12 Best Flat Irons For Curly Hair 2024 – Get Your Straight On!
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If you’re born with natural curly or coily hair, you probably get the urge to straighten it every once in a while.
The search for the perfect flat iron begins.
From size to price to durability, here are the top flat irons ideal for curly hair.
Contents
BaBylissPRO Nano Straightening Iron
The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron is a favorite on Amazon.
With a good star rating and lots of reviews, it’s clear that the price tag might be worth it.
One of the more expensive straighteners on this list, but I feel it’s worth the price.
A favorite among many women with curly hair, there are a few benefits that come with this straightener.
Wider straighteners can often cause our hands to grow tired so the sleek and slim design of this straightener promises less fatigue in the hand.
Because of the thin design, it also gives you the ability to maneuver the tool for different hair styles.
That’s not where the benefits end.
While the BaBylissPRO reaches high temperatures, the titanium will help protect your hair.
This straightener can help achieve a pinstraight look, but if your hair is extremely curly and coily, it can also be used to create loose curls.
Ranging from 1 inch to 2 inches, you can easily decide which one is right for you.
With 5” plates and 50 different heat settings, this tool is made to help the process of straightening your hair easier and less time consuming.
While some reviews mention that this flat iron doesn’t last as long as they’d like, many others do praise this straightener for leaving them with smooth, frizz free hair.
Drybar The Tiny Tress Press (Best Flat Irons For Curly Hair When Traveling)
When we go on vacation, we want to be able to have the tools to do our hair at our leisure.
The Drybar Tiny Tress Press is one item to have in your arsenal.
Let’s face it.
When we’re packing a checked bag, it’s a struggle trying to make sure we don’t surpass that 50lb weight limit, right?
It has us wondering if we really need a million products to do our hair.
Well, obviously, we do.
Instead, we often have to sacrifice some of our favorite products or tools because they’re too heavy.
This Drybar flat iron won’t be the case.
While the previous flat iron came with a plate that was 5” long, this product is 6” long in total.
The perfect travel straightening iron, you won’t even have to throw it in your suitcase.
You can carry it around in your bag!
It’s almost as if you’re carrying a phone around.
While this flat iron won’t be able to help you straighten your entire head in a timely fashion, it’s great for touch ups.
If you’re traveling somewhere warm, it’s easy for the heat and humidity to affect your roots first.
This flat iron is perfect for all touch ups.
Just be mindful that this little flat iron packs a punch!
There is no temperature adjustment.
With its only setting being 400 degrees Fahrenheit, make sure you’re not spending too much time in one area and that you take the necessary precautions before straightening.
Furiden Professional Hair Straightener
If you want versatility, this is the hair straightener for you.
The Furiden Professional Hair Straightener has a list of benefits that might interest you if you’re looking for a tool that can achieve multiple looks.
First, the temperature adjustments on this flat iron are better than most.
When it comes to applying heat on your hair, you’ll find that most tools force you into a range of around 310 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Furiden flat iron goes even lower than that.
If you want to be extra careful with the level of heat you apply on your hair, this tool has a base temperature of 250 degrees.
This flat iron is also ideal because its design helps you achieve both straight hair and curly hair.
While you might be wondering why you would want to curl your hair if it’s already curly, achieving loose curls just got easier with this option.
The cylindrical shape of this flat iron not only makes it easy to straighten hair, but it makes it ideal for forming a smooth curl.
Normally “flat” irons can often leave a line of demarcation when you’re attempting to straighten your hair, but the smooth design of this tool essentially makes it double as a curling iron.
With this Furiden product, you’re getting two items in one.
Ghd Classic Flat Iron Styler
Another flat iron with great reviews, the ghd Classic Flat Iron Styler might be what you need in your hair care arsenal.
This tool is ideal for a few reasons.
Sometimes the debate on what temperature to use can sometimes be a tricky one.
If you use a temperature that’s too low, it might take longer for you to achieve the look you’re going for.
If you use a temperature that’s too high, that can quickly lead to heat damage.
The ghd flat iron takes the worry out of that.
With one temperature setting, it’s set at an ideal 365 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s not all this flat iron has to offer.
The plates on this flat iron have a curved appearance.
This is what’s going to give you straight hair that’s full of body.
The curve to the plates help create a natural bend in the hair.
And that’s still not all.
Finding an ideal place to straighten your hair can sometimes be annoying when the cord isn’t long enough to get anything done.
