The best hair straighteners and flatirons today are a far cry from the relics of the early ’00s that left strands fried and frizzy. To help you narrow down your choices, we tried more than two dozen of the newest models on the market, and asked Glamour testers and editors to share their most beloved brands at a variety of price points.
After testing, our top pick was the Dyson Airstrait, which has gentle heat settings that provide remarkably shiny, frizz-free results. It also operates on air alone so you can style wet-to-dry without damage. But we also found options you can pick up at your local drugstore, Amazon bestsellers, and winners for natural and curly hair.
All these picks are highly praised by hairstylists and experts, 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. We can guarantee these straighteners won’t cause breakage and will keep flyaways and frizz at bay.
The best hair straighteners, at a glance
Featured in this articleBest for Less Heat Damage
T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron
Jump to reviewBest for Short Hair
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1 1/4 Inch Flat Iron
Jump to review
How we picked the best hair straighteners
At Glamour we’re constantly researching, testing, and writing about the best hair tools, 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 practical 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.
During evaluations we looked for a variety of qualities like material, temperature range, ease of use, overall performance, plus convenience features like an auto shutoff (more on this below). 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 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. After nearly three years of testing, these are the ones that rose to the top.
Note: Although we might receive gifted products, our recommendations come from months of testing and evaluating the very best products. We maintain complete editorial independence in the products we choose to feature meaning we do not benefit financially from including any of the products, except from purchases of products through our links.
Choosing a hair tool can be very overwhelming. In our testing, we wanted to make sure to consider a variety of hair types, so I tapped Glamour staffers and reviewers with hair that’s straight, curly, wavy, short, long, thick, and more to help test over a dozen flatirons. All together, the team brings more than 22 years of industry experience to the table.
As a beauty writer with almost a decade of of experience in the industry, I’m also no stranger to searching for the right hair tool. In fact, I’ve been personally investigating hair straighteners to help combat my frizzy strands for 15 years.
August 2025 Update: We added the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1¼-Inch Flat Iron as part of our ongoing effort to discover the best straightener for fine and short hair types. We also added the Drybar All-Inclusive Air + Active Heat 8-in-1 Multi-Styler after seeing it pop up on Amazon bestseller pages and giving it a go ourselves (it lives up to the hype and really makes it easy to create multiple styles in a short amount of time). We removed the Bio Ionic Onepass Styling Flatiron because although it was gentle on all hair types, it took a few passes to get us the look we wanted.
Best Overall: Dyson Airstrait
Dyson Airstrait Hair Straightener
Original video from Brigitt Earley testing Dyson Airstrait
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Dyson Airstrait
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Dyson Airstrait
- What we love: Less direct and intense heat means less damage over time; wide range of styling settings and modes (wet, dry, rough-dry, smoothing boost); LCD screen; intelligent airflow; temperature control
- What could improve: Slower process than traditional flatirons
The Glamour commerce team put the buzzy Dyson Airstrait to the test, and found it to be best overall on our list. Think of it as a flatiron and 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.
Testing notes: “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 takes a bit longer—the effort paid off. My finished style was incredibly soft and shiny, plus had impressive staying power,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.
Best for Long Hair: Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
- What we love: Heats up quickly; smooth glide; 12 temperature settings; doubles as a curling iron
- What could improve: Outside of iron seems to get a bit hotter than others
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, so it effectively smooths and minimizes frizz. We like that it’s a straightener and curling iron in one and that it’s quick to style hair while being extremely gentle on all hair types. It never (we mean never) gets overly hot.
Testing notes: “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.
Best for Dry Hair: Amika The Confidante Flatiron
Amika The Confidante Flatiron
Original video from Brigitt Earley testing Amika The Confidante Flatiron
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Amika The Confidante Flatiron
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Amika The Confidante Flatiron
- What we love: Easy to use; high-temperature settings; curved edges allow for curling
- What could improve: Doesn’t stand up well on its own
This hair straightener has floating plates that adjust to tension, so hair—even the curliest types—glides exceptionally well through the styling tool.
Testing notes: “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.
Best for Frizzy Hair: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Flatiron Hair Straightener
BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Flatiron Hair Straightener
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Flatiron Hair Straightener
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Flatiron Hair Straightener
- What we love: Wide temperature range; extremely light; works on all hair types
- What could improve: Longevity isn’t great as it turns off too quickly
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.
Testing notes: “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.
Best for Less Heat Damage: T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron
T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron
Original video from Brigitt Earley testing T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flat Iron
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flat Iron
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flat Iron
- What we love: Smart temperature selection; heats up quickly; can straighten and curl
- What could improve: Shorter power cord; doesn’t glide as smoothly over hair as we hoped
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.
Testing notes: “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.
Best for Curly Hair: Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original video from Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original photo from Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original photo from Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
- What we love: Affordable; lightweight; easy to handle
- What could improve: Gets a little too hot
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.
Testing notes: “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.
Best for Natural Curls: T3 Lucea 1-Inch Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
T3 Lucea Professional Straightening & Styling Iron
Original video from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original photo from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original photo from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
- What we love: Nine adjustable settings that make it gentle on hair; ease of use
- What could improve: A bit pricey
Testing notes: 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.
Best for Fine Hair: BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
- What we love: Ceramic coated plates; even heat distribution
- What could improve: Pricey
If you have fine hair, it’s understandable to be a little wary of straighteners—high heat can be extra brutal on your strands. This flatiron solves that dilemma, thanks to its gentle ceramic plates that are coated with aloe vera to help hydrate, minimize frizz, and ensure little to no breakage.
