You’d think that finding the best flat iron or hair straightener would be easy, right? Like, I have a very vivid memory of my middle-school days when there seemed to be only three flat-iron brands in existence to choose from, and all the ~popular~ kids used the same one to get the same stick-straight hairstyle (lookin’ at you, 2000s Chi). But now? In 2021? Uh, the options are incredibly overwhelming—and so are the questions that come with them. Like, are ceramic straighteners or titanium straighteners better? What’s the best flat iron for curls? Do I need a thousand heat settings?! And brushes! What’s the deal with straightening brushes?! But trust me when I say that finding the best flat iron doesn’t have to be overwhelming, because regardless of which flat iron you choose, they’ll all straighten your hair in the end. Of course, that doesn’t mean that certain flat irons aren’t ~better suited~ for certain hair types and issues (ex: your coarse, wavy, thick hair will likely benefit from a different straightener than my ultra-fine, thin, curly hair will), which is where I come in.
To make things a bit easier on you, I handpicked the 23 best flat irons (yes, 23, and yes, they’re the best out of the 100-freakin’-thousand options online, TYVM), based on every hair type/budget/preference. Check out a quick preview of a few of the best hair straighteners below, then keep scrolling for the in-depth reviews and more.
But first! A few answers to your ~burning~ questions…
It depends on your hair type, but pick a ceramic straightener if your hair is easy to straighten, and a titanium straightener if your hair is coarse and harder to straighten. Why? Because titanium plates heat up faster and can usually reach much higher temps than ceramic plates, making them the best choice to straighten coarse, curly, or coily hair. But higher temps lead to more damage, so if your hair is fine, wavy, or just easy to straighten, go with a ceramic flat iron (often combined with tourmaline plates), which distributes heat more evenly at lower temps for less damage.
Titanium straighteners are the most popular choice in both salons and professional hairstylist kits, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best for your own hair type (ahem, read the whole titanium vs. ceramic debate above). Regardless of the flat iron you choose, keep the heat low (the lowest and safest temperature possible to still straighten your hair) and use a good heat-protectant spray beforehand.
Now, keep reading to find the 23 best flat irons and hair straighteners of 2021:
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Listen, if you’re just here to get in and out with the best bang-for-your-buck flat iron, lemme introduce you to one of Amazon’s favorite affordable hair straighteners. This under-$40 titanium-plated bb has more than 10,000 reviews on Amazon for doing exactly what you want: straightening your hair with up to 450 degrees of heat, without snagging or pulling. Yes, pls.
If you have fine hair that’s relatively easy to straighten already, you really don’t need a heavy-duty hair straightener. Instead, try this affordable flat iron from Remington that has six heat settings ranging from 310 degrees to 410 degrees, so you can smooth out any bumps and waves from your hair using the lowest, least-damaging level of heat possible.
Think of this travel flat iron as mix between a regular-size straightener and an itty-bitty baby straightener (do we call it mid-size? I think we call it mid-size). But even though it’s on the smaller side and weighs less than a pound (!), it still packs major power, heating up in 25 seconds to get your hair sleek, shiny, and straight. Throw it in your travel makeup bag and live your best vacay life.
You know when you try to curl your hair with a straightener, and you’re left with creases, bumps, and snags? Yeah, that won’t be the case with this rounded-edge flat iron. It’s perfectly curved to allow you to clamp, twirl, and twist so your flat-iron waves and curls look genuinely good, not just good-for-a-flat-iron good.
If you’re the type of person to perpetually leave your hair straightener on the bathroom counter, I highly recommend you get this limited-edition Chi x Barbie flat iron. It not only shuts off automatically after an hour (ahem, you know who you are), but it also heats up fast—like faster than it takes you to spray on a heat protection—to a max temp of 450 degrees to easily straighten curly, wavy, or poofy hair.
No joke: I have this mini hair straightener in my drawer right now, and I freakin’ love it for touch-ups. The half-inch-wide plates make it super easy to straighten bumps near your roots, along with messed-up bangs that wider flat irons usually can’t touch without burning your forehead. It also comes in a cute pouch, so you can keep the cord wrapped up and stowed away if you bring it in your purse or carry-on.
This titanium iron heats up fast, bringing its plates back to the ideal temperature quickly after each pass, so you won’t need to go over each section multiple times and destroy your hair. To get your hair extra sleek and straight, brush through each section with a fine-tooth comb while following right behind it with the straightener.
If you’ve got curly roots—or hair that just loves to frizz or curl up around your hairline—you know how annoying it can be to get a bulky flat iron close to your scalp without burning yourself or leaving you with a crimp. Enter: this ultra-skinny, half-inch-wide flat iron that fits snugly along your roots so you can smooth flyaways without singeing off your skin.
