Fine hair is every fashionista’s dream because with it, you can pick up styles very fast. Whether you’re straightening your curly, fine hair or curling your straight, fine hair, you’ll see results much faster than your coarse-haired sisters.
As easy as it is to style fine hair, though, it is also twice as hard to keep it healthy. The more you use hair products and tools, the more they get damaged. Or, do they? It doesn’t have to be a tradeoff.
You don’t have to choose between the health of your hair and your looks. You can have both if you just learn the right way to style your fine hair and pick the right tools to work with.
Armed with this guide, you should be able to do both those things comfortably. Here is everything we’ll be focusing on, arranged in a very easy to click navigation panel.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Remington Pro 1″ Flat Iron with Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology |
| 4.25/5.0 |
| Weight: 1.3 pounds |
| Heat Settings: 30 |
| Minimum Temperature: 240 degrees Fahrenheit |
| An excellent, pocket-friendly flat iron for fine-haired people that is unbelievably durable for its price. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| HSI Professional Digital Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron |
| 4.25/5.0 |
| Weight: 1.4 pounds |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 140 degrees Fahrenheit |
| A flat iron that offers the most features, benefits, and accessories without forcing you to break the bank. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Weight: 1.6 pounds |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 240 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The best flat iron for women with fine hairs mainly because it nullifies heat damage while being incredibly fast and amazingly effective. |
| Check Amazon |
- Do You Have Fine Hair?
- What Does it Mean to Have Fine Hair?
- How Should You Use a Flat Iron on Fine Hair?
- How to Choose A Flat Iron for Fine Hair
- 9 Best Flat Irons for Fine Hair Comparison Table
- Top 3 Premium Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Budget Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
Do You Have Fine Hair?
You’ll be surprised by how many women think they have fine hair but actually have thin hair. It is very easy to confuse fine hair for thin hair and vice versa because when you run your fingers through your hairs, the sensation is the same for both.
To have fine hair means having hair strands that are very thin in diameter. In contrast, to have thin hair means having fewer hair strands on the head. You could have coarse hair on your head, but if you don’t have enough of them, then you’d have thin hair too!
There’s a more foolproof fine hair test than running your fingers through your hairs. To do this, you’ll need to pluck a hair strand from your head and roll it between your thumb and forefinger. Your hair type will determine how the hair feels as you roll it between your fingers.
Fine-haired people won’t feel the hair at all as they roll it between their fingers. Medium-haired people will feel something, but the sensation won’t be significant. Coarse-haired people, however, will feel the hair strand strongly between their fingers.
What Does it Mean to Have Fine Hair?
Because fine hair is thin in diameter, it is less sturdy than other hair types. Hairs get sturdier as their diameter increases which is why coarse hair is the sturdiest.
However, a smaller diameter also means that the hair responds to styling more. This is why fine hair is so easy to style and equally susceptible to damage. This is also the reason why fine hairs often seem lifeless and wilted. In fact, they tend to vacillate between being limp and being extra-animated, i.e. frizzy and flyaway.
Both these problems, luckily, can be resolved with the help of a good flat iron. Flat irons, though, are devices that use heat to change the texture and nature of the hairs.
Excess heat damages hairs. This is particularly true in the case of fine hairs. Fine-haired people can still use a flat iron, but the margin for error for them is very small. They not only need to know the right way of straightening or curling their fine hair, but also need the right device for it.
How Should You Use a Flat Iron on Fine Hair?
As is obvious, using a flat iron on fine hairs is all about minimizing exposure to heat. Further, you will also need to make sure that your hair is dry before you break out the flat iron.
This is why we have two subsections here. The first will explain how you should prepare your hairs for the flat iron and the other will explain how the flat iron should be used.
Preparing Fine Hair for Flat Ironing
If your hair is not dry, the heat produced by the flat iron will reach your hair unevenly, causing your hairs to roast and fry. Further, the heat generated by the flat iron will cause steam as the moisture in your hair will evaporate. This is how heat damages hairs. It is also the reason why you need to ensure that your hair is dry before using a flat iron.
- Start by removing excess water from your hair, the moment you’re done with your shower. Don’t try to wring your hair dry. Instead, just squeeze the water out. You can even bend over and shake your head to get rid of the water.
- Use a microfiber towel to get the rest of the moisture, but only dab and squeeze. Don’t rub the towel on your hair. It will damage your hair. Consider using a microfiber comb as well. You can even try wearing a microfiber hair cap if you want to do something else while your hair dries.
