Best Flat Irons Buying Guide 2016
Do you want sleek, sexy hair every day with minimal fuss? The most important step in your quest for the perfect locks is getting the best flat iron. Finding the best hair straightener can be difficult but we’ve produced a complete buying guide to the top flat irons available on the market today. Now it’s easy to pick the best straightener for your hair!
Don’t have time to read all my flat iron reviews?
Here are my top four recommended flat irons for hair for that will dazzle!
- HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron – This is one of the top selling flat irons in the world. It’s the best inexpensive flat iron and is capable of tackling most hair types.
- Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron – This is a great all around straightener and possibly the best flat iron on the market. Great for all hair types.
- Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic Flat Iron – The high heat settings on this flat iron make it ideals for thick hair, curly hair, black/natural hair or people with Brazilian Keratin treatments on their hair.
- xtava Pro-Satin Infrared Straightener – If your hair is extra long, thick, curly or frizzy then this is the best straightening iron for you! It’s also the best affordable straightener for black/natural hair.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Flat Iron
There are a three important considerations when selecting the best flat iron. These are the plate material, plate width and of course your hair type.
- Plate material
- Plate width
- Your hair type
In addition to these three main things there are a few other features to consider. Good flat irons also have the ability to control and adjust the temperature. This helps to protect your hair from heat damage. The best hair flat iron or straightener also comes with a warranty to protect you in the event of faulty electronics. Other things to consider when reading through the best flat iron reviews is a swivel cord you can maneuver the appliance with ease and a long cord which helps make straightening your hair. Budget is also a deciding factor. The best rated hair straightener for you might cost more than you’d like to spend so read through my straightener reviews and find a comparable alternative.
Always make sure you buy from an authorized seller! To make sure you’re buying a genuine item, purchase your flat iron on Amazon but make sure you’re buying from an authorized seller so you don’t end up with a fake flat iron. This is a particular problem for the higher priced hair straighteners like the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron. Be sure to read reviews from any seller you intend to purchase from.
Which plate material makes the the best hair straightener?
- Ceramic – A ceramic flat iron is the standard plate type for most flat irons. Ceramic is smooth and glides over your hair when straightening but can be prone to less even heating than newer materials like titanium.
- Tourmaline – A tourmaline flat iron has ceramic plates that are coated with tourmaline, a crystal, that produces negative ions. This means less frizz but also that a lower heat setting can be used to straighten the hair.
- Titanium – A titanium flat iron heats up ultra fast and straightens hair quickly so it’s great for thick or coarse hair.
- Infrared – An infrared flat iron will come teamed with ceramic plates either side of a central infrared light. Infrared hair straighteners heat the hair from the inside out so it’s great for applying a high heat and simultaneously avoiding hair damage.
Why does plate width matter when choosing the best straightener?
The width of the plate on your flat iron basically determines how much hair you can apply heat to at any one time. Short or fine hair requires a smaller plate. If your hair is thick or long, you’ll want to choose a hair straightener with wider plates so you don’t have to section off your hair as much when you straighten.
Read our complete guide to choosing the right plate size for your hair type and length.
What is the best flat iron for YOUR hair type?
You can find my flat iron hair type articles here. If you have ANY of these hair types I would recommend thoroughly reading the article (or articles) that apply to you and selecting the best hair iron for your needs from there.
- Best flat iron for natural black hair
- Best flat iron for thick hair
- Best flat iron for curly hair
- Best flat iron for fine hair / Best flat iron for thin hair
- Best flat iron for frizzy hair
- Best flat iron for short hair
Top Rated Flat Irons at a Glance
So, what is the best hair straightener? Let’s take a look at the reviews of flat irons that make the cut! You can sort this table by any of the parameters, just click on the headings. Scroll down past the comparison table for full reviews of each of the top rated straighteners I’ve mentioned.
