Blog

Jun 27, 2025

11 Best Hair Straighteners and Flatirons 2025, Tested & Reviewed | Glamour

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. The term hair

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

The term hair straightener may bring back memories of a wide-plated clamp that would fry your hair strands, but thankfully today’s flatirons are a far cry from the relics of the early ’00s. The newest ones work better than ever with cutting-edge technology, including some that operate on air alone (like the Dyson Airstrait) so you can style wet-to-dry without damage, while others are highly versatile and can double as a curling iron for the ultimate beach waves.

Here, we asked Glamour testers and editors to share their favorites on the market at a variety of price points. Our top overall hair straightener was the SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener, which provides shiny, frizz-free results and has gentle heat settings. We also found great options for curly, thick, fine, frizzy and natural hair types. These picks came highly praised by hairstylists and experts, too, who gave us the TL;DR on whether you should reach for titanium or ceramic plates, and what temperature ranges you should use based on your hair type.

Read on for the best ones that won’t cause breakage will keep flyaways and frizz at bay.

What to look for in a hair straightener, and what do hairstylists use?

When shopping for a hair straightener, there are a few things to look out for, according to Rogerio Cavalcante, hairstylist and owner of the Second Floor Salon, whose favorite hair straightener is the GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron. “Choosing the right tool really depends on your hair texture, density, and the style you’re going for, but temperature is an important factor to always keep in mind,” he says. If you have fine or fragile hair, opt for straighteners that have a lower temperature range (around 250°F–300°F). If you have thick or coarse hair, reach for a tool that has a higher temperature (up to 400°F). “Use wider plates to cover more hair at once, and always work in smaller sections so the heat can reach all strands. “Finally, if you have textured or curly hair, you can use straighteners at higher temperatures, but it’s important to use heat protectants and avoid going over the same sections multiple times,” he says. No matter what your hair type is, his best advice is to pick a tool that feels good in your hand: “You want your straightener to be comfortable, not too heavy and easy to maneuver.”

How we tested

At Glamour we’re constantly researching, testing, and writing about the best hair tools on the market, including curling irons, hair dryers, blow-dry brushes, and more.

While spec sheets and reviews are a crucial component of our research, we believe it’s important to put hair tools like flatirons to the test for real-world feedback. That’s why we sent more than a dozen of the top-rated and most well-reviewed options to team members to assess both performance and long-term durability.

We tapped Glamour staffers and reviewers with various hair types to help test, including Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour’s commerce writer, and Brie Schwartz, director of commerce for Glamour and Teen Vogue. Together they bring more than 22 years of industry experience to the table. Brigitt Earley is a writer with more than 15 years of industry experience evaluating and testing consumer products, including beauty products of all kinds (hair, cosmetics, skin care, gadgets, and more), for leading publications like Glamour, Oprah Daily, Good Housekeeping, and more. Earley has long hair that’s wavy with a medium texture and has been using hair straighteners for more than 20 years.

During evaluations we looked for a variety of qualities like material, temperature range, ease of use, overall performance, and convenience features like an auto shutoff. We also considered how durable the tools were over time. Most importantly, our top hair straighteners had to deliver sleek and shiny results that lasted throughout the day—and, ideally, beyond.

Six months later we asked our testers to reevaluate each straightener. How well did each product hold up throughout continued use? Did our testers still stand behind their picks—why or why not? We also researched the market for new and notable flatirons, and put four of the most promising to the test, ultimately selecting three standouts to replace two previously recommended models that we felt were either outdated or didn’t live up to the hype in the long run.

May 2025 Update: We added the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener, Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener and Bio Ionic Onepass Styling Flat Iron to this update after testing it on thick, frizzy, and curly hair types. We removed CHI Original 1-Inch Ceramic Hairstyling Iron because it didn’t get as hot as some others.

Amazon

Nordstrom

Silk’n says the SilkStraight’s infrared red-light therapy allows you to style at a lower heat to reduce overall damage and helps retain moisture, thus effectively smoothing and minimizing any frizz. We like that it’s a straightener and curling iron in one and that it’s so quick to style hair.

“I’ve been a fan of this straightener from the moment I turned it on. The iron quickly heats up—it took no more than 30 seconds—and glides easily through my strands. It didn’t get caught or snag at all. It maintained a consistent temperature that didn’t feel too hot to singe my hair, and gave me a velvety soft finish. My hair looks super sleek after using this, and I can tell I’ll definitely be reaching for it again and again,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.

Amazon

Nordstrom

T3 Micro

When you straighten your hair, you want the process to be as straightforward as possible and the result as sleek as possible. Of course, you also want to minimize any damage to your strands. T3’s Single Pass StyleMax delivers on all fronts, thanks to a unique technology that customizes the styling process for you—no fiddling with different temperatures. You simply select your hair texture and styling goals via buttons on the flatiron, then get to work—the iron will heat to one of nine temperatures selected for you.

