When you straighten your hair, you want the process to be as simple as possible and the result as sleek as possible. Of course, you also want to minimize any damage to your strands. T3’s Single Pass StyleMax delivers on all fronts, thanks to a unique technology that customizes the styling process for you—no fiddling with different temperatures. You simply select your hair texture and styling goals via buttons on the flatiron, then get to work—the iron will heat to one of nine temperatures selected for you.
Testing notes: “While there is a bit of a learning curve to the smart heat settings, once I figured it out, things came to temperature exceptionally quickly. I appreciated that the rounded edges allow you to both straighten and curl, but I was disappointed with the feel of the plates. The iron didn’t swipe effortlessly but rather stuttered over my hair. It did, however, do a pretty solid job in a single pass,” says Earley.
Best for Curly Hair: Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original video from Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original photo from Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
Original photo from Kristine Straker testing Kristin Ess 3-in-One Professional Titanium Hair Straightener
- What we love: Affordable; lightweight; easy to handle
- What could improve: Gets a little too hot
This affordable straightener is one of the best titanium picks on the list because it’s suitable for a variety of hair types, including curly hair. It has wide, 1.25-inch plates that catch a good amount of hair, and the temperature goes up to 440°F, which helps you achieve a smooth, frizz-free finish.
Testing notes: “As someone with extremely curly 3C hair, I found this iron to be very effective. It heats up quickly and offers three distinct heat settings. The lowest setting was my preferred choice. My hair felt smooth and manageable after use. I appreciate the sleek design and was able to utilize the three-in-one function to add some body to my hair, as I typically prefer it with volume rather than styled sleekly,” says Glamour tester Kristine Straker.
Best for Natural Curls: T3 Lucea 1-Inch Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original video from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original photo from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
Original photo from Tanisha Cherry testing T3 Lucea Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
- What we love: Nine adjustable settings make it gentle on hair; easy to use
- What could improve: A bit pricey
If you have type 4 curls, Glamour contributor Tanisha Cherry swears by the T3 Lucea Flat Iron. This ceramic-plated pick is super gentle on hair and styles quickly, without the need for dozens of passes.
Testing Notes: “I’ve been using this pick for my silk presses for five years now, and she delivers every single time. With natural type 4 hair, I’m super picky about my heat tools. I want that bone-straight finish without compromising my curls. Depending on how well my blow-dry turns out, I don’t always need high heat, and that’s where this flatiron shines. It heats up fast and has nine adjustable heat settings, which gives me total control. What really seals the deal is that I can do just one pass on blow-dried hair and still get a straight and smooth finish. And it gets super close to my roots without burning me, which is major. I only use it on freshly washed and blow-dried hair when I’m going for a silk press, so about two to three times a month, and it never disappoints,” says Cherry.
Best Cordless Hair Straightener: Dyson Airstrait
Original video from Brigitt Earley testing Dyson Airstrait
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Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Dyson Airstrait
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Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Dyson Airstrait
- What we love: Less direct and intense heat means less damage over time; wide range of styling settings and modes (wet, dry, rough-dry, smoothing boost); LCD screen; intelligent airflow; temperature control
- What could improve: Slower process than traditional flatirons
The Glamour commerce team put the buzzy Dyson Airstrait to the test and found it to be best overall on our list. Think of it as a flatiron and blow-dryer in one. Instead of pressing your hair between hot plates, it dries strands with hot air (using the same technology as our favorite Dyson Airwrap)—which is way less damaging than your standard straightening iron.
Testing notes: “Though it’s gentle on hair, the process is a bit lengthy, since you have to first use the tool to rough-dry your roots. This is an important step, because the shape and size of the Airstrait is a bit bulky and the air shoots down toward your ends, so you can’t clamp hair all the way at the top to smooth it during the straightening process. Once I was ready to work on individual sections of hair with passes closer to that of a traditional flatiron, I found there was a bit of a learning curve to keeping hair inside of the tool. But I figured out that it helped to hold my hair, guiding it through. Even though this whole process takes a bit longer, the effort paid off. My finished style was incredibly soft and shiny, plus had impressive staying power,” says Earley.
Best for Fine Hair: BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron 1″
- What we love: Ceramic-coated plates; even heat distribution
- What could improve: Pricey
