The 12 Best Flat Irons for Natural Hair, According to Celebrity Hairstylists

Best Overall

HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron

View on Myshopify.com

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Ceramic tourmaline ionic | Voltage: 110/120V | Max Temp: 450 F

This beloved iron has adjustable temperature settings from 140 up to 450 degrees, which Kimble appreciates. “Always go for a flat iron with an adjustable temperature that reaches 400+ degrees,” she says. A hotter flat iron can help straighten more textured, natural hair in record time (just know that the hotter you go, the more likely you are to damage your hair).

The tourmaline plates reduce static by generating negative ions, and the ceramic is built for durability and lasting results that evenly distributes heat on all hair types (it's also safer for your hair than metal plates). The iron heats up super fast, which is a huge perk if you're constantly short on time (like we often are). The one downside is that it doesn't come with an automatic shutoff feature, which might be a deal-breaker for some.

Best Budget

Remington 1-Inch Anti-Static Flat Iron

View on Amazon $17 at Target $17 at Walmart

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Ceramic | Voltage: 120V | Max Temp: 410 F

Maybe you don't straighten your hair that often or maybe you don't want to shell out a ton of money for a flat iron. Or maybe you want to take Kimble's aforementioned advice and invest in two flat irons. Whatever the reason you're looking for a budget-friendly pick, you can't go wrong with this Remington model. The one-inch ceramic plates style the hair quickly while still being gentle. All it takes is 30 quick seconds to heat up and you can adjust the temp up to 410 degrees on a digital display. There's also a 60-minute automatic shutoff feature for some peace of mind. The only thing we don't love is some users said it takes longer for the one-inch plates to get through longer or thicker hair.

Best Versatile

Conair Infiniti Pro Flat Iron

$23 at Amazon $25 at Walmart View on Belk.com

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Ceramic tourmaline | Voltage: 120V | Max Temp: 455 F

The tourmaline ceramic plates allow you to straighten your hair in minutes no matter your hair texture (thanks to the heat setting going up to 455 degrees) and provide anti-static results. What's more, it boasts 30 different settings to help you achieve various styles (and protect damaged hair). There's also a trusty automatic shutoff feature if you accidentally forget to unplug it. That said, some users have reported their straightener shuts off randomly while they're still using it.

Best Splurge

Paul Mitchell Flat Iron

$157 at Amazon View on Paulmitchell.com

Plate Width: 1.25 inches | Plate Type: Titanium | Voltage: Dual voltage | Max Temp: 450 F

If you're going to spend top dollar on a straightening iron, it better perform like nothing else, and that certainly applies to this Paul Mitchell one. The name Paul Mitchell is synonymous with all things hair, and this flat iron lives up to the name. It features premium titanium plates that glide over the hair with ease, and the SmartSense microchip reduces the number of passes needed to achieve smooth strands (aka less potential for damage). The adjustable temperature control heats up to 450 degrees in just 45 seconds and there's also a customizable auto shutoff feature. Just note that it can produce a burning smell when they used the straightener at higher temperatures.

Best for Curly Hair

ghd Original Styler

$178 at Amazon $209 at Sephora $209 at Ulta

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Ceramic | Voltage: Dual voltage | Max Temp: 365 F

Curly hair is more likely to be dry and brittle, making it especially prone to damage, which is why hair dryers for curly hair are a thing. Similarly, when you straighten your curly locks, you want to be sure the tools you use are designed to protect them. This flat iron has one heat setting and one heat setting only—365 degrees (which the brand claims is the optimum temperature for perfect straightening without damage). If you prefer to be in control of your iron's temperature, this one is probably not for you, but know that once you get into the 400s you're risking fraying your delicate tresses.

We especially love this pick for all types of waves and curls, including dense 4a curls. It has a 30-second heat-up time and floating plates which help this styler glide effortlessly through hair to straighten, smooth, and eliminate static.

Best for Curly Hair, Runner-Up

Kipozi V7 Hair Straightener

$25 at Walmart

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Titanium | Voltage: Dual voltage | Max Temp: 450 F

Most straightening irons worth their salt have floating plates to help you smooth your hair with minimal snagging, but this one has another trick. It has a twist-lock handle, meaning you can easily go from curling your hair to straightening it, depending on your mood. The iron’s ultrasmooth nano titanium plate technology reaches a heat setting of 380 degrees in just 30 seconds, a sweet perk for a styling tool in this price range. It targets the static and straightens all kinds of curls in minutes (or creates them, if that's your preference). We love that it's narrow enough to use on bangs and baby hairs.

