For every hair type, budget, and preference (yeah, I really did that for you).
Listen, even my fine, thin, mostly straight hair knows the difference between a meh flat iron and The Very Best hair straightener. I’ve been testing hair tools since I was 11 (don’t get me started on my love for curling wands), which means at this point in my life, I know just how much a bad hair straightener can mess with your hair (see: excessive damage, breakage, snagging, etc). That doesn’t mean you need to spend $$$ on some high-tech flat iron for good results, but it does mean that your straightener should at least be tailored to your hair type, straighten in one pass without pulling, and have a few heat settings.
And those are just the very basics. You should also consider if you want ceramic or titanium plates (ceramic = softer heat that’s better for finer, straighter hair; titanium = stronger heat that’s better for curlier, coarser hair), if you care about auto shut-off features, if you prefer wide or thin plates (depending on your texture and length), etc. I know it sounds overwhelming, so to make it easier for you, I rounded up the best hair straighteners of 2022 for every different hair type, need, and budget. Here’s a quick preview of my favorites:
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER
Remington Pro 1" Pearl Ceramic Flat Iron
Pros
- HAS A TEMPERATURE LOCK, SO THE TEMP WON’T CHANGE WHILE YOU’RE STYLING
Cons
- THE HANDLE CAN GET PRETTY HOT AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES
If you flat-iron your hair a few times a year max, you’re probably not willing to spend a bunch of money on something that spends most of its time in your drawer. I get it. Enter: This inexpensive hair straightener will straighten, wave, bend, and curl with ceramic plates that heat up to 450 degrees. It also features “floating” plates that basically don’t press down as intensely on your hair, meaning your hair is less likely to get that crisp, fried feeling—and less likely to actually get fried.
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Plates: Ceramic
- Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “I want a simple tool to do a simple thing; I don't want to fuss with it or have to figure it out,” writes one reviewer. “This was perfect. I can get my super thick hair done in about 10 minutes with this, and it leaves my hair feeling soft.”
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR CURLING
Kristin Ess Hair 3-In-One Titanium Flat Iron
Pros
- LOOKS V LUXE ON YOUR VANITY
Cons
- REVIEWERS SAY THE IRON SOMETIMES AUTO SHUTS OFF WHILE USING
You know when you try to curl your hair with a straightener, and you're left with creases, bumps, and snags? Yeah, that won't be the case with this rounded-edge flat iron. It's smoothly curved to allow you to clamp, twirl, and twist your hair without crimps, so your flat-iron waves and curls look genuinely good, not just good-for-a-flat-iron good.
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Plates: Ceramic
- Heat settings: 280 to 440 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “My hair is fine and straight, and this tool does a fantastic job putting a little ‘bend’ in my usual blow-dry style,” writes one reviewer. “Very easy to use, and I really like the temperature control feature.”
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER OVERALL
Hot Tools Radiant Blue Digital Flat Iron
Pros
- HEATS UP VERY QUICKLY AND EVENLY
Cons
- EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE “OFF” BUTTON WHILE USING
This titanium iron heats up fast, bringing its plates back to the ideal temperature quickly after each pass, so you won’t need to go over each section multiple times and destroy your hair. To get your hair extra sleek and straight, brush through each section with a fine-tooth comb while following right behind it with the straightener.
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Plates: Titanium
- Heat settings: 300 to 450 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “From the moment I took this out of the box, I was impressed,” writes one tester. “It heats up quickly, it's easy to use, looks sleek, feels great as I grip the iron, and doesn't snag as I run it through my hair. It did not take me long at all to get my hair straightened, and I have naturally curly hair.”
BEST FLAT IRON FOR COARSE HAIR
Revlon Salon Straight Copper Smooth XL Flat Iron
Pros
- LOCKS SHUT FOR EASY STORAGE AND TRAVEL
Cons
- COMB ATTACHMENT CAN GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH
Copper is famously known for being an even heat conductor (just ask any cook), which is why I love this flat iron for coarser hair: Its copper-infused plates will straighten hair with fewer passes, which means less heat damage for you. Bonus: The detachable comb also smooths and distributes your coarse hair evenly over the plates, so you’re left with stick-straight hair on the first pass.
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Plates: Copper and ceramic
- Heat settings: 180 to 455
THE REVIEWS: “I straightened my very coarse, thick hair quicker than I ever have before,” one review writes. “It warms up fast, and the copper plates glide across my hair without snagging.”
BEST CORDLESS HAIR STRAIGHTENER
Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener
Pros
- COMES WITH A CHARGING STAND FOR EASY STORAGE
Cons
- CORDLESS CHARGE ONLY LASTS 30 MINUTES
Yup, this is a Very Expensive Flat Iron. Yup, this is something you'd definitely splurge on, save up for, or beg for from the person who loves you most, but it'll be worth it. This cordless/corded—you can do both—flat iron uses flexible copper plates that subtly move with your hair to evenly distribute heat across every strand, leaving you with less damage and smoother hair. I've used it, and it really is a freaking thing of the future.
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Plates: Copper
- Heat settings: 330 to 410 degrees
THE REVIEWS: “I am SHOCKED at how freakin’ awesome this straightener is,” writes one reviewer. “After I completed the first section of hair my only words were ‘damn.’ My hair was done in half the time and looks better than it has before using the other higher-end straighteners out on the market.”
Do you want to see more?
- 15 Best Hair Straighteners and Flat Irons
- How To Keep Long Hair Healthy, Hair Care Tips
- Hair Growth 101, Hair Care Tips
- How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster
Have You Ever Been Checked Our Product?
by BETH GILLETTE, CHLOE METZGER and BROOKE SHUNATONA.