- Get out of the humid environment. The longer you stay in the bathroom after a shower, the longer your hairs will take to dry.
- While your hair is damp, it is critical that you apply some kind of thermal protection on your hair. Fine hair will get damaged very quickly without something to temper the heat it receives. As to why you should apply a heat protectant on damp hair, there are two reasons. The first is that the moisture helps the heat protectant spread more easily and the other is that it prevents clumps from forming.
- Once the protectant is in place, use a hair dryer on low-temperature setting to prevent heat damage. Also, keep the hair dryer moving as this will prevent any one area from receiving too much heat.
Flat Ironing Your Fine Hair
Using a flat iron isn’t that difficult, but if you have fine hair, you need to be especially careful about your technique to prevent heat damage.
- Before using the flat iron, you should separate your hair into one-inch sections. Keep one section loose and clip the others over your head. You’ll be putting each section through the flat iron, one by one.
- Turn on the flat iron and start with the lowest temperature setting. The lower the temperature, the more passes you’ll be. However, if the setting is too high, your fine hair will be at risk. Ideally, you shouldn’t need more than two passes to get the desired look. Some modern flat irons can deliver results in a single pass too. The secret is finding the right temperature setting.
- If you’re not getting results in two passes, increase the setting. Once you start getting results in two passes, try and reduce it to a single pass by increasing the setting again. You should never smell burnt hair though. If you do, lower the setting immediately.
- Stretch the section away from your head with one hand and use the other to clamp the hair with the flat iron. You should try to be as close as possible to the scalp without burning it. A distance of one inch from the scalp should be good enough. Also, don’t clamp down on the hair section too hard as that could damage your hair.
- Move the flat iron towards the end of the section slowly. The speed with which you move the flat iron should neither be too fast nor too slow. Further, the movement should be consistent and not jittery. Anything other than this will ruin the look you’re going for and may even damage your hair.
- You can now apply an anti-frizz product on the finished section if you think it is needed. Make sure to avoid getting it on unfinished sections. You can even wait to finish a few sections before applying the product.
- Once you’ve finished all the sections, you can use the cold shot button of your hair dryer to cool your hair and fix the style in place.
How to Choose A Flat Iron for Fine Hair
If you have fine hair, then your flat iron needs to have specific features and technologies. You can’t use any flat iron as that can cause some serious damage to your sensitive hair. While choosing your flat iron, consider the following variables.
Materials &Technology
Reducing heat exposure is critical for fine-haired people. This is why you need to pay close attention to the materials and technology used.
The bare minimum you should look for is a flat iron with ceramic plates. Ceramic ensures even heat distribution throughout the plate and prevents hot spots from harming your hair.
Tourmaline ceramic plates are a slightly more advanced version of ceramic plates. The plates on flat irons with this technology are made of ceramic infused with tourmaline crystals, which allows them to produce negative ions naturally.
Negative ions are useful in keeping frizz and flyaway hair at bay. You’ll even find some flat irons with a separate technology for generating negative ions. These are more effective at nullifying frizzy and flyaway hair.
Some flat irons will even boast of titanium technology. Titanium plates are as effective as ceramic plates when it comes to the uniformity of heat. However, titanium can reach higher temperatures much faster than other materials. This is why titanium plated flat irons can work well for fine-haired people but aren’t really critical to the result.
Flat irons with infrared technology, however, are very useful if you have fine hairs. Infrared heat doesn’t damage the hair as much as normal heat does. In fact, it penetrates deep into the hair shaft, making it more effective. Fine hair can handle higher temperatures of heat produced with infrared technologies than heat produced with traditional technologies.
Plate Size & Design
Plates on flat irons vary greatly in size. Their size can vary between one inch and two inches. The size matters because it determines the amount of heat you expose your hairs to and the time it takes for you to straighten or curl your hair. Thicker plates, naturally, will generate more heat and will deliver results faster.
Which plate size you choose will depend on how fine your hairs really are. If your hair is very fine, then you don’t need a flat iron with plates measuring more than one inch. If they’re barely fine, then you can choose 1.75-inch plates. There are also 1.25-inch and 1.5-inch plates as your options.
You should also consider whether the plates are fixed on the flat iron or floating. Floating plates tend to move slightly in all directions. When you pull hairs through them, these plates ensure maximum contact. As a result, they deliver faster results and are more convenient to use.
