We all get tired of our natural curls sometimes and seek ways to straighten them. It takes ages to straighten curls and even if we manage, it goes back to being curly way too quickly, even with a tiny bit of humidity.
Straightening curly strands is not the easiest, firstly because curly hair is usually dry which makes it more prone to heat damage. Not only that but also this damage can be irreversible, as it changes your natural curl pattern. Flat irons brands constantly come up with new technologies that makes their tools gentler, so if your flat iron is old, it may be worth considering to go shopping for a good-quality tool. If you choose it wisely, you can achieve smooth and frizz-free results while completely avoiding damaging your strands.
It may look confusing as there are so many options to choose from, with so many different qualities and features. Well, that’s where we come in the picture. We will guide you through all the little details that will help you make the perfect decision for your hair type and styling needs.
Don’t forget to visit our comprehensive guide to choosing a flat iron to make an informed decision.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Bioionic 10X Styling Iron
- Best for Coarse Hair: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin
- Best for Fine Hair: Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Evolve
- Best for Frizzy Hair: CHI Original Ceramic 1″
- Time-Saving: Remington Pro S25A10 Wet2style 13/4″
The 4 Most Important Features to Look for
Not all curls are the same and they should not be styled in the same way. Whether it’s wavy, curly, or coily, and whether your curls are loose or tight, affects how fast your hair can be straightened. Your hair’s texture, length, and styling needs also play a big role in determining the features you need.
1. Consider the plate material
Ceramic plates are the best choice for fine hair as well as coily and kinky hair (type 3, type 4). They glide smoother over curly strands and provide gentler heat compared to titanium. This helps to straighten curly hair more easily while preserving the natural curl pattern. They are ideal for daily use.
Titanium plates provide quick, efficient styling for hard-to-manage, thick, coarse curly hair, especially for those with type 3B-3C and 4A curls. They are very durable and recommended for experienced stylists.
Tourmaline-coated ceramic plates are best for dry or damaged hair due to chemical treatments or frequent thermal styling. Tourmaline flat irons have the added benefit of controlling frizz compared to ceramic flat irons. They work well for dry hair, including color- or chemically-treated textured hair types. They are the best choice for daily use.
2. Consider the plate size
- 1 3/4″ – 2″ Large plates allow faster styling but also provide too much heat to the hair. Large flat irons can not provide a firm grip on hair, compromising their ability to straighten effectively. They’re bulky and difficult to maneuver. These are not the ideal sizes for curly hair types.
- 1 1/4″ – 1 1/2″ Ideal for thick, coarse and long curly hair. It provides faster styling.
- 1″ Suitable for all hair types. It provides a firmer grip and better control, which is crucial for effectively straightening curly or unruly hair. It provides versatile styling for both curly and straight looks.
- 3/4″ – 1/2″ works great on neck length or shorter hair. Its compact size makes it ideal for precise styling and travel. It is better for reaching the roots or edges of the hair, and it is also perfect for bangs.
3. Consider the heat range
Maximum temperature: Coarse, thick hair can tolerate higher temperatures, look for tools that can reach between 400°F and 450°F for optimal results
Minimum temperature: If you have thin, fine, or damaged hair, look for a lowest heat setting between 250°F and 300°F
4. Plate shape
If you want to curl and straighten your hair with a flat iron, go for rounded plates.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the best flat irons on the market for curly hair.
Reviews
1. Best Overall:
Bioionic 10X Styling Iron
Price: $240
Available sizes: 1”
Material: ceramic
Heat range: 280°F to 450°F
What we like: rounded shape for creating curls, very shiny results
What we don’t like: expensive
Rating: 4.8/5.0
Here is a tool with a truly unique feature. Bioionic 10X Styling Iron actually vibrates while straightening your hair. It does this to optimize contact with the hair and to provide faster and shinier results. Does it really make a difference? Our tests show that this tool does have superior abilities at providing smoother results. However, its claims to straighten the strands in less than 10 minutes doesn’t seem to be realistic, especially if you have curly and unruly strands. It’s a fast tool but not the fastest in the market. Its ceramic plates also slow down the process since this material heats up slower and gentler. It’s much safer on your strands though, which is a great quality. It has a temperature range between 280°F to 450°F. As you can see, its minimum temperature is certainly is not low enough for fine strands but it does a great job taming the unruly hair with its maximum heat setting. It comes with 1” plates which is the most versatile size in the market and unless you have a very short hair style, it will fit you. Its rounded barrel help create beautiful locks and waves in case you want to use your tool for curling your strands.
On the other side, we can see that the back of its plates gets really hot (193°F), and its cool tip is not really cool either (172°F), both things to consider to make sure you don’t burn your hands while using your flat iron. But it comes with protective gloves which kind of makes up for the inconvenience. It comes with a 5-year guarantee; an above-average number amongst flat irons. It’s important to mention that this tool isn’t for every budget. It’s a luxury tool with great material quality and durability and it’s very strong to hold. But it also comes with a luxury price, $240 to be exact. There are many other tools on our list that are more affordable if you’re not aiming for perfection. But to be fair, you do receive an extraordinary tool that is highly satisfying, if you’re willing to invest.
