5 Best Hair Straighteners and Flat Irons (Review)

A hair straightener or a flat iron is a must have for women of every age. There are many hair straighteners in the market, and if you are looking for one that suits all hair types, you came to the right place! We have the best 5 hair straighteners used by people of any hair type and length. Therefore, there is no need to buy specific hair straighteners for every member of the family.

Our all-inclusive list will help you choose a flat iron that everyone in your house will be able to use comfortably. The one flat iron you will never regret getting is the HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Digital Flat Iron, which is the top product on our list!

If you see the value in these products and choose to purchase via my referral links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

READ MORE: Best Straightening Blow Dryer

Quick Overview of Our Top 5 Flat Irons​

• HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Digital Flat Iron
• CHI Pro G2 Ceramic & Titanium Straightening Iron
• Remington Anti Static Hair Straightener
• Revlon Perfect Straight Smooth Brilliance Hair Straightener
• MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler

Don’t have time? Here is a quick comparison of our favorites!

Top Hair Straighteners

While you can use our checklist to select your desired flat iron easily, it is a harder task than you think it is. It took us hundreds of hours to individually scrutinizing products to find the most suitable features and finally bring you the list of 5 best hair straighteners that passed our acid test! Our list of 5 recommended flat irons/hair straighteners will suit you regardless of your hair type and length and you can use them yourself, share with other family members or lend them to a friend and they will have no complaints! Following are the detailed review of the 5 best hair straighteners for all hair types and length that we have chosen with a lot of precision.

#1 HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron

Ranking Position: 1

Our Opinion: Best Overall

This HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat iron is No.1 on our list for several reasons! It is the best flat iron you can get with all the preferred features.  The HSI flat iron is a perfect balance of price and quality. It has all the features that make it suitable for all hair types, but it also comes at a very reasonable price. Considering all the great things you can achieve with your hair using this product, it definitely deserves to be the No.1 flat iron on our list. See the following table in which we have compared this product with two other ones.

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As you can see, we have compared HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic flat iron with other top-rated flat irons to see what makes our no.1 pick the best. Although T3 is a renowned brand in the hair industry, it is surprising that their product could not end up on our list. We were very precise about what we were looking for in hair straighteners, and this popular T3 hair straightener did not have the correct plate size. It was larger than 1 inch, which is why we could not pick this product. Another lacking of this flat iron is that it does not have a digital temperature setting. On the other hand, RUSK CTC did not have either ionic or infrared technology to offer a valid solution to frizz problems.

Therefore, HSI flat iron was a clear winner for us. Below we outline the product’s distinguishing features in more detail.

First of all, the plates are infused with refined ceramic and tourmaline. The combination of ceramic and tourmaline on your flat iron plates is the best thing you can ever get. Tourmaline deeply conditions your hair, and Ceramic produces infrared energy. Blending the goodness of tourmaline and ceramic onto your hair, this flat iron will create shiny and smooth straight hair for sure.

Secondly, this hair straightener is infused with ionic technology alongside infrared energy. This remedies the already existing frizz problems and prevents them from occurring. As a result, you will no longer have to worry about the aftermath of hairstyling.

Thirdly, this flat iron has a temperature control setting in a digital LCD temperature control setting. This is one of the distinguishing features of this specific model from HSI.  The smart heat control system is a great advantage, as it allows you to explicitly see the exact temperature and increase or decrease it using buttons.

Its temperature is adjustable up to 455 degrees (235 Celsius). You can use it with its lowest temperature settings, 240 Fahrenheit (115 Celsius) in fine hair types, and its highest setting on thicker hair types. Its gentle heat is produced from its ceramic-tourmaline heating elements, and on top of that, its adjustable temperature makes it a perfect styling tool for all hair types.

It comes with a 1-inch plate size. Using a 1-inch plate is suitable for styling all hair lengths. You can straighten or style your short hair with a 1-inch place, and at the same time, your friend with long hair can create styles using this plate size. 1 inch is a size that fits all, and this flat iron has it.

Extra Features

• It has 360 degree swivel cord which allows it to be moved freely to create versatile styles. You can twist and bend it whichever direction your desire.
• Comes with dual voltage power system allowing you to use it during both domestic and international travels.
• This flat iron comes with Argan oil leave in conditioner to further enhance the quality of your hair.
• It also comes with heat gloves to protect your hands from burns and extreme heat induced injuries.
• It comes with a pouch that helps you store your flat iron to enhance its shelf life.