Flat irons with fixed plates, however, tend to be cheaper. If you’re looking to buy a fixed plate flat iron, make sure the plates are aligned properly. If their alignment is off, then you’ll have to exert a lot of strength to make them come in contact.
Sometimes flat irons have just one floating plate instead of two. While two floating plates are better than one, flat irons with a single floating plate offer a good compromise between functionality and cost.
Temperature Settings & Minimum Temperatures
Since fine hair doesn’t need a lot of heat, you should choose flat irons with low minimum temperatures. The lower their minimum temperature, the better it will be.
While the majority of women with fine hair need their flat iron temperatures to be around 250 degrees Fahrenheit, others with extra-fine hair can benefit from even lower temperatures. Therefore, the lower the minimum temperature of your chosen flat iron the more options you’ll have to play with.
You also want flat irons with variable heat settings. However, if you’re considering flat irons with fixed temperature settings, you should go for those that offer the most options. Fifty heat settings are better than 30 and 30 are better than five. However, the best option will always be the ones with variable settings.
Convenience Features & Accessories
A few flat irons come with a comb attachment, but they’re quite difficult to find. Other accessories such as carry cases, gloves, and oil treatments are more common. All of them, however, will make your life easier in one way or another.
In terms of convenience and ease of use, you should look for lighter, more compact flat irons. They’re the easiest to maneuver around your head and easiest to travel with too. If you plan on going abroad a lot, get a dual voltage flat iron.
Further, flat irons with long swivel cords can be very easy to use. Get these for more convenience.
9 Best Flat Irons for Fine Hair Comparison Table
Top 3 Premium Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
1. BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
This product offers everything you’ll ever need from your flat iron if you have fine hair. It’s so well suited to fine-haired people that we think it was specifically made for them.
Consider its minimum temperature. The lowest temperature this flat iron can work with is 240 degrees Fahrenheit which is perfect for even the finest of hair. It may be a bit high if you have heavily damaged or processed hair, but if your hair is in that state, you shouldn’t be exposing them to heat anyway.
However, if you feel that this temperature is too low for your hair, then you can increase it as per your requirements. This device offers variable heat settings, which means that you can choose any temperature between 240 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
This flat iron also incorporates the company’s patented silicone speed strips. These strips are soft to touch and designed so that your fine hair will glide through them as a hot knife goes through butter.
The silicone strips are also very quick, reducing the time you’ll have to spend styling your hair. In fact, the company claims that this is the fastest flat iron in the market. They claim that you won’t need more than a single pass to style your hair, which is why the “onepass” moniker is used.
You’ll find two of them on one arm of the flat iron and one on the other. Further, the strips are placed in a floating setup. This means that they adjust to grip your hair as you glide the flat iron down the section.
The flat iron is also perfect for fine hair because of the way it generates heat. Firstly, it utilizes “far-reaching infrared” technology, which can be very helpful in protecting fine hair from heat.
It also generates negative ions which can further protect fine hair from excess moisture. Another unique aspect of this flat iron is that its plates are infused with nanoionics minerals. These minerals prevent the hair from getting too dry.
The plates measure one inch across which is enough for fine hair. You don’t really need wider plates as that may expose your hair to too much heat and even prevent hair sections from being gripped properly.
In terms of usability, this device scores well again. It has a nine feet long swivel cord that should keep wire tangles from ruining your styling session. At the same time, this device is a little on the heavier side which can make it a little difficult to manage.
This flat iron also happens to be one of the few that can be used all over the world. It supports both the 110V and 220V power systems making it equally useful in Europe, Asia, and Africa as it is in North America.
Its build quality is excellent as well. It is a very reliable and durable device that you can safely expect to use for the next four to five years. Without this durability, this device wouldn’t have been worth the sum of money you’ll have to pay to get it.
It is priced very expensively and that may seem a little unrealistic to you. However, we strongly suggest that you consider paying that sum. As soon as you start using this device and realize how sturdy and long-lasting it is, you’ll realize that it is worth every dime.
We should also warn you that this device doesn’t come with an auto shutoff feature. This could be a problem if you’re the forgetful kind. Still, this device is so perfect that we’ll ignore that little oversight from its developers.
