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Best Overall
Paul Mitchell Express Ion Style+ Ceramic Flat Iron
Best for Unruly Hair
Sutra IR2 Infrared Flat Iron
Best for Easy-to-Straighten Hair
T3 Singlepass Smooth X
Best for Travel
Chi Lava Ministyler
Some people are born with hair that stays naturally smooth in the face of moisture. Some of us, however, need a hair straightener to flatten our wayward locks into submission. This could be the classic flat iron, a hot comb, or even a dryer/straightener combo. Given the overwhelming number of options on the market at all price points, we put more than 30 hair straighteners to the test over weeks, months, and in some cases, years on a range of hair types, from fine waves to thick, unruly ringlet curls. These are our favorite devices in each major category—as the old adage goes, a good stylist is cheaper than a good therapist. (Even more so if that stylist is you.)
Do I Want Ceramic or Titanium Plates?
Most flat irons come with plates made of either ceramic or titanium, with little explanation on or within the packaging of the differences between the two. Luckily, we’re here to help.
Ceramic plates heat up gently and evenly with fewer hot spots, usually maxing out at a lower temperature than titanium. This makes them less damaging to hair that’s thin, fine, breakable, or color-treated. However, they take longer to heat up than titanium, and because they don’t get as hot, they usually need more passes to get hair perfectly flat. This isn’t a problem for hair that’s relatively easy to straighten, but those with especially stubborn curls or texture may find that using ceramic plates makes the whole process take too long, thereby exposing their hair to more heat. Some ceramic plates are also coated or infused with tourmaline, a mineral that emits negative ions to supposedly cancel out the positive ions that cause frizz; copper, which is known for even heating; or aluminum for higher resistance.
Titanium plates heat up much more quickly than ceramic (though typically not as evenly), and they usually can reach a higher temperature—typically 450 degrees Fahrenheit. An iron with titanium plates needs fewer passes to get that perfectly straight look, but the higher heat can inflict more damage. Titanium plates are best used by those with thick, coarse, or stubborn hair, and while flat-iron users should always use a heat protectant before straightening, those using titanium plates should definitely use one. See below for some staff favorites.
How We Test Hair Straighteners
For each straightener, I start with freshly washed hair, blow-dried with the same heat protectant (see below for a list of favorites). I then straighten my hair from roots to tip in sections, keeping mindful of how long an iron takes to heat up, how much it weighs (I weigh just the body itself on a kitchen scale), what features are helpful, and how many passes it takes to turn my frizzy locks shiny and smooth. I then go about my daily activities, including walks in my humid Pacific Northwest neighborhood, to see whether my hair stays straight or puffs up again immediately. I then use the straightener for daily touch-ups until it’s time to wash my hair again.
A lot of hot hair tools, including most on our list, claim to release negative ions to protect your hair. I used to chalk this up to marketing-speak, but hairstylists I spoke with say ions are helpful.
London-based hairstylist Hollie Rose Clarke says ions in hair tools keep the cuticle layer of your hair smooth, so you’ll get a shinier, frizz-free result. “Think of a strand of your hair as being the size of my arm, covered in fish scales (the cuticles),” she says. “When the hair is damaged, they open slightly, resulting in dry, frizzy, and weak hair. When the hair is healthy they are closed, resulting in your hair feeling smoother and stronger.”
Abra McField, founder of Abra Kadabra Hair and Healing, says hair is usually positively charged due to its water content, and the negative ions these flat irons generate can help dissipate that water. “You get controlled application of the heat you are applying, and you are able to use only as much heat as you need to smooth and straighten your hair, which can prevent damage.”
Ionic hair dryers are similar, with some caveats. “If you have finer hair and you are wanting as much body and volume as possible, the ionic dryer may not be the best,” McField says. “So generally it’s best to get a dryer with an ionic option that can be turned on and off.”
What to Look for in a Good Hair Tool
It’s all a bit confusing. A straightener can be a flat iron, and a flat iron is a straightener, but not all straighteners are flat irons. They come in other forms too, including brushes and combs. No matter which you go with, what you call it, or what your budget is, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
- It should be easy to hold and maneuver. If a flat iron needs all your might to keep the plates closed, you’re going to be in pain by the end of your straightening session.
