface. Moreover, it comes with a worldwide dual voltage compatible making it the best flat iron for traveling.
Pros- Includes an adjustable steam outlet, gives the hair moisture
- Attractive design, good gift idea
- Can curl, flip, or straighten the hair
- Wide plates, suitable for long and thick hair
- Eliminates the frizziness
- Best vapor flat iron on the market
- Can be challenging to straighten the roots of hair
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Remington S7310 Wet 2 Straight Hair Straightener
$21.92 33 new from $17.15
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
With this product, waiting until the hair dries out completely or blow drying it prior straightening is not necessary. The Remington hair straightener comes with built-in distinctive steam vents that allow you to start styling the hair as soon as you come out of the shower.
It takes around 30 seconds for the flat iron to heat up as high as 420 F. This hair straightener can definitely save you some time in the morning.
Pros- Comes with distinctive steam vents
- Heats up and cools down quickly
- Effective at straightening wavy, curly, and coarse hair
- The cord is too long
- The scalp can feel hot from the steam vents
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HI Brands Platform Tourmaline Ceramic Professional Hair Styling Iron
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
This product is another stylish alternative with red ceramic plates that delivers long-lasting quality results.
The three layers of ceramic plates are infused with tourmaline and help with fighting frizziness, eliminating static, and adding moisture to the hair.
The shape of plates makes it possible to not only style your hair straight but also add waves and curls.
Pros- Suitable for African American hair
- Grips the hair tight
- Increases shine and adds a healthy look to the hair
- Suitable for traveling
- Can get too hot to touch
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SUMLIFE Professional Ceramic Flat Iron
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
SUMLIFE Profesional Ceramic Flat Iron is constructed with negative ion technology and makes the hair shiny and frizz-free.
The 3D floating plate allows you to style the hair straight, curly, or wavy while holding the hair strand tight without the need of going over the same hair strand multiple times.
The device includes digital temperature control with the heat settings ranging from 265F until 450F. The device is the best hair straightener for a keratin treatment that will keep the hair shiny and smooth.
This is one of the best dual voltage flat irons that come with an auto-shut-off function, safe handle lock, and a travel bag.
Pros- Includes an auto-shut off function
- Dual voltage
- Suitable for traveling
- Heats up quickly
- Easy to hold and operate
- The color coating starts to chip after some time
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GHD Gold Professional 2 Inch – Straightener Flat Iron
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
The wide plates of Gold Professional Flat Iron with ceramic heaters can work with thick long hair fast and efficiently.
This flat iron with protective plate guards includes universal voltage and is a great choice for traveling and using on the go. In addition, the flat iron includes a sleep mode.
Pros- Comes with universal voltage
- One of the best travel hair straighteners
- Can style thick and long hair
- Takes away frizziness
- Fast heat-up
- Includes an automatic shut-off function
- No heat settings
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GHD Gold Styler 1 Inch – Straightener Flat Iron
Free shipping Buy Now
Amazon.com as of April 10, 2018 10:43 am
If you are looking for the best hair straightener used by professionals, then I strongly suggest this product. This product is built with an advanced ceramic heat technology that takes away the frizz in your hair, adds shine and makes the hair look like it was styled by an expert.
You can style your hair straight, curly or wavy with this unique hair straightener. The smooth plates will prevent your hair from getting tangled and pulled while styling it.
Pros- Can straighten, curl, and make wavy hair
- Heats up fast
- Eliminates frizziness
- Light weight
- Best straightener for kinky hair
- The plates have a gap between them, do not hold hair very tight
- Does not have adjustable heat settings
Important Facts
Ceramic, Titanium, Tourmaline Flat Irons. Which Are Better?
Most of hair straighteners are made of either ceramic, titanium or tourmaline materials. While the end goal of every hair straightener is the same, the material often plays an important role in achieving results.
It is important to have an idea of how flat irons work and distinguish the difference between each plate material before deciding on the type of a hair straightener.
How flat irons work
Modern hair straighteners use ionization which helps with restoring the moisture and gives the hair shiny and smooth look. The hair with positively charged ions is breakable and dry because of the open follicles. In order to restore the healthy and shiny look, flat irons use negatively charged ions-anions in order to neutralize the positively charged hair and close the open hair follicles.
Ceramic hair straightener
This is the most commonly used type of a hair straightener. The flat irons made of ceramic are generally affordable and suitable for the middle class.
Ceramic hair straighteners are known to be efficient and have a variety of heat settings suitable for any hair type. However, often the hair straighteners are only ceramic coated and not completely built of ceramic material. The ceramic coated hair straighteners tend to distribute the heat unevenly and cause “hot spots” on hair.
Real ceramic plates distribute heat evenly to the hair strands and do not result in “hot spots”. Hair straighteners with ceramic plates heat up and cool down quickly as well.
Ceramic flat irons can eliminate frizziness and make the hair shiny and tangle free while staying affordable for an average working person. Although, keep in mind that ceramic is a gentle material and should be treated with care.
Titanium hair straightener
Titanium is a durable, light and strong metal. Hair straighteners made of titanium are more expensive than ceramic flat irons. However, the lifespan of titanium hair straighteners is usually quite long and unlike other materials, plates made of titanium can handle being dropped without breaking or cracking.
This type of metal heats up faster than tourmaline and ceramic materials and provides superior results. Titanium hair straighteners are reliable and will serve a long time.
Tourmaline hair straightener
Tourmaline is natural gemstone that has a mix of titanium and ceramic qualities and is often added to the plates for more efficient results.
Heated tourmaline releases a larger amount of negatively charged ions than ceramic and titanium do, resulting in hair looking shinier and smoother. Therefore, it is always a good idea to double check to see if the hair straightener is tourmaline-infused, as it guarantees a more effective outcome.
How To Choose The Best Hair Straightener For Your Hair
- Chose the plate width. Products with wide plates are the best flat irons for long thick hair. Narrow plates work better on short hair.
- Pay attention to the shape of the plates. A hair straightener with sharp ages will give the straight look, while plates that are more rounded can be used for curling the hair as well.
- Pick the plate material. Titanium plates are more expensive than ceramic and tourmaline, but tend to heat up fast and deliver great results. Ceramic plates are more affordable and spread the heat evenly to the hair. Nevertheless, ceramic is a gentle material and should be avoided being dropped or hit. Tourmaline infused plates produce extra negative ions and are a great choice for damaged and dry hair that needs additional treatment.
- Consider a flat iron with adjustable temperature settings. A flat iron with heat settings is always a good idea as it gives you more freedom and choice when picking the right heat temperature for styling your curls.
What is The Best Temperature for a Hair Straightener?
According to the research, the ideal heat temperature for straightening the hair as well as avoiding the damage is 365 F.
This temperature allows you to avoid going over the same hair strand multiple times and applying additional heat on your curls.
A lower temperature would require more time to style the same part of the hair and result in drying out the hair strand.
A higher temperature is unnecessary and can damage your hair and even melt keratin protein in your hair which cannot be repaired afterward.
Commonly asked questions
Can you use a curling iron for curling the hair?Yes, you can. Is it okay to start styling the hair while it is still wet?No, you shouldn’t. Applying heat on wet hair can severely damage it. Although, some styling tools have a built-in steam vents that allow you to style your wet hair. How long does it take for a hair straightener to heat up?It can take anywhere from 15-30 seconds. Depending on the brand and the material of the product. Do flat irons work on African American hair?Yes, they do. They work efficiently on coarse hair are cheaper than other best permanent hair straighteners. Can I use a hair straightener on my extensions?Yes. It is okay to use it for hair extensions. However, it is best to set the flat iron to a low temperature.Author's Latest Articles
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