8 Best Hair Straighteners for Thick Hair

How Is Thick Hair Different from Other Types of Hair?

Even with the right hair straightener, many women fail to get the results they desire. As is natural, they end up blaming their hair straightener for the problem. However, the real problem is that these women don’t understand their thick hair.

We don’t want you to end up with the same fate, so we’d like to quickly explain how thick hair is different from other hair types before getting to the meat of this guide.

If you have thick hair strands, then you need to know that it will be very style-resilient. It will be able to resist your efforts at changing its natural structure, shape, and fall.

As a result, you’ll have to increase the hair straightener’s temperature to have an impact on this type of hair. In fact, you’ll also need a hair straightener with wide plates to ensure that the heat reaches all the hair strands.

You should also know that thick hair strands are also very dry. This is especially true if they curl heavily too. This happens because the oils your scalp produces don’t get to coat them fully.

Therefore, when you crank up the temperature, you’re bound to fry your hair. The workaround here is to use commercial heat protectants or natural oils before the hair straightener.

In contrast, if you have a lot of hair strands on your head, then you don’t have to worry about the resilience of individual hair strands and the need for higher temperatures. Instead, you’ll have to worry about their collective resilience.

They’ll resist the straightening process because your straightener’s heat won’t reach all of them properly. Again, the solution to this problem is to use a hair straightener with wider plates. Incidentally, this type of thick hair will also be very dry, so you’ll still have to moisturize them before using the hair straightener.

Therefore, the needs of both types of thick hair overlap in some ways and differ in other ways.

How to Choose A Hair Straightener for Thick Hair?

You already have clues for this in the above section.

First, you want a hair straightener with wider plates. Look for straighteners with plates measuring more than one inch. You can choose anything between 1.25 inches to two inches.

The wider you go, the tougher it will be for you to reach the roots. At the same time, if you have a lot of hair and they’re very long, then a hair straightener with thinner plates will force you to spend more time straightening your hair. Finding the balance is about understanding the length and type of your hair.

Second, you want hair straighteners with high maximum temperatures. Any hair straightener with a maximum temperature below 400 degrees Fahrenheit will be wasted on your hair.

Higher temperatures are beneficial for both types of thick hair mentioned above. It’s just that thick-diameter hair needs temperatures to be much higher than if thinner but more numerous hair.

Third, since thick hair is so dry all the time, it tends to get frizzy. As a result, you want a hair straightener that can counter this problem. This means ionic technology in the form of ceramic, tourmaline, or titanium plates. These materials generate negative ions that help frizzy and flyaway hair settle down.

Once you have shortlisted options according to the above requirements, you can look at other features such as weight and compactness, ease of use, travel friendliness, and even colors and accessories.

You’ll find mention of all these variables in our reviews below. Choose wisely.

Top 8 Hair Straighteners for Thick Hair Comparison Table

Top 3 Budget Hair Straighteners for Thick Hair: Detailed Reviews

1. Ovonni Nano Titanium Hair Straightener

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Generally, it is recommended that you don’t use a hot tool on wet hair. However, some people still find it convenient to straighten damp hair for two reasons.

The first is that it helps dry off the hair, and the other is that damp hair glides through the flat iron more easily. If that is how you like to straighten your hair, then the Nano Titanium Hair Straightener from Ovonni should work really well for you.

It has drying vents that allow steam and vapor to escape quickly from between the plates. This offers two benefits. The first is that heat being applied to the moisture in your hair doesn’t cause it to be fried, and the other is that the drying process becomes faster.

Even so, we recommend taking your time with every hair section. When rushed, this device is prone to falter. It can either start catching and pulling hair or not straightening them sufficiently. While this flat iron is removing moisture from your hair, it is simultaneously working on removing frizzalso.

The plates on this hair straightener are made with Nano Titanium technology, which results in the emission of negative ions. Negative ions can nullify the static in the hair that is responsible for making them frizzy.