Overall, this flat iron deserves all the glory and for legitimate reasons. Thousands of people have expressed their satisfaction about this product and hence this clearly is the show stopper.

Check: Best Shampoo to Straighten Hair

#2 CHI G2 Ceramic & Titanium Flat Iron​

Ranking Position: 2

Our Opinion: Luxurious

CHI G2 Hair Straightener might be a little more expensive than our top products, but it’s all worth it. The reason why this is No.2 on our list is its price and its material preferences. But overall, this one is a classic flat iron you would love to use on your hair for its benefits. Compared to many popular flat irons, this one is better in terms of its quality and facilities.

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We did not choose KIPOZI PROFESSIONAL FLAT IRON because it does not have ionic or infrared technology, which is essential. The same goes for Cloud Nine. This one is a popular flat iron, but sadly, it does not have infrared or ionic technology. The Cloud None flat iron has ceramic plates, which is okay for fine hair but not the best material for all other hair types. As a result, we have picked CHI G2 Ceramic Titanium Flat Iron. The reasons are evident. CHI G2 passed the test pretty well and has all the required features needed to be a great flat iron for all hair types.

First of all, its plates are infused with titanium, ceramic, and tourmaline. The triple goodness of these three materials will give you smooth, shiny, and sleek straight hair that looks nothing less than a salon-grade hairstyle. Titanium heats up really quickly and creates intense heat, but the combination of ceramic, tourmaline, and titanium balances out the heat entirely. It is hard to find a flat iron with a perfect combination of materials like this one. If it weren’t so pricey, it would have easily made it as our winner.

Secondly, it also is blessed with ionic technology to fight existing and recurring frizz problems faced due to regular styling. The negative ions released from this flat iron actively interact with your hair cuticles and seal them. As a result, your frizz disappears. The ions strengthen the integrity of your hair and prepare it to prevent frizz from appearing. Besides fighting frizz, the combined goodness of titanium, tourmaline, ceramic, and ionic technology makes it suitable for your hair, whether it is thick, thin, curly.

Like our choice no.1, this flat iron also comes with a 1-inch plate enabling you to style both long and short hair. Also, the adjustable temperature settings allow you to style your hair according to your preferred temperature according to your hair type. This is, therefore, the perfect example of being suitable for all types of hair.

It has not only an adjustable temperature but also a digital LED Display. This option is surprisingly great in this flat iron, and that is because the screen lights up in 3 different colors based on your hair type. The smart LED screen lights up with blue with 0-370 degrees Fahrenheit of heat, which indicates its suitability for fine hair. It lights up green when heated up to 375-395 degrees, suitable for thick and wavy hair. Above 375 to the highest, it lights up as red to indicate its coarse and curly hair usability. This feature is simply unique and extremely useful.

Extra Features

• This flat iron has 360 swivel cord as a part of its ergonomic design.
• It comes with auto shut off features as a power saving option.
• You can pretty much use it to straighten, curl, or create other styles.

Bottom line is, this is a great improved flat iron by CHI that definitely deserves to be on our list of top hair straighteners. Apart from its high price, this straightener deserves to be on the spotlight for its great and useful features.

READ MORE: Best Hair Straightener Cream

#3 Remington Anti-static Hair Straightener

Ranking Position: 3

Our Opinion: a Great Affordable Titanium and Ceramic Coated Hair Straightener

Remington has always been an affordable solution to hairstyling, and this hair straightener is no different. Not only it is reasonable in terms of its pricing, but it also comes with the finest ceramic titanium coating on its plates that ensures styling your hair to sleek straight goodness but with healthy heating facilities. The following table will reveal how good this product really is compared to other popular hair straighteners that did not make it into our list.

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The table above makes it very clear why this Remington hair straighter has made it among our top 5 hair straighteners for all hair types. When compared to the popular BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium straighteners, this one stood out better because of its plate size 1-inch availability. It is important to understand that a 1-inch plate size is necessary to use for all hair types. The other product, which is ISA Professional, is rejected for not having ceramic components to balance out the heat produced by its titanium counterparts.

Apart from its really great titanium-ceramic plates, this Remington Anti-Static flat iron has an effective infrared system that fights frizz and static efficiently. Therefore, it does live up to its name. The infrared rays work alternatively great to ionic technology in hair straighteners to fight frizz and static related problems in hair, and thus, having either of them does the job just fine.

