Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Getty Images
Hair straighteners are not one size — or brand, or plate material — fits all. What works for my long 2a-ish waves (a BaBylissPro I got years ago after noticing how many stylists used it backstage at fashion shows) may not work for you. So I polled professional hairstylists, went deep on Reddit, watched too many YouTube tutorials, and read hundreds of reviews to find the best flat iron for every hair type. In some categories, there were clear winners; if not, I listed multiple options.
But before I share the results, I promised the stylists I spoke to that I would give you this warning: No matter which hot tool you use, apply a heat protectant first. If you skip this product, not only will you damage your hair, explains Brooke Jordan, co-founder and creative director of the Bird House hair studio, but you’ll also notice the flat iron you spent all that money on is less effective. (Once the hair cuticle is damaged, it’s harder to lay it down smoothly no matter what tool or heat setting you use.) So keep that in mind as you peruse the best flat irons, below.
If your hair is already weakened, you’ll want a tool with built-in heat sensors and a mechanism that self-adjusts if the plates get too hot. GHD’s Platinum+ Styler 1-Inch Flat Iron is the unparalleled pro favorite, earning nods from several stylists I asked for recommendations. “The temperature adapts according to your hair thickness and styling speed, preventing unnecessary heat damage,” says Robin Groover, the chief hair officer for Myavana. “It’s my favorite flat iron on earth, the one I swear by and have bought for friends many times over,” adds Jordan. “It doesn’t get hotter than 365 degrees, so it takes out any guesswork and is especially beneficial for people with damaged hair.”
For hair that’s 2c and up, hair stylist Gregory Patterson suggests an iron with titanium plates. The material will “generate much more heat, so a lower temperature setting will smooth your texture without compromising your curl-pattern integrity,” he says. The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Prima 3100 1.25-Inch is his top pick. Jordan says the tool, which comes in other widths, is one of her favorites as well. “It goes up to 465 degrees, so it’s great for healthy, thicker hair. But if your hair is damaged, don’t set the heat to higher than 365,” she says. Bonus: Many reviewers like that the BaBylissPro can double as a curling iron because the tops of the plates heat up as well. (It takes some practice to learn how to create waves and curls with a flat iron, but this video has a helpful tutorial.)
The GHD Platinum+ (see above) is a great option for this hair type, but the T3 SinglePass StyleMax also comes highly recommended. “It’s great for hair in the 1a to 2b range,” says Groover. “The ceramic plates ensure even heat distribution — crucial for minimizing damage to delicate textures.” And Meri Kate O’Connor, a colorist and extension specialist at Benjamin Salon, says it’s “gentler on fine hair” because it straightens and smooths in one pass. Users also like the lightweight design, which is less bulky than some other professional-strength flat irons.
As recently as a few years ago, no self-respecting stylist would suggest you take a flat iron to your damp hair. “Putting hot plates on wet hair is not safe, even with some of those tools that have a venting mechanism,” says Jordan. Even now, a few stylists I spoke to were cautious about using wet-to-dry tools on curly and textured hair. But if one tool seems to be changing their minds, it’s the Dyson Airstrait. “Innovation alert!” says Groover. The Dyson doesn’t clamp hair with heated plates; instead, unheated bars offer a bit of tension for maneuverability, and all the straightening happens thanks to powerful streams of warm air. “Dyson really has done some innovative things with air flow — it does what it advertises without hot plates,” says Genna Still, a color and extension specialist at Spoke & Weal salon. “It takes fine and thin hair from wet to dry and straight in just a few passes,” adds O’Connor.
Anyone with long hair knows flat-ironing can be a workout, but extra-wide plates help get the job done faster. Reviewers and pros agree that the FHI Platform Signature Pro Styler is the tool for the job. “FHI is one of my favorite brands for heated tools,” says Groover (she also likes the H2Pro Beautylife). The plates on FHI’s wide straightener “have three layers of baked ceramic infused with tourmaline for even heat distribution,” she says. Jordan agrees that it’s a nice option for long hair and “relatively affordable” compared with some of the other professional straighteners.
The best tools in this category let you gently bend your ends (no one likes spaghetti-straight bangs) and get close to your scalp without burning. There are two options, and they’re both from FHI. Grover likes the brand’s Curve Pro 1-Inch. “The design is incredibly ergonomic, and the unique shape glides effortlessly,” she says. A few stylists also recommended the FHI Platform Signature Pro .5-Inch. Its mini-plates are “the best for edges, bangs, detail work, and sharp bobs,” says Still. “It also has a great heat range.”
Send your questions to AskABeautyEditor@nymag.com. (By emailing, you agree to the terms here.)