- It should have a range of easy-to-read temperatures. Dials with no indication of what temperature you’re using are frustrating, and you can end up burning your hair or skin.
- It shouldn’t snag hair. This is a common problem among flat irons, as hair can get caught in cheap plates and pulled out. Look for beveled designs, which help prevent this.
- Flat irons should never be used on wet hair. Only style wet and damp hair if the tool is made for that, like a blow-dry brush or Dyson’s Airstrait.
How Often Can I Straighten My Hair?
It’s important to remember that flat irons can cause heat damage–especially if you’re using your straightener often. Straightening it not only dries out your hair cuticle (the outermost layer of your hair) but also alters the structure of your hair proteins. This type of damage can materialize in the form of breakage, split ends, rough texture, frizz, or super dry strands. So, it’s best to try and limit how often you reach for your flat iron.
As Byrdie points out, the general rule (regardless of hair type) is to limit it to two or three times per week. But for specific hair types, the frequency varies. For curly hair, you should only straighten it a maximum of two times per week. With coily, wavy, and straight hair, it’s best to use a straightener as little as possible. As Byrdie notes, you can apply a higher heat setting (between 400 and 420 degrees Fahrenheit) to coily hair while a lower temperature setting should be applied to straight hair (between 350 and 380 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature range is a bit wider for wavy hair. You should keep the straightener between 250 degrees and 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
For even more style, check out some of our other hair-related guides, including the Best Hair Dryers, Best Curling Irons, Best Beard Trimmers, and Why a Silk Pillowcase Can’t Fix Your Curly Hair Problems.
Updated December 2024: We’ve added the Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Hair Straightener and Shark FlexFusion, reorganized some picks and removed a discontinued flat iron, moved the section of blow-dry brushes into a separate buying guide (coming soon!), and updated links and prices throughout.
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Photograph: Kat Merck
Best Overall
Paul Mitchell Express Ion Style+ Ceramic Flat Iron
What makes a “good” hair straightener is subjective, given the wide range of hair types and preferences, but this unassuming iron from Paul Mitchell is likely to satisfy most people. It’s sturdy but still reasonably lightweight, with a 9-ounce body, plus its 1-inch plates are easy to maneuver for those who also like to create waves and flips. The buttons on the inside are recessed to avoid accidental pushes, and there’s a simple digital display on top to indicate the temperature. The plates are ceramic to minimize damage, but surprisingly, I found them to work almost as well as titanium on my blow-dried 3A curls, That’s despite the lower maximum temperature (in this case, 410 degrees Fahrenheit), which takes one minute to heat up, as accurately indicated on the box. This efficacy could be due to the iron’s ion technology (see below for an explanation).
I prefer the quick power of the Sutra IR2 for straightening my hair “from scratch” (freshly washed and blow-dried), but this is my favorite iron for daily touch-ups given its size, effectiveness, and maneuverability. It’s also former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s favorite flat iron overall—she’s been using an Express Ion Style+ since she was in college. She also recommends the similar 1.25-inch Ion Smooth+ model ($130) for those who are used to maneuvering larger tools.
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 160-410 degrees Number of heat settings: 4 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after 1 hour -
Photograph: Kat Merck
Best for Unruly Hair
Sutra IR2 Infrared Flat Iron
I’ve used many a straightener in over 30 years of ironing my 3A curls, and this titanium-plated iron with a thin inlaid infrared strip on the bottom (which Sutra says is part of its proprietary “Healthy Heat” system and helps to seal the hair cuticle) means business. It’s one of the only irons I’ve used that can turn my difficult frizz all-day flat and shiny in one pass.
The Sutra’s 1-inch plates heat up to a rip-roaring 450 degrees Fahrenheit in a surprisingly quick 23 seconds with a push of a button. This high temperature is its default setting, for better or worse, so those who like a lower heat might prefer an iron they don’t have to turn down each time they turn it on. Also, the IR2’s matte black and rose gold body, while quite solid, isn’t the lightest I’ve used at 13 ounces, so some people might find their hand getting fatigued. Mine did not, however, even though I have mid-back-length hair.
