16 Best Hair Straighteners We Tested (2024) | Narrative

Chi Vibes on Edge curved edge hair straightener for $110: I’m a longtime Chi devotee, having owned and loved the original ceramic flat iron until it broke after ten years. So, I admit, I was pretty excited to style my bathroom with this metallic-rainbow version of the Chi’s Vibes line. The 1- or 1.5-inch ceramic plates (I tested the latter) actually curve around the edges of the tool, allowing the user to get closer to the roots of their hair as well as create frizz-free waves if desired. While this feature actually did an impressive job of taming my flights (and I appreciated the unusually long 11-foot cord), I felt a lack of buffer between the 415-degree Fahrenheit surface and my scalp, face, and ears. too great a burn risk for regular use.

L’ange Le Duo Airflow Styler – $67: This flat iron has a lid similar to a curling iron. Most iron plates stay separate and need to be pushed together to use, this is the other way around. It works as well as any other iron and the cap design and rounded edges make it easy to curl as well. The real attraction here is the air vents that blow cool air to lock in your style. The fan turns on automatically, but there is a button to turn it off. (Just to clarify, it’s not meant to dry out your hair—you won’t be happy if you try it.) – Medea Giordano

Sleek for $81 and Convenient for $195: These irons are essentially the same tool. Sleek confirmed that they are actually made by the same manufacturer, which is not unusual. The bowl was slightly lighter, but it didn’t seem any better or worse to use. They both emit ions and have an infrared light strip in the middle of one of the plates. helps to distribute the heat evenly and in a way that does not damage the hair. – Medea Giordano

Brilliance New York Smooth Pro Ceramic Flat Iron for $45: WIRED reviewer and fellow curly girl Louryn Strampe swears by this straightener. She bought it on impulse with a Groupon deal in 2014, and although she’s tried a few more flat irons since then, she still reaches for it consistently — even loves it more. Dyson Corral. Over the years, the heat has lost some of its consistency, and plates occasionally shrink her hair, but it still leaves her unruly curls smooth and shiny, and most importantly, straight. – Medea Giordano

FoxyBae Tres Sleek Flat Iron for $38: This budget titanium flat iron does a decent enough job of straightening thick, curly hair for the price, though its flimsy build, long heat-up time, and hard-to-maneuver 1.75-inch-wide plates make it less appealing. Above our top budget pick, the Conair Infiniti Pro.

Revlon Easy Heat Precision Flat Iron for $35: Another entry-level flat iron, this dark pink model with easy-to-read temperature settings feels heavier and more expensive than it is. I also loved that it heats up in 30 seconds – a third of the time of most irons in its price range. However, I was surprised at how ineffective the 1-inch plates were on my curls, even at the iron’s maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, my (barely) straightened hair grew back up within minutes.