There’s something unmistakably Y2K about pin-straight hair. But the best hair straighteners have evolved—and they still deserve a prime spot in your tool arsenal for salon-worthy hairstyling. Today’s tools do more than just straighten. With beveled edges and clever brush designs, they deliver everything from soft bends (hello, mod bob) to voluminous blowouts and effortless waves—with just a flick of the wrist or twirl of your tool of choice.
Vogue’s Favorite Hair Straighteners
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According to editorial hairstylist Naeemah LaFond, healthy hair should never be sacrificed in the pursuit of sleekness. “When it comes to hot tools, preserving the integrity of your hair should be your top priority,” she says. “That sleek glossy finish or smooth silk press shouldn’t cost you the health of your hair. When shopping for the right tools, technology and functionality are key factors. It’s important to know that all straighteners aren’t created equal.”
With that in mind, we turned to 10 pro hairstylists to find out which flat irons truly deliver— and how to use them without compromising your strands. From advanced heat sensors to ceramic plates that glide like satin, read on for the expert-approved hair straighteners worth the investment.
Best Overall: Dyson Corrale Styler Straightener
- Why We Love It: The Dyson Corrale is not your normal flat iron. This cordless, bevel-edged straightener features flexing copper plates to deliver controlled heat styling that automatically adjusts to maintain the perfect temperature setting for your hair type. A single charge gives you up to 30 minutes of cord-free styling—so you can truly do your hair from anywhere. Plus, this device is travel-friendly, featuring a TSA-approved airplane mode and universal voltage (so when you do charge, you can charge from anywhere—even abroad). “The Dyson Corrale is the crowning gem of my styling tools for its unmatched tech paired with incredible salon-worthy results. I go from looking like Lord Farquaad to 90’s era Christy Turlington bouncy blowout in 10 minutes,” says Vogue’s beauty commerce writer, Conçetta Ciarlo. Smooth frizzy lengths and flyaways in just one pass—and then forget about it (literally, because the auto shut-off feature will kick-in after 10 minutes of inactivity.
- Heat Settings: Three (330 degrees Fahrenheit, 365 degrees Fahrenheit, and 410 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Available Size: 1.6 in.
- Plates: Copper
- Cord Length: No cord here—but there is a charging dock, detachable charging wire, and a heat-resistant travel pouch
- Voltage: Universal
Best for Wavy Hair: GHD Platinum+ Hair Straightener
- Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel says he loves this straightener because of its technology. “This iron recognizes each section of hair and adapts the correct amount of heat that is necessary for each section of hair.” Kat Graham’s trusted hair stylist, Rachel Lee Wright, feels similarly. “[This straightener] has a rounded top edge which helps me iron without any snags or excessive pulling/catching which can lead to extra heat on already fragile ends. The adjustable heat dial helps keep you in check depending on the level of damage you have and texture and curl pattern. The smoothness of the plates are critical for a silky press or flat iron waves so you can work in a flow.” Plus, the beveled edges mean you can create curls and bouncy blowouts with ease, in addition to sleek styles.
- Heat Settings: Temperatures up to 365 degrees Fahrenheit
- Available Sizes: 1 in.
- Plates: Aluminum coated in ceramic
- Cord Length: 9 ft, swivel
- Voltage: Universal
Best Titanium: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Hair Straightener
- Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist and barber Nigella Miller names BabylissPRO as one of her go-to straighteners for a frizz-free finish. “It gives me the perfectly sleek look I’m after,” she says. “With 4C hair, I need a straightener that heats up enough to smooth out my curls—without having to go over each section multiple times.” The nano titanium plates deliver even, efficient heat for silky, glossy results. Best of all? Its ultra-slim design makes it a dream for travel—toss it in your suitcase without sacrificing precious packing space.
- Heat Settings: Up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Sizes: 1 in., 1.5 in., 2 in.
- Plates: Titanium
- Cord Length: 9 ft, swivel
- Voltage: Dual
Best for Thick Hair: T3 Smooth ID Smart Flat Iron
- Why We Love It: Kerry Washington’s hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant says this is her favorite flat iron for it’s impressive smart tech and even heat distribution. “It’s a smart touch interface straightening iron that offers styling personalization,” she explains. “It adjusts heat based on your texture, length, and color-treated hair. You will have shiny hair and less damage to it in the end when it comes to styling your hair. It’s great for all hair types and textures.”
- Heat Settings: Nine (Up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.)
- Available Sizes: 1 in.
- Plates: Ceramic
- Cord Length: 8 ft
- Voltage: Universal
Best for Short Hair: Bio Ionic 10x Pro Styling Iron 1
- Why We Love It: There’s a lot to love about this Bio Ionic straightener. For starters, its slim 1-inch wide plate size makes it ideal for gripping everything from chin-length bobs to waist-grazing strands. But what really sets it apart? Sonic vibrating plates. While you won’t feel a buzz, the subtle movement helps distribute heat more evenly across each strand—for faster styling and glassy, smooth results. The ceramic plates are also infused with volcanic rock and minerals to help seal the cuticle without stripping moisture, leaving hair sleek, not scorched.
