Byrdie Editors Tested Hair Straighteners for Three Years—These 9 Are the Hall of Fame (2024)

TL;DR

The best straightener overall is the Chi Lava 4D Hairstyling Iron. It heats up within seconds and gives the hair a sleek and healthy sheen with just one pass. If you’re looking for an option under $100, we recommend the Tymo Ring Plus. Its comb shape easily glides through the hair to provide straight (but voluminous) shape.

Our Top Picks

Plate Type: Ceramic | Max Temperature: 450 F | Plate Width: 1 inch

This iron gives us everything we want in a straightening tool: smooth, glossy hair in one pass that stays frizz-free all day. As the name suggests, this unique iron has volcanic lava minerals in the ceramic plates, making it easier for the hair to get straight at a lower temperature with fewer passes on each strand. During testing, we loved that it heated up within seconds and glided through the hair smoothly without getting caught in snags or knots. The tool has an 11-foot cord that made it easy to move around the entire head, and while it was somewhat bulky, it was comfortable to hold for an extended period. It also has a lock feature, which we found beneficial for easy storage and traveling, and it shuts off automatically after about an hour. While we didn’t love that it only has fixed temperature settings (370, 390, 410, 430, and 450 degrees), we’re still giving it top honors for the beautiful results we achieved.

Plate Type: Ceramic | Max Temperature: 410 F | Plate Width: n/a

A straightener doesn’t have to break the bank. We’re big fans of the $70 Tymo Ring Plus, a comb-like straightening brush you’ve probably seen all over your TikTok feed for straightening all hair types easily and quickly. It has ionic ceramic plates that run smoothly through tangled hair to create a sleek but bouncy shape. We love that it comes with various accessories, including a separate detangling brush, a heat-protecting glove, clips, and a carrying bag so you have everything you need to style your hair. It’s very light and feels comfortable in the hands even when straightening for a long time, which is a must for thicker hair types. We think this is an impressive pick for those who find using a standard flat iron makes their strands look thin and lifeless, as this boosts the hair’s volume. You will need a separate styling tool if you like to add curls after straightening, but we still love that it’s so easy to use and gives excellent results.

Plate Type: Titanium | Max Temperature: 450 F | Plate Width: 0.5 inch

Those with damaged hair should stay away from heat entirely, but we recommend this one if you have to use a flat iron. Its shape may look strange initially, but the gap between the plates on either side minimizes heat exposure, leading to fewer damaged strands. You can also customize the temperature for the top and bottom plates if your hair is super sensitive to heat (or you’re just trying to be vigilant about damage). While using it, we loved that it didn’t pull at our strands and added a nice, healthy shine to the hair. This is most likely due to the ionic technology, which can reduce static for a smooth style. It can effectively straighten all hair types with an ergonomic shape that’s easy to hold. Our one drawback is that it doesn’t display the temperature, but there are five heat settings up to 450 degrees.

Plate Type: Titanium | Max Temperature: 440 F | Plate Width: 1.25 inch

This flat iron has a lightweight construction that’s easy to hold and doesn’t cause sore arms or tiredness after hours of styling (and its white-and-gold colorway will look chic on your vanity). The iron also has multiple features that make the process easier and quicker, like a digital display that stops flashing once it reaches the desired temperature, a 30-minute automatic shutoff, and ionic plates that reduce static. The rounded floating plates are probably the best part, as you can quickly straighten, curl, and add waves to the hair with just this one tool. It can be tricky to reach the roots since the plates are slightly thick, but it becomes easier with continued use.

Plate Type: Manganese copper alloy | Max Temperature: 410 F | Plate Width: 1.6 inch

If you don’t mind splurging and want to get the most out of your money, Dyson’s Corrale Straightener is the one for you. The iron has various features—it’s cordless and has automatic temperature adjustments, flexing plates to create more tension, auto shutoff, and even an airplane mode option for traveling. While it is a little heavy, its high-end technology efficiently straightens—and you get super-sleek results on all hair types. It heats up in seconds and gets the hair pin-straight in one to three passes (depending on hair type and temperature). We also love that you can rest the iron between each hair section on the included charging dock that charges fully in 30 minutes.

