The 6 Best Hair Straightening Irons

Plate Material: Titanium Infused Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 425°F

If you're looking for a top-notch hair straightening iron for all of your styling needs, we heartily recommend the CHI G2 1 1/4" Iron. This flat-iron is one of our all-time favorites, standing out above the rest. Its titanium-infused ceramic plates glide easily over most hair types, and it has almost all the features and functionalities we want. It features a very long swivel cord and switches off automatically after an hour. The CHI boasts an easy-to-read digital display with temperature presets for different hair types and plus/minus buttons to fine-tune the temperature to your satisfaction.

Unfortunately, we discovered this model has a slightly lower maximum temperature than many of its rivals. The manufacturer claims a maximum temperature of 425°F, but during testing, we measured a maximum temperature of around 410°F. Still, this temperature difference shouldn't be an issue unless you routinely straighten your hair using the hottest iron setting. The CHI is also one of the priciest options we tested, and it lacks a hanging loop for storage. We believe this device is a solid choice if you want a reliable, high-performing iron for everyday usage. If you're just an occasional user, you can probably get by with a cheaper option like the Remington S5500.

Plate Material: Titanium | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 450°F

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin is another hair straightening iron that thoroughly flattened the competition. This top-tier iron glides easily across thin and thick hair, leaving it silky-smooth with just a few passes. It heats up very quickly and has a listed maximum temperature of 450°F. This iron is available with titanium plates in 1", 1.5", and 2" widths and has a fairly long cord that pivots.

Regrettably, this device lacks an automatic safety shut-off. Also, its interface isn't the most intuitive. For instance, it offers 50 different settings instead of giving you the option to choose the temperature in degrees. Still, we think its straightening performance is so good that it outweighs these minimal flaws, making it a wonderful alternative for anyone shopping for a high-end hairstyling tool.

Plate Material: Titanium Coated Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 410°F

While the Remington S5500 might not be the best of the best, it's hard to beat if you are not trying to break the budget. It typically costs a fraction of the premium products and does a decent job of straightening hair. It glides reasonably well and matches the maximum temperature of some of the top products. We also appreciate this model's swivel cord and hinge lock.

On the other hand, the cord has the shortest length out of the entire group, and the digital display and interface aren't necessarily our favorites. Our biggest gripe, however, is that this hair straightener feels like you need to apply more clamping pressure to ensure the plates make full contact with your hair. It may not be our first pick, but it will straighten your hair well for considerably less money than the high-end models. It's a good option for anyone pinching pennies or those who only occasionally straighten their hair. Occasional users may also like the AmoVee Nano-Titanium Mini Flat Iron, which is a travel-size model great for taking on the go.

Plate Material: Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 450°F

If you're willing to spend a bit more to invest in a quality hair straightening iron, but the premium tools are out of your budget, check out the Hot Tools Signature Series Ceramic Digital. This economically priced model just about holds its own against the top-tier irons, offering quality straightening performance with its ceramic plates. It glides well across thick and thin hair types and is available with either 1" or 1.5" wide plates. It has a listed maximum temperature of 450°F and will automatically shut off after two hours if you accidentally left it plugged in. It also has a cord pivot and a storage hanging loop, and is compatible with 110V-240V if you happen to be traveling.

We thought the cord was on the short side — around 6' — which might preclude it from salon use. It doesn't have a hinge lock, and we measured the maximum temperature to be slightly lower than the claimed amount. All in all, it's a great value hair straightening iron — not the best for professionals, but we think it's the perfect choice for anyone looking for the best value when it comes to these products.

Plate Material: Ceramic Tourmaline Claimed Maximum Temperature: 410°F

We will admit that the AmoVee Nano-Titanium Mini Flat Iron is not the best option for daily use and is more of a specialty item. However, this compact flat iron stands out for its exceptional portability, making it a great option for travel. It has ½" wide plates that slide decently well across hair, as well as a cord pivot and a hanging loop. This flat iron will also work with 110V-240V, making it even more travel-friendly.

However, this little flat iron has much smaller plates than a typical hair straightening iron, meaning that styling will probably take longer. The AmoVee also has a lower maximum temperature, with our thermocouple recording a high temp of 382°F. Its cord is short and lacks a temperature adjustment, with the interface limited to an on/off switch, but we think it's almost impossible to beat this product if you're looking to pack light on your next trip.

Plate Material: 5-in-1 Heating Plate | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 450°F

The NITION Professional Flat Iron is a special breed, as it performs as a hair straightener and curler. While we generally would recommend getting a dedicated curler and a straightener if you frequently are using both, this at least gives you the option with some alright results if you hardly ever need a curling iron. It has the typical temperature range with 1" wide plates, a curved exterior for curling purposes, and a slick and intuitive interface that is very easy to see. It also has an automatic shut-off and one of the longer cords with a swivel connection. Finally, we also like that it includes a pouch, heat-resistant glove, a comb, and some clips.