Like every other great hair straighteners, this particular one also has advanced temperature control options with digital LCD screens showcasing the precise temperature your flat iron can heat up to. However, unlike most flat irons that offer its maximum heat range up to 455 degrees ( 235 Celsius), this straightener can heat up to 410 (210 Celsius) degrees at max. Technically, this heat range seems reasonable because temperature above 400 degrees (205 Celsius) is not particularly great for any hair type unless that is a preference for some.

Extra Features

• Apart from all the ‘must have’ features, this hair straightener has a 60 seconds auto shut off option that is both an energy saving and time saving option.
• It has a 360 degree swivel cord that allows you to conveniently move your hands around and style your hair in your desired way.
• Its stylish purple exterior gives it a unique look and a treat to your eyes.
• It has a press and hold button to control its temperature.

Last but not the least, this flat iron has all the options a good flat iron should have without making you spend tons of money on it and hence, this is definitely a great pick.

READ MORE: Best Heat Protection Spray

#4 Revlon Perfect Straight Smooth Brilliance Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

Ranking Position: 4

Our Opinion: a Great Flat Iron With Cleverly Designed Floating Plates

If any of the flat irons really stand out in terms of distinctiveness, this REVLON hair straightener easily wins that title. Almost all the hair straighteners that have topped our list have the basic requirements for making it, and so does this one. However, it does stand out particularly for some creative design. But first, let us see how this flat iron qualifies compared to other popular ones.

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Compared to the Solano hair straightener and The Bio Ionic 10x flat iron, this Revlon straightening iron is advanced in its plate quality and technology. Although the Solano hair straightener is ceramic tourmaline, it does not have a Digital LCD/LED Temperature control option. When it comes to Bio Ionic 10x Pro, it is not entirely clear how volcanic minerals used in the Bio Ionic Hair Straighteners interact with the hair and the clear benefits of those materials. Hence, the REVLON flat iron establishes itself to be a safer option among the three.

This hair straightener here is gifted with the blessings of excellent tourmaline ceramic triple coated plates and ionic technology to make it wholesome. The ionic technology alongside the 3x ceramic and tourmaline coating gives your hair a lustrous, frizz free outlook and strengthens the integrity of your cuticles.

But that is not what sets it apart when compared to the other hair straighteners. If you notice closely, the plates of this flat iron are exclusively designed. They named it the XL True Grip Smooth Glide Floating Plates. But to simplify that title, these plates have round edges that can create volume and shiny surfaces due to the triple ceramic coating. These plates glide through hair smoothly.

Now comes the plate size. These are obvious 1 inch in width. But the most remarkable thing about these plates is their extra length. Because of its XL size, you can use it to create unique styles and can quickly straighten extra-long hair as well.

The temperature control option is also the latest. It comes with LED color-coded temperature control that allows you to quickly choose your hair’s correct temperature based on its type.  Also, you get to choose from 10 heat settings based on your preference.

Extra Features

• This hair straight has auto shut off option to save both you and your electricity bills from going up.
• Its Ergonomic design includes 360 swivel cord for flexibility while styling.

Over and above, this flat iron is classy in exterior and has quality components to complement that. It is a great flat iron you can bid on. 

Check: Best Flat Iron for Keratin Treatment

#5 MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler

Ranking Position: 5

Our Opinion: a Flat Iron With Ergonomic Design and Suitable for All Hair types

This flat iron here is a great tool with an all in one solution. The straightener pretty on the outside and has everything a straightener needs on the inside. It is cleverly engineered to have the best heating materials incorporated in its plates and all the other very recent technologies to complement them. Although next to the other popular brands on our list, this one is not the most glamourous brand name out there; it supersedes the expectations pretty well. See the table below to compare this product with other popular ones and notice how justified our choice is.

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The Mondava Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler promises a “great hair day” every day. If that is your long time wish, then this styling tool might be the answer that you’ve been waiting for! Whether you’re after a sleek and fab look or a sexy beach waves hairdo, this hot tool has got you covered.

A top styling brand makes this flat iron in Italy, so it isn’t a surprise that this hair straightener is amongst the top picks of professional stylists worldwide. If you are all about quality plus reliability without having to shell out an absurd amount, you can certainly shortlist this brand.  

