The 10 Very Best Flat Irons (2025)

$289

Temperature: 365 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1 inch

You can’t really talk about hot tools without hearing the rave reviews of GHD or Good Hair Day. They’re known for the intuitive heat settings, which max out at 365 degrees (supposedly the optimal temperature for avoiding heat damage) and spread heat evenly through the plates. Since my hair is naturally quite straight, I wasn’t sure how much I would appreciate the tool, but it is, after all, called a styler, and I found that it was just as useful for adding beach waves to my hair as it was for straightening it. I was also relieved to find that my hair didn’t feel fried afterward, since the iron is preset to 365 degrees, and that the straightener heated up incredibly quickly.

Five hairstylists recommended the Platinum+ styler. (The U.K. brand was a nearly unanimous favorite among stylists I also polled about the best curling iron.) Celebrity hairstylist Luca Blandi, whom I trust as someone who has worked closely with clients such as Anne Hathaway and Kate Bosworth, specifically loves the brand’s Platinum+ models because they are made from a lighter material, which is a godsend for hairdressers who use the tool all day. “It’s less strenuous on our body and hands.” Michelle Obama’s hairstylist, Yene Damtew, uses this flat iron on the former First Lady’s hair and loves it because it’s sleek and lightweight. She notes that all GHD irons are good for creating a multitude of hairstyles for every hair texture.

$80

Temperature: 250° - 450°F | Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1”

Izunami is a Japanese brand known for its high-quality flat irons. This model has one-inch titanium plates and it has the ability to control the temperature. And while this brand might not be as well known as others on this list, it’s a workhorse iron with longevity (and an affordable price point). Jessica O’Keeffe, whose opinion I trust as a stylist at Hawthorne Studio and who has used the iron for years, swears by it and its long-lasting power. And she should know: She’s used the same one every day, multiple times a day, for over five years. Compared to the GHD above, it doesn’t feature the same intuitive heat settings and it maxes out at a sizzling 450 degrees, so I recommend being careful with it. I’m sharing two tips I picked up from the pros. One, always use a heat protectant spray. And two, always start out with a lower temperature and slowly work your way up to determine how much heat you actually need for your texture.

$160

Temperature: 240–450 degrees| Plate material: Titanium | Plate size: 1 inch

If your hair is shorter or you want something more precise, a mini-iron is a good option — specifically, this thin one-inch BaByliss Pro Nano. It’s super thin and lightweight but also hot enough — with 50 heat settings — to really smooth the hair. And the smaller size means you can really get the hair straight all the way from the root. The heat settings make it a great option for straightening naturally curly hair too. One of the stylists I spoke with specifically recommended it for a silk press, since the titanium-plated flat iron is a better option for curly, textured hair than a ceramic-plated one because the metal plates heat more evenly than the clay-based ones.

$75

Temperature: 235°F–450°F | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 2”

Should you want longer, wider plates to cover more surface area and length faster, the BaByliss Pro has all the perks of the straightener above but is designed specifically for longer hair since it’s easy to maneuver. Plus, it has a heat index that makes it easy to transition for hair type and texture.

$120

Temperature: 140–450 degrees| Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1.25 inches

Maybe you’re a stylist who wants a flat iron that will work on a range of hairstyles, or you need something with higher heat settings that will iron out coarser natural hair. Tym Wallace, a celebrity hairstylist who is trusted by clients including Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, and Yara Shahidi, recommends the FHI Platform irons because of the temperature control settings that reach a scorching 450 degrees. “It straightens hair really well and gives the hair a bounty of shine and is versatile among hair types and styles,” he says. It’s also supposedly the flat iron Beyoncé uses.

$499

Temperature: 330, 365, and 410 degrees | Plate material: Manganese copper plates | Plate size: 1 inch

If you’re straightening your hair often and willing to invest, Dyson’s hot tools are a categorical favorite. The cordless straightener has intelligent heat control and adjusts its temperature depending on the length, thickness, and texture of your hair. What also sets the Dyson apart from the other flat irons on this list is the use of flexible copper plates that shape and gather hair, allowing you to style with less heat and pressure on the hair strand, making it significantly less damaging compared to the other straighteners I’ve tested. I also found it to be extremely easy to use. However, it costs a pretty penny, so it’s best for those who straighten their hair regularly, which is why the GHD remains my top pick.

Note: Dyson recently released a brand-new flat iron, the Airstraight, which features the brand’s signature airflow technology designed to straighten the hair without hot plates to even further reduce heat damage. I will be calling in a sample of the Airstraight to test out and updating this story with my thoughts once I’ve taken it for a whirl myself.

$150

Temperature: 170–450 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1.25 inches

If you want to take your iron with you overseas, you’ll want one that’s dual voltage like this Amika styler, which hair consultant and stylist Linh Nguyen (who has worked extensively with models for print and runway) recommends as a one-pass iron that smoothes hair without any flyaways or for creating a wavy, shiny look. It features ionic technology that really seals the hair’s cuticles to give a super-sleek, shiny look. And it has plenty of other bells and whistles, including a smart shutoff.

$130

Temperature: 280–450 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 1.5 inches

People who use a flat iron every day might want something more ergonomic for regular use. In that vein, Wonderland Beauty Parlor senior colorist and hairstylist Ryan Hill says this one is by far his favorite, and he has tried many over his nearly two decade career. It’s ergonomic enough to grip firmly without straining your hands and wrists, due to a thumb grip and contoured body. It also has digital temperature settings ranging from 280 to 450 degrees.

$499

Temperature: 175-285 degrees | Plate material: N/A | Plate size: 1.5 inch

Usually, taking a flat iron to a head of wet hair is a recipe for disaster. But Dyson’s Airstraitis a wet-to-dry styler that is designed to dry and straighten wet hair with minimal heat damage. The tool relies only on airflow, no heated plates, to style. As is typical with Dyson’s tools, I was impressed with all the little details: The control buttons are super intuitive and the airflow will turn down when it isn’t actively styling. I also liked that you can “lock” the plates together and use it as a normal hair dryer to rough-dry your hair before styling. (I tried to style my hair when it was sopping wet — the brand does not recommend this — for science and it took ages to get a single section dry.) Starting at the root, I passed the iron over a two-inch section of hair. After about three passes the section was completely dry and it only took about 15 minutes until my entire head of hair was sleek and shiny. I should note that since my hair is naturally very straight and fine, someone with thicker or curlier hair will probably need to budget more time to get the job done.

$299

Temperature: 248-365 degrees | Plate material: Ceramic | Plate size: 2.5 inch

The Duet is basically a hair dryer and GHD Platinum+ styler combined into one tool. You can use the airflow to dry your hair and then, with the push of a button, turn off the fans and heat the plates up to exactly 365 degrees to turn the Duet into a traditional flat iron. This allows for more styling options and while I personally don’t really need the flat iron feature, since my hair is already straight, I do appreciate the versatility. The only drawback is the Duet is a bit less ergonomic than the Airstrait and doesn’t get as close to the root as the Airstrait can. And while it is $100 dollars cheaper than the Dyson, it is still pricey, but since it is effectively two tools in one, I think it’s absolutely worth the price, especially for someone who prefers to shower and style in the morning.