★ An affordable alternative: Hair doesn’t come out as shiny—and doesn’t stay straight quite as long—as with the Sutra, nor does this iron heat up as fast (about a minute compared with the Sutra’s 23 seconds), but I was impressed with the Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Hair Straightener ($90) as a really solid titanium-plate entry that handles tough straightening tasks with aplomb. Be aware that during our testing the matte-white finish seemed to attract stains rather quickly, from eyeshadow to tinted dry shampoo, but it’s still a great pick for someone with super-curly hair who isn’t ready to shell out $175.
Specs Plate type: Titanium Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 190-450 degrees Number of heat settings: 15 Auto-shutoff? Yes
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Photograph: Kat Merck
Best for Easy-to-Straighten Hair
T3 Singlepass Smooth X
This pretty pink flat iron’s claim to fame is its 1-inch ceramic plates being 4 1/2 inches long as opposed to the typical 4 inches, which allows for more straightening surface area. The plates also feature a proprietary “CeraGloss” finish that purportedly adds shine to hair. I wasn’t able to discern a ton of benefit from the extra 1/2 inch of plate, as like most ceramic irons, the Singlepass Smooth X still took three to four passes to fully flatten my blow-dried 3A curls.
There was a slight increase in shine from the CeraGloss, but the real standout benefit to this iron is its nine proprietary heat settings with an internal microchip that controls heat fluctuations. (It’s irritating that the heat settings are identified by a strip of indicator lights, not exact temperatures, which are listed in the user manual.) It allows those who prefer ceramic irons to find their Goldilocks setting with the confidence it will be consistent each time. This iron is actually my 73-year-old mother’s favorite, as she loves that the power button is on top, not on the underside near the hot plates, and appreciates that she can find even, effective temperatures for her fine waves.
★ Similar, but with shorter plates: The T3 SinglePass Style Max ($150) is basically the Smooth X, above, but with two more sets of fussy buttons that didn’t seem to add anything to the straightening experience. However, if you love the features of the Smooth X but want the better maneuverability of shorter plates, this iron might be the better choice. Like the Smooth X, it’s a great pick for minimizing damage and maximizing shine for easy-to-straighten hair, but those with thick, curly hair may need three or four passes instead of the advertised “single.”
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 240-410 degrees Number of heat settings: 9 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after 1 hour -
Photograph: Kat Merck
Best for Travel
Chi Lava Ministyler
Just looking at this compact, elegant flat iron from Chi’s Lava line—whose claim to fame is ceramic plates infused with lava rock for even heat distribution—has me fantasizing about taking it on a cruise or trip to some glamorous European hotel. While I couldn’t discern a difference between the lava plates and standard ceramic plates, I appreciate that this iron is dual voltage for international travel, has three heat settings (340, 380, and 410 degrees Fahrenheit), and at 6.5 inches long is small enough to fit in a larger toiletry bag.
Be forewarned that the plates, while 1.5 inches wide, are only 3 inches long, and the maximum temperature is relatively low, so it would be too tedious to straighten long or super-curly hair “from scratch”—I tried, and had to give up after one section. However, it did a fine job on touch-ups during my testing, smoothing rough sections about as well as a larger Chi iron like the one below.
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 340-410 degrees Number of heat settings: 3 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after one hour
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Photograph: Kat Merck
Best Budget Straightener
Conair Infiniti Pro
This was former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s favorite low-cost hair straightener, and after using it myself over the course of a week, I agree that it checks a surprising number of boxes for the price. It’s got tourmaline ceramic plates (see above for an explanation of tourmaline’s benefits), heats up to an impressive 455 degrees Fahrenheit, and also boasts a mind-boggling 30 heat settings accessible via a small dial on the side. It’s also got a generous five-year warranty.
Granted, it still took multiple passes at max temperature to smooth my blow-dried 3A frizz, which had me worrying a bit near the end of my trail about my hair health, and the iron’s 6-ounce body—half the weight of a pricier iron—felt pretty flimsy. It also took significantly longer to heat up than the 15-second claim on the box. But it did indeed straighten my notoriously stubborn hair, albeit in more time and with visibly less shine than imparted by pricier irons. That said, for 25 bucks, it’s definitely worth adding to your arsenal.