So what makes the Professional Mondava Flat Iron a good addition to your beauty gadgets?

Now you can perpetually say goodbye to frizz with this hair straightener. It’s not only ceramic plated but also uses tourmaline technology. It’s a powerful combo that gives the hair both a smooth and healthy appearance. Some flat irons may help straighten out frizz or curls, but they make hair look dull and dry. Well, not this particular flat iron.

The tourmaline component releases millions of negative ions that help neutralize the positive ions in dry and damaged hair. So that during the straightening process, the ceramic tourmaline plate smoothens out stubborn tresses by locking in hair moisture, giving it a more vibrant and healthy straight appearance.

The Mondava ceramic tourmaline hair straightening device is perfect for all hair types. Unlike titanium-plated hair straighteners, a ceramic tourmaline flat iron is friendly to delicate and fine hair. If you’re having a hard time looking for flat irons that provide you with safer and lower heat settings, the Mondava professional hair iron and curler is what you need. Choose between CLASSIC ionic and the PULSE vibrating variant. Both offer the same salon-grade hairstyling results regardless of your choice.

Extra Features

• 1¼ inch Ceramic Plates for a painless straightening process
• Built with a fully digital temp control (180° – 450°F) (78° – 232° C)
• Comes with a 300V Salon Swivel Cord for a seamless, hassle-free styling
• Instant heat-up (5 seconds)
• Has an Auto Shut-Off feature for added safety
• Has Dual Voltage feature (110V – 240V)
• This product comes with heat-resistant gloves, a travel pouch, a styling comb, 2x alligator clips, and a VELCRO strap

Check: The Best Straightening Brush

Hair Straightener Buying Guide

What Is Hair Straightener?

A hair straightener is a device that consists of two heated plates that can be used to straighten hair. The plates are held inside plastic handles that resemble a spatula and can be pressed from the roots to the bottom of a hair section to flatten the cuticles creating a sleek, stylish look. These plates were initially made from metal. However, modern hair straighteners have plates that have more than just metal in them. They are infused with materials that work as both heat protectants and conditioners.

Types of Hair Straighteners

The classification of hair straighteners can be done according to their plates or technologies used on them. Based on the plates and the materials they are made with, hair straighteners can be various types. We have identified in total 10 types of hair straighteners based on the materials used on their plates.

• Tourmaline-Ceramic Flat Irons
• Ceramic-Titanium Flat Irons
• Tourmaline Flat Irons
• Pearl Infused Flat Irons
• Ceramic Flat Irons
• Titanium Flat Irons
• Copper- Ceramic Flat Irons
• Volcanic Mineral infused plates

Check: Best Ceramic Hair Straightener

On the other hand, based on the technologies used, hair straighteners or flat irons can be of 5 types.

• Ionic Technology
• Non-Ionic Technology
• Infrared Technology
• Keratin Infusion
• Steam technology

CHECK: Best Steam Hair Straightener

To be suitable for all hair types, your hair straightener needs to combine some specific materials used on their plates. It should include a technology that will give prolonged protection against frizz and breakage. Also, it should have a plate size that can be comfortably used to style all hair lengths.

What Are the Suitable Materials for All Hair Types?

Although we have already mentioned types of hair straighteners available in the market based on the materials used on their plates, here is the list of materials that we truly recommend for all hair types.

The other varieties of flat irons are either not as effective or specifically great for some hair types. The not-so-suited materials for all hair types are titanium, ceramic, volcanic minerals, etc. Titanium is suitable for thick and coarse hair types for its heat. On the other hand, Ceramic on its own is great for fine and delicate hair types. Therefore, to be suitable for all hair types, there must be some other combination of materials.

Tourmaline-ceramic flat irons or titanium ceramic flat irons will benefit all types of hair. Flat irons that have only tourmaline infusion work great on all hair types too. Below are the details about the materials we recommend your flat iron should have.

Tourmaline-ceramic

By tourmaline-ceramic, we refer to the plates of flat irons made with a mixture of ceramic and tourmaline extracts. Tourmaline is a rare gemstone extracted commercially for hair gadgets these days apart from being etched in jewelry. Crushed tourmaline has natural conditioning benefits.

Ceramic, on the other hand, is an ivory clay that is typically used to make potteries. However, because of its thermal conductivity, infrared energy, even heating capacity, and conditioning on hair, it gained popularity in the hair industry.