This ghd flat iron features a cord that’s over 8 feet long which will give you plenty of space to straighten your hair from wherever you want.
GLAMFIELDS Hair Straightener Brush
While most are used to the classic flat iron, recent years have shown a new, innovative direction.
GLAMFIELDS Hair Straightener Brush is an example of this new change.
We’re used to the classic look of a flat iron that can be seen on this list, but this straightening brush takes a process and turns it into one.
When straightening hair, there’s a concept called “chasing.”
What this means is that you use a comb while straightening the hair.
While the comb passes through the hair first, the flat iron “chases” behind it.
This is to help evenly straighten the hair.
Instead of needing two tools to straighten your hair, this GLAMFIELDS product makes it all in one.
While you might not be able to achieve a pin straight look with this hair brush, you’ll find it can help create a flawless blown out appearance.
This tool also has a few other safety features.
With an auto shutdown, it turns off after it hasn’t been in use for 30 minutes.
Also, we’ve all had that experience where our hair straightener temperature lowers and rises with the slip of the hand.
The GLAMFIELDS straightening hair brush features an auto lock feature on the temperature as well.
HSI Professional Glider Hair Straightener
As we mentioned previously, temperature adjustment is important on any flat iron.
This is what you get with the HSI Professional Glider Hair Straightener.
While it can go all the way up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the best part is how low the temperature can go.
On this list, we’ve seen the lowest temperature setting at 250 degrees, but this flat iron has a low of 140 degrees.
While you can certainly use this temperature to straighten your hair, it’s ideal if you want to touch up your hair without adding excessive amounts of heat to it.
And if you thought the heat setting was the only great thing about this flat iron, you’d be wrong.
The ceramic and tourmaline plates help to make your hair silky and shiny.
The flat iron even has microsensors on the plates which allow them to evenly distribute heat so you don’t have to focus on one area over another.
Lastly, this HSI iron is perfect for travel.
If you travel internationally, you constantly have to worry about whether the voltage adds up, but the 110/220 dual voltage that this tool provides is ideal for all corners of the world.
INFINITIPRO By Conair Titanium Flat Iron
While we also want our flat irons to be functional, is there anything wrong with wanting it to be aesthetically pleasing as well?
I don’t think so.
The INFINITIPRO Titanium Flat Iron is a sleek tool with an added bonus.
Instead of the solid colored plates that you’re used to, this flat iron features rainbow plates.
While this tool might be pretty to look at, it’s definitely still functional.
With titanium plates, they’re able to achieve the sleek, shiny, and frizz free hair that you’re looking for.
The flat iron from Conair has a quick heat up time with just thirty seconds, and slightly surpassing the other tools on this list, it can reach up to 455 degrees Fahrenheit.
This product also boasts a few other benefits.
There are six heat settings in addition to 1” extra long plates that make styling easier and faster.
KIPOZI Professional Hair Straightener
The KIPOZI Professional Hair Straightener is another great option for a flat iron.
There are numerous things that this flat iron is capable of doing.
One, it promises to deliver consistent heat without overexposure.
This also translates to the 1.75” floating plates that will help create the perfect, straight look.
Two, it has temperatures that are adjustable from 170 to 450 degrees.
This is to help women with different types of hair, and no, this isn’t in reference to curl pattern.
If you have fragile hair, you can use heats up to 270 degrees to handle your hair.
For those with damaged or colored hair, 350 degrees is a more ideal temperature to use.
However, those with healthy hair can use temperatures between 410 to 450 degrees.
Lastly, we’ve all probably had a flat iron turn off on us after they think we haven’t used it in 30 minutes.
Then we have to wait for it to warm up and return to the ideal temperature.
With a straightener like the one from KIPOZI, their automatic shut off is set for 60 minutes giving you more time to get the job done.
Remington Anti Static Flat Iron
While there are a few flat irons on this list that cost a pretty penny, if you want a good straightener at a fraction of the price, the Remington Anti Static Flat Iron will do the trick.
There are a few things to note about this straightener.
One, according to Nielsen data, this was the best selling straightener of 2017.
This means that out of the thousands or millions of women who bought a straightener, more of them were buying this Remington tool.
Two, this straightener comes with six heat settings ranging from 310 to 410 degrees.
With 1” floating plates, this product boasts an easy glide as well as anti static properties that will help diminish frizz.
