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(Read my in-depth review of the Chi straightener here.) Below are the best hair straightener winners from my long-term testing. However, we should note that we were initially concerned that this hot tool would be, ironically, too hot for us (especially on fine or damaged hair), as 370 degrees is the lowest heat setting available, which is far higher than your average straightener. Fortunately, we didn’t have to clamp down on our hair for more than a few seconds, so the heat isn’t applied for very long, and Chi also happens to make a top-notch heat protectant. It took about an hour before the iron automatically turned off, and as added security, we liked that there was a locking mechanism to prevent the hot plates from touching other items while it cooled off. All of the irons we tested weighed less than a pound, and the difference between the lightest and heaviest straighteners was minimal (1 to 2 ounces).
L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod Flat Iron & Styler
We can’t promise that you’ll never damage your hair again; it’s a risk you take whenever you use any heat styling tool. But by using a quality device and using it correctly, you can reduce your chances of heat damage and keep your hair looking healthy (and as straight as you prefer). This speed-heating, power-smoothing CHI earned a rare perfect score with GH’s expert evaluators and was by far our top-tested flat iron. In tests, it warmed up to 96% of max temp in 60 seconds, although our pros wish there was an audible tone to indicate when it reaches temperature.
Best for Professional Styling: GHD Platinum+ Styler
Over the years, we've tested more than 90 flat irons — and in our most recent Beauty Lab test, we tallied 2,013 heat data points and 960 survey responses. Based on our extensive testing, these are the top flat irons at all price points and for every hair type that make easy work of straightening your hair. That said, some hair straighteners are expensive for "bonus" technology like cordless design. In that case, the price may be unnecessarily exorbitant—you can focus on high-quality materials and a range of temperature settings.
Ion Magnesium Flat Iron
If you're someone who finds yourself styling other peoples' hair and sharing your beauty tools — whether as a hobby or as a bona fide hair stylist — this might be the option for you. According to CHI, it works the most consistently for the largest group of people. So no matter what type of hair you, your friends, or your clients have, this CHI straightener will get it smooth and styled. Rather than relying on heated plates to straighten your hair, this tool uses steam to smooth out the thickest hair. With this technique, L'Oreal claims that it straightens hair 2x faster and 2x smoother than the plates alone.
Three of the models we tested—the CHI Pro G2 Digital, the BabylissPro Nano, and the TS-2 Millennium—featured titanium plates. We found that straighteners with ceramic plates held heat just as well as the models with titanium plates. That is bad, obviously, and largely irreversible—frizzy and crunchy went out of style in the ’80s. The problem is that the maximum temperatures that hair can endure before developing damage varies by hair type and, really, by individual. “It really just depends on your particular hair and the way that you use the flat iron,” said cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski. There are some general temperature guidelines by hair type, but even those vary by head.
Hot Tools Radiant Blue Digital Flat Iron
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. I first bought a CHI in college and have been obsessed every since First off, it's the most durable hot tool I've ever tested. Plus, it quickly straightened and smoothed my frizzy hair without making it look or feel plastered to my head.
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The Dyson Corrale straightener is cordless and charged via a magnetic cable or dock, reducing your tether to an outlet while styling. During testing, we loved being cordless—and how smoothly this straightener ran through our hair. The straightener is forgiving on the wrist and is more lightweight compared to most of the other models I tested. It has a well-functioning swivel cord, and it comes with a nice silicone sleeve to keep the iron closed before use, for easy transport and to protect fingers during cool down.
We loved how easily the Air Strait slid over our hair; without any hot plates, there was virtually no tugging or pulling, further reducing the risk of hair damage. Even when we used the clamps to press down on our hair, there was no chance of our hair getting stuck in the hair straightener. Thanks to that fluidity, we found it incredibly easy to successfully straighten hair (although thicker hair needed a few more passes). Like many Dyson products, we were less than impressed with the bulky cord that ultimately weighed down the Air Strait. It was heavy, and our editor with Type 3B/3C hair had to take a break to give her arms a rest mid-way through using.
Dyson's Hair Straightener Is on Rare Sale for $100 Off at Amazon - InStyle
Dyson's Hair Straightener Is on Rare Sale for $100 Off at Amazon.
Posted: Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
"Ceramic is smooth and glides through hair without snagging, reducing breakage and damage. It emits negative ions, reducing frizz, enhancing shine, and creating smoother styles." Using steam when straightening your hair can be less damaging to your strands than traditional hot plates. And since curly hair takes additional work to straighten, steam can keep your hair healthier while achieving a sleek, pin-straight final look. I noticed the glide of this iron wasn’t as smooth as the ceramic straighteners I tested. And while the compact size makes it ideal for shorter lengths, the small size of the plates meant that it took a while to cover ground on my long, thick hair. This mini is the straightener you want to stash in your bag for long weekends, trips abroad or just to use at the gym.
We also imagine the thicker cord will make it hard to store this in space-constrained areas. Weighing under a pound and designed with smoothing plates and an overall adorable look, there’s a lot we love about this mini pink tool. We were particularly over the moon about its compact, rounded tip design, ideal for styling and curling short hair. Unlike traditional flat irons with an elongated shape, this one held our shoulder length strands in place, courtesy of the miniature size of the plates, and we never saw any dents from too much pressure.
You can use it on wet or dry hair (a major time saver, IMO) since the device uses hot air instead of traditional hot plates to style your hair. Even if you only straighten your hair once or twice a month, it's absolutely worth investing in a quality flat iron. Using a subpar hair straightener can seriously mess with your hair and lead to excessive damage, hair breakage, and split ends. That doesn't mean you need to spend $$$, but a good hair straightener should be tailored to your hair type, straighten in one pass without pulling, and have a few heat settings to choose from. Luckily, there's no need to get overwhelmed by all the options that are out there because we've compiled a list of the best straighteners on the market today. Whether you've got thick hair, frizzy hair, or straight and fine hair, there's an option on the list that's designed for you.
And all of the dials and buttons are located inside the straightener, dangerously close to the plates. It took around a minute to reach 94% of its claimed temperature, but our pros were disappointed that there was no audible tone to indicate when it reaches temperature. It earned the top score for maintaining hair straightness in our technical test, though the lowest score for keeping hair straight, shiny and frizz-free all day long, according to consumer testers, so make sure you use an anti-frizz serum. Also known as Thermal Reconditioning, it combines chemical and thermal heat processes to restructure the hair's protein bond from the inside out. The actual straightening process is basically the same but different chemicals may be used for each of the respective systems.
"Cheaper hair straighteners often utilize inferior materials, resulting in long-term harm to your hair." This tool was best for creating smooth, sleek styles, which it executed in just one to two passes. I could use it to create flatiron waves, but I found the shape and slight drag of the plate made the process harder for me. One drawback of this straightener is that it’s on the heavier side at nearly 17 ounces.
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