Specs Plate type: Tourmaline ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 320-455 degrees Number of heat settings: 30 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after one hour -
Photograph: Amazon
An Amazon Bestseller
CHI Original Ceramic Flat Iron
Chi is highly regarded, and this straightener in particular is an almost permanent feature at the top of Amazon’s bestsellers list. It comes with a lot of hype, and in my testing it more than lived up to it. Its ceramic plates heat up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit (202 Celsius) in seconds—it’s one of the fastest straighteners I’ve tried—and it creates sleek styles with minimal passes. Its curved edges make it great for creating soft curls and flicks, and it feels super lightweight.
There are a couple of sacrifices you make for this cheaper price. The hinge has a tendency to trap and pull on the hair, and the outer plastic gets hot while styling, making it uncomfortable to touch. It doesn’t burn the skin, it’s just hotter than other straighteners I’ve tried. Neither of these complaints are enough to outweigh just how good it is for the price, though. —Victoria Woollaston-Webber
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): N/A, max 392 degrees Number of heat settings: 3 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after one hour
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Photograph: T3
Smart Heat Control
T3 Smooth ID Straightener
The T3 Smooth ID hair straightener would be in our top spot if it wasn’t so expensive. But it might be worthwhile if you’re concerned about hair damage. Most hot hair tools claim to cause less damage than the competition, but the T3 actually delivers with a unique temperature-finding feature the company calls HeatID Technology. To set the right temperature, select your hair features via the touch controls on the iron’s handle: texture (fine, medium, coarse), length (short, medium, long), and whether your hair is color-treated. It will then suggest a heat level. I also love its Refresh Mode for touching up hair later at a lower temperature based on previous settings.
It can create gorgeous curls too. Once you perfect that flick of the wrist, your hair will look like you just came from the salon. If you’d rather have two dedicated hair tools, the company also has a curling iron ($249) with the same HeatID tech. —Medea Giordano
★ More luxury: We love the Dyson Corrale ($500) (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but it’s extremely expensive. It makes you feel fancy, like all Dyson tools tend to do, and its flexing plates quickly get your hair straighter with less heat—they curve around the hair, avoiding the splaying-out effect and uneven heat distribution that plague other flat irons. Still, it has flaws for a $500 hair straightener. It can be used without a cord, but the battery life is too short to straighten my whole head of hair. The onboard battery also makes it quite heavy.
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): N/A Number of heat settings: 9 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after one hour -
Photograph: Medea Giordano
A Ceramic Hot-Plate OG
GHD Chronos
Manufacturer GHD pioneered the use of the ceramic hot plate, and its newest straightener proves that it’s a leader in the space. The GHD Chronos is the next step up from the Platinum+, and has the same 1-inch plates, a power button on the inside, and one temperature option—365 degrees Fahrenheit. However, instead of its older Ultra-Zone technology, the Chronos is the only hair tool to include the company’s new HD Motion-Responsive technology, which delivers even heat distribution based on your styling motion. With curvier styling plates and a redesigned hinge, it’s also better for curling hair.
With my coarse and thick hair, I typically crank my flat iron up to the highest heat setting (which ranges between 400 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit). So, I assumed the single 365 degrees Fahrenheit would require multiple passes and take forever to get through all of my hair. I couldn’t be more wrong. It not only took one pass per section but I was done in under 10 minutes. My hair also felt extremely healthy, frizz-free, and super shiny—which is exactly how I describe straightening my hair with the more expensive Airstrait ($500). Although I wasn’t a fan of the inability to control the temperature at first, it forced me to apply less heat and do less damage to my hair. —Brenda Stolyar
★ A less expensive GHD alternative: The Platinum+ is still a great option. And at $289, it’s a little cheaper. It’s sleek and comfortable to hold, which makes it great for creating curls and for straight styles. As with the Chronos, it comes with one temperature setting—365 degrees Fahrenheit. WIRED contributor Victoria Woollaston-Webber says it was enough heat for her fine hair, but it didn’t cut it for reviewer Medea Giordano’s thick hair.