Those who are looking for a dedicated curling iron should look elsewhere, as this model did not blow us away with its curling performance. Moreover, the professional stylist we consulted said she would never try and use this for curling purposes but could see it delivering some alright results if you really worked at it. It's something to consider if the 2-in-1 use appeals to you, but we otherwise would recommend some different products if you're just looking for a straightening iron.

Plate Material: Tourmaline Coated Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 455°F

The Remington S9500 Pro 1" Pearl Flat Iron's main merit is that it usually retails at one of the lowest prices of the entire test group. It has all the basic features and will automatically turn off if left plugged in. It has a digital display, swivel cord attachment, and a hinge lock.

Unfortunately, while its features were strong, we weren't overly fond of the straightening performance of this flat iron. The ceramic/pearl plates didn't seem to glide as smoothly across hair in our assessments. This flat iron also didn't do particularly well in our temperature accuracy test, with our thermocouple recording a maximum temperature of 466°F — 16°F higher than the claimed maximum temperature.

Plate Material: Tourmaline Infused Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 450°F

The Furiden Professional Flat Iron is another 2-in-1 hair straightening/curling iron. It has an automatic power-off, a twist dial interface, and an 8' cord. The cord has a swivel attachment and a hinge lock. It's compatible with 110V-240V and includes a pouch, heat-resistant glove, comb, and two clips.

We have similar qualms with this combo styling tool as other multifunctional curling/straightening irons — we wouldn't want to use the FURIDEN as a curling iron frequently. We also noticed more resistance with the ceramic tourmaline plates when moving across hair compared to some of the other top-tier options. All in all, we would recommend plenty of other straightening irons over this one when it comes to straightening performance — and plenty of other curling irons over this one when it comes to curling hair.

Plate Material: Pearl Infused Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 450°F

Our testing team found the Infiniti Pro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Iron to be a low-cost, low-performing option. It is available with 1", 1.25", or 1.75" plates and has one of the highest claimed maximum temperatures of the entire group. To its credit, it has an automatic power-off function, and the cord does swivel.

The ceramic tourmaline plates didn't pass over hair as effortlessly as we would have liked, and we were a little concerned with the performance of this product in our temperature accuracy tests. We measured a maximum temperature of 464°F — quite a bit higher than the claimed maximum temperature of 455°F and high enough that we would be concerned about damaging hair at the highest setting. It only has a 6' cord, and the interface isn't the most user-friendly, as it gives you 30 temperature settings to choose from, rather than just letting you choose a temperature. All in all, we would suggest an alternative flat iron for most people.

Plate Material: Tourmaline Infused Ceramic | Claimed Maximum Temperature: 450°F

Overall, we weren't thrilled with the performance of the HSI Professional Glider, and we didn't find much to love about this flat iron. It has a basic interface, a fairly long cord, and a hanging loop for storage. It also includes a storage pouch, a packet of argan oil, and a heat-resistant glove to minimize the chance of burning yourself.

We found there to be considerably more resistance when sliding across multiple hair types. It lacks a digital display, a hinge lock, and an auto-shutoff feature. It also didn't impress in our temperature accuracy test, showing a max temperature of about 26°F lower than its claimed maximum. All in all, we struggled to find a reason to recommend the HSI.

Why Trust GearLab

We rated and scored how smoothly each flat iron slid across different hair types and checked the accuracy of their temperature settings using a digital multimeter and a thermocouple. We also assessed how easy and intuitive each product is to operate and compared any additional features.

Our comprehensive hair straightening iron review is led by Senior Review Editor, David Wise . David's overgrown flowing mane of Aquaman hair and his extensive engineering and lab experience allows him to push these flat irons to their limits and objectively compare their thermal properties side-by-side. We also recruited a panel of judges with diverse hair types to try out each iron and consulted with a professional hairstylist at a local studio about the design and implementation of our tests.

Analysis and Test Results

We divided our hair straightening iron tests into four metrics, each with different tests. To compare glide performance, we tried out each iron on a variety of different hair types and tested them side-by-side on hair extensions to assess the impact of the various plates. We then looked at the claimed temperature range and measured the accuracy at the high end before scoring the different features and functions. We were looking for easy-to-use interfaces, ergonomic irons, and automatic safety shut-offs — one of the most essential features, in our opinion.

Glide Performance

We first looked at how effortlessly the plates on each flat iron glide across your hair. We based scores on the opinions of our different testers — all with different types of hair — and side-by-side testing with a set of hair extensions.

We found that it's not just the plate material but also the overall geometry of the hair straightening iron that influences glide performance, as some models require much more force than others to ensure the plates make full contact with your hair. We found the CHI G2, the Hot Tools Ceramic Signature Series, and the Remington S5500 to perform best in our glide test. These three straightening irons all have ceramic or titanium/ceramic plates. They had the least resistance in our side-by-side straightening test with the hair extensions.