“While there is a bit of a learning curve to the smart heat settings, once I figured it out, things came to temperature exceptionally quickly. I appreciated that the rounded edges allow you to both straighten and curl, but I was disappointed with the feel of the plates. The iron didn’t swipe effortlessly but rather stuttered over my hair. It did, however, do a pretty solid job in a single pass,” says Earley.

Amazon

This affordable straightener is one of the best titanium picks on the list because it’s suitable for a variety of hair types, including curly hair. It has wide, 1.25-inch plates that catch a good amount of hair, and the temperature goes up to 440°F, which helps you achieve a smooth, frizz-free finish.

“As someone with extremely curly 3C hair, I found this iron to be very effective. It heats up quickly and offers three distinct heat settings. The lowest setting was my preferred choice. My hair felt smooth and manageable after use. I appreciate the sleek design and was able to utilize the three-in-one function to add some body to my hair, as I typically prefer it with volume rather than styled sleekly,” says Glamour tester Kristine Straker.

Amazon

If you have thick hair, Cavalcante recommends using a flatiron with thick plates to help speed up your routine. This 1-inch iron has thick ceramic plates that gently smooth hair with high heat but won’t fry it.

“I have very thick hair, but luckily with this hair straightener, I didn’t have to do so many passes the way I do with other flatirons. I haven’t noticed any serious hair damage, and my hair stays super straight for days,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.

Amazon

T3 Micro

If you have type 4 curls, Glamour contributor Tanisha Cherry swears by the T3 Lucea Flat Iron. “I’ve been using this pick for my silk presses for five years now, and she delivers every single time. With natural type 4 hair, I’m super picky about my heat tools. I want that bone-straight finish without compromising my curls. Depending on how well my blow-dry turns out, I don’t always need high heat, and that’s where this flatiron shines. It heats up fast and has nine adjustable heat settings, which gives me total control. What really seals the deal is that I can do just one pass on blow-dried hair and still get a straight and smooth finish. And it gets super close to my roots without burning me, which is major. I only use it on freshly washed and blow-dried hair when I’m going for a silk press, so about two to three times a month, and it never disappoints,” she says.

Amazon

Sephora

We’ve long been fans of GHD’s flatirons—one of the brand’s longer-standing models, the GHD Platinum, won a Glamour Beauty Award in 2020. And we’re pleased to say this one is even better. Yes, the price tag is steep (very steep), but there’s really no guesswork here, and even Cavalcante shares that this is one of his favorites. There’s no temperature to choose from; instead, it’s a smart iron that uses predictive technology to recognize the thickness of your hair and the speed at which you’re styling. It then adjusts its power accordingly, operating at an optimum temperature of 365°F.

“In tests we found that GHD’s Chronos Styler heated very quickly, plus it emits a satisfying ping to alert you that it’s ready to use. We also appreciate the 10-minute auto shutoff, which is much faster than all of the other products we evaluated—a nice safety feature. On the downside, I didn’t have as much success curling my hair with this flatiron, despite the rounded edges—and I’d consider myself pretty advanced in this department. I did, however, successfully execute a sleek, straight style with plenty of shine and the type of rounded ends you might get from a blowout,” says Earley.

Nordstrom

Amazon

Dyson

The Glamour commerce team put the buzzy Dyson Airstrait to the test and found it to be most suitable for those with fine, straight hair that’s not exceptionally prone to frizz. Think of it as a flatiron and a blow-dryer in one. Instead of pressing your hair between hot plates, it dries strands with hot air (using the same technology as our favorite Dyson Airwrap)—which is way less damaging than your standard straightening iron.

“Though it’s gentle on hair, the process is a bit lengthy, since you have to first use the tool to rough-dry your roots. This is an important step, because the shape and size of the Airstrait is a bit bulky, and the air shoots down toward your ends, so you can’t clamp hair all the way at the top to smooth it during the straightening process. Once I was ready to work on individual sections of hair with passes closer to that of a traditional flatiron, I found there was a bit of a learning curve to keeping hair inside of the tool. But I figured out that it helped to hold my hair, guiding it through. Even though this whole process was a bit time-consuming—especially for someone who has wavy, medium-textured hair like mine—the effort paid off. My finished style was incredibly soft and shiny, plus had impressive staying power,” says Earley.

Amazon

A smaller plate size (between ½ inch and 1 inch) is best for shorter hair, and this Hot Tools flatiron can help you get an ultrasmooth finish. “The dual plate was very cool (which allows you to iron bigger sections of hair), though the ability to heat up each plate individually was a nice feature. I’d definitely use it again at a higher heat,” says Condé Nast content licensing associate Paton Hardy who has fine, curly hair cut at a short length.

Amazon

Nordstrom

If it’s a two-in-one straightener and curling iron you’re looking for, consider the top-selling Drybar styler—a favorite of more than one Glamour editor. “I’m mostly inept at curling hair, let alone at using a flatiron to do anything other than run it over my already flat-as-a-board hair,” Glamour contributor Lindsay Schallon says. “But Drybar’s flatiron makes it easy, since it has rounded edges that mimic a curling wand. It’s also super lightweight, which makes it easier to wield.”

Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz has owned this straightener for more than five years and is a fan of how straight it gets her 3C curls. “I’ve been using a flatiron for over 25 years, and I’ve tried at least 10. I used to be loyal to the popular GHD, but I find the Dry Bar option is even better for my fine, midlength, curly hair since it has a narrow barrel and is super lightweight so my wrists don’t hurt after a styling sesh. (The GHD is a bit longer.) Despite being the daughter of a hairdresser and having been exposed to all the best hair tools out of the womb, I didn’t get my mom’s skills, and this has by far been the easiest to work with and gets as hot as the professional one she used. My wand has stayed in great shape, and despite my dropping it countless times, it hasn’t broken. The one thing to note is that, after about a year, the outside started getting hotter to the touch, so I’ve had to to be careful about how I grip it.” Schwartz also likes the digital temperature control that lets you know what temperature you’re operating at, up to 450°F.

Amazon

Revolve

This hair straightener has floating plates that adjust to tension, so hair—even the curliest types—glides exceptionally well through the styling tool.

“My long, wavy, medium-textured hair slips right through the plates like silk, whether I’m styling it pin-straight, rounding out the edges, or using the tool to create long, loose waves reminiscent of those you might get from a large-barrel curling iron. Most times my hair goes pin-straight in a single pass. I’ve never experienced anything else like it—and I’ve tried at least a dozen hair straighteners over the years. I also like the easy-to-read digital display, which allows you to see the temperature you’re working with, up to an impressive 450°F. The fact that it’s dual-voltage is also a nice bonus, since I can tuck it in my suitcase and travel globally without any issue. This is a highly durable pick too. I’ve been using the same Confidante for at least four years, and it’s still going very, very strong,” says Earley.

Amazon

This titanium flatiron has a huge temperature range that makes it easy to customize your hair straightening routine (up to 450°F). It’s quite easy to maneuver around your head and kills frizz upon contact, making it a great pick if you’re looking for a no nonsense straightener that gives you smooth, velvety hair.

“This is probably one of the most straightforward, easy straighteners I’ve ever used, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re new to straightening your hair on the regular. There are five heat settings—I usually switch mine on to the middle temps since I have fine strands—and the plates heat up extremely quickly. My hair overall looks much silkier after using this one, and I’ve been repeatedly reaching for it whenever I wake up with bedhead,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

What type of hair straightener is best?

There are two main types of hair straighteners: those made with ceramic plates and those made with titanium plates. Less commonly, some flatirons feature a combination of the two materials. There are also outliers, like the Airstrait, which use air rather than hot plates.

For fine or relatively easy-to-straighten hair: Set your sights on a flatiron with ceramic plates, since this material takes longer to heat up and has more-even heat distribution, says Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. Sometimes you’ll find ceramic tourmaline options; these offer added hair care benefits, since tourmaline is a mineral that helps smooth and boost shine while locking in moisture, helping to minimize both frizz and static.

For coarse or curly hair: A titanium flatiron may be preferable for these hair types, since this type of material heats up faster and can maintain a higher temperature that requires fewer passes on the hair, says Lacy Redway, Unilever stylist and celebrity hair artist.

What temperature setting should you use in a flatiron?

Fine to medium hair: Experts recommend lower temperature ranges of 250°F to 300°F.

Curly to coarse hair: Experts recommend staying within the 350°F to 450°F range. But you’ll want to use a protective spray or serum beforehand and smoothing oils afterward to balance out the extreme heat.

Colored or damaged hair: Experts recommend using heat sparingly, as bleaching and highlighting dries out and damages hair—and if you do use heat, stick to the lower ranges of 250°F to 300°F.

How to prevent hair damage when using a flatiron

The hotter your setting, the more likely it will damage your hair—no matter what type of straightener you’re using. After all, you’re applying direct, intense heat to your hair. Always apply a heat protectant before you begin, and choose a safe temperature (as outlined above) for your type of hair, says Redway.

Are titanium or ceramic plates better?

While no material is necessarily better than the other, you’ll want to choose between ceramic and titanium straighteners based on your hair type. “Look for ceramic plates, which will heat more evenly and gently if you have fine or damaged hair,” says Cavalcante. Thick, coarse, and textured hair types can take titanium tools because they get hotter more quickly, retain this heat for longer, and can even help speed up your straightening process. To ensure that you don’t damage your hair, though, it’s important to always use heat protectant (we love the Dae Agave Dry Heat & Hold Styling Mist) and limit usage to twice a week, max. “If you feel like you need to flatiron your front pieces every day, consider a more permanent option like a Brazilian blowout or a keratin treatment,” Cavalcante says.

Meet the experts

First-time customers can get a 15% Bloomingdale’s promo code

Get a 15% Off MESHKI Discount Code with Email Sign Up

15% off Kizik promo code + free shipping with sign up

Extra 15% off outlet styles with this Michael Kors Promo Code

Sign Up For Texts & Get A 15% Off VIVAIA Coupon Code

Spanx promo code: 20% off your first order with email or text sign-up