9 Best Hair Straighteners of 2019

What Are the Different Types of Hair Straighteners?

The majority of people use “hair straightener” and “flat iron” interchangeably. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. While all flat irons are hair straighteners, all hair straighteners aren’t flat irons. In other words, the term “hair straightener” is much broader than the term “flat iron”.

Any device that can straighten hair will qualify as a hair straightener. This obviously means flat irons, but it also means other devices like straightening brushes of various types, hairdryers, and even certain chemicals.

It is very difficult to use chemical hair straighteners at home, and you’re better off going to a professional salon if that is how you want to straighten your hair. Similarly, using a hairdryer at home to straighten your hair is so difficult that you’ll need to grow a third arm to get the results you want.

Flat irons and hair straightening brushes, though, can be used easily at home. While flat irons remain the most popular type of hair straightener because of their versatility, straightening hair brushes can save you tons of time. This is why we’ve included both these types of hair straighteners in this guide.

Top 9 Hair Straighteners Comparison Table

Top 4 Budget Hair Straighteners: Detailed Reviews

1. Remington S5500 Flat Iron

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Everyone cannot spend tons of money on their styling tools. In fact, many people prefer to have three different, reasonably priced styling tools over an expensive one. The Remington S5500 is tailor-made for such people.

It is one of the cheapest flat irons in the market. Despite its low cost, though, this flat iron isn’t as bare-bones as some of its competitors. On the contrary, it possesses an impressive set of features that supplement its basic functions well. One of these features is the titanium protection coating on ceramic plates.

The coating keeps the heat even and prevents hotspots from damaging the hair, while the ceramic material produces negative ions to counter frizz and flyaway hair. The anti-static technology could’ve been better on this device since it fails to deal with severe cases of frizzing and flyaway hair.

The plates, themselves, are floating so that the hair can glide through easily. They aren’t perfect, though. They’re not aligned as well as the plates on more expensive flat irons, and there’s a considerable gap between them.

This gap will force you to squeeze hard on the flat iron, which will, in turn, cause tugging on your hair. There’s something off about the heating on this flat iron too because it starts giving off the burnt electrical smell whenever you turn it on.

The plates span one inch across, which should be good enough for most hair types. If you have incredibly thick or long hair, then you may want to go for a flat iron with wider plates.

At the same time, these plates are 30 percent longer than the plates of most competing products, according to the company. So, you could try to run through more hair by using the full length of the plates.

Also, if your hair is very fine, over-processed, or even damaged, we would advise you to avoid this flat iron because its lowest temperature may be too strong for your hair.

This device operates between 310 degrees Fahrenheit and 410 degrees Fahrenheit. Between these two extremes, you’ll find four other temperature settings. For people short on time, this device offers the Turbo Boost function. This function will allow you to quickly reach the maximum temperature by pressing and holding the “+” button.

Even without the Turbo Boost Function, this hair straightener is quick to heat up, needing only 30 seconds. You can change the heat settings with a digital control panel. The control buttons, though, are quite poorly placed. They constantly get in the way of the grip. An LCD temperature display accompanies the panel.

This flat iron is also quite user-friendly. It boasts of a 360-degree swivel cord to prevent the cord from tangling while you straighten your hair. Another feature that makes this device easy to maneuver is its weight. It is very lightweight and compact.

Further, there is a hinge lock designed to help with the storage of this flat iron. There’s even a safety feature of 60-minute automatic shut off that eliminates potential fire risks.

While this flat iron offers a lot of features for an incredibly low price, once you have the device in your hand, you’ll be able to tell where the company has cut corners. The build quality of this device isn’t the best in the world, and it is evident to the naked eye. Moreover, it tends to break down within a few months.

In terms of appearance, this flat iron should appeal to the fairer sex since it comes in a pretty purple color.

Who’s it for: If you’re not interested in all the frills and want a basic flat iron for a reasonable price, get this one from Remington.