The combination of tourmaline and ceramic in your flat iron will interact with your hair cuticles in the best way possible. Hence, it is our No.1 preferred material for flat irons. Tourmaline and ceramic create far infrared heat that is gentle on your hair with sufficient heat to flatten your cuticles. Your hair will come into direct contact with the tourmaline-ceramic plates to create the most wonderful straight hair that will amaze you. This is by far the healthiest combination of materials used on flat irons.

Titanium-ceramic

Titanium-ceramic flat irons are great for several reasons. The combination of titanium and ceramic works together to create the perfect heat.

Titanium is a metal that has an even heating ability and heats up a lot quicker than other heating elements used on flat irons. It creates enough heat to influence the changing of your hair’s side bonds and flatten your cuticles, especially if your hair is thick in diameter and coarse in texture. But if you want to use it in all types of hair, a coating of ceramic is what you need.

Ceramic coating over titanium plates gives this a refined finishing and enriches it with infrared energy and natural conditioning. Ceramic also balances out the heat produced by titanium and makes it hot enough but gentle at the same time. Ceramic titanium flat irons have gained popularity over the years for their effectiveness on diverse hair types. Hence, it is the No.2 preferred materials on our list.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline alone in flat irons is our 3^rd preference on the list. But that does not mean it is not good enough. Tourmaline itself creates far infrared energy and gentle heating. The plates in your straighteners coated or infused with tourmaline extracts will give you great and shiny straight hair while ensuring your hair does not undergo any heat induced damages. It creates a gentle even heating that is not intense but hot enough to flatten your cuticles. Tourmaline will enhance your hair’s quality and keep it smooth and shiny for a prolonged period of time for sure.

What Are the Ideal Technologies for All Hair Types?

The latest hair straighteners come with advanced technologies to be able to fight everyday hair problems. Especially the ones that can fight frizz and static that appear due to regular styling. We could not choose some technologies because it is not very clear how they benefit hair or how they solve the styling problems in particular. It is uncertain how keratin technology can help improve your hair’s quality, especially through a flat iron. In fact, unsupervised use of keratin protein treatment on hair can be damaging and cause further breakage. On the other hand, steam technology might be healthy, but we could not find great products to complement this technology.

From the technological point of view, we recommend two alternatively great technologies for all hair types: ionic technology and infrared technology.

Ionic Technology

It is surprising if you own a hair straightener in 2021, and it is not ionic. Ionic technology is a must have, especially in hair styling gadgets. This technology is installed in flat irons in a way that when it heats up, the negative ions release to interact with your hair cuticles. Negative ions and their interaction with your hair cuticles are important to reduce existing or recurring frizz problems. If you are into frequent heat styling, your hair might have frizz, and you need to find an effective way to reduce it. Your flat iron that already has ionic technology installed in it will reduce the chances of frizz on your hair, and it will prevent static at the same time. Hence we advise you to get a flat iron that has ionic technology alongside the necessary materials.

Infrared Technology

Infrared Technology is more of a newer term. This technology is installed in many modern flat irons as an alternative to ionic technology since the purpose is the same, which is to reduce and prevent frizz and static. Infrared is basically a ray that is healthy for your hair. The benefit of infrared technology is that it is extremely gentle on your hair and gives added shine and smoothness. After ionic technology, this is our second preferred option for your hair straightener. This means that if your hair straightener, it better be infrared.

Please note, if your hair straightener has either of these technologies, it should be good enough. However, if infused with both ionic and infrared technology, it will do a better job in fighting frizz and static.

Why Is 1 Inch Plate the Ideal Size for All?​

For your flat iron to be a standard one, it needs to have a standard plate size. Although flat irons or hair straighteners are available in various sizes, if you are looking for a ‘one size fits all’ kind of solution, you should go for a 1-inch flat iron. Plates that are narrower than 1 inch are specifically designed for short hair. On the other hand, plates that are large or wider than 1 inch are designed to facilitate styling really long and thick hair. But a 1-inch flat iron can be used on all hair lengths. It also successfully straightens and styles hair that is thin or dense.

READ MORE: Can You Take a Hair Straightener on an Airplane?

How to Understand the Appropriate Heating Options of Your Flat Iron?​

Your hair straightener or flat iron is useless without heat. It can flatten your cuticles and re-build your hair’s bonds into sleek and smooth styles because of its heating system. Therefore, knowing the proper heat range is important while choosing your hair straightener. The truth about your hair straightener’s heat range is that as long as it can heat to 450 to 455 degrees Fahrenheit (or 232  to 235 Celsius) and its temperature can be controlled; it is good to go.