Who’s it for: If you’re not strapped for cash and are looking for the best flat iron for fine hair, get the Onepass.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1 inch |
| Product Dimensions: 13 x 3 x 5 inches |
| Weight: 1.6 pounds |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 240 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Possesses floating plates |
| Incorporates soft silicone speed strips |
| Based on far-infrared technology |
| Infused with nanoionics minerals for hydrating hair |
| Very fast flat iron |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers variable temperature settings |
| Has a very useful nine feet long swivel cord |
| Good build quality lasts a few years |
| Dual voltage device |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Incredibly expensive flat iron |
| A little on the heavier side |
| Doesn’t possess auto shutoff feature |
2. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
Editor’s Rating: 3.75/5.0
There’s a gradient when it comes to fine hair. Some people have fine hair that is thicker in diameter than other fine-haired people, but still finer than medium and coarse-haired people. These individuals may need a flat iron wider than just one inch.
This device from BaBylissPRO is tailor-made for these people because it comes in three different plate widths – one inch, 1.5 inches, and two inches. The two-inch variation will not be right for you if you have fine hair, but you can use the 1.5-inch plate if you don’t have extremely fine hair.
The plates on this flat iron are made up of titanium and are arranged in a floating setup. Floating plates are more desirable for fine hair because they ensure proper clamping. Their titanium construction means that the plates are incredibly thin. Titanium is also a very light metal, which is why this flat iron is so lightweight. It only weighs one pound.
The plates could’ve been aligned a bit better, though. As it is, some users feel that the gap between them is a bit too much.Under the plates, you’ll find a ceramic heater, which keeps heat distribution even and stable.
The housing around the plates is made up Ryton, a compound that doesn’t heat up quickly. As a result, the outside portion of this flat iron doesn’t get too hot when in use.
This device, unfortunately, doesn’t have variable heat settings. However, it has so many temperature settings that you can see it as variable anyway. You’ll be able to play with 50 different heat settings. The lowest of these will be 240 degrees Fahrenheit which is perfect for fine hair.
Like many BaBylissPRO products, this one also comes in a pretty powder blue color which should suit your aesthetic sensibilities fine. However, you may have trouble storing it because it is a bit longer than most flat irons.
The real problem with this device is its cost to life relationship. This is an expensive device that doesn’t last long enough to justify its price. It breaks down so quickly that we fear it is a bit overpriced, especially since it lacks some key features as well.
For example, it has no auto shutoff feature. Similarly, it doesn’t support 220V power systems. Therefore, if you’re planning to travel beyond the North American continent, you can’t really take this device with you.
Who’s it for: If you want a beautiful flat iron that is capable too, get this one from BaBylissPRO.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1, 1.5, & 2 inches |
| Product Dimensions: 12 x 1.2 x 7 inches |
| Weight: 1 pound |
| Heat Settings: 50 |
| Minimum Temperature: 240 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Possesses floating plates |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers 50 temperature settings |
| Three different variants available |
| Lightweight device |
| Soft touch Ryton housing |
| Pretty powder blue color |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Incredibly overpriced flat iron |
| Breaks down too soon |
| A bit too long |
| Doesn’t possess auto shutoff feature |
| Not a dual voltage device |
| Too much gap between plates |
3. Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Karmin is known for developing products that epitomize user comfort. Therefore, we aren’t that surprised that their flat iron typifies that crucial quality.
This salon professional ceramic flat iron from Karmic is particularly excellent for globetrotters. In fact, the qualities that make this device travel-friendly also make it incredibly user-friendly.
Consider its weight and dimensions. It is one of the lightest, most compact flat irons you’ll find in the market right now. These qualities make it both, easy to travel with and easy to use.
This device is also one of few flat irons in the market that boast of universal voltage support. Such devices can be used in 110V and 220V power systems equally well. This means that these devices are equally effective in Europe, Asia, and Africa as they’re in North America.
Another travel-friendly feature is that this device comes with a carrying case and heat mat. Additionally, this flat iron also boasts of a swivel cord. Swivel cords ensure that the wire doesn’t get tangled as you try to style your hair, making it very easy to use.
This isn’t just a travel-friendly and user-friendly device, though. It is also a good flat iron in other ways. This is mainly because of its pure tourmaline ceramic plates, both of which are floating.
While their material ensures evenly distributed heat with no hotspots, their floating nature makes it easier for them to clamp even the finest of hairs. The plates measure one inch across.
There are other qualities as well that makes this device great for people with fine hair. Take its heat settings and minimum temperature for example. It doesn’t have fixed heat settings. Instead, they’re variable and you’ll be able to choose any temperature from the supported spectrum.