Titanium plates combine with MCH heaters at the core of the device to deliver even and uniform heat. Moreover, these two are responsible for this device’s quick heat-up times. It reaches the chosen temperature in under 18 seconds.Your temperature choices will fall between 300 degrees Fahrenheit and 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since the plates on this device are 1.75 inches wide, this device is best for long, thick, and coarse hair. This means that this device is best suited for being used at the top end of its temperature range. At such temperatures, you have to be careful about safety. This device will help you in that regard too. It boasts of an automatic shutoff feature that kicks in after 60 minutes of non-use.

This hair straightener is also easy to use, by the way. It has a 360-degrees swivel cord that is 8.2 feet long. This should be more than enough for most people’s home setups.

Even though the long cord helps, you’ll still need some muscle to use this device. It is not only very bulky but also a little on the heavier side. Barring its weight and bulk, it is travel-friendly because it can be used on any power system in the world. This means you won’t be restricted to North America.

It should appeal to your fashion sense too, since you can get it in four different colors. Your options will be rose red, rose, dark blue, and light blue.

This device also happens to be one of the cheapest available in the market right now. The only problem is that its build quality reflects its low cost. So, you can expect this device to breakdown fairly early in its life. At the very least, you can expect the paint to peel off.

If it does let you down, though, you’ll have a good warranty to fall back on. The company offers a one-year warranty for replacement and a two-year general warranty.

Who’s it for: If you like to use hot tools on wet hair and are cash-strapped, this device from Ovonni will be perfect for you.

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2. Remington Pro Professional Titanium Ceramic Hair Straightener

Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

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Remington has been manufacturing hair straighteners for a much longer period than most other brands. As a result, they have a lot of experience to bank on when it comes to such devices. This experience shows through when it comes to the Pro Professional Titanium Ceramic Hair Straightener.

This device is specifically meant for women with very long, thick, and coarse hair. The biggest giveaway of this is the width of its plates. They measure two inches each, making them capable of handling a lot of hair in a single pass. In case you don’t have long hair, then you can choose the one-inch variant of this hair straightener.

This hair straightener has a high maximum temperature of 455 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why it is capable of handling the most resilient hair. If you’re worried about damaging your hair at those temperatures, you’ll be glad to know that the plates are infused with real silk proteins.

However, we do suggest that you wear heat-resistant gloves while using this device. The high temperatures can cause its handle to become too hot to grip. You don’t have to stick to the highest temperatures, though. You can use the provided dial to choose 29 other temperature options.

Moreover, the plates are titanium ceramic with an extra emphasis on ceramic. As a result, they produce lots of negative ions, which can eliminate frizz and flyaway hair super-fast. Further, they’re arranged in the floating configuration. This prevents snags and helps hair glide through the plates. However, it also means that the plates don’t grip the hair as tightly as you may be used to.

This hair straightener offers multiple user-friendly features too. For instance, it heats up in less than 15 seconds, saving you a lot of time. Also, if you leave this device on by mistake, you can be tension-free because it will shut itself off after 60 minutes. If you have the time to store it away, though, you can use the provided hinge lock to save space.

It is easy to manage during the straightening process as well because of its swivel cord. However, we feel that the cord could’ve been longer. It is only six feet long. The inconvenience of the short cord is made worse by the fact that this is a bulky device. The thinner version will be easier to manage, especially since this straightener isn’t too heavy.

This isn’t a dual voltage device, which means you can’t use it outside of North America. The absence of the dual voltage feature is understandable because this is a very affordable hair straightener. However, don’t expect a very hardy device at this price range. It is of low build quality and tends to break down easily with the automatic shutoff features, especially problematic.

Who’s it for: If you’re a Remington loyalist and are looking for a cheap hair straightener for very thick, coarse hair, get this device.