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 365 degrees Number of heat settings: 1 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after 10 minutes
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Photograph: Medea Giordano
For Total Tension
Drybar Reserve Vibrating Styling Iron
This one is the most unique of all the hair straighteners I’ve used, because it comes with vibrating technology. According to Drybar, the feature creates “the perfect amount of tension to avoid harsh pulls.” I was skeptical until I saw it work. I tested whether the vibration makes a difference by straightening the left side of my head with the feature turned off and the right side of my head with it on (there’s a dedicated button to turn it on and off). I can confirm—it does. The left side took me about two to three passes on my coarse, thick strands, while the right side took only one pass. The latter was also noticeably shinier. It was easy to curl my hair with too. My curls held a lot longer throughout the day with the additional tension—even without hairspray. It barely snagged my hair, either. I only saw a few strands in the sink after I was done, but that’s normal for me.
It’s only available in a 1-inch ceramic plate size, but it still worked well for my longer hair (which reaches a few inches past my shoulders). You’ll also have the choice between five heat settings: 250 degrees, 300 degrees, 350 degrees, 400 degrees, and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The company recommends the highest heat setting for thick/coarse hair, but I was able to successfully straighten my hair at 400 degrees in only 10 minutes. My straight, shiny locks also lasted for multiple days before I had to touch up my hair again. It makes me wonder why all flat irons don’t incorporate similar vibrations. —Brenda Stolyar
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 250-450 degrees Number of heat settings: 5 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after one hour -
Photograph: Amazon
When Two Plates Isn’t Enough
Revlon Double Straight Dual Plate Hair Straightener
If you can look past its slightly odd shape, the Revlon Double Straight’s four-plate design makes a lot of sense. As you pass the Double Straight over your hair, the first two plates straighten, while the second two “reinforce” the style. This effectively allows you to make two passes in one, which reduces both the time it takes to complete the style and the risk of heat damage. I found this to be largely true, although to get the full effect you need to pass it over your hair slightly more slowly than you would do normally, which cuts into the time-saving benefits a little.
Heat-wise, this Revlon offers the most temperature settings of any straighteners I’ve tried. There are 10 to choose from, ranging from 285 degrees Fahrenheit (140 Celsius) up to 455 degrees Fahrenheit (235 Celsius), which makes this a great choice for every hair type. I expected the copper ceramic plates to pull on the hair, due to the fact there are four of them and they’re so far apart, but they glide over it easily. The plates are also smaller than I had imagined—each one is half an inch whereas standard plates measure 1 inch—but they still cover similar widths of hair as standard straighteners. The biggest downside to the design is that it’s much harder to use these straighteners for curls. Not impossible, but difficult. —Victoria Woollaston-Webber
★ A four-plate alternative: Hot Tools sells an almost identical straightener, the Black Gold Dual Plate Flat Iron ($130), with the same cut-out look, the same four-plate design, and the same performance. They even max out at the same top temperature of 455 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot Tools bumps the number of heat settings to 30—three times the already impressive 10 on the Revlon model—but it’s also almost three times the price.
Specs Plate type: Copper ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 285-455 degrees Number of heat settings: 10 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after 1 hour
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
A 2-in-1 Tool
Tymo Airflow
If you don’t need a tool as extensive as the Bio Ionic above, the Tymo Airflow is also a great option. It’s almost identical to the L’ange Le Duo Airflow Styler we’ve tested (below), but this one is a bit more affordable (you can typically find it on sale for under $100). It’s a two-in-one device that can curl and straighten your hair. With 3D floating plates, a ceramic finish, and a rounded form factor, it looks like a curler and is also easy to use as a flat iron. But it shines as the latter (though it does a nice job delivering softer curls), leaving my wavy, fine hair smooth and straight hair after each use.
The heat settings range from 284 degrees to 428 degrees Fahrenheit, but Tymo has a guide on which one to choose based on your hair type. I use 360 degrees as my preferred heat setting, however, I do wish there were more options than the five presets. It also comes equipped with a second button on the handle that has a little fan symbol on it. This turns on cool air that blows through the 88 ionic air vents on the Tymo Airflow’s barrel, which is where the name comes from. It’s a cool feature, but I didn’t find that my hair stayed straighter or curlier longer after using it. —Nena Farrell
Specs Plate type: Ceramic tourmaline Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 284-428 degrees Number of heat settings: 5 Auto-shutoff? N/A -
Photograph: Amazon
A Straightener That Runs on Steam
L’Oreal Steampod
You might think steam would be the enemy of straight hair, but it actually moisturizes hair while the heat flattens it into shape. According to L’Oreal, this feature allows the Steampod to gently dry the outer shaft without drying the core. When you go outside, especially in humid conditions, the hair then doesn’t absorb any of the extra moisture and remains frizz-free.