This device can handle temperatures between 240 degrees Fahrenheit and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Note the lower end of the spectrum. It is low enough to be perfect for use on fine hair. Working at such low temperatures will prevent heat damage to your hair.
Karmin will even give you five color options to choose from. Your options include black, blue, pink, purple, and white. The device is fairly reliable which is reflected in how the company has backed it. You’ll get the safety net of a three-year warranty on this device.
The sad bit is that you’ll end up using that warranty because this device breaks down very fast. Users say that it usually starts showing signs of breaking down within one year of regular use.
The fact that it breaks down so soon makes its high price a little unattractive. It is fortunate that it has that warranty and that there aren’t many devices that can compete with this device on travel-friendly and user-friendly features.
Who’s it for: If you travel abroad a lot and want the comfort of styling your hair on the road, get this device from Karmin.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1 inch |
| Product Dimensions: 11 x 1 x 1 inches |
| Weight: 0.75 pounds |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 250 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Possesses floating plates |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers variable temperature settings |
| An amazingly lightweight and compact device |
| Has a very useful swivel cord |
| Dual voltage device |
| Available in five different colors |
| Comes with a heat mat and carrying case |
| Backed by a three-year warranty |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Expensive flat iron |
| Breaks down too soon |
Top 3 Value Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
4. CHI Original 1″ Flat Hair Straightening Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
Editor’s Rating: 3.75/5.0
Usually, if a product features infrared technology, it is expensive. However, when it comes to flat irons, this device from CHI seems to buck the trend. It features infrared technology but isn’t priced in the same range as premium products.
Its infrared technology is its biggest strength, especially when it comes to fine hair. It allows this device to style fine hair without causing heat damage. Its infrared technology also means that its plates heat up very fast, something that most of its users have appreciated.
Of course, its ceramic plates help in that regard too by ensuring that the heat remains stable and that there aren’t any hotspots. The plates, incidentally, aren’t floating, which is a definite flaw.
Further, they’re one-inch wide which is good for fine hair. However, what isn’t good for fine hairs is the temperature settings on this device. Simply speaking, there aren’t any. This is one of those devices that have only one setting.
The set temperature of that single setting is also problematic. When you turn this device on, it will heat up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit very quickly. If your hair is very fine, this means that you’ll have to run it through your hair sections very fast to prevent heat damage.
You can probably use it comfortably, if your hair type is on the cusp of fine and medium, though. Even so, we strongly recommend using a heat protectant with this flat iron.
The device is user-friendly in terms of its size. It is quite compact and fits in hand well too. The fact that this device supports all power systems (110V and 220V), along with its compact size, means that it is very easy to travel with. However, before you do that, you should be aware that this device is a little on the heavier side.
Additionally, the company has equipped this flat iron with a swivel cord that will never get tangled. Further, you’ll never find it too short either since it is 11 feet long!
CHI is backing this product with a two-year warranty, which is better than many of its competing products but also falls a little short of a few.
Even though it is a mid-level device in terms of price, its price puts it in the upper range of that spectrum. What we mean is that it is expensive for a value product, especially since it doesn’t last a long time. It tends to break down within a few months.
Further, if you’re not careful, you could encourage that decline. There is no auto shutoff feature. Therefore, if you leave it on, it will stay on and will probably fail soon due to overheating.
Who’s it for: If your hair is kind of fine-medium and you’re loyal to CHI, get this device.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1 inch |
| Product Dimensions: 1.3 x 11 x 1.5 inches |
| Weight: 1.4 pounds |
| Heat Settings: 1 |
| Minimum Temperature: 392 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Produces negative ions |
| Based on far-infrared technology |
| Heats up very fast |
| Has a very useful 11 feet long swivel cord |
| Dual voltage device |
| Backed by a two-year warranty |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The minimum temperature setting may not work for extremely fine-haired people |
| Doesn’t have floating plates |
| Breaks down too soon |
| Heavy device |
| Doesn’t possess auto shutoff feature |
5. BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
This is the only flat iron on this list that comes with a comb attachment. Flat irons with comb attachments are quite rare because they’re intended for a very specific audience base.
A flat iron with a comb is very useful if you want to straighten curly, fine hair. You’ll find fewer flat irons with comb attachments because there aren’t as many women who have fine but curly hair.
