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Flat irons seem pretty straightforward since they require just a few passes with a steady hand to do their job, but certain things can set a good one above the rest: a range of heat settings to adjust for style and hair texture, a lightweight body, and (if you’re feeling greedy) dual-voltage flexibility for traveling abroad. While I’ve covered hot tools on the Strategist extensively over the years (from curling irons to blow-dryer brushes) and have tried out many on myself, I’ve spent most of my time and money trying to add volume to my straight hair. So to find the best flat irons for the job, I polled 14 hairstylists for the models they depend on to give their clients sleek sheets of hair minus the static and the heat damage, and tested out a few of their favorites to see if they could convert me to a flat-iron user.
Update on September 19, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Temperature
You’ll want to play close attention to a flat iron’s heat settings and make sure the ranges are compatible with your hair type. In general, fine or damaged hair types need flat irons that have lower temperature settings — 300 degrees and under — while very coarse or curly hair types will need a flat iron that can reach higher temperatures around 400 degrees to efficiently get hair straight (but if hair is both curly and damaged or fine, you may want to still go for a lower setting). And of course, no matter the temperature you set your iron at, applying a heat protectant before styling is a must.
Plate material
Kadeisha Placide, the manager and lead stylist at Classic Beauty Studio says that both titanium-plated flat iron and ceramic irons have their place. “Ceramic-plated irons help to eliminate frizz and make heating plates smoother, so they’re less likely to pull hair,” she explains, making it better for those with thinner hair, while a “titanium hair straightener delivers the fastest heat transfer for immediate and superior results,” if you have thick or curly hair.
Plate size
Selecting the right plate size comes down to your hair length. Those with short styles should choose a flat iron with a one-inch plate, while those with mid-length or long hair should choose a flat iron between 1.25 and two inches.
Best flat iron overall
Temperature: 365 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1 inch
You can’t really talk about hot tools without hearing the rave reviews of GHD or Good Hair Day. They’re known for the intuitive heat settings, which max out at 365 degrees (supposedly the optimal temperature for avoiding heat damage) and spread heat evenly through the plates. Since my hair is naturally quite straight, I wasn’t sure how much I would appreciate the tool, but it is, after all, called a styler, and I found that it was just as useful for adding beach waves to my hair as it was for straightening it. I was also relieved to find that my hair didn’t feel fried afterward, since the iron is preset to 365 degrees, and that the straightener heated up incredibly quickly.
Five hairstylists recommended the Platinum+ styler. (The U.K. brand was a nearly unanimous favorite among stylists I also polled about the best curling iron.) Celebrity hairstylist Luca Blandi, whom I trust as someone who has worked closely with clients such as Anne Hathaway and Kate Bosworth, specifically loves the brand’s Platinum+ models because they are made from a lighter material, which is a godsend for hairdressers who use the tool all day. “It’s less strenuous on our body and hands.” Michelle Obama’s hairstylist, Yene Damtew, uses this flat iron on the former First Lady’s hair and loves it because it’s sleek and lightweight. She notes that all GHD irons are good for creating a multitude of hairstyles for every hair texture.
Best (less-expensive) flat iron
Temperature: 250° - 450°F | Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1”
Izunami is a Japanese brand known for its high-quality flat irons. This model has one-inch titanium plates and it has the ability to control the temperature. And while this brand might not be as well known as others on this list, it’s a workhorse iron with longevity (and an affordable price point). Jessica O’Keeffe, whose opinion I trust as a stylist at Hawthorne Studio and who has used the iron for years, swears by it and its long-lasting power. And she should know: She’s used the same one every day, multiple times a day, for over five years. Compared to the GHD above, it doesn’t feature the same intuitive heat settings and it maxes out at a sizzling 450 degrees, so I recommend being careful with it. I’m sharing two tips I picked up from the pros. One, always use a heat protectant spray. And two, always start out with a lower temperature and slowly work your way up to determine how much heat you actually need for your texture.
Best flat iron for short hair
Temperature: 240–450 degrees | Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1 inch
If your hair is shorter or you want something more precise, a mini-iron is a good option — specifically, this thin one-inch BaByliss Pro Nano. It’s super thin and lightweight but also hot enough — with 50 heat settings — to really smooth the hair. And the smaller size means you can really get the hair straight all the way from the root. The heat settings make it a great option for straightening naturally curly hair too. One of the stylists I spoke with specifically recommended it for a silk press, since the titanium-plated flat iron is a better option for curly, textured hair than a ceramic-plated one because the metal plates heat more evenly than the clay-based ones.
Best flat iron for long hair
Temperature: 235°F–450°F | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 2”
Should you want longer, wider plates to cover more surface area and length faster, the BaByliss Pro has all the perks of the straightener above but is designed specifically for longer hair since it’s easy to maneuver. Plus, it has a heat index that makes it easy to transition for hair type and texture.
