The term flatiron may bring back memories of a wide-plated clamp that would fry your hair into straight (but definitely not sleek) strands. Thankfully, today’s best hair straighteners are a fry cry from the relics of the early 2000s. The newest hair straighteners work better than ever. In fact, they often go above and beyond—some operate on air alone so you can style wet-to-dry without damage and breakage, while others (including my personal favorite!) are highly versatile since they can double as a curling iron.
Our top pick, the Amika The Confidante has been my personal go-to for at least four years now. That’s saying a lot, because, as a beauty writer, I’m always searching for the next best thing. I just haven’t found anything that can top this hot tool. It can both straighten and curl equally well, and its ceramic plates glide effortlessly through my wavy, medium-texture hair, yielding soft, shiny, frizz-free results with just a single pass. And although I think Amika’s flatiron is suitable for all different hair types, we found there are other solid options out there, particularly if you’re looking for something a little less expensive. We found an awesome drugstore buy and one that operates at a lower temperature that won’t singe finer hair.
Ahead, the very best flatirons we tested, approved by hair stylists.
The best hair straighteners, at a glance
- Best Overall: Amika The Confidante, $150
- Best for Thick Hair: GHD Chronos Styler 1-Inch Flatiron, $329
- Best for Fine Hair: Dyson Airstrait, $499
- Best for Curly Hair: Drybar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron, $169
- Best for Frizzy Hair: Silk’n SilkyStraight 2-in-1 Hair Straightener, $164
- Best for Wavy Hair: CHI Original 1-Inch Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, $70
- Best for Less Heat Damage: T3 SinglePass StyleMax Flatiron, $150
- Best for Coarse Hair: Hot Tools Pro Artist Flatiron, $76
- Best Value: Conair Double Ceramic Flatiron, $20
1. Best Overall: Amika The Confidante Flatiron
- What we love: Easy to use; high-temperature settings; curved edges allow for curling
- What could improve: Doesn’t stand up well on its own
- Plate material: Ceramic
- Size: 1 inch
- Temperature: Adjustable up to 450°F
- Auto shutoff: 60 minutes
- Cord: 9 feet