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3. xtava Professional Infrared Hair Straightener (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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As mentioned above, you need high temperatures to straighten thick hair. The problem is that it is very easy to go overboard with such high temperatures. In simple terms, it is very easy to end up causing heat damage to your hair. This problem, however, is nonexistent with infrared hair straighteners.

This hair straightener from xtava is our top pick in the budget section precisely for this reason. It is an infrared flat iron that doesn’t cause any heat damage but still manages to straighten thick hair with ease.

In fact, it seems to be tailor-made for long, coarse, and thick hair. Apart from infrared technology, this device also boasts of the widest plates possible, i.e. two inches. This means that this hair straightener can handle a lot of thick, long hair with ease but becomes unwieldy when working closer to the roots.

The plates are made up of tourmaline and ceramic, making them very efficient at negating frizzy and flyaway hair. Infrared technology, of course, helps in this regard too. The plates, by the way, have a floating configuration. This means that they don’t snag hair, but it also means that they don’t grip the hair hard.

Even though it uses infrared technology, this device reaches the same temperatures as hair straighteners with conventional heat generators. This device’s temperature range falls between 265 degrees Fahrenheit and 445 degrees Fahrenheit.

You’ll have ten settings in that rangeto play with. You’ll even be able to lock-in the chosen temperature to prevent changes while you’re wielding the device. If you forget to turn the device off, its 60-minute automatic shutoff feature device will do it for you.

While infrared technology maybe this device’s biggest strength, it is also responsible for a minor flaw. You not only need to apply this device to your hair longer to get the desired results but the device also takes longer to reach the chosen temperatures. It can, in fact, take up to 90 seconds.

Except for the time it consumes, this hair straightener is very easy to use. It comes with an 8-feet long 360-degrees swivel cord. This will not only help you if your socket is far away but also make managing the device around your head easier.

Further, this is a travel-friendly device. It can be used anywhere in the world and comes with a heat-resistant travel case. It is even compactly designed. The only blemish in its travel-friendly nature is its weight. It is significantly heavier than most hair straighteners coming in at a hefty two pounds.

Another minor flaw of this device is the button placement. The on-off button is especially problematic since it is located right where your grip will be.

All the flaws of this device are minor, especially when compared to its benefits. Further, if you consider how affordable this hair straightener for thick hair is, all those flaws become even more insignificant.

Not only is this device affordable but also reliable as it doesn’t break down easily. Even if it does break down, it comes with a two-year warranty and money-back guarantee that will protect your investment.

Who’s it for: If you want to avoid heat damage but still straighten your thick, coarse hair, get this superb hair straightener from xtava.

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Top 3 Value Hair Straighteners for Thick Hair: Detailed Reviews

4. Revlon Salon Straightener Copper + Ceramic Flat Iron

Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

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Temperature setting memory is a feature not often found in devices outside the premium market segment. Devices with this feature remember the temperature setting you chose from one session to the next. They can be real time-savers.

In the value segment, one of the few hair straighteners that offer this feature is the Salon Straightener Copper + Ceramic Flat Iron from Revlon. Even though its Smart Heat Memory System may be the feature that makes it standout, this device is pretty good without it too.

The plates on this flat iron are copper ceramic. The fact that they’re partly ceramic means that they generate negative ions. These negative ions are excellent at dealing with frizzy and flyaway hair. The copper element in the plates ensures more even heating.

Further, the plates boast of what the company calls True-Grip Rounded Floating configuration. In simple terms, this means two things. The first is that plates won’t add kinks and crimps to your hair because they’re rounded and have no edges.

The other is that your hair will glide through these plates without snags because they’ll adjust to the amount of hair in each section. While this is a great feature, it also causes issues such as the plates not gripping the hair tight enough.

This product is available in four different variations. The variants differ in terms of the length and width of the plates. The available plate widths are one inch, 1.5 inches, and two inches. In terms of length, your options will be the standard and the XL.