If your entire hair-straightening goal is to get frizz-free hair (and, like, duh), you need this flat iron. The ion technology in these rainbow titanium plates help reduce frizz, while the 12 digital heat settings allow you to customize your straightening experience. Another nice touch? The auto shut-off setting, juuust in case you forget to unplug it.
Those with thick or coarse hair might gravitate toward wider straighteners (the bigger the plates, the more area you can cover at once), but don’t be deceived by this ultra-thin straightener. These plates are made from titanium, which heats up quickly and evenly, and are longer than the average iron with an impressive five-inch length, making it ideal for straightening wider sections of hair and cutting down on the time spent. Honestly, one of the best flat irons you’ll find on Ulta.
Copper is famously known for being an even heat conductor (just ask any cook), which is why it makes for the perfect plates on a flat iron. And fewer strokes over each section results in less heat damage. Bonus: The detachable comb also smooths and distributes your coarse hair evenly over the plates, so you’re left with stick-straight hair on the first pass.
If you’re looking to cut down the time it takes to style a thicker head of hair, try this iron. Designed for full, thick hair, this tourmaline-and-ceramic straightening iron with one-and-a-half-inch plates helps straighten fuller hair types with one pass—i.e., no more having to straighten the same section over and over (and over) again.
Perfect for all hair types, this flat iron needs only 20 seconds to reach its maximum temperature of 365 degrees. According to the smarties in research and development at Ghd, this is the optimal straightener temperature for changing the shape of your hair with as minimal damage as possible. So if you’ve already got damaged, brittle hair, get yourself this straightener ASAP.
You obviously sleep with a silk pillowcase to protect your hair (if you don’t, do it now, k?), so why not heat style with it too? The silk-and-ceramic ridges on this iron mean that less of your hair comes in contact with the direct heat, which equals less damage and breakage for you.
Don’t let the light vibrations in this iron surprise you when you clamp down. The oscillating plates encourage your curls and waves to spread out evenly between the plates to help you get the smoothest, most even finish all the way down the length of your hair. FYI: This is the flat-iron I use most times I straighten my hair.
It’s not your conventional-looking flat iron, but this straightening brush does the trick all the same. Just turn it on, brush your hair with its heated ceramic bristles like you would with a normal brush, and watch frizz turn smooth, shiny, and static-free in seconds. It’s not going to turn curly hair into sheets of silk, but it’ll straighten out any of your wonky waves or puffy layers.
Yup, this is a Very Expensive Flat Iron. Yup, this is something you’d definitely splurge on, save up for, or beg for from the person who loves you most, but it’ll be worth it. This cordless/corded—you can do both—flat iron uses flexible copper plates that subtly move with your hair to evenly distribute heat across every strand, leaving you with less damage and smoother hair. I’ve used it, and it really is a freaking thing of the future.
If you’ve ever spent 45 minutes meticulously straightening your hair, only to see your shoulder-skimming ends have flipped up yet again, you need this flat iron. The vented titanium plates allow for heat to escape and your hair to cool down quickly, so your straight, shiny finish stays locked in as soon as you move on to the next section.
If a blow dryer, a round brush, and a hair straightener all got a lil ~busy~ and weird, this hair-dryer brush would be the end result. It’s literally gone viral for giving every hair type (even tight curls) a perfectly smooth, voluminous blowout without any skill needed. Proof: a Cosmo editor with wavy/poofy hair recorded the magic herself.
K, so if you can’t exactly afford a Dyson right now (and, like, I get it), but you still want a cordless flat iron, try this very excellent alternative from Conair. Its titanium plates heat up to 400 degrees and can be used for 25 minutes straight before needing a recharge. Definitely perfect for touch-ups when the waves and frizz start to creep up again.
Just gonna alert you now: You’ll want to add this fancy flat iron to your birthday/holiday/anniversary/blackmail wish list ASAP, because it’s (1) pricey, (2) definitely going to sell out, and (3) very, very worth it. The touch panel has nine (!) heat settings and a custom hair profile that can be changed based on your texture, length, hair health, and straightening needs. It’s basically hair AI.
Looking for a flat iron with tons of styling options? This three-in-one tool from Bio Ionic is part hair straightener, part curling wand—and it’s actually legit. It gives you the ability to create everything from sleek and straight to curly and wavy styles, and all you gotta do is flip a switch (seriously). Peep this tutorial to see how it’s done.
Steam-based flat irons can be tricky. Even though they can be magical for straightening 4c hair, they can also be hella drying (the steam attaches itself to the water in your hair strand, pulling it out and evaporating it). But this one from Kim Kimble uses a mix of steam and argan oil-filled cartridges to smooth and moisturize hair with fewer passes. And that means way less damage for you.