Since the market base is so small and specific, manufacturers don’t devote a lot of their resources to catering to it. However, since we want this list to be as comprehensive as possible, we’ve found this BaBylissPRO straightening iron that comes with a comb attachment.
It’s comb will not only help you straighten your fine, curly hairs, but also save you time along the way. After all, if you combine combing and straightening together, you will save a lot of time.
It’s comb attachment maybe its most praised attribute, but this device isn’t without other strengths. For instance, it boasts of porcelain ceramic plates with a ceramic heater.
This combination is excellent because it keeps heat uniform and stops hotspots from forming as well. Since even heat distribution is important for fine hair, this quality stands out. However, we should add that the plates are fixed and not floating. Further, they aren’t aligned perfectly either.
Fine hair also needs greater temperature control. You can’t expose it to too much heat. This device’s variable temperature settings with a minimum temperature of 235 degrees Fahrenheit makes it ideal for fine-haired people.
This flat iron has three variants – one inch, 1.5 inches, and two inches. The one-inch flat iron is best for the finest hair while the two-inch flat iron is better suited for medium or coarse-haired people. You can try the 1.5-inch flat iron if your hair is somewhere in the middle.
This flat iron has some significant flaws that you should be aware of before you decide to get it. Firstly, it tends to break down very early into its life mainly because of its poor build quality. Luckily, you do get protection in the form of a three-year warranty. You’ll most probably be using it in a year or so if you use flat irons regularly.
This device suffers in terms of user-friendliness too. It doesn’t have a swivel cord which means that the cord can get tangled if you’re not careful. Fortunately, it is lightweight so you won’t have a lot of difficulties holding it up and moving it around.
However, you may have to get a heat glove separately because this device’s handle does get hot after prolonged use. You will also have to consciously turn it off since there is no auto shutoff feature.
Further, this device doesn’t support European and Asian power system of 220V. If you buy it, you’ll only be using it in America and Canada.
Who’s it for: If you’ve been looking for a flat iron with a comb, you won’t find many better than this one.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1, 1.5, & 2 inches |
| Product Dimensions: 12 x 1.5 x 3 inches |
| Weight: 1 pound |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 235 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers variable temperature settings |
| Three different variants available |
| Lightweight device |
| Has a very useful comb attachment |
| Backed by a three-year warranty |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t possess floating plates |
| Breaks down too soon |
| Not a dual voltage device |
| No auto shutoff feature |
| No swivel cord |
| The handle can get too hot |
6. HSI Professional Digital Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
The majority of flat irons have rheostat-based dials for controlling temperature settings. There are very few that offer digital control accompanied by a display screen. This product from HSI is one of few that do.
Apart from digitally-controlled variable temperature settings, this flat iron also boasts of the biggest temperature range in the industry to date. It’s temperatures go as low as 140 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
While a maximum temperature of 450 degrees is fairly common in flat irons, the lower end usually stays close to 240 degrees. The fact that this flat iron goes as low as 140 degrees makes it ideal for fine-haired people.
Moreover, this temperature is low enough for people with extra-sensitive, damaged, or heavily processed hair. At such low temperatures, it is impossible for the heat to cause any damage to your hairs.
While the digital control panel is an alluring feature by itself, the flat iron is worth getting without it too. The company offers rheostat-based dial controls on these devices as well.
There are actually five variants of this device available in the market – two are rheostat controlled, two are digitally controlled, and one is a complete kit containing other HIS products such as a hair dryer and a curling iron.
Of the two rheostat models, one comes with a heat resistant glove and a heatproof silk pouch while the other doesn’t. This difference exists between the two digital models too, but they also differ in color. You can get a hot pink flat iron or a black flat iron.
The digital model with accessories also includes four BeauWis Butterfly Clamps. Further, every variant comes with an argan oil treatment pouch.
This flat iron’s core functionality is governed by its tourmaline infused ceramic plates that generate negative ions for reducing frizz and flyaway hair. The ceramic plates are good at maintaining an even distribution of heat as well.
Eight micro-sensors with Heat Balance technology help the plates with heat distribution. The sensors monitor and adjust plate temperatures when required to keep it stable and uniform.
Further, the plates are arranged in a floating system. This keeps them in contact with your hairs, regardless of how fine they are. The plates span one inch across. HSI has paid attention to user-friendliness as well.