The one we’re reviewing here is the 1.5-inch XL model. This model also comes with a unique comb attachment. This attachment fits onto the plates and detangles hair while straightening them. The only problem is that most users find this attachment ineffective and virtually useless because it ends up pulling hair. In fact, this device can snag and pull hair even without this attachment in place.

In terms of heat settings, this device scores very well when compared to its competitors. It has 30 different settings with a minimum of 180 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum of 455 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, from the moment you pick your setting, this device will take less than 10 seconds to achieve the temperature. Also, you’ll be able to see the chosen temperature on an LCD.

This device will also be a great choice if you’re one of those people who tend to forget to turn off their hot tools. It has a 60-minute automatic shutoff feature. Even if you always store your hot tools well, then you’ll be pleased to know that this device comes with a plate locking switch.

It is very easy to use too. For instance, despite being on the bulky side, this device doesn’t weigh a lot. Apart from its weight, this flat iron’s swivel cord also makes it easier to maneuver around the head. However, Revlon should’ve made the cord longer than a mere six feet. They should’ve insulated the handle better too because it does get too hot to hold on to.

Despite its flaws, this is a good device mainly because it doesn’t cost a fortune. It is very affordably priced and should be within the financial reach of most people.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an affordable hair straightener that will remember the temperature settings you set, choose this one from Revlon.

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5. KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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In spite of only scoring 4.5 of 5.0, this flat iron from KIPOZI is still the best pick of all the products we’ve analyzed in the value section. There are two reasons why we think this hair straightener is special.

The first is the fact that it is the only such product in the market that allows users to customize the automatic shutoff feature. Most hair straighteners either offer a 30-minute shutdown feature or a 60-minute one. This one, though, will allow you to set it anywhere between 30 minutes and 180 minutes.

The second feature that sets this hair straightener apart is its temperature range. The highest this flat iron can go is 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and the lowest temperature it can operate on is 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

We understand that the lowest temperature may not be relevant to people with thick hair, especially since this device’s highest temperature is the same as all others on this list. However, the lowest temperature can be really helpful if you plan to share the device with someone who has fine hair. It will also help if your hair is partially colored as high temperatures can strip hair of its color.

You’ll also have multiple temperature settings to choose from. Moreover, the device heats up really fast so you won’t have to wait long, either. You’ll be able to see how quickly it heats up on a digital LCD.

The plates on this hair straightener measure 1.75 inches in width. This might make things a little uncomfortable for you if you have short hair. However, if this is the only thing that is bothering you, we’ll advise you to get this product still because you’ll get used to the extra width fairly quickly.

The plates are precision-milled and made up of titanium. This allows them to offer uniform heat and generate negative ions. The uniform heat prevents hotspots on the plates from damaging your hair while the negative ions work excellently against frizzy and flyaway hair.

However, according to some users, the plates aren’t close enough. This prevents them from gripping the hair well. If this is a concern for you, we suggest getting a heat-resistant glove. The glove should allow you to squeeze the plates together.

Moreover, while you’re at it, we suggest getting two of these gloves. You can use the other one to hold the device as the handle can get too hot when the device is being used on high temperatures.

Using the device, otherwise, is fairly easy owing to multiple convenience-centric features. The foremost of these is the 8-feet long 360-degrees swivel cord, which will prevent it from getting tangled as you use the device.

Another great feature of this device is universal voltage support. Because of this feature, you’ll be able to use this device all over the world without worrying about voltage concerns.

This feature also makes this hair straightener more travel-friendly, especially since it comes with two different types of storage cases. The first is a hard case that it comes packed in, and the other is a velvet drawstring bag. It could’ve been even more travel-friendly if it wasn’t bulky and didn’t weigh so much.

This device, however, shouldn’t affect your bathroom or dresser’s aesthetics too much, though. After all, you can get it in two different colors, namely pink and black.