Plate Type: Ceramic | Max Temperature: 450 F | Plate Width: 1 inch

Thick hair types know that not every flat iron can get their hair pin-straight, especially if it’s curly or coarse. This pick from Ion has magnesium-ceramic plates to distribute the heat evenly throughout each strand, leaving the hair soft and perfectly sleek with one pass. It also reaches 450 degrees, the recommended temperature for straightening coarse hair types. While testing, we loved that the slightly wider plates created a lot of tension to make larger sections of hair smooth and straight. The outside of the iron has a matte, grippy texture, so it didn’t slip even after hours of use (and sweaty hands). The result was hair that looked super healthy without any frizz.

Plate Type: Ceramic | Max Temperature: 410 F | Plate Width: 1 inch

True to its name, this iron can give a variety of hair types completely straight hair with fewer passes than other straighteners. It comes with wide ceramic plates that glide smoothly through the strands, and it’s easy to straighten large sections of hair. While testing, we loved that it heated up quickly and was easy to maneuver and grab the hair from all angles. Even without brushing the hair all the way out, we still got the sleek results we desired. It comes with nine preset temperature settings, but you can also select your hair texture (fine, medium, or coarse), and it’ll select a specific temperature. Even if you’re accustomed to using a particular amount of heat, we recommend using this function as the iron can run quite hot—and we were able to straighten our hair with the selected setting (even though it was lower than what we usually use).

Plate Type: Ceramic and titanium | Max Temperature: 455 F | Plate Width: 1 inch

If you like to add curls after straightening but don’t necessarily want to whip out a curling iron every time, you should try this straightener from Hot Tools. It has slim plates and rounded edges that easily straighten your strands and add curls or a bend at the ends. It’s also a great pick if you prefer a voluminous style over hair that’s pin-straight. Regarding features, it heats up to the maximum temperature in less than a minute (and dings so you know it’s ready). This flat iron also has an LED temperature display and combo ceramic-titanium plates that distribute the heat evenly throughout each section to reduce damage. Since it’s thinner than other options on this list, you might have to start with smaller sections of hair—but its shape makes it easier to get to your roots (a plus for thick or coarse hair types).

Plate Type: Ceramic | Max Temperature: 365 F | Plate Width: 2 inches

Naturally frizzy hair types know that not all flat irons effectively reduce static, and some can even worsen it. For a completely frizz-free style, we recommend the GHD Max Styler. A lab test done by the brand showed that it could reduce twice the amount of frizz and add 80% more shine for hair that looks healthy and glossy. In our own test, we loved that it heated up in exactly 30 seconds, felt lightweight, and only took two passes to get the hair completely straight. The wide plates are great for flat ironing larger sections, and it has a 9-foot cord for easy styling. We only wish it had more temperature options since the only heat setting is 365 degrees.

FAQ

• What’s the difference between a ceramic and titanium straightener?

  The majority of flat irons have either ceramic or titanium plates. “Ceramic flat irons distribute heat evenly and are less harsh on hair, while titanium flat irons heat up rapidly and retain a higher temperature, offering a smoother finish and faster styling,” says Fitzsimons. He recommends ceramic irons for those with fine or damaged hair, as they can be gentler on your strands. Hairstylist Yene Damtew also recommends ceramic plates for those with textured hair who like to go back and forth between curly and straight styles, as it distributes the heat gently to not affect the natural curl pattern. Titanium irons are best for those with thick or coarse hair who are more experienced and want to style their hair quickly (as titanium options get much hotter and faster). If you have trouble deciding which is best for you, Fitzsimons recommends consulting with your stylist.

• How often can you straighten the hair without causing damage?

  According to Fitzsimons, you shouldn’t use a flat iron more than two to three times a week, and aheat protectantshould be applied with everyuse. “To use a flat iron while avoiding damage, use the lowest heat setting necessary for your hair type,” he says. “Fine or damaged hair requires lower temperatures around 300 degrees, and thicker hair can withstand higher heat up to 450 degrees.”