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The solution process will take from minutes depending on your hair type and condition. Because at the end of the day, even the best hair straightener won't do you any good if it doesn't have the shape, design, features, and modes that you're looking for. Speaking of fans, this straightener has one built in, so it can actually cool your hair as you style it. That makes styling your hair in the hot summer months a breeze (no pun intended).
Chi Lava 4D Hairstyling Iron
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Another high-end iron we tested, the BaBylissPro Nano, is very narrow and overall good, but we didn’t find anything to justify the cost. In size and design it’s very similar to our budget pick from Conair, except the Nano has a longer cord. This straightener comes with a five-year warranty—the longest of all our flat iron picks.
Plate Type & Size
This can all lead to dryness, split ends, dullness (especially if your hair is color-treated), flyaways, and hair breakage. This article was written by Stefanie Waldek, a contributing writer for Real Simple with a decade of experience writing about home decor. To come up with these recommendations, we tested a variety of hair straighteners, evaluating them on heat settings and temperature regulation, effectiveness for straightening and curling, and overall ease of use. We also tapped master barber stylist Darrius Peace; Lindsay Ryan, senior stylist at Mirror Mirror; and hair stylist Terri Rehkopf of Ippodaro Natural Salon to provide tips on shopping for hair straighteners. Before using each straightener, I started with freshly washed, conditioned and towel-dried hair. While my hair was wet, I first liberally spritzed a heat protectant (I used this Bumble & Bumble oil) throughout.
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENER FOR DAMAGED HAIR
Titanium is known for its strength and durability and applies more intense heat to the hair. "Titanium straighteners are suitable for individuals with thick and coarse hair due to the high temperatures they provide," says Rehkopf. "Thicker sections of hair can be flat ironed in half the time compared to ceramic plates. However, they can easily burn hair if not used carefully." Most straighteners have various heat settings—that is, temperatures—to adjust to different hair types and needs. "The optimal temperature for flat ironing hair depends on your hair type and condition," says Ryan. This Chi flat iron doesn’t have multiple temperature options, but it does have an under 30-second heat-up time and extra-long (over 10 feet) swivel cord that gives you extra reach while styling.
The single heat setting easily reshapes my hair from unkempt to sleek and silky. I use this straightener when I want pin-straight, smooth hair; I reach for it a couple of times a month. Its extra-long swivel cord and overall compact size make it easy to straighten hair in hard-to-reach places like the crown of my head or at the nape of my neck. I’ve also noticed how many hairstylists I’ve seen opt to use Chi models, specifically this one. When I ask them why, they say they like its no-nonsense speed and versatility for creating everything from straight styles to flatiron waves.
The ceramic plates are "floating" too, so you can easily adjust the amount of pressure you apply to your hair, something I find super helpful when straightening my roots vs my ends. This futuristic-looking flatiron is super customizable; you can even choose a different temperature for either plate. This means you can tweak the flatiron to work best with your hair and to let you alternate between sleek, straight looks and loose waves. One reviewer said, "I regret not trying a quality flat iron like this sooner because it would have saved me money at the salon and saved me hair damage from the over hot tools at the salon and at home."
You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera. For example, in the Lab, we take temperature readings of each iron's plate surface at its hottest setting, to measure how quickly it heats up and maintains its temperature. We also measure the outer surfaces of each iron to ensure that it doesn't get too hot to the touch.
Our top picks for best hair straighteners
Accordingly, you’re probably on the lookout for the next best hair straightener to take yours to the next level. First, use a styling cream, then allow your hair to air-dry approximately 40–50%. "Only then should you reach for your hair straightener, typically set at 375 degrees or 400 degrees," says Rehkopf. "Commencing with the blow dryer minimizes direct heat exposure from styling tools, ensuring a longer-lasting style, especially for those dealing with frizzy or unruly hair." Hair types 1 and 2 ( straight and wavy) should look for straighteners with lower temperature ranges, while hair types 3 and 4 (curly) will likely need higher temperature ranges. During one of our tests, we found that the straightener did just an average job flattening out curly hair, requiring several passes to get it to the desired level of straightness.
If you live in a humid climate, your hair will reabsorb water more quickly, which restores its natural (less straight) shape. With practice, you can figure out the ideal temperature for your hair and how to best maneuver the tool to create the style you want, but it’s best to take things low and slow at first. The plates on the Conair Infiniti Pro flat iron grip and style hair just as well as the high-end straighteners, plus you’ll have a very wide range of temperature settings, but it has a short cord. The iron eliminates the guesswork by selecting a temperature based on your hair type, with options for fine, medium and coarse. "Far too many times, people use a hotter setting than they actually need," our Lab pros say, but with nine temperature settings, this iron has the perfect fit for everyone, meaning you won't scorch even super fine hair. The Grammy winner, who launched her luxury line in February, added that she’s really proud of the quality of her products.
One downside of this model is that while most of Chi’s other irons have an automatic shut-off, this one does not. I also don’t love that this iron doesn’t have a sound notification or digital display telling me when it’s reached its single heat setting. Also, over time the hinge of this iron seems to stick a bit more, making it a little more difficult to squeeze closed.
If you're looking for a straightener that isn't a huge investment, though, that doesn't mean you're going to end up with something that doesn't work well. No matter how short your getting ready time is, it could probably always be shorter — especially if you lead a busy life. If you're looking for a straightener that will get the job done well and in a flash, the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Dual Plate Salon Flat Iron is a great option (via Hot Tools).
This option is perfect if you like to achieve different styles all with one tool. Look for other features while shopping for a hair straightener, such as an extra-long cord, an auto-shut-off function that will hopefully prevent you from starting a fire, and a steam function for straightening hair with less damage. "Or if you intend to use your straightener for creating loose waves or curls, opt for models with rounded plates, curving in at the top," says Rehkopf. Our top pick is the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dual Ionic Flat Iron, due to its affordable price point and impressive performance on many hair types. For those with curly hair, we recommend the Hot Tools Pro Signature Steamstyler, which uses steam to straighten hair with less damage than hot plates alone.
I’ve spent years trying to tame my long, wavy, medium-thick, color-treated hair into smooth submission. As a magazine writer, I’ve tested and written about hair detanglers, smoothing shampoos, hot rollers and curling irons. I’ve interviewed—and painstakingly observed—celebrity hairstylists on countless photoshoots. To get my desired look, I’ve tried various keratin and straightening treatments, and I’ve invested in a long list of flat irons in just about every price point and material.
If you haven't invested in a hair straightener since you were getting ready for junior prom, trust us when we say you're not alone. While you've been holding on to a straightener that's holding on for dear life, hair technology has come leaps and bounds. With this in mind, here we have 17 professional hairstylists weighing in on what they consider to be the best hair straightener on the market. We all recoil at the sizzle of frying wet hair—it's one way to create severe heat damage on your hair.
It's pricey, but one tester said they were "extremely satisfied with the way my hair looked afterwards," with another marveling at how "smooth" their hair felt. It also got a perfect score among testers for not burning their face, scalp or neck, even for those who said that's been "an issue I've had with other flat irons," making it a solid choice for those who aren't confident using a heat tool quite yet. Her experience, specialized skills, and down-to-earth and honest nature make her a pleasure to work with. Because she's so well versed in different products and systems, she developed her own unique way to execute the hair straightening process, utilizing whatever is best for the individual's hair.