Best for Fast Straightening

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Straightening Iron

$160 at Amazon $160 at Ulta View on Sleekshop.com

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Titanium | Voltage: Dual voltage | Max Temp: 450 F

We love a thin flat iron that has longer plates—it helps us get the job done much faster and without missing any spots. When surveying the top flat irons, this model received numerous rave reviews for its ultrathin design and 5-inch plate, allowing for wider sections to be straightened quickly and efficiently. It also has 50 different heat settings up to 450 degrees and smooth titanium plates which can create super straight or wavy styles without tiring out your arms. We did want to note though that just because this flat iron can take on wider areas of hair doesn't mean you should load it up with thick sections of hair. That won't necessarily harm it, but it will likely leave you with less than perfectly straight strands.

Best With Titanium Plates

Moroccanoil Perfectly Polished Flat Iron

$160 at Amazon $160 at Sephora

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Titanium | Voltage: Dual voltage | Max Temp: 450 F

Perhaps the biggest advantage to a flat iron with titanium plates is it heats up super fast. It can also stand up to wear and tear better than ceramic plates. This iron has extra-long 4-inch titanium plates that maximize surface area for fast performance and even heat distribution, even on long hair. The titanium plates glide smoothly and effortlessly for silky styles, adding extra shine. The digital display gives precise temperature control of up to the typical high of 450 degrees. It'll also shut off automatically after 60 minutes. The only downside is that plates can tarnish easily.

Best Long-lasting

CHI Original 1″ Ceramic Flat Iron

$70 at Amazon $100 at Ulta $66 at Walmart

Plate Width: 1 inch | Plate Type: Ceramic | Voltage: Dual voltage | Max Temp: 392 F

CHI flat irons are known for their quality, and this one in particular reduces any static and creates silky, shiny hair after one swipe with its ceramic plates. It has a maximum heat setting of 392 degrees, but it heats up very quickly.

Since it's only 1 inch wide, it's super easy to make curls and waves, and it has a long swivel chord so you won't get tied up in knots while using it. We love the durability of this iron—one of our editors still has hers after 11 years—and that it's less expensive than many of its competitors. The only thing we don't love is there are no temperature settings, so you can't tailor the heat to match your hair (although it is set at a temperature that should be safe for most hair types).

Best for Dry Hair

Kim Kimble Vapor Infusion Iron

View on Shopkimkimble.com

Plate Width: 1.25 inches | Plate Type: Tourmaline | Voltage: 120V | Max Temp: 450 F

This flat iron has a neat little trick for restoring dry, brittle hair: it uses vapor infused with argan oil to put moisture and shine back into the hair. The combination of hydrating steam, infrared heat technology, and tourmaline-infused plates will allow you to straighten hair quickly without overdrying it. They work together to seal moisture into the hair cuticles for the smoothest results. We do wish the warranty was longer though—most other flat irons we reviewed have a warranty of two years or more.

Best Mini

ghd Mini Styler Flat Iron

$209 at Ulta $209 at Dermstore $239 at Skinstore.com

Plate Width: 0.5 inches | Plate Type: Ceramic | Voltage: Universal | Max Temp: 365 F

We love a compact flat iron that works fast and efficiently, and this one from ghd is that in a nutshell. It's skinny, half-inch plates can make it easier to get super close to your roots to more effectively smooth out textured or tightly coiled hair. But, it's also the smaller size of the original we love so much and comes with the same high-level performance. Its ceramic plates heat up in just 30 seconds to 365 degrees—the perfect temperature for smoothing those shorter locks. In addition to allowing for better root access, the compact size is conveniently packable and has a universal plug, aka perfect for travel. It also has a protective plate guard as an extra safety measure when you need to style on the go.

Best for Travel

T3 SinglePass 0.8-Inch Travel Flat Iron

$89 at Amazon $89 at Sephora $89 at Dermstore

Plate Width: 0.8 inches | Plate Type: Ceramic | Voltage: Universal | Max Temp: 410 F

Looking for something you can pack for trips? Go with the T3 SinglePass Compact Iron. As the name suggests, the compact design features skinny plates less than 1 inch wide. And, like the ghd mini above, it comes with a heat guard cap so you can quickly pack it up after use if you need to (although we suggest waiting until it cools down considerably before doing so, especially since reviews note it can get pretty hot).

Thanks to the brand's SinglePass technology (there's a microchip in the device that helps maintain even heat distribution), you can smooth your hair in just one swipe rather than continuously running the hot plates over it and potentially causing damage. Though the temperature isn't adjustable, we appreciate how the narrower plates help you get closer to the roots.