To use, first fill up the built-in water tank. Once it reaches the desired temperature—the Steampod ranges from 356 degrees Fahrenheit (180 Celsius) to 410 degrees Fahrenheit (210 Celsius)–it blasts a flow of high-pressure steam over your hair as the plates clamp around it. My hair was shinier and felt less dry when using the Steampod, and as promised, it didn’t become a frizzy mess after a workout. The Steampod doesn’t quite give the poker-straight style I’m used to from hot plates, and the curls I created didn’t hold as long as they usually do. It’s also a little fiddly to use: You have to always have the comb facing down. Yet it left my hair feeling healthy, soft, and less unwieldy, so I’ll make that sacrifice. —Victoria Woollaston-Webber
Specs Plate type: Aluminum-coated ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 350-410 degrees Number of heat settings: 3 Auto-shutoff? No
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Photograph: Tymo
A New Kind of Comb
Tymo Ring
I’d seen the Tymo Ring all over social media for years before trying it, and the wait was worth it. It’s like a traditional hot comb and a straightening brush in one, but you can get closer to your roots without burning yourself than you can with a comb, because there’s an outer shell covering the hot teeth. Straightening brushes aren’t usually a one-stop shop for my hair, and that was the case here. I did need to go over my hair with a flat iron to smooth out some of the puffiness left behind, but the Tymo Ring took the curl right out quickly—I didn’t have to go over sections more than once or twice.
This bundle includes a hot tool glove, which worked well with the Tymo but burned when I used it with another curling iron that reached that same temperature. Be aware that it’s not made for direct contact on a hot plate. —Medea Giordano
★ If you prefer a brush: As someone who needs to straighten thick and curly hair, I admit I haven’t had much luck with hot brushes in the past, as they don’t work nearly as well as a flat iron. However, many people prefer them, and Hairitage’s Smooth Sailing Heated Ceramic Straightening Brush ($36) is one of the better hot brushes I’ve tried—while it won’t smooth hair as well as a flat iron, it’s lightweight and the nubby “bristles” are short enough to not snag my hair.
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 266-410 degrees Number of heat settings: 5 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after 30 minutes -
Photograph: RevAir
A Dryer-Straightener Hybrid
RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer (2022)
Straightening my hair used to be a two-day affair. I’d wash all the product out the night before, let it air-dry, then braid it before bed so that the next day, the curls were looser and easier to work through. Then, and only then, could I go in with a flat iron. With the RevAir, I can decide to straighten my hair at literally any time. It’s a luxury I’ve never known before.
If you can afford it, and find a cabinet it fits in, the RevAir is incredible. In goes wet, curly hair, and out comes straight, dry hair without much effort on your part. I was obsessed with the first RevAir and even more impressed with the second iteration (9/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s a bit smaller and lighter, but more expensive than the last one. I was terrified that its vacuumlike hose would rip my hair right out, but my follicles are still intact. It creates enough tension to remove the curl without actually pulling, and it works way faster than a blow-dry brush. For me, I still wanted to smooth out my hair with an iron, but those with smoother curls won’t need to do that extra step—I tested it on a friend and she ended up with perfectly straight hair after. —Medea Giordano
Specs Plate type: N/A Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 158 and 220 degrees Number of heat settings: 2 Auto-shutoff? No
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Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
A Wet-to-Dry Straightener
Dyson Airstrait Straightener
I was afraid the new batch of wet-to-dry stylers would sizzle hair off like the ones in the early 2000s. But now there are a few that actually work. Dyson’s Airstrait (9/10, WIRED Recommends) has the same form factor as a standard flat iron, but instead of hot plates, it uses airflow to dry and straighten your hair simultaneously. Using one focused jet of air that moves downward, it dries your hair with a natural, smooth finish. You’ll also have the option between two main styling modes (wet and dry) and three temperature settings for each. I typically use it on wet mode to fully dry my hair and switch to dry mode to flatten any puffiness. The entire process, which normally takes about 45 minutes, now only takes 12 to 15 minutes.