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2. INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

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Conair is a fairly reliable name when it comes to styling products, and INFINITIPRO is one of their most well-regarded lines. This Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron is part of the INFINITIPRO series.

This flat iron hair straightener utilizes infrared technology to generate heat. The heat generated through infrared technology is less damaging to hair than conventional technologies. The majority of infrared technology hot tools, though, tend to be expensive. This is why this device stands out amongst all other products in the same market segment.

Infrared technology, in this device, is supported by tourmaline ceramic plates. This material offers two benefits. The first is that it keeps heat uniform all across the plates and the other is that it generates negative ions that nullify flyaway and frizzy hair. However, because of some design flaw or possible quality concerns about the material, some users still complain of uneven heat, which is of concern to us.

There’s a secondary benefit of tourmaline ceramic as a material too. It ensures that the plates heat up fast. This is true in the case of this device since it heats up in less than 15 seconds.

This flat iron is suitable for virtually every hair type, except for extremely damaged or over-processed hair. The reason for this is its temperature range. The lowest this flat iron can go is 365 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is too high for fine or damaged hair.

On the higher side, there are no such concerns since this device can reach 455 degrees Fahrenheit which can handle even the thickest and coarsest of hair. In total, this device can be operated on 30 different temperature settings.

This device even has automatic shutoff as a safety feature. The problem is that this safety feature turns into an annoyance pretty early into its life. After a few months, it becomes unpredictable and turns the device off when it shouldn’t.

Generally speaking, the build quality of this hair straightener isn’t the best, but this is to be expected from a device this cheap. Even with the low build quality, though, the device doesn’t break down as much as its competitors.

Conair has offered a five-year warranty on this device in case it does break down, though. Such long-term warranty is unheard off in such low-cost devices.

You can also get this device in three different versions. The versions vary in terms of the plates’ width. The options include flat irons with one-inch wide plates, 1.25-inch wide plates, and 1.75-inch plates. The thicker and longer your hair, the wider you would want your flat iron’s plates to be.

Variations are also available in terms of color. You can get this flat iron in three colors, including royal purple, hot pink, and maroon. Regardless of which version or color you choose, you can expect to receive a bottle of argan oil with it. The oil acts as a wonderful, natural heat protectant for your hair.

This device isn’t very travel-friendly, however. Even though it is lightweight, it is bulky enough to become a problem in the luggage. Further, if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll have to leave the device at home because it can only be used on 110V power systems.

Who’s it for: If you don’t have fine or damaged hair and want a pocket-friendly flat iron from a reliable brand, get this one.

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3. HSI Professional Digital Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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If you’re one of those people who understand the true value for money, then you will have a hard time ignoring this flat iron from HSI. This device offers the most features and the most versatility possible in a flat iron, but the best bit is that it does this without requiring you to break the bank.

It excels regardless of which parameter you evaluate it on, but one area where it is truly exceptional is temperature range. This device offers the widest temperature range we’ve come across in the entire industry.

While its highest temperature is the same as all its competitors, i.e. 450 degrees Fahrenheit, its lowest is the lowest in the industry at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Its wide operating temperature range makes this flat iron an excellent choice for everyone under the sun, including extreme hair types.

Irrespective of whether you have extremely curly and thick hair or if your hair is super-fine or damaged, you’ll be able to use this device with ease. Moreover, since the temperature settings are variable and not fixed, you’ll be able to find your heat sweet spot with ease.

In terms of controlling the device, you get both digital and rheostat options. A display screen will accompany variants with digital controls while the rheostat-based devices will have a dial for controlling the temperatures. In all, there are five variants to choose from.

Two are digitally controlled and two are rheostat-based. The fifth one is a complete set that includes a hair curling iron and a hairdryer. You can get these flat irons with and without a heatproof silk pouch, a heat resistant glove, and an argan oil treatment pouch as well.

You’ll even get color options in the digital variants. You’ll be able to choose between black and hot pink flat irons. Further, the digital variants will come with Butterfly Clamps from BeauWis.