Also, the titanium plates are going to help give your hair the shiny appearance you’re looking for.
Lastly, this flat iron has something that a lot of other flat irons are missing.
The Remington Anti Static Flat Iron has a hinge lock.
When it comes to storing our flat irons, we often have to leave them open with the plates exposed.
The hinge lock on the Remington flat iron helps keep the plates protected while also allowing for compact storage.
Revlon Salon Straightener
Now, the Revlon Salon Straightener stands out of the crowd for one particular reason.
It’s plates are made of copper.
While that might not seem like such a great thing, it actually is.
Copper is known to be great for even heat conduction.
This means that it’s going to help the heat pass evenly through the hair.
It’s obvious that this product is about making it as easy as possible for your hair to be straightened evenly.
Another great part of this tool is that it comes with a detachable comb.
We mentioned the chasing method earlier.
Different from the straightening hair brush, this flat iron is going to give you that pin straight look that you’re going for without having to do multiple passes on the hair.
While it might seem like this product can’t get any better, it can.
The Revlon flat iron can reach up to 455 degrees Fahrenheit while also promising to provide 24 hours of frizz control.
On top of this, there are 30 customization heat settings that you can choose from when styling your hair.
And last but not least, this is a budget friendly flat iron that you can find for less than $40.
T3 SinglePass Compact Styling Iron
T3 is a big brand in the hair care industry, and with that comes a higher price tag.
The T3 SinglePass Compact Styling Iron will run you close to $100, but there are many benefits that come along with that.
With plates that are smaller than an inch, it’ll help you get hard to reach areas like your hair roots.
The sleek design makes it ideal for travel, but also allows you to store it well.
The T3 straightener also has a slew of other benefits.
With the “auto world” voltage that only a few flat irons offer, it can be used internationally with no problem.
It also has an automatic shut off after one hour as a safety measure.
NuMe Megastar Hair Straightener
The NuMe Megastar really lives up to it’s name.
If you’re after the best way to straighten those curls, this is the tool for you.
While there’s lots I love about the Megastar, I really like the digital display.
You can use it to see how hot the temperature of your flat iron is, meaning more accurate heat control.
This isn’t a feature you’ll find on cheaper models, and though simple, it’s surprisingly handy.
Another cool feature is that the buttons to control the megastar are on the inside.
This helps prevent accidentally turning the device off, or other unwanted actions.
When it comes to the core function of straightening your hair, the NuMe Megastar doesn’t disappoint either.
I could list off the technobabble (floating one inch Tourmaline Ceramic plates, negative ion booster tech etc), but the bottom line is this: it will straighten your hair as good as, if not better than, anything else on the market.
At the time of writing, this hair straightener for curly hair has glowing reviews all around the internet, from both curly Sisters and other races alike.
If you’re looking to go from curly to straight with minimum hassle, the Megastar by NuMe is highly recommended.
How To Prep Curly Hair For Flat Irons
There are two things that most women want to achieve when they decide to straighten their hair.
First, they want beautifully straight hair.
Second, they want to achieve this look without causing damage to their hair.
While you might not be able to recognize it when it’s happening, it’s easy to see heat damage after it’s already been done.
Your hair starts to look dull and lifeless, and you’re then left wondering what to do.
Unfortunately, fixing heat damaged hair is practically impossible.
Why do you think so many women decide to do the big chop on their hair?
The way to beat heat damage is stopping it from happening in the first place which brings us to our first point.
The best way to prepare your curly hair for flat irons is with a heat protectant.
Heat protectants coat your hair so that when the heat attempts to break down the keratin in your hair.
This allows the protectant to degrade before causing damage to your own hair.
A second measure to take when preparing your hair for a straightener is to make sure that it’s dry.
You might be tempted to try flat ironing your hair while it’s damp, but this can lead to hair bubbles.
While you might not be able to see it with your eyes, your hair will feel rough to the touch.
This can also cause your hair to break more easily.
Third, you’re going to want to prep your hair as much as possible leading up to when you plan to straighten it.
In order to do this, you’ll need a few products.
Start with a deep conditioner.
The plan is to condition your hair once a week for two to three weeks before you plan to straighten your hair.
You’ll also want to do a protein treatment on your hair in order to help strengthen it before straightening.
Last, but not least, consider blow drying your hair before straightening.