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium also fared very well in our glide performance test, gliding almost as well as the top models, though we could feel slightly more drag — particularly during the side-by-side test with the hair extensions.

The NITION Professional Salon Hair Straightener and the FURIDEN Professional Hair Straightener passed smoothly over most hair types, but it took noticeably more effort than the top-tier irons. The NITION has 5-in-1 heating plates infused with nano silver, argan oil, ceramic, tourmaline, and titanium, while the FURIDEN has ceramic/tourmaline plates.

The HSI Professional is our least favorite flat iron for glide performance. We repeatedly felt like we were pulling hairs out while using it, and it requires a non-trivial amount of clamping pressure to keep the plates closed.

Temperature Range

Next, we moved on to comparing and scoring the thermal properties of these products. We looked at the claimed temperature range, the accuracy at the upper end of that range, and if there is an automatic safety shut-off that will turn off the flat iron if you accidentally leave it powered on. We used a thermocouple hooked up to a digital multimeter to measure the temperature, recording the value once it was stable for approximately 5 seconds. While a non-contact IR thermometer would have been nice to use, the highly reflective nature of the polished plates makes it hard to get an accurate reading with that type of thermometer.

The CHI G2 impressed us the most in this metric. Its maximum listed temperature is 425°F, which is closely aligned with our measured temperature; our meter recorded a peak temperature of 421°F. This flat iron will also automatically turn off after an hour.

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium, the FURIDEN Professional Hair Straightener, and the Hot Tools Signature Series all have a claimed maximum temperature of 450°F, but we measured a maximum temperature of around 430°F-435°F for each of these irons. However, the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium lacks an auto shut-off feature.

Most of the other models averaged about 20°F to 25°F under their claimed maximum temperature in our test, except for the AmoVee Mini Flat Iron and the Remington S9500. The Remington S9500 ran on the hot side in our test, with a measured maximum temperature of 466°F — significantly exceeding its claimed range of 450°F. We found this to be somewhat concerning, as we imagine this elevated temperature could increase the potential for damage to your luscious locks.

The AmoVee Mini Flat Iron performed on the other side of the spectrum, with our measured peak temperature only hitting around 382°F — about 30°F lower than its claimed top temperature.

While this isn't that much lower than some of the other irons, we mention it since this model already has a much lower peak temperature than other models, and it might be a concern if you routinely use your flat iron on the hottest setting.

Ease of Use

Our next series of evaluations looked at how user-friendly and easy to operate each hair straightening iron is. We rated and ranked the interface and display for each product, the length of the cord (and if the cord swivels), and whether there is a hinge lock.

The CHI G2 and the Hot Tools Ceramic Signature Series were particularly intuitive and easy to use. The CHI G2 has an especially long swivel cord — around 11'. The interface is simple and easy to use, and this iron's digital display makes it very clear what temperature it's set to. However, it doesn't have a hinge lock.

The Hot Tools Ceramic Signature Series has a slightly shorter swivel cord, but we still found it to be plenty long enough for most cases. It features a power button, plus/minus buttons for temperature, and a mode button to cycle through the different presets, but no hinge lock.

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium is also quite easy to use, though the interface isn't the most intuitive. It lacks a display, and the dial has marks from 1-50 rather than temperatures. The INFINITIPRO by Conair is very similar, with a dial that goes from 1-30, though the cord is a little on the short side at 6'.

Both the FURIDEN and the NITION have a twist interface that sets them apart. We actually liked this quite a lot and appreciate that both of these ample cords come with swivels.

The AmoVee Mini Flat Iron is also one of the easiest to use since it just has an on/off switch and no way to adjust the temperature. Its cord is short, but this can actually be a plus since this is typically a travel option.

Other Features

Our final metric looked at any extra features or accessories these flat irons might have. We looked at any bonus accessories included, if they are travel-friendly, have a hanging loop, and if they have any other functions.

The CHI G2 includes a heat-resistant mat, while the NITION and the FURIDEN include a storage pouch. The AmoVee Mini Flat Iron, the FURIDEN, and the NITION all come with a heat-resistant glove. The FURIDEN and the NITION also include a comb and clips, and these two models also can double as curling irons.

The NITION, the AmoVee, and the Hot Tools Ceramic Signature Series all have hanging loops. The NITION, the FURIDEN, the AmoVee, the Hot Tools, and the CHI G2 also are compatible with 110V-240V if you're traveling, though you should always double-check on the actual device before you plug it in.

Conclusion

We hope that this review has helped you find the perfect flat iron for your needs and budget, whether you are a professional searching for the best of the best, someone who straightens their hair daily, or if you only style your hair occasionally with one of these tools.