After 12 hours of research evaluating 55 products, we picked HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron as our top choice.
What do you do if your hair is wild, frizzy, or curly? You may be spending a small fortune on hair products or hours in the bathroom trying to manage your unmanageable locks.
HELP!
Straightening your hair may be just the solution. It can manage the frizz, improve shine, and reduce the damage done by other treatments. Sure, straightening may be damaging if done in excess, but the occasional straighten can do wonders to help make your hair easier to deal with.
Best of all, the best hair straighteners are the most cost-effective option.
Want to know more?
Below, we’ve spent hours researching to compile a list of the best hair straighteners. We’ve combed through the hundreds of hair straighteners on the market to bring only the top-rated, top quality products for your use. If you’re looking for a way to deal with wild hair, check out the options we have for you!
#1 Best Hair Straightener Overall
HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron
- Heats up VERY hot very quickly; excellent straightening capabilities
- Leave-in argan oil conditioner protects your hair
- Reliable, easy to use, and all-around efficient straightener
Pros
Highly versatile, durable, reliable, easy to use, efficient smoothing/straightening, affordable, rapid heating, holds fine hair effectively, good for coarse and curly hair, lots of free extra features, and protects and conditions your hair.
Product Ratings
Performance
9.6/10
If you want a reliable, durable, and versatile hair straightener at a great price, you’ll love this bad boy. It’s designed to straighten, curl, and flip your hair, and it’s effective at all three. It’s incredibly easy to use—simply switch it on and let it get to work—making it the most user-friendly hair straightener on our list.
The 1-inch heating plates are made of solid ceramic tourmaline and can be heated up to 400 F, though the low setting at 240 F allows you to straighten finer hair with less risk of heat damage. It’s not quite “professional-grade”, but it delivers quality straightening no matter how coarse, thick, or curly your hair.
The primary downside to this straighter: the heating isn’t fully even across the entire plate.
Features
9.5/10
This is one of the fastest-heating straighteners you’ll find on the market. Flip the switch and a few seconds later it will be ready to work. The curved design of the straightener allows you to curl your hair as easily as you can straighten it.
The built-in infrared heating elements give you good control over the amount of heat you use on your hair. You can select from the wide range of heat settings according to your hair texture. It’s particularly effective at straightening coarse hair, though it does a great job with curly and wavy hair as well.
Best of all, the hair straightener comes with a few extras: a leave-in argan oil conditioner to protect and soften your hair, a glove to protect your hand, and a travel bag to protect the straightener. Plus, the 360-degree swivel cord makes it easy to position the device at any angle as you straighten.
Value
9.7/10
Given the reliability and versatility of this hair straightener, you’ll be thrilled to hear the price tag is just $50. It’s not the cheapest on our list, but you will find it’s worth every penny once you start using it.
#2 Best Professional Hair Straightener
ghd Platinum Professional Performance Styler
- One of the best straighteners on the market
- Rapid heating and straightening; reliable
- Platinum heating plates can tackle tough, coarse hair with ease
Pros
Durable, professional-quality, top-rated straightener, heats up quickly, highly effective at straightening curly hair, lightweight, easily maneuverable, easy to use, features tri-zone heating technology, and improves shine while reducing breakage.
Product Ratings
Performance
9.1/10
If you care only about quality and price is no object, you MUST own this is the professional-grade hair straightener. It delivers salon-quality hair straightening with the flip of a switch, and is among the top-rated flat irons on the market. Even veteran users have been impressed, claiming it’s “by far the best straightener” they have ever owned.
Instead of using ceramic, the heating plates on this flat iron are platinum. The tri-zone heating design ensures a more consistent heating across the plates, creating more efficient straightening power without damaging finer hairs. With a 20-second heating time and heat that reaches up to 365 degrees, it’s a highly effective flat iron indeed!
Features
9.1/10
This straightener comes with six built-in sensors (three per plate) to maximize heating consistency across the plates, yet reduces the damage of finer, weaker hairs. The ergonomic, curled edges of the straightener make it easy for you to curl, wave, or straighten without multiple passes.
The wishbone hinge gives you more control over the flat iron; less pressure is required, so you don’t need to squeeze as hard. This reduces the risk of pulling, tugging, or burning your hair. The high-gloss finish of the heating plates helps your hair to glide smoothly. The flat iron is designed to cut breakage in half and double color integrity!
Value
9.0/10
At $250, this is the priciest hair straightener on our list. However, if you want something that delivers durability and professional performance (for use at a spa/salon as well as at home), it’s well worth the cost!
#3 Best Flat Iron for Quality
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
- Straighten, curl, and wave your hair with one high-quality device
- Slim body makes for beautiful, tight curls; compact enough for travel
- 5-inch plates allow you to straighten more hair at once
Pros
Straightens all hair types, highly durable, reliable, easy to adjust, versatile, slim design, features extra-long titanium heating plates, provides better coverage, and heats without reducing moisture. Overall, a salon quality device.
Product Ratings
Performance
8.6/10
If you’re looking for a high quality hair straightener that can handle any and all hair types—fine, coarse, curly, wavy, and frizzy—look no further than this beautiful device. It may not look like much, but it’s the go-to tool for professional stylists around the country.
This straightener uses far-infrared heat and negative ion technology to lock moisture into the hair while heating and straightening. The slim design makes it ideal for curling as well as straightening, and it’s compact enough to take with you as you travel. It offers user-friendly controls, excellent versatility, and reliable functions. Definitely an option worth considering!
Features
8.8/10
This straightener uses titanium plates rather than ceramic, and the metal plates transfer heat more effectively—leading to faster straightening. Though it will leave a bit of static in your hair, it’s highly efficient at getting those kinks and frizzes out. The plates come in 1″ and 1.5″-thickness options, and the fact that they’re 5″ long means you get better coverage (more hair straightened at once) than other straighteners.
