Best Hair Straighteners for Fine, Smooth, Thick and Curly Hair

A hair straightener or flat iron is the perfect tool for those who want to be able to manage their hair into several different styles whenever the mood suits them. It’s very versatile. Want to straighten out the kinks in your hair? Done. Need to add loose, beachy curls or kinky ones? Done. Thinking about flaunting a flirty flip  Done and done.

However, the search for the best hair straightener for your specific hair type can be daunting. In fact, it’s always difficult when it comes to choosing the right hair tool, whatever that may be. After all, we’re talking about something that could make or break your crowning glory. Well, have no fear on this one. We’ve taken the heat off your hair to find out which of the best hair straighteners work best.

Top 10 Hair Straighteners Of 2020 Reviewed

1. HSI Professional Glider

Hair Straightener Dual Voltage

This Amazon bestseller has just about everything you’ll need in a hair straightener. The 1-inch plates are high quality ceramic and tourmaline plates for silky smooth results. These plates feature 8 HeatBalance microsensors that ensure temperature remains consistent and evenly distributed throughout. Plus, these are floating plates with curved edges so you don’t have to worry about snagging your hair while you style because the plates adjust the angle as you do your ‘do.

With this hair straightener, you also get adjustable heat settings that range from 140 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit which means that it’s perfect for use whether you have thin, delicate hair or stubborn, coarse locks. We love that it has a 360-degree swivel cord, it heats up quickly, and the fact that it’s dual voltage compatible. You even get a thermal protective glove plus some leave-in argan oil with your purchase.

However, there are some areas for improvement. There is no temperature indicator or display so you don’t really know how hot the iron gets. Also, the on/off switch and temperature dial are awkwardly placed; they’re inside the flat iron which isn’t really the best place for them.

2. Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

Hair Straightener For Curly Hair

The InfinitiPro by Conair has extra-long 1-inch tourmaline ceramic floating plates with 30 different heat settings (maximum heat is 455 degree Fahrenheit) and an extra long swivel line cord. It is perfect for creating silky smooth, straight hair or shiny curls. You can use it whether you’re hair is delicate, medium, or thick and hard-to-straighten. AND it has an automatic shut-off feature. It only takes 15 seconds to heat up which means that you can style your hair pretty quickly. However, like our first pick, the settings do not indicate the temperature. Also, the handle can get very warm. The plates also do not completely close unless you put quite a bit of pressure on them. It also doesn’t feature a safety latch that will keep the flat iron closed when you put it down while it’s still hot.

3. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron

Hair Straightener For Thick Hair

If you need a heavy duty flat iron for your hard-to-style, the BabylissPRO Nano Titanium-plated hair straightener should be just the thing. The width of the plates is 1 ¾ inches wide, perfect for those with longer, thicker tresses; you cover more surface area in one pass. It has LED temperature settings that reach up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The Ryton housing ensures that you never feel the heat in your hand even when the temperature’s at maximum.

We love the fact that the ceramic heater ensures the iron heats up super fast. Even better, you can be sure that you’ve got all that unruly hair under control in 10 minutes or less (expertise required, of course). While there’s a lot to love about the BabylissPRO, it doesn’t have an automatic shut off feature. It also is a bit heavy and bulky. And the price isn’t anything to sniff at either.

4. HAI Beauty Concepts 1.25″ Classic Convertable Flat Iron

Hair Straightener For Coarse Hair

The HAI Classic Convertible Flat Iron uses ceramic heating element technology for faster heat up and even heat distribution. This hair straightener features 1 1/4 inch wide blue beveled, floating plates for styling flexibility and optimal glide. The temperature is adjustable from 250 degrees Fahrenheit to 410 degrees Fahrenheit. And we really love the fact that the dial shows you exactly what temperature you’re getting whenever you turn the heat up or down. Negative ions help smoothen your hair strands, leaving them silky and shiny.

The 9-foot power cord means you never have to worry how far away the outlet is from where you’ll be styling your hair. It is more expensive than some of our other picks but it’s not as expensive as the BabylissPRO. However, it doesn’t have an automatic shut off feature and the temperature range only reaches 410 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, there have been reports from users that their HAI Classic only lasted a year or two.

5. Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron

Hair Straightener For Damaged Hair

The Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron is one of our picks because not only does it perform great, it has a 3-year warranty that backs it up; not something you see with every flat iron in the market. This hair straightener features 1-inch pure tourmaline ceramic plates that can heat up in less than 30 seconds. It has a tangle-free swivel cord and is dual voltage. And it makes use of micro-porous technology and infrared heat to lock in the moisture and natural oils of your hair so it looks healthy, silky, shiny, and straight.

The heat can reach up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit; not as high as our other picks but definitely high enough for most hair types. However, for those with stubborn, coarse hair, you may want to look elsewhere for your hair styling needs. Also, this is one of the priciest hair straighteners we’ve tried so you’ll need to save a bit to splurge on this one.

6. BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron Black, 1.5 Inch

Hair Straightener For Fine Hair

The Bio Ionic Onepass Pro Straightening Iron makes use of Silicone Speed Strips to speed up the straightening of your strands while providing increased shine. The NanoIonic mineral hydrates your hair, seals in the natural oils, and smoothens the hair cuticle to create frizz-free, silky smooth hair every time. The flat iron comes with adjustable heat settings that range from 240 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a very long swivel cord – 9 feet! It heats up very fast and cools down just as quickly so you can easily pack it away if you’re in a hurry. The plates are 1.5 inches wide which is perfect for long, thick tresses.

However, it isn’t always one pass as the name states. But it won’t require you to pass through the same section of hair more than three times which still means less time spent styling and less damage done to your hair.

7. TurboIon RBB Croc Classic Straightener

Hair Straightener For Black Hair

Unlike all the other hair straighteners on our list, the Turboion RBB Croc Classic looks a little bit different. It looks more like its namesake – a croc. But that’s not the only thing that makes it stand out. First of all, the shape is unique and perfectly ergonomic. It fits very comfortably in your hands that you barely feel the strain as you style your hair. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that it only weighs 1 pound. The smooth titanium plates on this flat iron gives you a very smooth glide. There are 17 different digital heat settings that range from 280 degrees Fahrenheit to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

We do love the fact that the flat iron remembers your last heat setting so you don’t have to keep changing it every time you turn the hair straightener on. With this flat iron, you also get an automatic shut off feature. The plates are 1.5 inches wide which makes it ideal for individuals with medium to long thick tresses. However, it isn’t ideal for making curls due to the large plates. Also, there may be durability issues as several owners have reported that their units never lasted more than a year.

 

8. RUSK Professional Straight Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron

The RUSK Professional Straight Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy frizz-free, kink-free, smooth, silky, straight hair. Now, this baby makes use of ceramic and tourmaline infused plates along with Sol-Gel technology which protects your hair from damage and makes your hair smooth and shiny. It’s very lightweight that you barely feel it as you use it. It gets hot pretty quickly and is really great at making curls.

However, the plates may be too narrow for those with long hair. Also, the heat settings do not indicate temperature so you don’t really know how much heat you’re exposing your hair to. Though, you are aware that the temperature range is 280 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Take note that there’s no automatic shut off feature. But for the price and performance, a lot of people are saying “hell yeah” to this product.

9. Remington S9500PP Pearl Pro Ceramic Flat Iron

Best Ceramic Flat Iron

The Remington S9500PP Pearl Pro Ceramic Flat Iron comes as an upgrade to its predecessor, the Remington S8700, which was so good; it was awarded the Beauty Expert Breakthrough Award back in 2015. Well, needless to say, the Remington S9500PP will not offer any less. It features 1-inch floating plates working with vapor infusion technology for more even ionic heat distribution.  This, in turn, reduces damage and straightens your hair while providing conditioning treatment.

The straightener makes use of pearl ceramic technology which keeps the machine from pulling on your scalp or snagging onto your hair. With this in place, you get that extra silky smooth appeal to your hair. The professional flat iron achieves temperatures of up to 450 degrees in 30 seconds. It is user-friendly, with easy to read digital display controls.

With the overall price over quality on this baby, the Remington comes ahead when it comes to budget flat irons. It also has an automatic shutoff feature in place, so you won’t have to worry about your house burning down when you leave it on. Also notable is the rounded edges on its plates that make it double up like a curling iron.

 

10. NITION Professional Salon Hair Straightener

Best Professional Salon Hair Straightener

With the Nition comes the promise of a five-in-one hair straightener. This means that it has up to 5 different elements infused within it to provide an overall better output. This includes; Nano silver, organ oil, titanium, ceramic and tourmaline. Most straighteners only have one or two of these elements, so you’ll be lucky to find one that blends them so well.

The Nition features an adjustable temperature that you can choose from (between 265-450 degrees). It is fast l, taking you just about 10 seconds to get to your temperature of choice. The straightener also has a smoother glide, which reduces the chance of pulling your hair as you style your curly or thick hair. Since it locks in moisture, it is able to reduce breakages while at the same time improving the shine and health of your hair.

The device offers a minimalistic, easy to use design. It has no buttons on its body meaning you can’t accidentally alter its settings during use. Simply switch it on, select, the best heat and straighten away. Unlike its rivals, the Nition, is universally compatible.  You can use it anywhere and with any type of voltage. It even comes with its very own pouch for travelling. So no matter which ends of the earth you roam, this straightener will be there to ensure you always look great.

 

How to Choose the Best Hair Straightener: the Ultimate Buying Guide

One of the best investments you’ll ever make for your hair is buying a flat iron or hair straightener and hair drier. It’s one of the most versatile hair tools you’ll ever use. It can help you create curls (kinky or beach-blown waves), flirty flips, or super straight hair. Even the most coarse, unruly hair will bow down to the will of a good flat iron.

But like most tools, you need to invest in the best. And what’s best for others does not make it best for you. The wrong choice can cause damage to your hair. So before you head out to buy the first hair straightener you see, let’s talk specifics.

What’s the Plate?

