Plate material: ceramic | Cord length: 9 ft.| Who it’s for: people with lackluster hair
Best for Frizzy Hair: L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod Flat Iron & Styler
Why it’s worth it: Functioning like a clothing iron for your hair, the L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod Flat Iron & Styler delivers heat via a continuous release of steam, which leads to smoother, frizz-free hair and longer-lasting results. The tank holds enough water for you to style a full head of hair and the tool has a removable comb that detangles and keeps hair in place while you style. As for its temperature settings, L’Oréal programmed this nifty straightener with three options: 350, 390, and 410 degrees Fahrenheit. It works best with small sections of hair, so it might not be a great option if you have thick or very long hair.
Plate material: aluminium | Cord length: 9 ft. | Who it’s for: people who want staying power
Best Multi-Use: Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Flatiron
Why it’s worth it: Celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess made waves with her affordable hair tools, and the 3-in-1 Flatiron is a testament to the styling chops behind the line. The body has rounded edges, and floating plates that reduce snagging allowing you to use it to create everything from loose waves to bouncy curls and straight styles alike. . If you need peace of mind, the iron has an auto shut-off function after 30 minutes.
Plate material: titanium | Cord length: 9 ft.| Who it’s for: everyone
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hair straighteners safe for my hair?
You may be wary of using high heat on your hair, but hair straighteners are perfectly safe for your strands when used correctly. “The key is to use them on dry hair and ideally as a finishing tool. I typically recommend smoothing with a round brush before straightening. Always apply a heat protectant before styling to shield your strands from high temperatures,” says hairstylist and founder of Trademark Beauty Joseph Maine. “Also, it’s important to keep the flatiron clean to ensure it heats evenly and doesn’t snag your hair.”
“Use a haircare product that’s marketed as a heat protectant before straightening your hair. In general, I don’t recommend using oils because they can burn, along with your hair, when applied right before using a flatiron,” says New York City-based hairstylist Devin Toth. “Don’t go over the same section of hair over and over again. It’s better to go over it once, slowly. People tend to have more damage in their face-framing area of hair because they hit it with the iron too many times to get them just right.” Another key to straightening safely is to be mindful of the temperature of your flatiron. According to both stylists, the optimal temperature to avoid burning is 365 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do hair straighteners work?
“Flatirons work by using heated plates to temporarily alter the structure of your hair, making it straight. When you apply the heated plates to your hair, the heat breaks down the hydrogen bonds in the hair’s cortex, causing it to straighten,” says Maine. “Once your hair cools down or gets wet, these bonds reform, and your hair goes back to its natural state,” Maine adds that varying materials like ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline have different effects on the heat distribution and speed of the straightening process.
How should I choose a hair straightener?
Picking a hair straightener is a personal choice and largely depends on your hair type and styling desires. “For fine or damaged hair, look for a flatiron with adjustable heat settings to prevent overheating—ceramic plates are great for even heat distribution without getting too hot,” Maine tells Allure. He adds that if your hair is on the thicker, or coarser side, a hair straightener with titanium plates is ideal because they “can handle higher heat and manage frizz more effectively.”