| Model | Best For | Plate Width | Plate Material | Heat Adj. | Auto Shut Off | Warranty | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron | Most hair types | 1" | Ceramic Tourmaline | 240F to 400F | Yes | 1 year | Check Prices | 4.4 / 5 |
| Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron | Most hair types | 1" | Titanium | Up to 450F | No | 4 years | Check Prices | 4.0 / 5 |
| Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic Flat Iron | Thick, curly hair or doing Keratin treatments | 1" | Ceramic + Inrafred | 140F-450F | Yes | 4 years | Check Prices | 4.1 / 5 |
| xtava Pro-Satin Infrared Straightener | Natural black hair, very long or very thick hair | 2" | Ceramic Tourmaline + Infrared | 10 settings between 265°F and 445°F | Yes | 1 year | Check Prices | 4.5 / 5 |
| ghd Classic 1-inch Styler | Curling hair, average hair | 1” | Ceramic | No | Yes | 2 Years | Check Prices | 4.0 / 5 |
| Keratin Complex Stealth IV Straightening Iron | Natural black hair, long hair, frizzy or thick hair | 1.25" | Titanium | Up to 450F | Yes | 1 year | Check Prices | 4.5 / 5 |
| Paul Mitchell Neuro Smoothing Flat Iron 1.25" Smoothing Flat Iron | Frizzy hair, curly hair or natural black hair | 1.25" | Titanium | Up to 450F | Yes | 2 year | Check Prices | 4.5 / 5 |
| Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron | Thick hair | 1" | Ceramic Tourmaline | 250F to 460F | Yes | 3 year | Check Prices | 4.2 / 5 |
| CHI PRO G2 Digital 1" Titanium Infused Ceramic Flat Iron | Most hair types | 1" | Titanium | Up to 425F | No | 2 year | Check Prices | 4.2 / 5 |
| Remington S5500 Digital Anti Static Ceramic Hair Straightener | Damaged hair, long hair | 1" | Ceramic | Up to 410F | Yes | 2 year | Check Prices | 4.5 / 5 |
| Wazor Mini Hair Flat Iron | Travelling, short hair or bangs | 1/2" | Ceramic Tourmaline | No | No | 2 years | Check Prices | 4.6 / 5 |
Reviews of the Top 10 Best Flat Irons
HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron Review
Top pick for: All-around value for money + features
This is by far the best cheap flat iron on the market today. It’s also one of the most popular. It is the best selling flat iron on Amazon with a 25,000 reviews which are mostly positive! This is the best cheap hair straightener you can buy. If someone asked me “what’s the best hair straightener I can buy today?” my vote would be for the HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron. Why? Well it’s got everything you could ask for in a top hair straightener – ceramic tourmaline ionic plates to leave your hair silky smooth, adjustable temperature from 240F to 400F to suit all hair types, a swivel cord for easy use, dual voltage so you can travel with it and 1 inch plates that work for almost every hair type. Couple all these features with a GREAT price and you’ve got the best affordable flat iron that money can buy. On top of being a great all around product, it also comes packaged with a heat resistant travel pouch, a heat resistant glove so you don’t burn your hands when styling and a bottle of Argan oil for smoothing your hair. Trust me, there’s a reason this tops our list for the best hair straightener reviews!
There is also a newer model with a digital temperature control so if you’ve got a little bit more money to spend then this is a good investment to make. You can check the digital version out here. It’s probably the best tourmaline flat iron on the market.
Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron Review
Top pick for: All around great straightening
This is one top of the line flat irons and continuously performs well in hair straightener reviews. The Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron Review consistently ranks highly on lists of the top 10 hair straighteners. Why? Babyliss is one of the best hair straightener brands so you can be 100% sure of the quality you’ve been getting if you buy from a reputable source. The Babyliss Pro Nano has titanium plates for smooth, silky hair. You’ll love the extra long plates which mean you can straighten more hair at once and get your hair done quicker than before.
Read more Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron reviews or make your purchase here.
Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic Flat Iron Review
Top pick for: Thick, curly hair or doing Keratin treatments
The Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic Flat Iron is one of the top straighteners on the market for women with hard to manage hair. It’s one of the best flat irons for natural hair as it heats up to 450F. You can straighten your hair with just one pass. The high heat means you can also use it for Brazilian keratin treatments.The iron heats up and cools down very fast and the digital display makes it easy to set the straightener to the correct temperature. It has a really long cord that swivels. The 30 minute auto-shut off means you don’t need to fret about whether you remembered to turn off your straightener on your way out the door to work in the morning. You can purchase a travel pouch separately for this flat iron. The only negative to this straightener is that it’s not dual voltage so you cannot use it when travelling in Europe or countries that use higher voltage.
Read more reviews and buy the Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic Flat Iron by clicking here.
xtava Pro-Satin Infrared Straightener Review
Top pick for: Natural black hair, very long or very thick hair
This flat iron uses infrared rays to penetrate the innermost layer of the hair strand heating them from the inside out. It is also manufactured with ceramic tourmaline plates which use ionic technology which reduces the surface tension of the hair which leaves your hair shiny and frizz free. The 2” wide plates and high heat capabilities make it the top rated hair straightener for natural, long, thick or extra frizzy hair. The Pro satin has 10 specific heat settings and can vary the temperature from 265 to 445 so you won’t burn or damage your hair. Without a doubt this flat iron will help you with the different hair styles as it reaches the set temperature within 90 seconds and allows for quick heat recover. It also has an auto-shutoff function which will help prevent any hazards when the device when it is not being used.
Read more reviews and but the xtava Pro-Satin Infrared Straightener by clicking here.
ghd Classic 1-inch Styler Review
Top pick for: Curling for your hair
GHD is one of the best flat iron brands and it consistently ranks as the best ceramic flat iron among women. As one of the first professional flat irons to be marketed to the general public, it has definitely become a favorite to many women over the years as it produces straight, silky hair with ease. The floating plates glide through the hair effectively. The GHD Classic is perfect for making flat iron curls and waves as it has a rounded barrel. It’s not heat adjustable and heat is seat to 365F which means that if you have thick or curly hair you’ll need to make an extra pass to fully straighten your hair. If you have fine hair, you’ll find the heat too much for your hair. It’s also one of the most expensive of the top rated hair straighteners on our list.
