Flat Irons & Hair Straighteners

Hair straighteners, flattening irons, or electric hair straighteners brush and flatten hair follicles to help straighten and smooth wavy or frizzy hair better than a blow dryer can. The goal, of course, is to get shiny, silky hair that looks lustrous and healthy without causing lasting damage.

Styling with heat can damage your hair, which makes a planned regimen of hair care important, not just with straighteners, but with curling irons and hair dryers as well. The key to avoiding damage is to use the best hair straightener specifically designed for your type of hair. For instance, use a hair straightener that heats to a high temperature on thick, coarse hair, but a straightening iron that can maintain a range of temperatures on a lower setting to produce better results on fine hair.

Flat irons for hair are fitted with plates of varying widths that transfer heat to your hair follicles, trapping moisture and removing frizz. A small flat iron with slim plates works best with short hair, a medium plate works well with short or medium styles, and a wide plate is the best choice for thick, long hair. If you have fine or thin hair, consider a ceramic flat iron, or a tourmaline flat iron, with plates that heat up fast and maintain an even heat. Titanium plates are good for thick, coarse hair because they hold high heat at a consistent temperature and have an ionic charge that helps hair dry faster, leaving it soft, smooth and shiny.

A hair brush straightener is often considered a safer and quicker alternative to a flat iron. With less chance of burns and results in half the time, brush hair straighteners can be used daily, while flat irons should be used no more than three times per week.

Flat irons typically include many advanced features, including multiple heat settings — sometimes as many as 30 — auto shut-off, ion technology, and infrared heating. Cordless flat irons are great for men and women on the go, and instant-heat or quick/flash heating hair straighteners are ideal for people who need to get ready in a hurry.

A flat iron with a digital display can help you avoid heat damage to sensitive hair while locking controls will keep you from accidentally changing the iron’s temperature. A top-rated flat iron with dual voltage eliminates the need for converters and transformers when you’re outside the U.S.