This is evident in the fact that this device comes with a 360-degree swivel cord that measures six feet in length. Similarly, this is a universal voltage device that can handle 110V and 220V power systems equally well.
The device comes with a one-year warranty and is amazingly priced considering its features and the number of accessories it comes with. The only problem is that it breaks down in about a year. Also, this flat iron is a bit on the heavier and bulkier side.
Who’s it for: If you want the most bang for your buck, get this digital model from HSI.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1 inch |
| Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 4.6 x 2.3 inches |
| Weight: 1.4 pounds |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 140 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Possesses floating plates |
| Manages heat distribution with eight micro-sensors |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers variable temperature settings |
| Five different variants available |
| Has a very useful six feet long swivel cord |
| Comes with an argan oil treatment, a heat resistant glove, & a heat resistant silk travel case |
| Dual voltage device |
| Affordably priced |
| Backed by a one-year warranty |
| Has automatic shutoff feature |
| The Cons |
|---|
| A heavy and bulky device |
| Breaks down too soon |
Top 3 Budget Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
7. Remington Pro 1″ Flat Iron with Thermaluxe Advanced Thermal Technology (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Remington has been a leading name in the haircare market for a very long time. It has products in all price brackets, but its best offering is in the budget range in the form of the Remington Pro 1″ Flat Iron.
This is an amazingly affordable device, especially if you consider its features and qualities. It has ceramic plates, which the company says are ten times more effective than its other products.
The plate material is supplemented by the company’s Thermaluxe technology. Thermaluxe is an advanced thermal technology designed to monitor and maintain heat distribution in the plates.
In terms of their arrangement, of the two plates, one is floating while the other is fixed. While a good feature, it doesn’t seem to help a lot because many users of this device say that the plates fail to clamp hair well. This is a problem that may be particularly relevant for people with extra-fine hair.
On the other side, this device’s temperature settings are perfect for fine-haired people. You get 30 settings with the lowest one being for 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
The flat iron heats up very quickly too, taking only approximately 15 seconds to reach the chosen temperature. Further, the plate width is suitable for fine-haired people since it measures one inch across.
This flat iron even has the auto shutoff feature which kicks in if it is left on for more than 60 minutes. While this flat iron doesn’t have a swivel cord, it does have a cord sheathed in fabric.
This fabric cord prevents tangles and makes it easy to move the flat iron around. However, the fabric sheath of the cord tends to catch a lot of dirt and moisture. The worst bit is that once it gets dirty, you can’t really clean it conveniently.
You can get this device in two colors which are purple and blush pink. Also, it comes with a heat protective storage pouch in case you want to travel with it. However, you’ll have to stay on the North American continent since this isn’t a dual voltage device.
In the budget section, this is probably the most durable, long lasting, and sturdy device. Its build quality is excellent and it is backed by a four-year warranty to boot.
It’s durability is a result of the high quality of materials used to manufacture this device. However, its build quality means that it is on the heavier and bulkier side, but that is the price you pay for durability.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a pocket-friendly flat iron, but need durability too, get this Remington product.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1 inch |
| Product Dimensions: 2.4 x 5 x 15.4 inches |
| Weight: 1.3 pounds |
| Heat Settings: 30 |
| Minimum Temperature: 240 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Possesses one floating plate |
| Based on Thermaluxe advance thermal technology |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers 30 temperature settings |
| Heats up very fast |
| Has a very useful fabric tangle-free cord |
| Available in two colors |
| Comes with a heat resistant storage pouch |
| Has a 60-minute automatic shutoff feature |
| Backed by a four-year warranty |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t clamp down on hair well |
| A little on the bulkier side |
| Not a dual voltage device |
| Fabric cord gets dirty really fast |
8. Herstyler Colorful Seasons Ceramic Flat Iron
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Esthetically, you won’t find a better flat iron than the Herstyler Colorful Seasons. As its name suggests, it offers multiple color options with each one fit for the fashion savvy woman. The colors are accompanied by very elegant texturing too. You can get this device in pink, blue, green, purple, and red.
Further, this is very travel-friendly device mainly because it supports 220V power systems. This means that you can take it with you to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
In fact, it is so compact that you can probably fit it into your handbag. It is slightly heavier than most flat irons, though, coming in at 1.4 pounds.
While its aesthetic appeal and compactness may be its biggest qualities, this flat iron is functionally sound too. It has ceramic floating plates supplemented by a separate negative ion technology.