Though there is no auto shutoff feature, the multiple heat settings give you greater control over the straightening process.
Value
8.6/10
At $130, this is definitely a pricey straightener. However, those who want to straighten AND curl with one device will love how efficiently it performs both tasks. It’s one of the best for all types of hair, making it worth the higher cost.
#4 Best Infrared Flat Iron
xtava Pro-Satin Infrared Straightener
- Uses infrared heat for more effective straightening
- Extra-wide plates apply even heating to the hair; fewer passes required
- Highly versatile, great digital heat controls
Pros
Infrared heating element, ceramic plates, professional-quality flat iron, durable, user-friendly, double-wide plates, 10 temperature settings, 90-second heat-up, auto shut-off function, extra-long cord, 360-degree swivel cord, and travel-friendly design.
Product Ratings
Performance
8.1/10
This professional-quality flat iron is just what you need to keep your wild, curly, and frizzy hair under control! Thanks to the infrared heating element, you get a hotter-than-average hair straightener that is effective for just about any hair type.
The straightener heats up in just 90 seconds, and it can reach temperatures as high as 445 F. Thanks to the dual-plate design, you get more surface area to apply heat to your hair. The two inch-wide plates will straighten your hair more quickly and efficiently. Thanks to the no-snag design, you’ll never have to worry about tugging your hair.
On the downside, the straightener is designed somewhat poorly, with the on/off button in an inconvenient place. Many users complain that they accidentally switched off the device mid-use. It’s also not the best for fine or short hair, as the plates don’t close all the way.
Features
8.0/10
The straightener features 10 digital heat settings, with temperatures ranging between 265 and 445 F. The LCD screen makes it easy to adjust the settings as desired. The 90-second heating time is a bit slower than others on our list, but it’s worth it for the extra high heat.
If you’re the forgetful type, you’ll love the auto shut-off feature that switches the straighter off after an hour. For those who travel, the adjustable voltage (110 to 240V) makes it a reliable device to us in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and pretty much everywhere else.
Value
8.1/10
At $32, this is a well-priced hair straightener! It’s a bit pricier than some of the others on our list, but given its high heat, versatile functions, and double-wide design, it’s definitely worth considering.
#5 Best Value Flat Iron
Remington S5500
- Near-professional quality at an amazing price
- Rapid heating time and above average heat
- LCD screen and digital controls make adjusting settings easy
Pros
Anti-static, compact, lightweight, highly-rated, affordable, high quality, durable, user-friendly design, simple operation, auto shut-off feature included, excellent heating plates, heats up VERY quickly, features multiple settings, and very versatile.
Product Ratings
Performance
7.6/10
If you want a flat iron that delivers reliability at a very reasonable price, you’ll love the Remington S5500. Users have commented that it is “near-professional quality”, with a design that is user-friendly and efficient for straightening. Though it’s not the best for curly or frizzy locks, it works well for coarse, wavy, and wild hair.
The straightener heats up quickly, reaching up to 410 F in just 30 seconds. The high heat enables you to style difficult-to-control hair. You’ll have to give it a few passes to manage curlier hair, but overall it’s a highly reliable straightener. You can expect many happy years of use from this bad boy!
Features
7.8/10
The 1″ ceramic plates deliver the high heat to your hair, enabling you to straighten without damaging the finer hairs near your scalp. The flat iron has a “Turbo Heat” feature that will reach the maximum heat levels extra quickly for a rush job. Thanks to the digital controls and LCD screen, you have total control over the heat output for more versatile straightening.
Best of all, the straightener comes with an auto shutoff feature. If you’re prone to forgetting that you left the straightener running, it will switch off after 60 minutes. And, thanks to the 360-degree swivel cord, you can maneuver the straightener at any angle without having to fuss with the cord.
Value
7.6/10
At $20, this hair straightener is worth every penny. Though its design isn’t perfect—the ceramic plates don’t quite touch, so the heating isn’t fully even—it delivers reliable performance at a great price.
#6 Best Travel Hair Straightener
MHU Professional Travel Size 0.5 inch Mini Flat Iron
- The perfect size to fit in your luggage or carry-on
- A reliable and user-friendly hair straightener
- Keep it handy in your purse or bag for instant touch-ups
Pros
Compact, lightweight, non-slip grip, ergonomic design, high maximum heat, rapid heating, LED power indicator, long power cord, 2-year warranty, reliable, and easy to use.
Product Ratings
Performance
7.6/10
If you want to keep your hair straight while traveling, this is a handy little device to have. Just 15 cm long with 0.5″ ceramic plates, this straightener is compact enough to carry with you wherever you go. Thanks to its rapid heating time, you can touch up your hair in just a few minutes.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t the most reliable hair straightener. It does a decent job, but it’s not your go-to for the initial straightening. It can’t handle very wild or curly hair. Think of it as an “added bonus” to carry around to touch up your hair style while out and about.
Features
7.7/10
The heating element reaches 365 degrees F, ensuring you have enough heat to straighten all but the curliest and frizziest hair. It can handle coarse and fine hairs easily, though you’ll find it takes a few passes of the extra-small ceramic plates to do a thorough job.
There are no controls—it simply turns off and on, with no way to adjust the heat. The LED light will tell you if the power is on. The ergonomic handle and non-slip grip make it comfortable to hold as you style your hair.
Value
7.6/10
At $13, this is an affordable addition to your travel beauty regimen. It comes with a 2-year warranty, and it’s compact and lightweight enough to carry around instead of your heavier, larger, professional-quality straightener.
