Best Flat Irons

If you are looking to tame frizzy hair or straighten curly locks then a flat iron, or hair straightener is for you. Buying the right one for you can be tough since there are hundreds of models available in prices ranging from below $20 to above $200.

A flat iron is simply composed of two flat plates that hinge together and when heated can smooth and straighten unruly hair. Performance is a combination of how hot they get, the material of the plates, how evenly that heat is applied, and the width of the plates. The best units have plates made of either ceramic, tourmaline or titanium.

In addition to straightening performance, we used price, features, ease of use, and other user reviews to come up with our list of the best flat irons found below. We also have a comparison chart at the bottom of this article so you can compare the specs on each straightening iron. If you need more help see our Flat Iron Buying Guide.


9.5
#1)

Bio Ionic 10X Pro Styling Iron

We selected the Bio Ionic 10X Pro Styling Iron as the best flat iron which sells for about $230. This hair straightener has a unique feature in that the 1-inch solid ceramic plates vibrate to make sure heat is applied each individual strand of hair which assures one-pass styling. This dramatically cuts down on the time it takes to style your hair and leaves it silky smooth and shiny.

This Bio Ionic hair straightener features digital temperature controls up to 450 degrees and heats up within about 30 seconds. The unit is slightly curved and curved on the tip so you can add curls or waves as you wish.

Despite the price, the Bio Ionic 10X Pro truly delivers awe-inspiring results and we highly recommend it for all hair types.


9.4
#2)

Ghd Platinum Styler

Coming in a close second place is the $200 Ghd Platinum Styler. This flat iron ranks high on numerous best-of lists and won an Allure Best-of-Beauty award in 2016 and 2017.

This hair straightener uses sensors in the 1-inch ceramic plates to keep a consistent, non-adjustable 365 degree heat which is the perfect temperature to tame hair without burning it. The result is hair that looks healthy and shiny, not dry or burnt. Other features include quick heat up time of just 20 seconds, auto-shutoff, and smooth edges which let you style your hair with curls or waves.

Overall the Ghd Platinum Styler will work great for most people, but for some with extremely coarse hair or very fine hair it might not be the best choice since you cannot adjust the temperature.

Other GHD products that rank highly with a lower price tag are the $140 GHD Gold Professional 1-Inch Styler and the $110 GHD Classic 1″ Styler which is one of the best-selling flat irons of all time.


9.4
#3)

T3 Singlepass Luxe

The $180 T3 Singlepass Luxe is like a luxurious, futuristic hair straightener. It looks amazing and uses an internal microchip that constantly measures and maintains an even temperature along the 1-inch beveled floating Tourmaline ceramic plates. This lets you straighten your hair in fewer passes which equals less damage.

It is also designed for versatility with a design that allows users to straighten, add curls or waves, or create volume. However the high-tech controls can be a bit confusing to use. Instead of a dial or temperature display, the T3 Singlepass uses a series of lights to display one of the 5 heat settings from 260 to 410 degrees.

Overall the T3 Singlepass Luxe is another flat iron that ranks highly on numerous lists, although some users did not seem to care as much about it. We feel it is still a really great option for pretty much all hair types.


9.3
#4)

CHI G2 Ceramic and Titanium Hairstyling Iron

The $130 CHI G2 Ceramic and Titanium Hairstyling Iron is an improvement upon the top selling CHI Original Flat Iron which we still rank as our best flat iron under $100 since it sells for around $60.

The CHI G2 features 1.25-inch titanium infused ceramic plates for a smooth glide. It also uses a color-coded digital LCD screen for displaying the temperature and setting for fine, medium, or coarse hair up to 425 degrees F. A lot of users feel their hair glides through this model resulting in silky smooth hair and it also works great to tame frizz.

One negative is that their is no automatic shut-off on the G2. However, overall we would recommend the CHI G2 Ceramic and Titanium Hairstyling Iron for all hair types and also recommend the CHI Original Flat Iron for anyone who wants to save some money. Be aware the CHI original does not have adjustable temperature controls.


9.3
#5)

HSI Professional Glider Gold Ceramic Flat Iron

HSI Professional flat irons have been some of the best-selling and highest rated on Amazon for a long time now. The original $37 HSI Professional 1st Generation Flat Iron in fact is currently the best-selling flat iron right now on Amazon. While the HSI Professional Glider 2nd Generation Flat Iron makes some improvements upon that model and sells for a bit higher at around $49.

While both of those models are good for the price, the $110 HSI Professional Glider Gold Ceramic Flat Iron is on par with salon-quality hair straighteners. It uses eight embedded sensors to regulate the temperature so you are always applying even heat to your hair.

