11 Best Hair Straighteners and Flatirons 2025, Tested & Reviewed
The term hair straightener may bring back memories of a wide-plated clamp that would fry your hair strands, but thankfully today’s best straighteners and 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 so you can style wet-to-dry without damage and breakage, while others (including my personal favorite, the SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener, which has been my go-to for shiny, frizz-free results) are highly versatile and can double as a curling iron for the ultimate beachy waves.
Here, we asked Glamour testers and editors of all different hair types and textures (we’re talking curly, thick, fine, frizzy and even natural hair types) to share their very favorite hair straighteners and flatirons on the market at a variety of price points. These picks also 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. Ahead, the very best flatirons we tested that won’t damage your hair and will keep flyaways and frizz at bay.
The best hair straighteners, at a glanceBest for Overall: Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener, $164Best Value: Amika The Confidante Flatiron, $150Best for Less Heat Damage: T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron, $160Best for Fine Hair: Dyson Airstrait, $499Best for Short Hair: Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual Plate Flatiron, $51Best for Curly Hair: Drybar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron, $169Best for Thick Hair: GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron, $329Best for Natural Hair: T3 Lucea 1½-Inch Professional Straightening and Styling Iron, $150Best for Frizzy Hair: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener, $100Best Cordless Hair Straightener: Dyson Corrale, $499How we picked the best hair straightenersWhat 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.”
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.
1. Best Overall: Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
Original video by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
Original image by Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary
What we love: Heats up quickly; smooth glide; 12 temperature settings; doubles as a curling ironWhat could improve: Outside of iron seems to get a bit hotter than othersSilk’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.
2. Best for Less Heat Damage: T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron
T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron
Original video by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
What we love: Smart temperature selection; heats up quickly; can straighten and curlWhat could improve: Shorter power cord; doesn’t glide as smoothly over hair as we hopedWhen 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.
3. Best Titanium Straightener: Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair StraightenerKristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original video from Glamour contributor Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original photo from Glamour contributor Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original photo from Glamour contributor Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
What we love: Affordable; lightweight; easy to handleWhat could improve: Gets a little too hotThis 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.
4. Best Ceramic Straightener: Bio Ionic Onepass Styling FlatironBio Ionic Onepass Styling Flatiron
Original video from Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle testing Bio Ionic Onepass Styling Flat Iron
Original photo from Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle testing Bio Ionic Onepass Styling Flat Iron
Original photo from Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle testing Bio Ionic Onepass Styling Flat Iron
What we love: Thicker plates; easy to maneuverWhat could improve: Takes a few passes on each sectionIf 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.
5. 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 useWhat could improve: A bit priceyIf 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.
6. Best for Thick Hair: GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron
GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron
Original video by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
What we love: Ultrasmooth glide; delivers a sleek and shiny look in just one or two passes; shuts off after just 10 minutesWhat could improve: Cannot control temperature manually; not as well-suited for curlingWe’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.
7. Best for Fine Hair: Dyson Airstrait
Dyson Airstrait Hair Straightener
Original video by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
Original image by Glamour reviewer Brigitt Earley
What we love: Less direct and intense heat means less heat damage over time; wide range of styling settings and modes (wet, dry, rough-dry, smoothing boost); LCD screen; intelligent airflow; temperature controlWhat could improve: Slower process than traditional flatironsThe 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.
8. Best for Short Hair: Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual-Plate Flatiron
Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual-Plate Flatiron
Original video from Paton testing Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual-Plate Flatiron
Original photo from Paton Hardy testing Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual-Plate Flatiron
Original photo from Paton Hardy testing Hot Tools Pro Signature Dual-Plate Flatiron
What we love: Affordable; suitable for all hair types; heats quicklyWhat could improve: Requires a bit of a learning curveA 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.
9. Best for Curly Hair: Drybar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron
Drybar the Tress Press Digital Styling Iron
Original video by Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz
Original image by Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz
Original image by Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz
What we love: Heats quickly; frizz-reducing ionic and infrared tech; digital temperature controlWhat could improve: Outside of tool can get hot