It’s worth noting the Airstrait might not work on multiple hair types, despite Dyson’s claims. It works great on my short, curly locks regardless of whether they’re wet or dry. But reviewer Medea Giordano’s hair is very coarse and also much curlier than mine. The Airstrait worked well on her damp and dry hair, but she prefers using the RevAir when styling wet hair because it’s faster and dries larger sections. The Airstrait, on the other hand, does a better job of smoothing her hair when it’s damp or dry. —Brenda Stolyar
★ An affordable alternative: For a hundred dollars less, Shark’s FlexFusion ($400) operates in much the same way as the Airstrait, with concentrated hot air rather than plates. There’s definitely a learning curve—I had to consult multiple TikTok videos to figure out how and when each of the five attachments is used, especially since the order seems to vary by personal preference and hair type, but I think I have it down now. (“Rough dry” with the hair dryer, then straightening attachment, then finish with the brush attachment and curl attachments if desired.) Like the Airstrait, it does not result in the kind of pin-straight hair you’d get from a traditional flat iron, but my hair was quite noticeably softer after using this for several wash days in a row, so I fully believe its claims of being less damaging for hair. Be forewarned, however, that the hair dryer attachment by itself is unusually loud—those with sensitive hearing may want to wear earplugs.
Specs Plate type: No plates Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 175-285 degrees Number of heat settings: 3 Auto-shutoff? Yes -
Photograph: GHD
Another Hybrid Tool
GHD Duet Style
The GHD Duet Style looks very much like a large flat iron, except that hot air vents are on the center of each arm to dry your wet hair with a single pass. You can stop there, or, if you want to add extra shine, you can switch the Duet Style to Shine Shot Mode. This turns off the air, and turns on two thin ceramic plates, thus transforming the Duet Style into a traditional hot-plate straightener.
In my time testing the Duet Style, the Wet mode was more than enough to create poker straight styles. The only time I used the Shine Shot Mode was when I hadn’t quite managed to straighten the shorter hairs around my hairline. However, if you have thicker or longer hair, you’ll likely find the Shine Shot Mode much more useful. The hot plates are what sets the Duet Style apart from the Airstrait, which by comparison only uses hot air, but in terms of usage and design they produce the same outcome. This means your choice will likely come down to price, or brand loyalty. —Victoria Woollaston-Webber
Specs Plate type: Ceramic Temperature range (Fahrenheit): 365 degrees Number of heat settings: 1 Auto-shutoff? Yes, after 30 minutes
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Photograph: Kat Merck
More Straighteners We Tried
Honorable Mentions
Chi Vibes on the Edge Curved Edge Hairstyling Iron for $110: I’m a longtime Chi devotee, having owned and loved the original ceramic flat iron until it broke after a decade. So I admit, I was excited to zhuzh up my bathroom counter with this metallic-rainbow version from Chi’s Vibes line. The 1- or 1.5-inch ceramic plates (I tested the latter) actually curve around the sides of the tool, allowing the user to get closer to the roots of their hair, as well as create crease-free waves if desired. While this feature did actually do an impressive job of tamping down my flyaways (and I appreciated the unusually long 11-foot cord), I felt like this lack of buffer between a 415-degree Fahrenheit surface and my scalp, face, and ears was too big of a burn risk to use regularly.