This flat iron features ceramic tourmaline-infused 1-inch floating plates which have curved edges so you can curl or flip your hair. The temperature ranges from 170-450°F so it can work on any hair type from extremely fine to very coarse.

Overall we really like all the HSI Professional models and feel like they provide a good value for the price.


9.2
#6)

Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron

For those of you with hair to tough to tame, then you should take a look at the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron. Selling for $125 this flat iron uses 1-inch nano titanium plates with 50 temperature settings up to 450 degrees to straighten frizzy, messy hair into silky and smooth, frizz-free hair. It does not have an auto-shutoff.

We recommend the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron for short to medium length coarse hair. Babyliss Pro also has a huge variety of models with other plate widths and material types which are all pretty highly rated.


9.1
#7)

KIPOZI Pro Flat Iron with 1 Inch Titanium Ion plates Hair Straightener

The KIPOZI Pro Flat Iron with 1 Inch Titanium Ion Plates Hair Straightener packs a lot of features into its design with an inexpensive price of just $39 which makes it our choice for best flat iron under $50.

Features include 1-inch nano titanium plates, digital temperature setting from 170-450 degrees F, 3D floating plates, 360 degree swivel 8 foot cord, worldwide dual voltage compatible 110V-240V, and auto-shutoff.

For the most part, this flat iron works really well. However, it does not compare to more expensive salon-quality models and some users have complained that it grabs and pulls their hair. Some other users have also complained about premature product failures.

Overall we feel you get what you pay for with the KIPOZI Pro Flat Iron – it gets the job done with lots of nice features, but not as well as a more expensive model. You can also get the KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener with 1.75″ plates for about the same price.


9
#8)

Remington S8510 Anti-Frizz Therapy 1" Straightener

The Remington S8510 Anti-Frizz Therapy 1″ Straightener is a really good value for a price of just $34. This model is highly rated by Totalbeauty.com and had previously made Allure’s top 7 best for healthy hair. Costing much less than some other top tier straighteners cost, this unit can tame wild, frizzy hair and keep it straight, sleek, and frizz free for days. It glides through hair without pulling or snagging.

It has ceramic plates that actually inject micro-conditioners into the hair which has been proven to reduce frizz 65 percent more than a traditional ceramic iron. Other features on the Remington S8510 include digital display and controls, 300-450 degree heat, 30-second instant heat, and auto-shutoff.

The Remington S8510 Anti Frizz Therapy Straightener is the perfect choice for those of you with frizzy hair who don’t want to spend a lot of money.


8.6
#9)

Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

The Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron is one of the best cheap flat irons available with a cost of just $30. It comes in several different sizes including 1″, 1.25″, and 1.75″. The heat adjustment has 30 settings between 210 and 455 degrees and it gets hot quickly. Just be aware at the highest heat settings you can damage your hair with repeated use.

The tourmaline ceramic plates are designed to reduce static and frizz and most users agree this model works great on most types of hair, especially for this price. On the downside, we found that the actual body of the unit that you hold onto gets really hot – at times making it difficult to even hold on to.

We recommend the Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron to anyone looking for a deal.


8.5
#10)

Remington Pro 1" Digital Heat Flat Iron S5500

The cheapest non-travel-sized flat iron on our list is the Remington Pro 1″ Digital Heat Flat Iron S5500 which costs about $15. It has 1 inch ceramic-plated plates with digital temperature controls of up to 410 degrees that gets hot very quickly. It also has handy features like a floating plate, auto shutoff, and swivel cord. Most users commented that it performed really well despite the cheap price.

The biggest downside to this cheap option is that it just doesn’t glide through your hair – it tends to pull and snag a bit. Some other users have also noted that is seems cheaply made and the plates don’t align correctly.

Just remember you get what you pay for – it’s not going to perform like a $100 flat iron, but at this price it is hard to go wrong with the Remington Pro 1″ Digital Heat Flat Iron S5500. Even if it doesn’t quite work for you, at least you would only be out $20.


8.4
#11)

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron

We chose the $27 BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron as the best travel flat iron. Combine dual voltage for worldwide usage with an overall length of just 6 inches and it is a perfect travel companion.

This compact straightener uses ceramic/titanium plates that heat up to 430 degrees. Although, with just this one heat setting, it might be too hot for those of you with fine hair.


8.3
#12)

AmoVee Mini Flat Iron Smart Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Negative Ionic Technology for Travel

If you want to spend as little money as possible on a flat iron for traveling, then we recommend the AmoVee Mini Flat Iron. With a price of just $13 and a rating on Amazon of 4.4 stars you can’t go wrong with this hair straightener.

