8 Best Hair Straighteners for Every Hair Type and Budget

Thanks to rounded edges and a universally convenient 1-inch plate, this flat iron is great for both straightening and curling hair. The plates are super smooth, which means no more snags or broken pieces of hair, even as you curl. In Lab tests, we found that the flat iron heated up the quickest, reaching 99% of its claimed temperature in 30 seconds. It maintained a consistent, steady temperature of 365º to protect hair from excessive heat damage and its technology ensures even heat across the entire plate for even styling, too. A favorite of several celebrity stylists we interviewed for this article, Mane Addicts stylist Sabrina Porsche says, “I recommend GHD irons for anyone who has natural hair and wants to use the best iron that won’t damage your hair with heat.”

• Plate size: 1-inch
• Temperature settings: None
• Auto shut-off: 30 minutes

This lightweight and bargain-priced Remington delivers smooth strands that stay in place. The tool was the lightest-weight of the winners in our most recent test (0.77 pound!) and tied for best at maintaining sleekness. “One pass for effective straightening that lasted,” an evaluator said, with another adding hair “felt soft and looked straight with this iron,” perfect for even tough-to-manage frizzy hair. In Lab tests, it heated up to 93% of its claimed temperature in 60 seconds, which is speedy but not as fast as the 15 seconds claimed.

• Plate size: 1-inch
• Temperature settings: Adjustable up to 450ºF
• Auto shut-off: 60 minutes