Thursday, May 2, 2024

12 Best Hair Straighteners & Flat Irons 2024, Tested by Experts

iron the hair

During our lab tests, the iron took 35 seconds to heat up to the maximum temperature and turned off automatically after five minutes of not being used — which is especially great because it preserves battery life. As far as durability goes, there was no damage at all after dropping the iron a couple of times. Flat irons are a multifunctional tool that can help you create silky smooth styles. “[They] are also used to seal the cuticle, meaning no frizz and added shine,” Kevin Kelly, a celebrity hairstylist and extension expert who has worked with Nicky Hilton, tells PEOPLE. But with so many factors to take into account (hair type, plate material, plate size, and more) and a seemingly endless number of tools to choose from, finding the right flat iron can be a challenge. “Tourmaline plates are a step above the ceramic plates when hair type and texture are medium with loose waves and nominal frizz,” says Hill.

Furiden Professional Flat Iron

It's something to consider if the 2-in-1 use appeals to you, but we otherwise would recommend some different products if you're just looking for a straightening iron. Unfortunately, we discovered this model has a slightly lower maximum temperature than many of its rivals. The manufacturer claims a maximum temperature of 425°F, but during testing, we measured a maximum temperature of around 410°F.

Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Titanium Flatiron

The brand also has a newer version of this straightener, called the Dyson Airstrait, which uses hot air to dry and straighten your hair instead of hot plates. This two-in-one flat iron-slash-curling iron from L’Oréal Professionnel relies on steam technology (yes, you read that right) and an attached comb to transform all hair types to either pin-straight or beachy and wavey. While it is on the bulkier side, it’s really efficient; the accompanying water bottle fills the tool up, and after a few minutes, the steam function works in conjunction with the hot plates to safely style hair. It’s a great option for someone who uses hot tools daily and is concerned about damage since the steam technology surrounds hair with a steady amount of steam that is less harmful to hair. Ironically, it’s tough on frizz and helps achieve that sleek, super-straight finish we’re all after.

Best Travel Iron: T3 SinglePass Compact Thin Flat Iron

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Jones-Muñoz calls this flat iron a “workhorse” and says he likes using it at his salon because of  its thick, durable plates. The temperature, which is adjustable, works well for his clients, and he prefers the brand’s ceramic plates over titanium because it offers a better “pull” on the hair, making it easier to style. This cream held up nicely when we styled our hair and used it on toast; we did not notice any sizzling with the flat iron, and the toast came out completely protected from heat damage. Though it does fully protect from heat damage, we wish the product did more to create body and bounce in our hair. Hence, correcting the deficiency with food and supplements can significantly cut down the risk of hair loss.

However, ceramic-coated plates often need to be routinely checked since the coating can wear and chip away — in fact, when the metal beneath (usually aluminum) is exposed, it can cause damage to your hair, says Bertin. It gets the hair super straight in one or two passes, and you don’t have to rely on the highest heat setting to get the job done well. It’s equipped with nano titanium coating and comes with nine temperature settings (and the ability to adjust to your hair’s unique texture and length).

Can I Straighten My Hair with a Leave-In Conditioner? Flat Iron Tips and Tricks

iron the hair

At Fully Vital, we understand the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with your locks. Adequate iron levels support the transportation of oxygen to the hair follicles, promoting hair growth and preventing hair thinning. Iron helps in the transportation of oxygen to the hair follicles, promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. For added volume, you can alternate pieces going forward and backwards while you work your way through each section. We used a thermometer to test the maximum heat, a ruler to verify the cord lengths, and a stopwatch to time how long each iron took to heat up and shut off automatically.

Below, we rounded up our experts’ recommendations for the best flat irons to shop, all with varying plate types, sizes and heat settings. Respect the integrity of your hair and prevent further breakage with this flat iron from Chi. It harnesses the power of the brand’s laval mineral composition (made of silicon, iron, magnesium, sodium, titanium, and more) so you can use lower heat while achieving a consistently smooth style. The perfectly calibrated, lava-coated plates smooth hairs in one pass, while outer plates prevent resistance and help aid with glide. This is great news for those with existing breakage—the less tension, the healthier your hair will be. We were also impressed with the 11-foot cord and the cool-tip finger grips for an easy (and, more importantly, safe) grip.

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium also fared very well in our glide performance test, gliding almost as well as the top models, though we could feel slightly more drag — particularly during the side-by-side test with the hair extensions. On top of all that, we also survey our proprietary consumer panel to get in-depth feedback from a wide range of people. In our latest test, we tallied up 2,013 heat data points and 960 consumer survey questions to find the best of the best.

Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Flat Iron

We sprayed a paper receipt with the product, and there were no signs of burning after a quick pass with a flat iron. In addition to heat styling protection, we also love that this spray provides UV protection. Nonetheless, we were impressed overall by this mid-range straightener and appreciated that it was lightweight and easy to use. On top of that, it heats up quickly and features five different temperature settings designed for specific hair types, so you don’t have to worry about causing damage to strands. Our in-lab expert even said that this flat iron was one of the best for curling — so it's truly a multi-functional tool.

We also really loved that the stay-cool housing resists ultra-high heat for comfortable styling; the cherry on top is that the iron is lightweight and easy to hold for a while. With hundreds of flat irons on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. We handpicked over 20 different flat irons and tested them in our Manhattan-based testing facility as well as at home. We paid attention to how well each flat iron worked on a number of different hair types (including fine, thick, wavy, 4C curls, and more), how comfortable each tool felt in our hands, and how smoothly each iron glided through hair. We then combined these results with our own research and expert recommendations. The highest-rated products made this carefully curated list of the best flat irons money can buy.

The interface is simple and easy to use, and this iron's digital display makes it very clear what temperature it's set to. Its maximum listed temperature is 425°F, which is closely aligned with our measured temperature; our meter recorded a peak temperature of 421°F. We repeatedly felt like we were pulling hairs out while using it, and it requires a non-trivial amount of clamping pressure to keep the plates closed. Overall, we weren't thrilled with the performance of the HSI Professional Glider, and we didn't find much to love about this flat iron.

If you need styling to hold all day, use a heat protection with beeswax for memory, like the Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream. Though it’s common for hair to smell burnt while heat styling, we felt this product protected us from that. We noticed a huge difference in the side of our hair that was treated with the product; the right side was smooth, had minimal frizz, and felt soft to the touch, even with damaged ends. This product passed our heat styling test as well as the toaster test, so it can be trusted to fully protect your hair. The product feels silky smooth, almost like body lotion, so it’s unsurprising that it spreads easily through damp hair. It took about two minutes to fully absorb, but there was no noticeable film or residue left behind.

Admittedly, it is a bit bulkier than standard flat irons, but it’s because this one features two iron plates on both sides. Despite the size, it’s not heavy by any means and is actually very easy to hoist above your head for minutes at a time. As for functionality, once you turn it on, you’re able to understand what every single button does (for example, plus and minus buttons indicate higher and lower temperatures), which isn’t usually the case with hot tools.

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