All variants are built around tourmaline-infused ceramic plates that combat frizz and flyaway hair by generating negative ions. Further, the plates are supplemented by eight micro-sensors. These micro-sensors actively work to balance the heat generated by the plates, so that heat distribution is uniform and even.

The plates are arranged in a floating arrangement which allows them to adjust their position always to maintain contact with the hair being pulled through. The plates are one inch wide.

This device is also quite user-friendly. It is designed to operate on all power systems including the North American 110V and the rest of the world’s 220V. Further, it comes with a six-feet-long 360-degree swivel cord that makes this device very easy to manage around the head. The swivel cord is needed too because this is a heavy and bulky device.

The one flaw this device has is that it breaks down too soon. Most users say that their device developed problems around the one-year mark. While this isn’t ideal, it is acceptable if you consider how affordable this device is. If the device breaks down in less than one year, though, you can avail the company’s one-year warranty.

Who’s it for: If you don’t want to spend too much, but still desire as many features and as much versatility as possible, get this flat iron from HSI.

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4. KIPOZI Flat Iron Professional Hair Straightener

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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This flat iron from KIPOZI is quite popular because it offers a good balance between cost, function, and versatility. Moreover, it would’ve even had the biggest temperature range if it wasn’t for HSI’s offering.

As it is, its temperature range makes it an incredibly adaptable hair straightener. It is as useful for a woman with extra-curly and extra-thick hair as it is for a woman with super-fine hair. The former will use this device near its maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, while its lowest temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit will be ideal for the latter.

The majority of people, though, will benefit from the variable heat settings offered by this device. The ability to choose any temperature in the available spectrum will allow everyone to find the perfect temperature for their hair. Once picked, the temperatures are displayed on a very helpful LCD screen.

At the same time, we should add that this device will take much longer to straighten very thick or long hair than it would fine hair. This is mainly due to the width of its plates – one inch. The plates, themselves, are made up of titanium and arranged in a 3D floating configuration. Titanium plates offer two benefits.

The first is that they heat up quickly, with the device capable of reaching its maximum temperature in less than 20 seconds. The other benefit is the generation of negative ions which counter frizz and flyaway hair.

Further, the floating configuration of the plates means that they maintain contact with the hair easily and don’t get too tight. Unfortunately, the 3D floating plates aren’t as effective as they could’ve been. There are reports of this flat iron tugging the hair from some users.

The plates are heated by an advanced PTC ceramic heater. PTC ceramic technology ensures even temperature distribution and prevents any one spot on the plates from getting too hot and roasting the hair. However, it seems to be too effective because the outside body of the flat iron also gets very hot.

This device even has several features designed to make your life easier. For better usability, it offers a 360-degree swivel cord and comes with a heat resistant pad. For safety, the company has incorporated an auto-off feature that turns the device off after 90 minutes of no use.

This flat iron is also very travel-friendly. It can be used anywhere in the world since it supports both 110V and 220V power systems. You’ll even get a nice velvet pouch for packing the flat iron.

Finally, it has a safety lock to prevent the flat iron from opening by mistake, while in transit. It would’ve been even more travel-friendly if it was light and compact. Unfortunately, it is heavy and bulky instead.

The button placement could’ve been better too. As it is, the buttons get in the way of the grip. It would be very easy for you to turn this device off or even change the temperature while you’re trying to maneuver it around your head.

This device is competitively priced. This is probably why its build quality is suspect. It breaks down too easily and too early into its life. Fortunately, there is a three-year warranty that you can use to protect your investment.

You can get this device in three different colors. These are gold, matte black, and rose pink.

Who’s it for: If you’re careful with your devices and need a truly adaptable flat iron, get this one from Kipozi.

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Top 2 Premium Hair Straighteners: Detailed Reviews

5. Karmin G3 Salon Professional Ceramic Flat Iron

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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While budget-friendly devices are great, premium flat irons are a class apart. Take this flat iron from Karmin. It is one of the most compact and lightweight flat irons you’ll find in the market, and yet, it is excellent when it comes to straightening hair.

