Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health & Beauty

The Angle may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best flat irons for every type of hair

The Angle Contributor
By

Whether you have curly hair or you just want to smooth out a chunk of wavy hair, a flat iron can help you style your hair. Flat irons can provide impressive styling results, but they can do unnecessary damage to hair if used improperly. Remember to spray a heat-protecting spray in your hair before ironing, and never use a flat iron on damp hair, that’s what hair dryers are for.

Deciding on a flat iron’s width depends on what will be most convenient for you. For example, if you have bangs, you might want thinner plates. If you have long, full hair, you might want wider plates to save you time.  Let’s examine how our list fits your criteria.

Recommended Videos

At a glance:

  • Best overall:
  • Best for short to medium-length hair:BaBylissPro Ultra-Thin Flat Iron
  • Best for all hair textures: T3 Lucea 1” Professional Straightening & Styling Flat Iron
  • Best cordless: CHI Tourmaline Ceramic Cordless Flat Iron
  • Best travel-sized:MHU Professional Mini Flat Iron

HSI Professional Ceramic Ionic Flat Iron

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The HSI Professional Glider is made of ceramic and tourmaline plates that give you a silky look without the frizz. This flat iron is equipped with microsensors that regulate the iron’s temperature and distribute heat evenly without damaging your hair. This flat iron can also be used for curling and flipping hair with ease. You’ll also get an HSI style guide and a small argan oil hair treatment packet. HSI’s flat iron is a great investment for anyone looking for a high-quality flat iron that minimizes heat damage.

Related

BaBylissPro Ultra-Thin Flat Iron

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron is a sleek, high-quality iron in blue and silver. Its thin plates are ideal for short and medium-length hair. It offers 50 heat settings that go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It works on all hair types to produce a smooth look. People with short or medium-length hair should keep this flat iron in the running for their top flat iron choices. Note that this is only compatible with 120-volt outlets.

Best for all hair textures: T3 Lucea 1” Professional Straightening & Styling Flat Iron

T3 Flat Iron
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Whether you have fine, wavy, curly, or coiled hair, this flat iron gets your strands bone-straight. Designed to flatten out all hair types, this flat iron by T3 only requires a single pass to get the job done. The sleek design is a favorite among hairstylists and influencers, and there’s no doubt as to why it always sells out. The versatility is what makes this one the most unique, as most flat irons aren’t able to target all different hair types.

Best cordless: CHI Tourmaline Ceramic Cordless Flat Iron

CHI Marble Cordless Iron
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What’s the one thing that most of us dislike about hair tools (or tools in general)? Cords! Thankfully, CHI, has solved that problem with its line of cordless flat irons and very fun designs. Who doesn’t love marble print!? CHI has been an innovator when it comes to the heat-styling market, and there’s no sign of the brand slowing down anytime soon. The tourmaline ceramic plates will leave your strands frizz-free and make styling an effortless process.

MHU Professional Mini Flat Iron

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The MHD Mini Flat Iron Tourmaline Ceramic Hair Straightener is made of tourmaline ceramic plates. The nonslip grip ensures comfort, and the non-adjustable heat (356 degrees Fahrenheit) is ideal for traveling or touch-ups. It measures only 15 centimeters and 6.4 ounces. Slip this flat iron in your bag for easy touch-ups after hitting the gym or before heading out after work.

Flat irons help you eliminate frizz, achieve a sleek look, and, in some cases, replace curling irons completely. Most irons are travel-friendly because they’re compact and compatible with worldwide voltages, but double-check to avoid accidents. When deciding on a flat iron, also consider how wide you want the plates to be — thin plates for short hair and bangs, wide plates for long and thick hair. The HSI Professional Glider hot iron is the best at protecting hair from heat damage. The BaBylissPro Nano works best on short and medium-length hair. Finally, the MHU Professional mini flat iron is the ideal choice for hassle-free travel.

Using a flat iron at very hot temperatures will cause heat damage immediately, but ironing at a temperature that’s too cool will take longer and result in more exposure to heat, which will also result in heat damage. Keep your hair type, hair thickness, and history with heat damage in mind when you look for a flat iron. Many travel irons don’t have adjustable heat settings, but in exchange, there’s added portability. Size isn’t usually an issue for traveling with flat irons, but you have to make sure its voltage is compatible with the country you’re visiting.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
The Angle Contributor
The Angle Contributor
Shop smarter with The Angle, your guide to the best online sales, deals, and once-in-a-lifetime bargains you can’t afford…
Can peppermint oil help with hair growth?
peppermint essential oil

Essential oils have gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years, and many users swear by them to help with everything from digestion and headaches to sinus infections and stress relief. Essential oils have long been used in alternative, Eastern, and homeopathic medicines and practices because of their effectiveness in treating certain ailments and the relatively low risk of side effects.