Your hair needs a minimum of 220 degrees (104 Celsius) to flatten the cuticles properly. Below 220 is needed only if your hair is unusually delicate or damage prone. Therefore, if your hair straightener has options to heat it to 220 to 410/455 degrees. (104 to 210/235 Celsius), you will be able to get the job done just fine. However, if your hair is thin, then we recommend 350 degrees ( 177 Celsius maximum). Even if your hair is thick, it is better and safer to keep the heat up to 400 degrees (205 Celsius) only while using your straightener. Temperature above 400 (205 Celsius) should be used with caution.

While most of the hair straighteners these days come with temperature control options, we recommend getting one with Digital LCD/LED Temperature Control. This technology has the option to keep your desired temperature memorized. This means it is designed to give you an automated solution to heat your flat iron according to your preferred heat settings.

READ MORE: How Hot Does a Hair Straightener Get?

5 Rules for a Perfect Hair Straightener!

Now that we have elaborated on the materials, technologies, and essential features, all you need to do is get a hair straightener that has all of them. But it can be a little hard to have all of the information on your head when purchasing your desired flat iron. So, to boil it down to the specific features in your flat iron that makes it suitable for all types of hair, we have made a checklist for you to follow.

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Flat Irons We Did Not Choose and Why

Some of the trendy brands have their products on the top lists, but they do not live up to their claims. These flat irons do not have all the required features, or they are specifically good for particular hair types and do not work well for all hair types. Below are some flat irons we did not choose, and here’s why.

Xtava Professional Infrared Hair Straightener

We only wished this XTAVA flat Iron could make it, but it did not. This flat iron has tourmaline technology, infrared and is an extraordinary product in many ways. But we had to be strict with the specifications. This hair straightener did not have the correct plate size to make it suitable for all hair types. It is available in 2 inch wide plates, which is great for long and thick hair. But we were looking for hair straighteners that are strictly 1 inch, which was clearly not that.

Infinity Pro by Con Air Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

It was disheartening to exclude another great flat iron such as this one for the lack of one specific feature. However, this flat iron can be used on all hair types quite well if you are not into specifications. But we had to be honest with ourselves and you about what makes a hair straightener extraordinary. This particular one did not make it because it lacked a digital temperature control setting or an LCD/LED display. Particularly in this era of technological advancement, expecting your hair straightener to do you this little favor of smart temperature control is not blameworthy at all.

Cloud Nine Original

This hair straightener here is considered a classic by many, but we figured this to be a bit overrated. This one here is a very basic ceramic hair straightener with no advanced options to add to your hair’s betterment. You will be surprised to know that this flat iron does not have either ionic or infrared technology. Hence, we cannot ensure a great frizz solution with this one. It will do its job temporarily but might give you frizz afterward for not providing any added protection. Sadly, it does not have any digital temperature control options either. So yay or nay?

T3 Micro Single Pass

T3 is on the priority list of many hairstylists and enthusiasts for its classic tourmaline hair gadgets. But this T3 hair straightener couldn’t keep up with the specifications we were looking for. Although its classic tourmaline plates are something we must appreciate, it does not have a digital temperature control setting, and hence we had to chuck it out from our list. Also, this product is too expensive not to have a digital setting.

BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium

BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium is a product we wish we could include on our list but refrained from doing so. The reasons are mainly its plate size that is not suitable for all hair lengths. Although it has a Ceramic Titanium plate suitable for all hair types, it is available in 1 ¼ plate size. The problem with larger plate sizes is that it is difficult to style short hair and thinner hair types with them. On the other hand, a 1-inch plate is a more versatile choice since you can easily style all lengths. If this straightener had a 1-inch plate, we would have definitely included this on our list.

BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron

This hair straightener is another BaByliss Pro product that does not meet our criteria but its materials. It has its plates infused with porcelain ceramic, which is ideal for fine or thin hair types and might not benefit those with coarse hair types. Also, it does not have a digital LCD/LED temperature control system, and hence we did not see a solid reason to choose this product.