While most tend to blow dry their hair with hot hair, use the cold setting as to not expose your hair to more heat.
By blow drying your hair, you’re prepping your hair to straighten more easily.
What To Look For In A Flat Iron
You might think that the only criterion for a straightener is that it works, but there’s more to it than that.
There are about # things to consider.
First, there’s size.
The overall size of your flat iron will matter.
If you find your hand often cramps and starts to hurt when you’re straightening your hair, it’s probably the wrong size.
Chances are it’s too big.
Another thing to consider for the size of your flat iron is when and where you plan on using it.
If you’re using it at home, you’ll probably want a bigger flat iron that you can store in a closet or in your bathroom.
If you’re traveling, a more compact flat iron similar to the DryBar Tiny Tress Press might be more ideal since it’s about the same size as an iPhone.
Second, there’s shape.
Shape is a very important factor into how your hair will turn out in the end.
There are straighteners with very flat plates.
This is ideal if you’re trying to achieve pin straight hair.
However, these aren’t as versatile as another option.
There are other flat irons who have slightly curved plates.
Not only does this allow for a more naturally straight look, but it also makes it easier for you to use your flat iron as a curling iron as well.
There are even flat iron options like the Furiden Professional Hair Straightener that have meshed a flat and round design that makes the tool both a flat iron and curling iron in one.
Third, there’s plate width.
Plate width is another thing to consider when shopping for the perfect flat iron.
The size of the plate can either slow down or expedite the process of straightening your hair.
While we’ll touch on more specifics in a later section, you might find it beneficial to have two straighteners for different reasons.
Fourth, there’s temperature.
While these are in no particular order, it’s obvious that temperature is one of the most important aspects when it comes to finding the perfect flat iron.
Another thing we’ll elaborate on later, it’s important to know what temperature is best for your hair before choosing a flat iron.
While there are flat irons that come with one optimal temperature, like the ghd Flat Iron Styler, your best bet is to go with a flat iron that has a wide range until you’re aware of which temperature is ideal for your hair type.
Lastly, there’s plate material.
You’ll see words like titanium, ceramic, and tourmaline around the name of most flat irons, but if you’re like the regular person, you probably have no idea what the significance of this is.
This is the material that the plate is made of.
All these plate materials have different benefits for the hair, and in the next section, we’ll cover how you can decide which is best for you.
What Type Of Straightener Is Best: Titanium, Ceramic, or Tourmaline?
Let’s do a bit of comparison, shall we?
There are three different types of straighteners on the market.
You can either choose between titanium, ceramic, and tourmaline.
Titanium flat irons are ideal for those with thick to coarse hair types and for those with normal, healthy hair.
There are a few reasons why you might want to choose a titanium flat iron.
One, titanium is known for its strength, durability, and low weight.
Because of durability, your titanium straighteners will also be more resistant to scratches.
Two, if you want your flat iron to heat up more quickly, titanium is the choice for you.
This metal allows for faster heat transfer which will allow you to begin the process of straightening your hair sooner.
Lastly, because of the negative ion technology that comes with titanium, it helps to hydrate the hair while also eliminating and enhancing shine.
Now, if you’re looking into a ceramic flat iron, they are ideal for those with moderately damaged to normal hair.
They can also be used by those with thin or thick hair.
Ceramic hair straighteners give you the best of both worlds in that they are effective but not expensive.
Even while they are effective, they’re not as superior to their other counterparts like titanium or tourmaline.
While they won’t give you snags or promote breakage, you might be able to notice that your hair isn’t as easily straightened or as shiny as it might be with a different type.
Regardless, ceramic flat irons are great if you’re just looking for something that can get the job done.
Tourmaline flat irons are the last option you’re probably left with.
Ideal for those with hair types ranging from thin to coarse, they can also be used to cover the spectrum of those with damaged or healthy hair.
When it comes to flat irons, tourmaline is considered the best of the best, and there are a few reasons for that.
Considered a semi-precious material, tourmaline is mixed with ceramic plates in order to make the plate.
This combination brings about a few great things in this choice of flat iron.
One, tourmaline is able to help lock more moisture into the hair.
It’s also able to give you smoother, silkier hair than a titanium flat iron could because it generates even more negative ions.
Essentially, when it comes to the health of your hair, you’ll find that tourmaline flat irons have the best overall benefits to your tresses.
What Size Straightener Should You Use?