Its low weight and compact nature make this device perfect for people who spend a large chunk of their life on the road. It even includes multiple other features aimed at making it travel-friendly such as universal voltage support. The universal voltage support means that you’ll be able to use this device anywhere in the world.

It even comes with a carrying case so that you can pack it easily. This device isn’t just travel-friendly, though. It is also incredibly user-friendly.

For instance, it comes with a swivel cord that makes it very easy to maneuver this device. Further, it comes with a heat mat to make it easy for you to place it on any surface without worries of burns.

Even the heat settings of this device are user-friendly. It offers variable heat settings, which makes it possible for you to find the optimum temperature for straightening your unique hair type.

Further, it can operate on any temperature between 240 degrees Fahrenheit and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, it will suit all types of hair and can even be shared between women of different hair types and conditions.

In terms of its core function, the device relies on its pure tourmaline ceramic plates. The heat generated on the plates is uniform and there are never any hotspots that may burn your hair.

The plates are also arranged in a floating configuration to make it easy for the hair to glide through them. However, unlike cheaper hair straighteners with a floating plate feature, the hair actually guides through in this device and is never tugged or pulled. Incidentally, the plates measure one-inch in width.

Appearance-wise, this product offers more options than most of its competitors. You can get this flat iron in five different colors, including white, purple, pink, blue, and black.

While an excellent flat iron, this device has two huge flaws and they’re connected. The first is its cost. It is amazingly expensive and will cost you upwards of $100 even if you can find discounts.

The high cost wouldn’t be as much of a problem if the device were long-lasting. Unfortunately, it isn’t. It breaks down within one year if you use it regularly. The only saving grace is that the company backs it with a three-year warranty. This warranty will act as a safety net for your money.

Who’s it for: If travel-friendliness and user-friendliness are what you are looking for most in your hair straightener, get this device from Karmin.

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6. BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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The best product in any product segment usually tends to be the most expensive too. In literal terms, it is the price you pay for state-of-the-art tools. In the world of hair straighteners, the Onepass Straightening Iron from BIO IONIC has that distinction.

In simple terms, this device is miles ahead of all other similar products in the market. This is mainly due to the company’s patented silicone speed strips. These silicone speed strips are crucial to the company’s claim of this flat iron being the fastest in the industry.

By calling this flat iron the fastest, the company means that you won’t need more than a single pass to straighten your hair when using this flat iron. The claim holds for most users too, and only a few say that they needed more than one pass to get the desired result.

The silicone speed strips offer another benefit. They ensure that the flat iron doesn’t tug or pull on the section of the hair you’re trying to straighten. We feel that this is because the strips are soft to touch and mold themselves to the hair instead of putting pressure on it. However, the fact that the strips have a floating arrangement also helps. You’ll find two such strips on one arm and one on the other arm.

This straightening iron is suitable for all hair types and conditions. The main reason for this is that it reduces heat damage because it is based on “far-reaching infrared” technology. Infrared technology heats hair without forcing the moisture out, and as a result, doesn’t cause a lot of damage.

The variable heat settings of this straightening iron also make it suitable for varying hair types. It can straighten hair at any temperature between 240 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees Fahrenheit which should suit very thick and very fine hair alike.

Further, the developers have infused nanoionics minerals into the plates on this straightening iron. As a result, the hair is protected from excessive dryness and frizz. The plates are one-inch wide.

The device is fairly user-friendly too. It comes with a swivel cord that measures nine feet long. Moreover, it is a universal voltage device, which means that it can be used anywhere on the planet.

It does have two usability-related flaws, though. The first is that this device is a little on the heavier side, and the other is that it doesn’t have the automatic shutoff feature.

As mentioned earlier, this device is priced exorbitantly. When you pay such high prices, you expect durability and reliability. This device delivers on those expectations handsomely. It is extremely long-lasting and will stay with you for four to five years.