By the way, considering all its features and benefits, we feel that this device is a steal because it isn’t all that expensive. Its low price, though, also means low build quality. This device is prone to breaking down early into its life. The saving grace is that it comes with a one-year warranty that you can fall back on if it does give up on you too soon.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for multiple high-quality features without paying a lot of money, get this device from KIPOZI.

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6. INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

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One of the problems people with thick hair face is excessive dryness. This is natural for thick hair because the scalp’s oils don’t reach, coat, and protect every hair strand. The only real way around this problem is to condition the hair properly and regularly.

However, what if the flat iron could help you do this? What if the plates were infused with an oil that would be released every time you used the device? The INFINITIPRO Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron from CONAIR offers these benefits.

Buying this device will also help you with the pre-conditioning process since it comes with a free bottle of argan oil treatment. The argan oil-infused plates supplement this treatment really well. Moreover, the plates are made with tourmaline ceramic technology.

This means that they not only help moisturize the hair to a certain extent but also release plenty of negative ions to combat flyaway and frizzy hair. Further, there are three plate-width options to choose from. These include one inch, 1.25 inches, and 1.75 inches.

Every variant boasts of an extra-long plate as well, which should help people with long hair greatly. Unfortunately, every variant could do with plates that fit tightly together. As it is, their grip is a bit too loose. Despite this and because the plates aren’t the smoothest, this device can catch and pull hair.

This device uses infrared technology to produce heat. This helps protect the hair from heat damage that hot tools are generally responsible for. Unlike most infrared technology-based hot tools, though, this device heats up pretty fast. It takes only 15 seconds and heats up uniformly too.

The maximum temperature you can use this hair straightener on is 455 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the highest in the industry. Most of you won’t be using the maximum temperature, though. This is why there are 29 other heat settings to choose from. The device boasts of automatic shutdown as a safety feature too.

Using this device is a breeze since it doesn’t weigh a lot. It is a little bulky, which can be expected from a device with such wide plates. It also has a swivel cord, but it only measures six feet in length.

In terms of pricing, while this device isn’t the cheapest out there, it isn’t very expensive either. Unfortunately, its build quality is closer to a budget device than a value device. It tends to breakdown very easily. The earliest sign you’ll see of its low build quality will be the paint peeling off. Another sign would be how hot the handle will get in your hand.

Also, this device isn’t the most travel-friendly option out there. We say this because it doesn’t support power systems other than the North American 110V.

Who’s it for: If your thick hair is prone to excessive dryness, get this INFINITIPRO flat iron with argan oil-infused plates.

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Top 2 Premium Hair Straighteners for Thick Hair: Detailed Reviews

7. CROC Classic Flat Iron Hair Straightener

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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The Classic Flat Iron Hair Straightener from CROC is different from its competitors in various ways, but the most obvious is its design and shape. While most manufacturers of hair straighteners are moving towards a sleeker and cleaner design, CROC’s device has a more traditional, rugged appearance.

There are more angles as opposed to curves and more texture than reflective surfaces. Moreover, the device is also slightly on the bulky side even though it isn’t very heavy. The low weight means that this device is a great option for frequent travelers, especially since it is a universal voltage hair straightener.

For the most part, the design works and dovetails well with the company’s name. The device looks a bit like a crocodile’s maw. Aesthetics aside, the different design of this device also means that it is more ergonomic than most of its competitors.

Carefully placed grooving on the surface of the device offersa better grip to the user in various places. For instance, this hair straightener boasts of a deluxe thumb grip, a slip-less handle, and a grooved cool tip that makes it very easy to use.

This device’s maneuverability is further boosted by its 9-feet long swivel cord, which is the longest in the industry. Another feature of this device not commonly found in its competitors is the ventilation system. The ventilation system prevents excess heat buildup between the plates.

This hair straightener also has temperature memory. This is another feature that is quite rare in hair straighteners for thick hair. The presence of this feature means that you won’t have to set your preferred temperature setting again and again.

