Beauty Experts Tested Dozens Of Hair Straighteners—These 7 Came Out On Top (2024)

We tested tons of straighteners, and out of every one we tried, the ghd Platinum+ Professional Performance straightener came out on top as our best overall pick. Why? It works on all (yes, all) hair types and textures to smooth, de-frizz, and add shine.

According to senior beauty editor Danielle Jackson, who has naturally coily hair, this is one of her favorite straighteners she's tested this entire year. Although it's a little pricey, she says it's so worth it when you consider the features: It heats up within 10 to 20 seconds, only has one temperature (365 degrees, which is just high enough to straighten out any kinks or curls without doing too much damage), and it automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of inactivity. "So, you don’t have to spend your commute panicking about whether or not you unplugged your flat iron after you’ve already left your house," Jackson says.

After testing tons of straighteners, we also concluded that the Ghd styling wand is one of the highest-tech tools on the market. It checks its own temperature a mind-blowing 250 times per second (!!) to ensure heat is being evenly distributed across both of the two plates. This technology claims to keep hair stronger, shinier, and double color protection. Even crazier? It recognizes hair’s thickness and the speed at which you’re using it and adjusts accordingly to provide the best results. After testing it, we noticed our hair straightens faster than it does with other options on this list.

We also tested this straightener on fine hair and found it might run a bit too hot for those with less hair. While it does straighten quickly, it gets pretty smokey and may be too hot of an iron for finer hair types.

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With five heat settings ranging from 260-410 degrees, plus wider plates (1.5 inches to be exact), this powerful straightening iron speeds up the process of styling thick hair. And, WH assistant social media editor Isabelle McMahon has proof.

"I have thick, slightly wavy hair, and most straighteners just don’t get hot enough to glide through it quickly," she says. "However, the T3 handled it perfectly, and my hair felt super smooth afterward." She notes that it took a few tries to get the pressure right so it wouldn’t pull her hair, but once she figured it out, it was so easy to use. "It's definitely a game-changer for my hair routine," she says.

Like the Ghd straightener, this tool is very tech-forward. It straightens hair in a flash, thanks to a fan that propels a wider airflow to significantly reduce dry time—it's almost like a blowdrier and a straightener in-one. And get this: It also features an ion generator, which infuses hair with negative ions to banish frizz and boost shine.

Unlike the Ghd option, which only has one heat setting, this straightener has nine heat settings so you can choose your own adventure depending on your hair type and texture. Plus, it's two ounces lighter. If you're looking for a customizable tool that saves time in your daily routine, this one is for you.

McMahon also tested the Amika straighter, and one of her favorite parts about it is that it heats up super quickly and makes her hair smooth in one pass. "I only needed to pass through my hair once for it to be silky and smooth, which is impressive because, with my hair texture and thick waves, it usually takes a few tries," she says, adding that she can def tell the difference between this and the cheaper tools she's bought before.

She also notes how easy it is to check the temperature setting on this tool, thanks to the digital screen that clearly displays it. And, speaking of temp, it goes all the way up to 490 degrees, so you can bet this tool straightens the hair super fast. And, to make matters even better, it has an infared light beam within the titanium plates to deeply penetrate the hair with heat.

Similar to the Ghd tool, it'll automatically shut off after 60 minutes so you don't have to worry when you forget to turn it off. Also like the Ghd tool, it can get super hot for finer hair. But, thanks to its customizable heat settings, you can turn it down to 360 degrees and below if you have thinner hair, which we appreciate.

One thing to note: It's slightly on the heavier side, so it's a bit harder to hold over your head than the others on this list.

Celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess wanted one tool to do it all—so she created it for her eponymous hair care line. This iron is designed with a rounded body to make it easy to create four of her go-to looks: sleek straight, S-waves, and even polished curls.

So, yes—this do-it-all tool not only means more space in your drawer, but it also offers many different hairstyles for all different textures and hair types. Plus, the gold metal titanium plates deliver heat to the hair in a flash, so you don't have to spend too much time on your strands. They also deliver negative ions to the hair, which help lock in moisture, decrease frizz, enhance shine, and offer overall healthier-looking hair.

Like many of the other straighteners on this list, it has multiple heat settings (four to be exact!) and gets up to 440 degrees, which is great for those with thicker hair that want sleek strands in a flash.

One note we had on this straightener is that it doesn't glide as well as the others on this list. We noticed a bit more tugging and pulling, which knocked it down a few points in our book.

With a focus on healthy heat, this volcanic lava-infused straightener provides consistent heat that enables you to style at a lower temperature than you would otherwise, which, in turn, helps prevent damage. Volcanic lava also produces ions that leave hair shiny and silky, while the brand’s signature Chi Ceramic prevents frizz.

"As much as I love wearing my hair straight every now and then, I’m also very afraid of heat damage, so the best feature about this tool for me is that it doesn’t only have one or two set temperatures," says Jackson. She adds that this straightener has heat settings that can be manually adjusted in ten degree increments. This is awesome when you're trying to find a temperature high enough to straighten out any super-tight curls, but low enough that you don't have to worry about burning or damaging your hair.

Because it doesn't burn or damage your hair, you can expect a frizz-free, shiny look. However, due to the lower heat setting, it does take longer to straighten the hair.

While having the pros at Drybar do your hair every day would be ideal, having the blowdry bar’s hot tool in your hands is the next best thing. Though it’s not cheap, it’s under $200 but features titanium plates to seal in the hair cuticle, prevent frizz, amp up shine, and infrared to heat hair from the inside out to maintain a straight style all day.

Another pro? The digital screen displays the temperature (up to 450 degrees), making it easy to use even for heat styling novices. Our tester, who straightens her hair once a week, says that this tool makes her life much easier thanks to its rounded shape, which helps create curls, waves, or straight locks in an instant. Another note: It grips the hair tight to offer max heat, but it never pulls or tugs the strands.

This iron also features a 60-minute automatic safety shut off and a two-year limited warranty, so if it ever breaks you can get a new one totally free of charge.

We did notice that the yellow paint starts to chip off with a few uses, which knocked it down a few points in our book.

Our tester, WH lifestyle & commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, says that there are a few things she loves about the Sutra flatiron: it heats up very quickly, its plates are smooth against the hair delivering a ton of shine, and it’s amazing at curling hair. She adds that because the straightener's plates are curved, you can achieve any style you want and add some extra bounce to your look, too.

Gomez also says that she loves that the cord feels super heavy duty. "It makes the product feel like it’ll last me for years and years." And, speaking of lasting forever, it's also made with titanium plates that lock in heat and are meant to stand the test of time.

Our qualm with this straightener is that, when turned on, it defaults to 450 degrees (this is the highest heat the iron offers). So, if you have fine, thin hair, be aware that you need to lower the heat before use.

Meet the expert

• Justine Marjan is a celebrity hairstylist

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