The size of the straightener that you choose to use should directly relate to the length of your hair.
Here’s what you need to know.
If you have mid-length hair, your best bet is with a standard 1-inch straightener.
This is what’s going to help you do your hair in a reasonable amount of time.
Now, if you have extremely short or long hair, this is where you might want to branch away from the standard.
For those with short hair, you’ll find that smaller flat irons will be your best bet.
There are options out there with plates that are smaller than one inch.
What you might also find is that these smaller alternatives are great for getting your roots.
After straightening your hair, it’s easy for our roots to lose their smooth, straight texture, especially in hot and humid conditions.
These smaller flat irons are also great for focusing on your roots without having to apply more heat to areas that might not need it.
Lastly, if you have long hair, 1 inch straighteners might not be enough for you.
There are also larger options.
While they’re not as common, some brands have options for plate sizes up to 2.5 inches.
If you have long, thick curly hair, a larger plate is definitely needed to help you shorten and streamline the process.
What Temperature Should You Straighten Your Hair With?
If you have natural, textured hair, you’re going to need high temperatures to straighten your hair.
With straighteners reaching temperatures of 455, you might think that you should consider styling your hair at this heat.
DON’T.
Temperatures over 400 degrees can be extremely damaging to the hair.
What you want to do first is blow dry your hair with cold air before moving on to styling it with a straightener.
This will help diminish the potential heat damage that you might be exposing your hair to.
After blow drying your hair, feel free to use heat between 350 and 400 degrees.
There are a few other factors to consider when determining what temperature to use.
If you have colored hair, it’s best to keep the temperature below 390 degrees.
Lastly, for those with already heat damaged hair, it’s best to keep the temperature around 350 degrees.
Things To Avoid
When it comes to straightening your hair, there are a few things you should avoid.
Don’t straighten wet hair.
You might think that straightening your hair while it’s wet is a good idea.
It’s not.
You can cause further damage to your hair.
It is actually easier to heat damage wet hair than dry hair, so let it dry!
As we mentioned previously, hair bubbles are a thing.
This happens when you attempt to straighten wet hair.
Not only can it cause the hair to look bumpy, but it will feel rough to the touch as well.
Don’t straighten hair that hasn’t been detangled.
If you’re thinking about straightening your hair when it hasn’t been detangled, the joke is on you.
But trust us, you won’t laugh at the end of it.
When your hair hasn’t been detangled, it makes it that much easier for you to miss sections of hair.
Plus, you can actually cause your hair to get even more tangled.
When using a flat iron on your hair, make sure you part it into sections and comb or brush the sections out before using the straightener on the section.
Don’t use a flat iron that is dirty.
At some point in time, you might realize that your flat iron isn’t working as well as it once was.
This could be because there’s product build up on it.
You might not be able to see it, but if you use products in your hair, it’s there.
Instead, make sure you periodically clean your flat iron.
In order to accomplish this, you’ll need to turn on your flat iron and put in on a low setting.
Once it’s warm, get a towel and apply a bit of rubbing alcohol on it.
After unplugging your flat iron, carefully wipe the blades with the towel.
Et voila!
You’ll now have a clean flat iron.
Don’t straighten your hair every day.
This is a big DON’T and probably one of the most important ones.
Straightening your hair everyday is the easiest way to cause damage.
While you might want to maintain the look of your straight hair, there are ways to preserve it.
Consider styles like wrapping your hair to keep your roots and straight hair intact.
Don’t let your hair sizzle.
If your hair is sizzling while you flat iron it, there’s a problem.
That either means that your hair is wet or there’s product build up on the flat iron.
For the latter problem, follow the previous steps to clean your flat iron.
When straightening your hair, your hair needs to be completely dry and this accounts for your heat protectant as well.
It is important that you allow any products used on your hair to dry before beginning the process.
Flat Iron Brands
So which brands are making top quality flat irons for curly haired women?
I’ll be honest, there are a few!
While this isn’t a complete list, here’s a few that created some products in this article:
Best Flat Irons For Curly Hair Conclusion
Just because you were born with naturally curly hair doesn’t mean that you can’t change up your look from time to time.
With the flat irons on this list and a few tips and tricks to follow, you too can have beautifully straightened hair from time to time.
And curly haired women aren’t the only one who can achieve it!
If you’re a naturalista who is also looking to straighten your hair without ruining your texture, check out these flat iron options for natural hair.