The ceramic plates keep the heat uniform, the floating plates ensure that your hair is clamped properly, and the negative ions prevent frizzy and flyaway hair. Further, the temperature settings and range make this device perfect for fine hairs.
It has variable heat settings with the lowest being 180 degrees Fahrenheit. With such low temperatures, even people with the finest, most brittle hair can use this device safely. If you do plan to use this device on damaged or heavily processed hair, you should be very careful of your technique.
You’ll need that technique too as the plates on this device span 1.25 inches. This could result in a bit more heat exposure than you want so you’ll have to adjust for it. The technique will also be important because this device does tend to pull hair if you try to run it through your hair too quickly.
This could be because of its low build quality. The plates are especially suspect since they tend to fall off or get chipped very easily. Another thing you’ll have to keep in mind is to turn this device off after you’re done. You can’t leave it on because there is no automatic shutoff feature.
Who’s it for: If you’re conscious about how your devices look, but are looking for functionality too, get this device.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1.25 inches |
| Product Dimensions: 5 x 4.8 x 2.7 inches |
| Weight: 1.41 pounds |
| Heat Settings: Variable |
| Minimum Temperature: 180 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Minimum temperature perfect for fine hair |
| Possesses floating plates |
| Produces negative ions |
| Offers variable temperature settings |
| Amazingly compact device |
| Dual voltage device |
| Available in five different colors |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Breaks down too soon |
| Pulls hair often |
| A little on the heavier side |
| Doesn’t possess auto shutoff feature |
9. INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
While high temperatures are not recommended for fine hairs, it is possible that your hairs barely qualify as fine. You could have hair that is as much medium as it is fine. If so, then you’ll be looking for a more powerful flat iron.
However, you shouldn’t ignore the risk of heat damage even if your hairs can handle more heat exposure. A good option is to pick a flat iron that delivers higher temperatures, but with the help of infrared technology.
In the value section, we had the CHI flat iron. In the budget section, its counterpart is this INFINITIPRO device from CONAIR. While based on infrared technology, this device incorporates tourmaline ceramic plates also.
The two technologies keep your hair safe by ensuring even and uniform heat distribution. However, they aren’t as consistent as you would expect because some users complain of uneven heat in some scenarios.
The device heats up quickly too owing to it’s True Ceramic Heater. You can expect it to heat up in under 15 seconds. In terms of the temperatures this device can achieve, you’ll get a range of 365 degrees Fahrenheit and 455 degrees Fahrenheit split between 30 heat settings.
This device has three variants. If you have very fine or slightly fine hairs, then the one-inch and 1.25-inch models will be suitable for you, respectively. The third 1.75-inch model is better suited to people with thicker hair.
One of the plates, incidentally, is floating making it easier for this flat iron to clamp down on your hairs. The one-inch variant comes in a royal purple color that should appeal to your aesthetic sense. All the variants come with argan oil, which you can use as a heat protectant for your hair.
The device also boasts of an automatic shutoff feature, but it can be very annoying. The feature kicks in at random moments, making this quite an unpredictable device.
This is probably because of this device’s low build quality. Its build quality reflects its cost, i.e. budget. You shouldn’t expect this device to last a very long time, but you can use the company’s five-year warranty as a safety net.
The device isn’t all that travel-friendly either on account of being quite bulky and not supporting 220V power systems. It is surprisingly light, though.
Who’s it for: If you have fine hairs but want to style at higher temperatures, this is the device you should go for.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Plate Dimensions: 1, 1.25, & 1.75 inches |
| Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 5.4 x 13.9 inches |
| Weight: 1 pound |
| Heat Settings: 30 |
| Minimum Temperature: 365 degrees Fahrenheit |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Produces negative ions |
| Possesses floating plates |
| Heats up very fast |
| Offers 30 temperature settings |
| Three different variants available |
| Has a very useful auto shutoff feature |
| Comes with argan oil treatment |
| Royal purple color |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The minimum temperature setting may not work for extremely fine-haired people |
| Low build quality causes multiple problems |
| Very bulky device |
| Not a dual voltage device |
Contents
- Do You Have Fine Hair?
- What Does it Mean to Have Fine Hair?
- How Should You Use a Flat Iron on Fine Hair?
- How to Choose A Flat Iron for Fine Hair
- 9 Best Flat Irons for Fine Hair Comparison Table
- Top 3 Premium Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Budget Flat Irons for Fine Hair: Detailed Reviews