L’ange Le Duo Airflow Styler for $67: This flat iron features a clasp similar to a curling iron. Most flat iron plates stay apart, and need to be pushed together to use, while this is the opposite. It works just as well as any other iron, and the clasp design and the rounded edges make it easier to curl too. The real draw here is the air vents that blast out cool air to lock your style in. The fan turns on automatically, but there’s a button to turn it off. (Just to clarify, it’s not meant to dry your hair—you will not be happy if you try that.) —Medea Giordano
Sleek’e for $81 and Kosa for $195: These irons are essentially the same tool. Sleek’e confirmed that they are in fact made by the same manufacturer, which is not uncommon. The Kosa felt a little lighter, but neither seemed better or worse to use. They both emit ions and have a strip of infrared lights down the middle of one of the plates, which are supposed to help distribute heat evenly and in a way that won’t damage hair. —Medea Giordano
Brilliance New York Smooth Pro Ceramic Flat Iron for $45: WIRED reviewer and fellow curly girl Louryn Strampe swears by this hair straightener. She impulse-bought it via a Groupon deal in 2014 and still consistently reaches for it, despite having tried several more flat irons since—she even prefers it over the Dyson Corrale. It’s lost some of its heat consistency over the years, and the plates occasionally snag her hair, but it still leaves her unruly curls sleek and shiny, and most important, straight. —Medea Giordano
FoxyBae Tres Sleek Flat Iron for $38: This budget titanium flat iron does a fairly decent job at straightening thick, curly hair for the price, though its flimsy-feeling construction, long heat-up time, and difficult-to-maneuver, 1.75-inch-wide plates make it less appealing than our top budget pick, the Conair Infiniti Pro, above.
Revlon Easy Heat Precision Flat Iron for $35: Another entry-level flat iron, this deep-pink model with easy-read temperature settings feels heavier and more expensive than it is. I also loved that it heats up in 30 seconds—one-third the time of most irons in its price category. However, I was surprised how ineffective the 1-inch plates were on my curls, even at the iron’s maximum temp of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, my (barely) straightened hair poofed back up again within minutes.
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Photograph: Kat Merck
Our Favorite Hair Straightening Products and Heat Protectants
Regardless of your hair type, you should always use a heat protectant before using a flat iron on your hair. As per SkinKraft, it adds a layer to your strands that seals in moisture to help smooth the cuticle of your hair. It doesn’t fully prevent heat damage to your hair, but it helps to minimize it.
Heat protectants come in a spray, oil, or cream–depending on the brand. It’s easy to apply to your hair too. Simply towel-dry your hair after washing it, section your hair, and apply the heat protectant onto each section of hair. If you’re using a cream or oil, distribute it evenly within each section using your fingers. Since it’s a leave-in product, you don’t have to wash it out of your hair. All you have to do is let it dry (either air-dry or using a blow-dryer) before using your straightener.
Below, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite WIRED-approved heat protectants and styling aids.
- Dyson Chitosan Pre-Style Cream for $60 and Post-Style Serum for $59: Dyson’s first foray into the world of hair styling products, this luxe duo features chitosan derived from oyster mushrooms (for its structural benefits, says Dyson) and comes in four formulations for the pre-style cream: straight/wavy and curly/coily, both in either “light” or “rich” conditioning. I tried the curly/coily rich conditioning cream before using a round brush to blow-dry my thick curls, which I was shocked to see become straight even without a flat iron. Adding the post-style serum after touching up with a straightening iron felt like gilding the lily, but my locks stayed flawlessly smooth and flat even after walking around on a foggy evening and sitting in front of a fan.
- Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer for $34: This has been my go-to heat protectant for well over a year—I love that the lightweight six-oil blend can be used on wet or dry hair, smooths frizz without leaving residue, and contains UV filters to prevent sun damage. It also protects up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the max heat for most tools you’ll encounter.
- Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray for $12: I live in the Pacific Northwest, one of the great proving grounds for anti-humidity hair products, and this blow-dryer-activated anti-frizz and humidity spray (heat protective up to 380 degrees Fahrenheit) is both affordable and keeps my straightened hair flat no matter what the weather is trying to do to it. It might be too heavy for those with lightly wavy and/or fine hair, but for those who need industrial-strength help with their frizz, this stuff is the real deal. (Though be forewarned: Even for those with the curliest of locks, a little goes a long way and the effect lasts up to four shampoos.)
- Oribe Gold Lust Dry Heat Protection Spray for $46: For use exclusively on dry hair with tools up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, this heat protectant is one of the best I’ve ever used when it comes to adding shine and eliminating frizz. It not only leaves my hair soft and silky (especially when paired with Oribe’s companion Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray pre-blow dry), the results last into the next day, allowing for quicker touch-ups.
