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Based on our extensive testing, these are the top flat irons at all price points and for every hair type that make easy work of straightening your hair. For this piece, I tapped experts like Nicole Henry, senior colorist at Warren Tricomi Salon, and Erin Bryant, master stylist and creative director of Whip Salon for what to look for in a hair straightener. “You’re going to want to find one that sets itself apart with features that will make your life easier,” says Bryant.
Kristin Ess 3-in-One Flat Iron
Your hair will look healthy & will be delightful to run your fingers through. From the early attempts back in middle school (which often came to an abrupt halt when discovered by our parents), to edgy hairstyles in high school, to actually trying to look pretty as we grew up. It’s been an adventure, and we can bet that during that time, you’ve tested more products than you can possibly count. To gauge maneuverability, I measured factors such as weight, cord length and swivel.
Conair InfinitiPro Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron
First, the hair is rolled tautly into rollers, and then you sit under a hooded dryer until the hair is fully dry, which can take around 90. Beauty Works' device features ceramic 'bristles' that heat up to your choice of temperature (between 80 and 220 degrees), and sweep through hair with minimal effort. This is an ideal choice for anyone that wants sleeker hair that's still full of bounce and movement. An interesting innovation, L'Oreal's Steampod uses high-pressure steam, rather than dry heat, to change the texture of the hair. Keeo’s unique styling tool uses curved plates that create an air gap around your strands, meaning they aren’t in direct contact with the hot surface for as long, thus limiting the damage from both tension and heat.
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Best Hybrid Hair Straightener
This speed-heating, power-smoothing CHI earned a rare perfect score with GH’s expert evaluators and was by far our top-tested flat iron. In tests, it warmed up to 96% of max temp in 60 seconds, although our pros wish there was an audible tone to indicate when it reaches temperature. A roller set is an old-school method of straightening that involves less direct heat than the above options.
Rusk W8less Professional Ceramic and Tourmaline Str8 Iron

She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. Chiara Butler, a reviews analyst in the GH Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, led our latest round of flat iron testing and produced a highly detailed technical report on the findings. Our product analysts start by assessing each iron's weight and size, ease of use and ability to impart shine and smooth hair. And if, like me, your hair is on the finer side of textures or has even thinned out over time, this cut is perfect for increasing the visual thickness and bulk of your hair. Beyoncé said she wasn’t always ‘flawless’ when it comes to her hair, unveiling her longtime struggles with psoriasis.
Best Hair Straightener For Short Hair INFINITIPRO Tourmaline Flat Iron
It stands out for offering heat customization, which helps you achieve the best setting whether you have thin, fragile hair, a medium-thick wavy mane or tight coils. You can choose from nine manual settings from 260 to 410 degrees Fahrenheit, or opt for three preprogrammed ones—catering to thin, medium or thick hair—that are a foolproof way to keep you from unintentionally frying strands. The now-discontinued Rusk Deepshine was slightly lighter—0.44 pound—than our runner-up pick, the Rusk W8less, which weighs half a pound. The Deepshine straightener was the lightest model of all the flat straighteners we tested, but it didn’t feel as sturdy as the W8less and other models we considered.
T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flat Iron
The GVP’s display will best allow you to figure out the right temperature and use it consistently. People with fine or thick hair especially need to see how hot the straightener is before clamping it down on their hair. The GVP takes 40 seconds to bring its 3.5-inch-long plates to 360 °F and one minute to get to 450 °F, about as fast as the rest of the irons.
"I really like how fast I was able to style my hair," said one tester, with another saying, "I would buy this product in a heartbeat." The latest stylers are also designed with your individual hair texture in mind. From extra-large ceramic plates for sweeping through thick hair to clever cord-free models that deliver maximum practicality, there are plenty of innovative launches out there to choose from. Now, there's even a next-gen wet-to-straight model that'll dry and style your hair at the same time – all without damage.

Most of all, it’s delicate and not big at all, so you can use it close to the scalp without worry. Fortunately, we didn’t have to clamp down on our hair for more than a few seconds, so the heat isn’t applied for very long, and Chi also happens to make a top-notch heat protectant. It took about an hour before the iron automatically turned off, and as added security, we liked that there was a locking mechanism to prevent the hot plates from touching other items while it cooled off.
The temperature dial goes from 1 to 50, which correspond to 10-degree increments between 240 °F and 450 °F. If you place your hand at the bottom of the iron while the plates are closed, you risk getting some skin caught in the hinge. The hinge on the Pro G2 Digital is similarly designed—with the plates closed, there’s enough space at the bottom of the device to trap a finger. On most of the other flat irons we tested, however, the hinge placement and width were unnoticeable. Finally, nearly all high-temperature flat irons—those reaching 450 °F—advertise this fact as if it’s a good thing. All three of our experts (stylist, cosmetic chemist, and research consultant) agree that going above 400 °F will damage hair, it’s just a matter of degree depending on your hair thickness and texture.
The above steps are a good start, but you might want to go the extra mile and talk to your hairstylist. The heat distribution is more-than-satisfactory, as expected of a titanium plate. Lastly, it has a dual voltage (110v – 220v), so you can take it on a trip. Keep in mind that this iron is fairly thin, measuring at just an inch in width. Perfect for shorter cuts and bangs, decent for long hair if you’ve got enough patience.
"This style might be as tiny as a bob can go before it becomes a totally new shape. It's the sassy sister of the 'French girl bob' and can be a great option for those growing out a crop," Tom previously explained to Cosmopolitan UK. “I've had my hair break off, I've had my hair thin out, I've had it fried, dyed so many things that came from that lack of expertise and that lack of education on how to do my hair,” she recalls. Takako spent four years working and training at Yuko where she has had the privilege of learning under Ms. Yamashita herself.
Consider ceramic somewhat of a mix between titanium and tourmaline. Ceramic hair straighteners are easy to find, not too pricey, and effective enough on most hair types. Whether you’ve got near-straight hair or strong curls, you can probably take a knack at straightening it with these plates. Weighing under a pound and designed with smoothing plates and an overall adorable look, there’s a lot we love about this mini pink tool. We were particularly over the moon about its compact, rounded tip design, ideal for styling and curling short hair. Unlike traditional flat irons with an elongated shape, this one held our shoulder length strands in place, courtesy of the miniature size of the plates, and we never saw any dents from too much pressure.
“Maybe you’ll look for one that heats up quickly or is durable, but my favorite flat iron feature has to be a tool that has ceramic-coated plates. They help leave your hair shiny and healthy.” During my extensive research and rigorous testing, the flat irons I tried were predominantly ceramic, but I included several top-of-the-line titanium irons as well. Using a hair straightener can be a time-consuming extra step in your journey toward polished hair.
Scroll through the nine-part carousel post below to see all that we're gushing over. She also said that she finds hair — in any style — powerful and an important part of self-expression, especially for Black people, whose hair has been the subject of legislation, scrutiny and celebration. “My hair has never grown so long, never been so moisturized and I’ve managed to keep my texture and my curls even with my hair so blond. From an early age she was fascinated with beauty, so it only made sense for her to pursue her passion when she moved to Los Angeles. She has trained all over Southern California as a stylist, but it wasn't until her arrival at the Yuko Salon in Beverly Hills that she really learned to hone her craft.