Between every pass, this device automatically reduces the plate temperature to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Like its ventilation system, the purpose of this feature is to prevent temperature buildup, but the feature can be annoying to some users. A similar safety feature is the automatic shutoff system that comes into play after the device has been idle for 30 minutes.

Speaking of temperature settings, this device offers fully-digital variable settings. As a result, you can choose any temperature between 280 degrees Fahrenheit and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat is produced through built-in ceramic heaters. These heaters are good at managing temperature stability and are supported excellently by this hair straightener’s plates.

The plates are 100 percent black titanium leading to two benefits. The first is stable temperatures all across the plates since titanium inherently resists hotspots. The other is that they produce a lot of negative ions designed to eliminate problems like frizzy and flyaway hair well.

All in all, this would’ve been an excellent hair straightener that could’ve been the best in the market, if it was more durable. The biggest problem with this device is that it can breakdown around the one-yearmark,and the funniest thing is that it only has a one-year warranty.

The malfunction can take any form ranging from the spring between the plates snapping to the temperature settings malfunctioning. This kind of fragility would’ve even been okay if this hair straightener wasn’t so expensive. When you pay such amounts for a device, you expect it to stay with you for a long time. Sadly, this one doesn’t.

Who’s it for: If you value superb ergonomics, temperature memory, and can spend a lot of money, get this rugged-looking hair straightener from CROC.

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8. T3 – Singlepass X 1.5” Styling Iron (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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This is, by far, the best hair straightener for thick hair available in the market so long as you’re willing to pay for quality. It is perfect for straightening thick hair in every possibleway. In fact, its biggest flaw is its cost, but you always have to pay over the top for over the top features, qualities, and benefits.

You’ll realize the quality of this hair straightener, the moment you turn it on in your hand. You see, it is one of those rare hot tools that have an interface with both audio and visual elements. Therefore, when you turn this device on, you’ll not only see it light up but will also hear sounds.

The next point at which this device will wow you will be when you use it on your hair. Blessed with SinglePass Technology, this device will be able to deliver tangible results to most of you without requiring multiple passes on the same section of hair. However, if you do have very thick and coarse hair, you may need to give it more time to work its magic.

When you do use this hair straightener, we recommend going over the section of hair slowly. If you go too fast, this device may catch and pull your hair. However, once you’re done, you’ll see that your frizzy and flyaway hair has settled down because this device has T3’s custom-blended tourmaline ceramic plates.

Further, you can use it as many times as you want in a week because it doesn’t cause any heat damage. This device has an internal microchip that actively manages the plates’ temperature and keeps them even. With stable heat and zero hotspots, your hair remains protected.

In terms of temperature settings, you’ll have five to choose from, ranging between 260 degrees Fahrenheit and 410 degrees Fahrenheit. This device’s maximum temperature is the reason why some of you may need more than a single pass. This is especially true for people with extremely thick, long, and coarse hair. Unless you have extreme hair, though, you should be fine.

One thing that stumps a lot of people is the temperature setting interface. Many users think this hair straightener doesn’t have heat settings because they can’t figure out how to access them. The way to access the temperature control interface is to double-tap the power button, by the way.

In fact, all functions on this device can be accessed by this single button. This is great because it makes the device very sleek in appearance, especially with its smooth, white and rose gold color scheme. It also allows this device to be super compact and super light. This makes it very travel-friendly as well since the device can be used anywhere in the world.

There are numerous user-friendly features in this device, as well. It has a 60-minute automatic shutdown feature and boasts of one of the longest cords we’ve seen on any hot tool. This device’s 360-degrees swivel cord is an amazing nine feet long! We should also mention that this device comes with two sectioning clips.

Since it is so expensive, this device is also very durable. It even comes with a two-year warranty that can be extended by another 12 months. To do this, you just need to register your purchase on the T3 website.

Who’s it for: If money is not a concern for you and you want the best hair straightener for thick hair with the classiest features, get this T3 flat iron.

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