Bio Ionic 10x Pro Straightening & Styling Iron

Bio Ionic 10x Pro has been trending on Instagram and various other social media outlets, recommended by vloggers, styling enthusiasts. However, this product is infused with volcanic minerals in its plates. This is a relatively new technology in the hair industry, and hence, its usefulness is not quite established. This product is a favorite among those with really coarse hair. We refrained from including this because it might not be as healthy for fine hair types for its heat. Also, we need more evidence of it being beneficial for all hair types, which we could not find.

LumaBella Keratin Duel Touch

This straightening iron by LumaBella functions with the Keratin technology. Keratin treatments for damaged hair might be popular, but it’s not clear to us how keratin technology can work in a hair straightener. Hence, we could not have a hundred percent faith in this hair straightener, although this one is mentioned in many other lists on the web. Apart from its technological aspect, this flat iron does not come with a digital temperature control setting, and therefore compared to our top products, it’s lagging.

READ MORE: Do Hair Straighteners Kill Lice?

How to Use Flat Irons

Using flat irons might seem easy at first, but they need to be handled properly and carefully, just like every other electronic hair tool. Moreover, straightening your hair using a flat iron properly is a skill, which needs to be practiced to bring perfection. Since using flat irons involve applying heat directly to your hair, there must be some level of carefulness and caution while using it. Using any electrical machinery requires maintenance, and hence you need to use and store the tool appropriately to enhance its shelf life. Therefore, we present you with some tricks and tips on using flat irons.

Firstly, you need to purchase the correct flat iron, and our article is written to guide you regarding that. You need to understand your hair type, the length of your hair and choose your straightener accordingly. This means you need to choose a straightener with the proper material and technology. Also, you need to make sure it has the proper plate size to go with your hair length and density. But to save yourself that hassle, you can easily choose any one of our top 5 hair straighteners, which can aid you regardless of your hair type and hair length.

Secondly, you need to prepare your hair before using a flat iron on it. Because of the direct heat that your hair will be exposed to, you need to use heat protectant products. Heat protectants can come in the form of sprays, balms, or serums. Sprays are more common or popular, whereas balms or serums depend on your personal preferences. You can choose to use sprays if you need a quick solution. Otherwise, you can use heat protectant balms. We love the HSI Professional Heat Hair Protector & Conditioner Spray, which has vitamins and argan oil infusions to enrich your hair cells. If you prefer balms over sprays, you can try Phytodéfrisant Botanical Smoothing Balm. Make sure you dry your hair completely after applying the heat protectants and before using the straightener on it. Use a good quality blow dryer to dry it gently. Using a flat iron on damp hair will cause more damage.

READ MORE: Do Flat Irons Damage Hair?

The next step is to layer your hair. It is essential to section your hair in layers to straighten them properly. It is up to you how many layers you want to work through, but we have some tips for all.  To achieve the perfect look, divide your hair into three to four sections horizontally and clip them away. Make sure your layers are not too thick and have a medium density. For hair that is too thick, you might need to make more than four sections. It would help if you run your straightener through only once and not more than that. If you feel the need to run your straightener through one section twice, it might have been sectioned too thickly. Remember, you need to start straightening from the bottom layer first and work your way up to the other sections gradually. Make sure you have chosen the correct heat settings.

Now comes the challenging part. After you are done dividing your hair into desired sections, you must carefully place the iron to the bottom layer. Take a 1-inch portion of your section and clamp the iron close to your scalp but do it carefully so that it does not touch your skin. Now slowly pull the straightener down the length of your hair. Repeat this in the next sections. It might be a little time consuming, but the results are worth it. If you have coarse-textured hair or really frizzy hair, you can apply gloss serums to bring back the lost shine. We recommend Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss Serum. This can be used as an alternative to heat protectants as well. Apply before using the heated flat irons for the best results.

Another interesting fact about using hair straighteners or flat irons is that they can create more styles than just straight hair. You can use your 1-inch straightening iron to create waves or add volume. However, it all depends on your level of expertise in handling this device. If you are not sure how to make more versatile hairdos using this tool, it is safer to stick to the classic straight hair look.

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Final Verdict

Buying any product without proper knowledge is a waste of money, and flat irons are no exception. This article will help you know more about this daily styling product many tend to use, both the pros and cons of it and its appropriate use. While you can spend your money on curling irons and other hair styling tools, you should know that your flat iron can be used in multiple ways to style hair, including creating waves or even curls. Therefore, buying a good flat iron is definitely an investment.

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Last update on 2022-12-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API