If you're looking for a way to grow your hair, either because of thinning or patching, consider using peppermint oil for hair growth. The herb peppermint, which is a cross between water mint and spearmint, grows throughout Europe and North America, so it's easy to find in abundance.

Read more
Essentials for the care and growing of healthy hair
Woman Brushes Her Hair

Busy men and women sometimes have trouble keeping up a good hair care routine, or even starting one, for that matter. That's why they find it pretty challenging to maintain healthy and voluminous hair that gives off a super sexy shine. That can be a problem when you realize that the condition of your hair says a lot about your overall health.

As we all know, first impressions might potentially be deceiving, but many people base future interactions off of them. That’s why you should pay attention to the quality of your hair and what you need to do to ensure its health.

Read more
If you use heat on your hair, make sure you do these 4 things first
woman blow drying hair

Blow drying, straightening, curling, waving, and more -- your hair takes a beating when you use heat to style it. Hot tools are great for making hair look fabulous, but over time, heat styling can seriously damage your hair. Breakage, dryness, and split ends are just a few of the consequences of heat styling your hair regularly. If you heat style your hair often, you know that giving it up altogether is not an option. So what do you do to prevent all that damage? Working the following tricks into your hair care routine will reduce the damage your hair takes and improve your hair’s overall health.
1. Start in the shower
Healthy hair starts in the shower -- no matter how well you treat your hair, it won't matter if you're not cleansing, hydrating, and conditioning properly. Since heat styling regularly can damage your hair's outer layer (the cuticle), your hair can lose moisture, break easier, and become brittle. Using a shampoo and conditioner spiked with protein, also referred to as keratin, will help repair your cuticle layer and make your hair less likely to tear and split. It is also essential to use shampoos and conditioners free from harmful sulfates and parabens since these ingredients will also leave your hair dry and brittle.
2.Protect
Regardless of your hair type, maximizing your hair’s strength is vital if you heat style often. Try at-home remedies for dry hair. And then, in addition to protein-rich shampoos and conditioners, take the time to apply a weekly treatment (or, at the very least, use one of the best heat protection sprays). Most deep treatments don’t take more than 10 minutes, and the time is well worth it. Most masks give your hair an extra protein boost and hydrating ingredients such as argan and jojoba oils. These oils replenish moisture that is lost during the heat-styling process. For best results, apply your hair mask in the steamy bath or shower since the heat will help with absorption.
3. Be gentle
Once you boost protein and protect your hair with a deep treatment, take it easy on your hair. This means turning down the heat on your straightener and blow dryer. It's hard to know how to straighten hair without heat, but you can definitely straighten it with less heat. While some hair types may need a higher temperature than others, it is a good idea to stay between the 200- to 300-degree range. Thicker hair will end up on the high end of this scale, and thin hair should remain on the low end. As a general rule, your tool’s highest setting is probably too high and definitely not necessary.

Also, when brushing or styling, try to be gentle. If you're using a flat iron, slowly move it through your hair; don't rush it. And, don't pass over the same part of your hair more than once -- several passes with a heated tool will break down your hair faster. For detangling, start at the ends of your hair, use a wide-toothed comb, and then slowly work up to your roots. When towel drying, gently squeeze, don’t rub. Craft a good hair-care routine which allows you to observe proper, gentle care and caution to decrease breakage and splitting.
4. Protect it again
It may seem excessive, but a heat protectant in addition to your protein-rich shower care and the weekly mask will help ensure your hair is safe when blow-drying or ironing. It will help if you think of heat treatment like sunscreen: Apply generously and thoroughly, and be sure all strands are coated evenly. It is best to apply heat treatments when your hair is about half-dry, so leave hair in a towel or lightly towel dry before applying. You don’t want to dilute the heat treatment with soaking wet hair, so use that concept as a guide for when to apply.
Final tips
As with most things, moderation is essential when it comes to heat and hair. If there are days that you can give your hair a break from heat styling, do it. Your hair will thank you in the long run if you don’t over-do heat styling and let it air dry once in a while. Also, if you’re shopping for flat or curling irons, choose models that have ceramic, porcelain, or tourmaline plates. These materials conduct heat evenly and won’t form hot spots like cheaper materials will.

Read more