We updated this article in October 2022 to ensure all products vetted and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab were available, in stock and correctly priced. Show There's
nothing quite like the shine and sleekness that comes from sealing your style with a straightening iron. The problem: It can be difficult to find the one that's best for your hair type (and budget). That's why each year in the
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, we evaluate thousands of hair tools, from
the best hair dryers to
top-tested curling irons and
hair-smoothing hair dryer brushes, to find the only ones that are actually worth your money. Even better, you can grab these top-rated flat irons at discounted prices this
Amazon Prime Day. SHOP AMAZON PRIME DAY BEAUTY DEALS 2022 After over 4,914 heat data points measured and 108 swatch expansion measurements takenin our most recent Beauty Lab test, we found the top flat irons and straightening brushes at all price points for every hair type that make easy work of straightening your hair — we even found the best flat irons that can curl your hair (just before to douse hair with heat protectant before using!). Based on GH Beauty Lab tests, found from tallying the results of 972 survey questions, these are the best hair straighteners you can buy now! Our top picks:
Below, you can read more about how we evaluate hair straighteners as well as shopping tips for finding the best hair straightener for you. BEST OVERALL HAIR STRAIGHTENER Chi Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
BEST VALUE HAIR STRAIGHTENER Remington 1” Flat Iron with Anti-Static Technology
MOST POPULAR HAIR STRAIGHTENER ON AMAZON HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Flat Iron
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR THICK HAIR REVLON Salon Straightener Copper Smooth Flat Iron
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR FRIZZY HAIR Remington Pro 1" Pearl Ceramic Flat Iron
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR FINE HAIR T3 Lucea ID 1'' Smart Flat Iron
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR DAMAGED HAIR ghd Platinum+ Professional Performance Styler
BEST STRAIGHTENER FOR CURLY HAIR BaBylissPRO Nano Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER BRUSH Amika Polished Perfection Straightening Brush 2.0
BEST CORDLESS HAIR STRAIGHTENER Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener
In our penultimate test of flat irons, we rounded up more than 50 products from over 20 manufacturers to find the best flat irons — and in our most recent test, we added 18 more. In the Lab, we test them on swatches of frizzy hair in our controlled Climatology Chamber to evaluate each iron's ability to maintain straightness. We do so by measuring width and thickness expansion after 24 hour exposure to a controlled amount of relative humidity — the photo here shows a comparison between a hair straightener that maintained straightness after 24 hours (left) compared to one that did not maintain straightness after 24 hours (right). We also consider each iron's weight and size, ease of use, user satisfaction, ability to impart shine and ability smooth hair, plus durability, safety and efficacy. After all of this, we tallied up 4,914 heat data points, 972 survey questions and 108 swatch expansion measurements in our latest test to find the best of the best. What type of hair straightener do professionals use? Some flat irons claim to prevent damage, and others claim to be made with the best material for a healthy shine, but as a shopper, it can be confusing to tell which is best. When it comes to material, professionals tend to favor titanium flat irons. "Titanium is preferred among stylists because [it tends] to get hot really quickly," says Eugene Toye, stylist at celebrity-favorite hair salon Rita Hazan. According to stylist Sabrina Porsche, titanium has even heat distribution, which makes for smooth, silky hair. "Titanium is ideal as a flat iron plate," agrees Kevin Hughes, celebrity stylist and artistic director for Moroccanoil. "It heats up quickly and is a very even heat, which translates to better results and less time go over the same strands of hair." Another great pick: Ceramic or tourmaline (which is actually "a high grade of ceramic," says Toye). "These plates are safe for thin/fine hair and don't get extremely hot," says Porsche. "Most ceramic flat irons provide faster results in less time, meaning less heat on your hair." That said, our Beauty Lab pros have found great flat irons come in all sorts of materials, from ceramic to titanium and beyond, so don't get too caught up in material claims and focus on other important aspects like adjustable heat settings, cord length and budget. What to consider when shopping for the best hair straightener Beyond material, "some of the aspects that make a great flat iron include the heating element ... a good visual digital thermometer, the quality of the plates and the length of the cord," says Toye. "The best flat irons are ones that sit comfortably in your hands, have an even heat distribution and selection of temperatures so that you don't damage your hair," adds Porsche. Here's what else to keep in mind: ✔️ Heat settings:
A flat iron with multiple heat settings allows for more customization and flexibility when styling since you’re able to select a temperature that works for your hair type/needs. Our expert testers preferred having an option of a temperature range for their flat irons, and Hughes agrees: “It is a must for all hair types. Most irons go up to 430-450ºF,” but that doesn't mean you should crank up the heat all the way! We recommend always starting off at a lower temperature and
increase the temperature as needed since temperatures above 450ºF can cause decomposition of hair's protein content, causing irreparable damage. Although there is no scientific guidance on the
best temperature ranges to use for different textures, our pros averaged all the temperature suggestions from manufacturers for fine, medium and thick, coarse hair: fine hair should stick to 240- 330°F, medium to normal hair can style at 330- 370°F and thick, coarse hair can start at 390°F. ✔️ Plate width and length: “1-inch plates are ideal,” says Hughes. “I think if a plate is too wide it makes the tool more difficult to use or maneuver in the hair.” These narrower plates also make it easier to do detailed styling (like curling, bending or waving) and they’re also better for getting closer to the root of the hair. One exception: if hair is super long and you're just looking to press hair straight, a 1.5-inch or 2-inch width can make faster work of the task. ✔️ Cord length: If you’re planning on styling hair in a bathroom or close to an outlet, cord length might not be an issue, but if you don’t have an outlet by your mirror, you may want to opt for a longer (or “professional”) length. Cord length in our study varied from 5.6 to 10.8 feet, with an average of 8.1 feet — the longer the cord, the more convenience and range you’ll have. “Also, if the cord swivels, that is a great feature so you can move easier,” says Hughes. ✔️ Auto shut-off: “People are busy and we can all forget to turn off an iron when we are running late, so auto shut-off ensures you some peace of mind,” says Hughes. In our tests, auto shut-off varied from five minutes to two hours, which is handy when you can't quite remember if you turned the tool off — but we still recommend powering off and unplugging the tool after use to ensure it is completely off. Why trust Good Housekeeping? Good Housekeeping Institute Deputy Editor Jessica Teich has over 10 years of experience formally researching, testing and writing about haircare products, from hair tools (like hairdryer brushes, curling irons and wands and flat irons) to styling tips (like how to get beach waves, how to use a diffuser and how to cut your own hair) and hair products, including dry shampoo and the best curly hair products. An authority on (and a guinea pig for testing) new-to-market tools on curly hair, she regularly teams up with GH's Beauty Lab to synthesize its data in putting together product reviews on the very best haircare on the market, according to testing. For this story, she worked closely with Danusia Wnek, a chemist in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, who has a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University, an M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati and 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing. Danusia has spent seven years researching and developing testing protocols for haircare products for the Good Housekeeping Institute. These categories include cleansing conditioners, moisturizing and volumizing shampoo and conditioners, volumizing sprays, flat irons, hairdryer brushes and dry shampoos. Jessica Teich Deputy Editor Jessica (she/her) is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Danusia Wnek Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Chemist Danusia (she/her) is a chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. Can I use hair straightener everyday?It's important to use a heat protectant every time you straighten your hair because it will limit the damage. However, straightening everyday isn't a good idea and will usually leave you with drier, more brittle hair.
What type of straightener is less damaging?Ceramic hair straighteners are fantastic for smoothing and reducing frizz. Ceramic holds heat well and can achieve high temperatures and distribute heat without damaging your locks. Ceramic or tourmaline plates work as effectively as ceramic flat irons.
Does daily straightening damage hair?Straightening your hair can give it a smooth, sleek look. But do it too often without taking proper care of your locks, and you'll be left with dry, heat-damaged hair that's the exact opposite of what you were going for. It is possible to straighten your mane every day and keep it from turning into a frizzy mess.
Which straightener is good for hair?Ceramic hair straighteners are great for smoothening out hair and reducing frizz. Ceramic plates evenly distribute heat, hold heat for long and control heat. The plates are either ceramic coated, ceramic plate or tourmaline plate or coated. Ceramic plates are best for fine or thin hair.
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Which hair straightener is best for daily use?
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