Read more: Bio Ionic 10X Styling Iron Review
2. Best for Coarse Hair:
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin
Price: $160
Available sizes: 1”, 1.5”, 2”
Material: titanium
Heat range: 240°F to 450°F
What we like: lightweight and versatile
What we don’t like: not suitable for very short hair, not for curling hair
Rating: 4.8/5.0
Babyliss’ ultra-thin flat iron is by far the most elegant-looking tool that we’ve come across. It has a 3.5” diameter and compared to the average number which is 4.5” amongst flat irons, this tool is seriously slim. It also is one of the most lightweight tools, with only 8.2 oz. But don’t get fooled. It still has one of the longest plates on our list and has the capacity to tame thick and curly strands very fast and efficient. It has variable heat settings starting from 240°F till 450°F, offering 50 different temperatures to choose from, which is an extraordinary number. While its 4.74” plates is long and desirable, it comes in three different plate widths to suit your specific needs, which are 1”, 1.5”, and 2”. It’s important to note that longer plates make it harder to curl the strands and if this is a priority for you, you may want to consider another option. It comes with titanium plates that also contribute to its speed as it heats up very quick, as well as maintaining its temperature. Putting together all these qualities, this tool is perfect for straightening thick and curly strands.
There are couple of issues that are worth mentioning, though. First of all, it doesn’t have auto shut-off technology. This may be beneficial for professionals that want to keep their tool on for long periods. But it’s a big downside for home stylist who worry about their tool overheating, as flat irons can be serious fire hazards. It also doesn’t have the digital display that makes things easier, especially for beginners, neither dual voltage that allows you to use your tool in different countries. So, you may want to think twice if you’re considering traveling with this tool. It also is an investment with $160, a price that not everyone is willing to spend. But we think it’s worth it, especially if you have curly and thick strands.
Read more: Babylisspro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightener Review
3. Best for Fine Hair:
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Evolve
Price: $132
Available sizes: 1”, 1.25”
Material: titanium and ceramic
Heat range: 205°F to 455°F
What we like: gentle for fine hair, ionic technology reduces frizz, durable material, memory system recalls the last heat setting
What we don’t like: plates don’t close while not being used
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold is one of the most versatile tools in the market. It has rounded edges and a cylindrical design. So you can use the flat iron as a barrel to create waves and curls without any weird kinks and bends.
It’s also the only flat iron on our list that offers a combination of ceramic and titanium plates, which holds the qualities of both. It’s gentle enough on the strands to provide a safe styling experience for fine hair with ceramic, and fast and strong enough to tame even the unruliest strands. It’s especially desirable for curly strands which are fine or damaged. The lowest heat setting is 205°F and is perfect for the fragile, and the highest setting of 455°F is as powerful as it gets in case your strands are hard to tame.
It comes in two different plate sizes which are both considered medium. While the 1” plates are perfect for medium size strands, the 1.25” one is desirable for unruly hair types or the ones with longer hair.
It has an average material quality and is strong enough for most and it comes with a lifetime limited guarantee which puts our minds at ease. But it has a luxury price of $132 and in our opinion, it could be a bit more affordable. Yet it’s a very comfortable flat iron with digital display and is gentle yet effective, a great quality for beginners.
Read more: Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve Ionic Salon Flat Iron Review
4. Best for Frizzy Hair:
CHI Original Ceramic 1″
Price: $120
Available sizes: 1”, 1.25”
Material: ceramic
Heat range: 180°F to 425°F
What we like: gentle for fine hair, durable material, offers preset temperature settings for different textures, “L” shaped swivel mechanism for improved maneuverability
What we don’t like: cool tip gets too hot
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Chi offers a flat iron that has preset temperature settings for fine, medium, and coarse hair, which is very convenient if you are a beginner. It’s also super gentle with its minimum setting of 180°F and ceramic plates and it can tame the unruly perfectly with its high setting of 425°F. Most importantly, it offers antistatic technology for the unruly hair that has a tendency to get very frizzy. It uses infrared heat to help seal the cuticle and eliminate frizz. Ceramic plates also ensures that this tool is suited for daily use and less likely to cause heat damage. It even has bevelled edges to help create curls and waves. It comes in very convenient plate widths; 1” and 1.25”, the two most versatile plate sizes in the market. 1” one is perfect for medium length and thickness and 1.25” is the one to opt for in case your hair is on the longer or thicker side.
It’s a very cool flat iron and it’s hard to find any faults about it in our opinion. We just noticed a couple of things worth mentioning; its cool tip gets way too hot and you can’t really touch it while using. If you’re one of those that holds this part of the tool to control the process, you may want to think twice. The “L” shaped swivel mechanism allows better maneuverability but you have to be cautious while laying your straightener down. It also has its on/off button placed on the inside, near the plates, which also gets a bit too hot. Other than that, it’s has great material quality and definitely deserves its price of $120, which is an investment.
Read more: CHI Original Digital Ceramic Hairstyling Iron Review
You may also like:
Remington Pro Wet2Style Flat Iron Review
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