Who’s it for: If you want the most advanced flat iron in the market and can spend to get it, go for the BIO IONIC.

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Top 2 Paddle Brush Hair Straighteners: Detailed Reviews

7. Glamfields Hair Straightener Brush

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Straightening thick, long hair can be a very time consuming and tiring task. There’s just too much hair to deal with, and most hair straighteners can only handle thin sections at a time. Even paddle brush hair straighteners are limited by the size of the brush head.

Glamfields, however, offers a solution in the form of this Hair Straightener Brush. The head of this brush is larger than most other paddle brush hair straighteners. This allows it to speed up the hair straightening process even for women with very thick and long hair.

The bristles on the brush are dense too, ensuring that hair is exposed to sufficient heat. They are, however, a bit too hard. This shows us that this paddle brush hair straightener is not meant for women with extra-fine, damaged, or over-processed hair. The hard, high-density bristles will end up trapping and breaking fine or damaged hair quite easily.

While this device may not be suitable for fine-haired women, this doesn’t mean that it isn’t gentle in terms of heat. If you use this device at its lowest temperature setting, it doesn’t cause any heat damage. Its lowest temperature is 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its highest temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit is good enough to straighten the toughest of hair, especially with the big brush head and dense bristles. In total, there are 12 heat settings on this device.

The Metal Ceramic Heater technology generates heat. This technology ensures uniform heat and prevents hotspots from damaging your hair. The ceramic material also generates negative ions to combat frizz and flyaway hair

Further, this technology also means that this device heats up really quickly. It doesn’t take more than 30 seconds. The device has a temperature lock and automatic shutoff feature too. If idle, it will shut down in 30 minutes. The glove provided by the company with the device is helpful as well.

The 360-degree swivel cord on this hair straightener will prevent tangles from bothering you. However, don’t expect it to make this device easy to maneuver. This hair straightener is far too heavy ever to be easy to handle unless you have some muscles. It weighs close to two pounds.

Its weight also makes it very difficult to carry with you on your travels, even though it is a dual voltage device and comes with a nice cloth bag.

You’ll need to be very cautious with this device because it isn’t the sturdiest out there. In fact, it is quite fragile and delicate. Any kind of mishandling may lead to it breaking down.

Who’s it for: If you have thick, long hair and travel abroad a lot, get this hair straightener from Glamfields.

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Top Press Comb Hair Straightener: Detailed Review

9. Andis High Heat Ceramic Professional Press Comb

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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This device from Andis is reminiscent of old-school straightening tools mainly because it is comb-based. Called the Press Comb, this device has a ceramic comb at the end of a handle. The comb delivers the heat needed for straightening the hair.

Since the comb is ceramic, it also generates negative ions. The negative ions prevent ionization of the hair strands, which takes away frizz. This device is versatile enough to be suitable for all types of hair except fine.

It is not suitable for fine-haired people because of two reasons. The first is that the teeth of the comb are too widely spaced to help fine hair and the other is its temperature range.

This device can operate between 300 degrees Fahrenheit and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 300 degrees Fahrenheit is too high for fine hair and can cause considerable heat damage. In total, there are 20 heat settings on this device.

Usability-wise, this device scores well. This hair straightener is quick to heat up as well, taking only about 30 seconds. Further, if you forget to turn the device off, it will shut down after 30 minutes of no use.

You’ll be able to take it anywhere in the world because it is a dual voltage device. Further, it comes with a swivel cord that makes it quite easy to use. Also, it has a built-in stand so that you can place it on any surface safely.

Finally, even though the press comb is not the most compact design for a straightener, this device is quite light. This device is reliable too. Andis, its manufacturer, is renowned for manufacturing professional-class tools.

The only real problem with this device other than the fact that fine-haired people can’t use it is its button placement. The buttons are placed in such a way on the handle that they get in the way of the grip. This can result in accidental changes in settings.

You can get this device in two colors – gold and black.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a different hair straightener reminiscent of old school devices, get this one from Andis.

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