Best flat irons for a range of hair types
Temperature: 140–450 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1.25 inches
Maybe you’re a stylist who wants a flat iron that will work on a range of hairstyles, or you need something with higher heat settings that will iron out coarser natural hair. Tym Wallace, a celebrity hairstylist who is trusted by clients including Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, and Yara Shahidi, recommends the FHI Platform irons because of the temperature control settings that reach a scorching 450 degrees. “It straightens hair really well and gives the hair a bounty of shine and is versatile among hair types and styles,” he says. It’s also supposedly the flat iron Beyoncé uses.
Best cordless flat iron
Temperature: 330, 365, and 410 degrees | Plate material: Manganese copper plates | Plate size: 1 inch
If you’re straightening your hair often and willing to invest, Dyson’s hot tools are a categorical favorite. The cordless straightener has intelligent heat control and adjusts its temperature depending on the length, thickness, and texture of your hair. What also sets the Dyson apart from the other flat irons on this list is the use of flexible copper plates that shape and gather hair, allowing you to style with less heat and pressure on the hair strand, making it significantly less damaging compared to the other straighteners I’ve tested. I also found it to be extremely easy to use. However, it costs a pretty penny, so it’s best for those who straighten their hair regularly, which is why the GHD remains my top pick.
Note: Dyson recently released a brand-new flat iron, the Airstraight, which features the brand’s signature airflow technology designed to straighten the hair without hot plates to even further reduce heat damage. I will be calling in a sample of the Airstraight to test out and updating this story with my thoughts once I’ve taken it for a whirl myself.
Best flat iron for travel
Temperature: 170–450 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1.25 inches
If you want to take your iron with you overseas, you’ll want one that’s dual voltage like this Amika styler, which hair consultant and stylist Linh Nguyen (who has worked extensively with models for print and runway) recommends as a one-pass iron that smoothes hair without any flyaways or for creating a wavy, shiny look. It features ionic technology that really seals the hair’s cuticles to give a super-sleek, shiny look. And it has plenty of other bells and whistles, including a smart shutoff.
Best ergonomic flat iron
Temperature: 280–450 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1.5 inches
People who use a flat iron every day might want something more ergonomic for regular use. In that vein, Wonderland Beauty Parlor senior colorist and hairstylist Ryan Hill says this one is by far his favorite, and he has tried many over his nearly two decade career. It’s ergonomic enough to grip firmly without straining your hands and wrists, due to a thumb grip and contoured body. It also has digital temperature settings ranging from 280 to 450 degrees.
Best flat iron for wet-to-dry styling
Temperature: 248-365 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate material: 2.5 inch
Usually, taking a flat iron to a head of wet hair is a recipe for disaster. But GHD recently launched a wet-to-dry styler that is designed to dry and straighten wet hair with minimal heat damage. The Duet is basically a hair dryer and GHD Platinum+ styler combined into one tool. After towel-drying my hair, I flipped on the switch, which turns on the fans located in the plates and keeps them at a lower temperature. Starting at the root, I passed the iron over a two-inch section of hair (the brand cautions against trying to dry sections any larger than the plates themselves). I was impressed by how quiet it was. After a few passes and about 15 minutes, my hair was dry, sleek, and shiny. I should note that since my hair is naturally very straight and fine, someone with thicker or curlier hair will probably need to budget more time to get the job done. After my hair was totally dry, I then turned on the Shine Shot button, which turns off the fans and heats the plates up to exactly 365 degrees to turn the Duet into a traditional flat iron. While it is pricey, since it is effectively two tools in one, I think it’s absolutely worth the money, especially for someone who prefers to shower and style in the morning.
Some more hair-styling tools we’ve written about
Our experts
•Luca Blandi, celebrity hairstylist
•Cassadi Currier, stylist and extension specialist at Pembley Joon
•Yene Damtew, hairstylist
•Mika English, stylist
•Ryan Hill, Wonderland Beauty Parlor senior colorist and hairstylist
•Hos Hounkpatin, celebrity stylist
•Brooke Jordan, co-owner of Brooklyn-based salon the Bird House
•Linh Nguyen, Project Runway All Stars hair consultant
•Jessica O’Keeffe, stylist at Hawthorne Studio
•Kadeisha Placide, the manager and lead stylist at Classic Beauty Studio
•Felicia Rials, hairstylist at West Hollywood’s 901 Salon
•Nunzio Saviano, hairstylist
•Tym Wallace, celebrity hairstylist
•Latanya Williams, a stylist with mobile hair salon Yeluch
Additional reporting by Lori Keong, Tembe Denton-Hurst, and Jenna Milliner-Waddell.
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