The whole unit is less than 8 inches long, with the ceramic Tourmaline floating plates 3 inches long by 3/4-inch wide. There is just one temperature setting that will range between 360 to 410 degrees.

Most users were pleasantly surprised by how effective the AmoVee Mini Flat Iron is, although it works better on shorter hair. It takes a long time to use on longer hair.


Best Flat Iron Comparison Chart

Full Name Rating Price Size Options Low
Temperature
High
Temerature
Adjustable
Heat Settings
Plate
Material
Floating
Plates
Auto
Shutoff
Bio Ionic 10X Pro Styling Iron 9.5 $230.00 1″ 300? 450 Yes Ceramic Vibrating Yes
Ghd Platinum Styler 9.4 $200.00 1″ 365 365 No Ceramic Yes Yes
T3 Singlepass Luxe 9.4 $180.00 1″ 260 410 Yes, 5 Settings Tourmaline Ceramic Yes Yes
CHI G2 Ceramic and Titanium Hairstyling Iron 9.3 $129.95 1.25″ 350 425 Yes, 4 Settings Titanium Infused Ceramic No No
HSI Professional Glider Gold Ceramic Flat Iron 9.3 $109.99 1″ 170 450 Yes Tourmaline Ceramic Yes No
GHD Gold Professional 1-Inch Styler 9.3 $140.00 1″ 365 365 No Ceramic / Gold Plated Yes Yes
Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron 9.2 $125.99 1″ 450 Yes, 50 Settings Nano Titanium No
ghd Classic 1″ Styler 9.2 $110.00 1″ 365 365 No Ceramic Yes Yes
CHI Original Flat Iron 9.1 $59.95 1″ 392 392 No Ceramic No No
KIPOZI Pro Flat Iron with 1 Inch Plates 9.1 $39.06 1″ 170 450 Yes Nano Titanium Yes Yes
KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron 9.1 $39.06 1.75″ 170 450 Yes Nano Titanium Yes Yes
HSI Professional Glider 2nd Generation Flat Iron 9.0 $48.97 1″ 240 410 Yes Tourmaline Ceramic Yes No
Remington S8510 Anti-Frizz Therapy 1″ Straightener 9.0 $33.79 1″ 300 450 Yes Ceramic Plated Yes Yes
HSI Professional 1st Generation Flat Iron 8.9 $36.95 1″ 240 400 Yes Tourmaline Ceramic No No
Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron 8.6 $29.97 1″, 1.25″, 1.75″ 210 455 Yes, 30 Settings Tourmaline Ceramic Yes
Remington Pro 1″ Digital Heat Flat Iron S5500 8.5 $14.95 1″ 410 Yes Ceramic Plated Yes Yes
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron 8.4 $26.99 1″, 1/2″ 430 430 No Nano Titanium-Ceramic No
AmoVee Mini Flat Iron for Travel 8.3 $12.99 .75″ 365 410 No Tourmaline Ceramic Yes


Flat Iron Buying Guide

When shopping for a flat iron we found that price does not necessarily determine quality or performance, and do not believe you need to spend several hundred dollars to get a quality hair straightener, although that certainly helps.

The most important factor in determining hair straightening performance is the material and heat used in the device. You may see several different types of materials and terminology to sell you on an item including:

  • Ionic / Antistatic – This means that the iron produces negative ions, or negatively charged atoms, which counteract the positive ions in your hair to reduce static and frizz.
  • Ceramic / Tourmaline – Tourmaline is a durable semiprecious stone that produces the same effect as ceramic plates when finely ground and applied to the flat iron plates. They both produce negative ions, although tourmaline produces more, and perform nearly the same. Ceramic or tourmaline coatings are often applied to aluminum plates which can chip or peel leaving the metal exposed and an uneven surface which can produce uneven results and snag hair. The best models will use solid ceramic plates and it can be hard to know if it is solid or just a coating so look for terms like solid ceramic or pure ceramic.
  • Titanium – It is used as an alternative to ceramic plates and heats up faster and transfers heat faster than ceramic. You have even heat and do not have to worry about chipped spots, but it is easier to damage your hair because the heat transfers quicker.
  • Nanotechnology / Nanosilver – Nanotechnology usually refers to nanosilver which inhibits bacterial growth and is advisable for anyone who shares styling tools. Nanotechnology can also refer to nano materials such as nanotourmaline or nanoceramic used in the plates which is usually a bad trait because it means the plates use a coating instead of solid material.

Many people feel that titanium flat irons require less passes to get their hair straight, but it is really up to you to determine what works better for your hair.

Some other things to keep in mind are the ease of use and features such as an adjustable temperature with LED display, an automatic shut off, heat ready indicator, the plate width, and heat resistant mat.


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