The plate is the part of the hair straightener that heats up and used to press your hair. Now, hair straighteners come in different plate materials and sizes. Most plates have a width of 1 inch which work for most people and that’s perfectly fine. However, to really get the most out of your flat iron, you’ll need to consider your hair and styling needs when deciding plate size.

If you have really short hair, you’re better off with a narrow plate, around half an inch in size. If you want to curl your hair, smaller plates are also ideal. For those with longer, thicker tresses, you need wider plates, around 1 1/2 inches, to ensure that you cover more area on each pass. This decreases the amount of passes you need to make, preventing more damage done to your hair.

Should I get Titanium, Tourmaline, Ionic, or Ceramic?

As we’ve already mentioned, there are different materials used to make plates.

Ceramic irons heat up quickly and distribute heat evenly. These irons don’t have cool spots so you can be sure to get an even straightening every single time. These are ideal for those with fine, thin strands. Just be aware that not all flat irons marketed as ‘ceramic’ are pure ceramic. Some only feature a ceramic coating which wears off over time, causing damage to your hair.

What about ionic? Well, ionic just means that the flat iron emits negative ions that counteracts the effects of positive ions in your hair (i.e. frizz) which ensures you get a smooth, frizz-free, shiny look. All ceramic irons are ionic.

Tourmaline is an organic, prismatic crystal found in granitic rocks that is crushed into a fine powder and layered onto the surface of the plate. Tourmaline is great because heat is more consistent and evenly distributed through the plate. Also, it produces more negative ions than ceramic with less heat. This means that you not only get more control, but you also get better results and expose your hair to less damage. It’s the newest entry in the heat styling industry so hair straighteners with tourmaline tend to be pricier. Some hair straighteners like the HSI Professional Glider infuse both ceramic and tourmaline to boost the number of negative ions produced.

If you have stubborn, never-listens-to-me-no-matter-what-I-do hair, titanium is the material you need to set your eye on. Titanium is a metal that is excellent at conducting heat which means that your plates heat up quickly. This metal also keeps heat consistent so there are minimal changes in temperature that could damage your hair in the long run. What makes this great for thick, curly, unruly hair is that it can reach and maintain a high heat for quite a bit of time AND emit 60% more negative ions than ceramic. These two characteristics mean that you get to de-frizz your hair in a shorter amount of time with fewer number of passes.

What About Temperature?

The best hair straighteners should offer you adjustable temperature settings so you can customize it depending on your hair type. This is incredibly important if you have thin/fine, delicate, or damaged hair because it allows you to ensure that the iron doesn’t get too hot for your hair. Basically, having the ability to set the temperature/heat setting gives you more control. But if you prefer to have a set temperature, then you should take note just how much heat your hair can take and how hot your hair straightener can get.

Fine, delicate hair requires lower heat as it can get easily damaged. It’s best if you can get a hair straightener with an adjustable temperature feature with a minimum heat setting that’s below 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thick, coarse hair can withstand high heat AND it responds better to it. Using high heat also means that you minimize the number of passes you’ll make which will benefit your hair’s health. You’ll want a hair straightener that has adjustable heat settings with a maximum temperature reaching the 400-degree range like the HAI Beauty Concepts 1.25″ Classic Convertable Flat Iron.

For normal to medium thick hair, the ideal temperature is somewhere between 300 to 350 Fahrenheit. If the length is below the shoulder, experts recommend the heat setting 360 to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can, choose a model that has a digital panel. This allows you to see exactly how much heat the hair straightener is pressing onto your hair at any given time.

How Light is the Hair Straightener?

Ok, you gotta admit that by the time you’re done applying product to your hair and blow drying it, your arms are starting to get a bit tired. So, you better make sure that the hair straightener isn’t going to exacerbate that feeling. You are, after all, weilding a very hot tool near your face and neck.

You need to make sure that your flat iron is very light, feeling comfortable in your hand as you style your hair. You’ll also want it to have a tangle-free cord because that’s just a hassle you don’t want to have when you’re focusing on doing your ‘do right. Or, you can just go for a cordless hair straightener to get rid of that potential problem altogether.

Is there an Automatic Shut-off Feature?

This safety feature ensures that you never have to worry about forgetting to turn off your hair straightener, especially when you were in a hurry to get going. Flat irons with this feature automatically turns off after 60 to 80 minutes of run time. The  Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron, for example, shuts down after 60 minutes so you never have to worry that you’re coming back to a burned down house just because you forgot that your flat iron was still on.

Does the Housing of the Hair Straightener Stay Cool?

While the metal part of your hair straightener heats up, the housing – the part that you hold in your hand – should remain cool to the touch. For example, the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron features Ryton housing that ensures the handle doesn’t heat up along with the plates.

Remember, quality is an important requirement when it comes to getting the best hair straightener for your hair. if you want to look good when you step out there, then pick the right one. A poor quality flat iron is not only going to work very well, but it could also cause damage to your hair that may take a long time to grow back. If you want good styling AND ensure the health of your hair, the best hair straightener is one that doesn’t come cheap.