Click here to get prices and read reviews of the ghd Classic 1-inch Styler.
Keratin Complex Stealth IV Straightening Iron Review
Top pick for: Natural black hair, long hair, frizzy hair, coarse hair or thick hair
Thick hair will be silky smooth with just one pass. Your hair will stay straight and shiny for days thanks to the titanium plates and ionic technology. The 1.25 inch plates will let you quickly work through coarse, thick, frizzy hair with ease. The iron has swivel cord so it’s practical as well. The beveled edge on this flat iron makes it the best flat iron for curling your hair. It has digital temperature adjustment up to 450F so fantastic for natural African American hair. While it’s not cheap it is one of the top hair straighteners on the market so bear that in mind before baulking at the cost.
Check out more reviews and buy the Keratin Complex Stealth IV Straightening Iron by clicking here.
Paul Mitchell Neuro Smoothing Flat Iron 1.25″ Smoothing Flat Iron Review
Top pick for: Frizzy, curly or natural hair
Got frizz? This is one of the best flat iron for hair that won’t behave. The slightly wider 1 ¼ inch plates means it will cope well with more hair making it the best hair straightener for curly hair. It’s heat adjustable so you can find the best heat that suits your hair without causing damage from straightening with an overly high heat. This flat iron will reach temperatures of up to 450F so it is a good option for black/natural hair and also one of the best straighteners for curly hair that takes more heat and a wider plate to straighten. As one of the top professional flat irons with titanium plates on the market, it’s not cheap but worth the price if you have hair that requires extra effort.
Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron Review
Top pick for: Thick hair
Karmin make some of the best professional hair straighteners on the market. Hairdressers like myself love Karmin so if you’re looking for the best professional flat iron pick this on. On to the top ceramic flat iron options for you to purchase is the Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron. Key features of this straightener are the 1-inch tourmaline ceramic plates, 1 hour auto shut off and 3-year warranty. The heat is adjustable on this flat iron, between 250°F and 460°F, so it’s one of the best straighteners for thick hair, but it also works on other types of hair that require less heat, such as thin hair.
For more professional hair straightener reviews, take a look at this post.
CHI PRO G2 Digital 1″ Titanium Infused Ceramic Flat Iron Review
Top pick for: Any hair type
CHI are one of the top flat iron brands so no top 10 flat irons list would be complete without mentioning CHI. The CHI PRO G2 Digital 1″ Titanium Infused Ceramic Flat Iron in Black – Ionic Tourmaline Hair Straightener is the absolute best CHI flat iron available. It is made from titanium infused ceramic so it is a great flat iron for thick hair. Because it’s heat adjustable though it can also be used on fine hair. This CHI ceramic flat iron features 1 inch plates, a 2 year warranty, and adjustable heat settings up to 425 degrees. CHI hair straightener reviews are almost always positive and there’s a lot to love about this brand. For more CHI flat iron reviews, check out this article.
Check prices on the CHI PRO G2 Digital 1″ Titanium Infused Ceramic Flat Iron right here.
Remington S5500 Digital Anti Static Ceramic Hair Straightener Review
Top pick for: Controlling fly aways, damaged hair and long hair
Rounding out our list of the top ten flat irons, is the Remington S5500 Digital Anti Static Ceramic Hair Straightener. We think this is the best affordable hair straightener for women with fly away hair because it has built-in anti-static technology and an absolute BARGAIN price. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking for the best ceramic hair straightener for long hair as it has very long plates. It heats up quickly and has a long swivel cord which makes this straightener quick and easy to use. Auto shut off and temperature control up to 410F.
Bonus addition to our list – If you need an additional product for travel this is a great one!
Wazor Mini Hair Flat Iron Review
Top pick for: Travel straightener or for straightening short hair or bangs
If you need a small ceramic hair straightener for travel then this is the one for you. With just a ½ inch ceramic tourmaline plate and a mini-sized handle you can easily pop it into your suitcase or carryon bag. This is a dual voltage flat iron so can be used in Europe, Australia, New Zealand etc. This little straightener won’t do much for thick or coarse hair but works well for regular, fine or short hair. It’s also great for doing bangs. It heats up to 365F and comes with a two year warranty. It may not have a lot of bells & whistles but it’s definitely best rated flat iron for travel.
Get prices for the Wazor Mini Hair Flat Iron by clicking here.
Happy Hair Straightening!
I hope my hair straightener reviews and buying guide to the best flat irons on the market today will help you pick the perfect product for your hair. If you’ve got any further questions, drop me a comment below and I’d be happy to help.
Got a favorite flat iron? I’ve love to hear what you love about your flat iron. Leave a comment below and tell me what you love or loathe about the models that I’ve mentioned in my flat iron review post.
About the Author Miss Flat Iron
Michelle aka Miss Flat Iron is a hair care enthusiasts who loves sharing her tips & tricks on how to get sleek, sexy hair. She is a flat iron fanatic who knows what to look for in a hair straightener based on her extensive experience as a hair care professional for over a decade.