- Heat Settings: Temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Available Sizes: 1 in.
- Plates: Ceramic plates infused with volcanic rock minerals
- Cord Length: 9 ft
- Voltage: Dual
Best for Long Hair: NuMe Megastar
- Why We Love It: Hairstylist Erinn Courtney says the NuMe Megastar straightener has been her go-to straightener for years. “It’s sleek and ergonomic. It’s also very comfortable in the hand, and that’s important to me since I do a lot of braiding and need to protect my hands,” she says. “The hair always come out super straight, soft and shiny. And because the NuMe is on the smaller side, it’s really easy to create curls and styles other than simply straightening.” This is also Roszak’s pick to straighten thicker, longer, and coarse hair because the wider plates allow you to tackle more hair at once, and you can control the temperature to your liking. Plus, it features infrared technology to minimize heat damage.
- Heat Settings: Up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
- Available Sizes: 1 in.
- Plates: Tourmaline ceramic
- Cord Length: 8.5 ft
- Voltage: Dual
Best for Curly Hair: Tymo Ring Plus Straightener Comb
- Why We Love It: Curls and coils might consider putting down their straightening brush, and swapping in Tymo’s heated comb instead. Its titanium-coated, densely packed 25-tooth bristle design grips each strand, delivering sleek results in a fraction of the time a traditional flat iron might take. Best of all, it’s equipped with the brand’s signature T-Sensor technology, which intuitively adjusts heat based on your hair’s type and texture—for a finish that’s both efficient and hair-health conscious.
- Heat Settings: Nine (Up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit.)
- Available Sizes: 1.5 in.
- Plates: Nano titanium coated comb teeth
- Cord Length: 6 ft
- Voltage: Dual
Best for Wet-to-Dry Styling: Dyson Airstrait
- Why We Love It: Looking to streamline your collection of styling tools? Dyson’s Airstrait is a two-in-one hair dryer and flat iron—it styles wet or dry hair without hot plates, using hot airflow and high-velocity air blades instead. The result? The tool cuts down on drying time and skips straight to a sleek, natural look sans heat damage. “In my short trial of the Dyson Airstrait, I was most impressed by how uncomplicated the entire process was,” Vogue’s senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden previously said. “Considerably lightweight, I was able to hold and maneuver it with one hand.”
- Heat Settings: Two; wet mode (175 F, 230 F, 285 F) and dry mode (250 F, 285 F, 320 F)
- Available Sizes: 1.6 in.
- Plates: N/A
- Cord Length: 9.6 ft
- Voltage: 120V
Best on Amazon: Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron
- Why We Love It: With nearly 30,000 glowing Amazon reviews, Conair’s ceramic straightener has earned its crowd-pleaser status. A higher concentration of ceramic in the plates helps reduce frizz, while the extra-long design allows you to capture more hair in a single pass—perfect for speeding up your routine. Plus, beveled edges boost the tool’s versatility, making it just as capable of creating sleek strands as soft waves.
- Heat Settings: Five (up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Available Sizes: 1 in.
- Plates: Ceramic
- Cord Length: 5 ft
- Voltage: Dual
Everything You Need To Know
What do pros look for in a hair straightener?
When it comes to choosing the right flat iron, professional stylists have their personal preferences just like we do. Though, given their expertise, they also know exactly what to look for—because the difference between sleek, glassy strands and stressed-out hair often comes down to the details. “For me, the most important aspect is how smooth the plates of the flat iron glide across the hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak. “You don’t want anything to stick as it can then cause creasing.”
Functionality is just as essential as finish, according to celebrity and editorial hairstylist Mideyah Parker. “When I shop for a new flat iron, I am looking for how hot the iron gets, if there is a dial so that I may adjust the heat to my desired temperature, the number of passes it takes for the hair to be straightened, and whether I can use it on all hair types,” she explains, adding that a long cord is key for ease of movement behind the chair.
Which flat iron materials are best for certain hair types?
Plate composition affects not only how quickly the tool heats up, but also how it interacts with your hair’s texture—and understanding that can make all the difference in both performance and hair health. “Ceramic irons take longer to heat up and they heat the hair from the inside, [while] titanium flat irons heat up immediately and heats the hair on the surface,” explains Parker, who emphasizes matching your flat iron to your natural hair type.
“Hair texture and density should definitely impact what irons to use,” celebrity hairstylist Gregg Lennon Jr. tells Vogue. “Ceramic irons are generally considered to be gentle, providing even heat—I prefer to use a ceramic on finer or more fragile hair textures. I prefer tourmaline on thicker or coarser textured hair because it emits negative ions which lock the cuticle layer and add lots of shine.”
How To Pick the Right Heat Setting for Your Hair Type
You don’t have to sacrifice hair health when styling a super straight look. Lennon suggests figuring out your ideal heat setting by starting at a lower temperature and working your way up, slow and steady. “The goal is to get your hair sleek and styled in as few passes as possible—first start with settings under 400 degrees, and only increase to higher temperatures if necessary,” he says. “Unless you are using a wet-to-dry styler, always make sure your hair is 110% dry before you start to iron, because damage often occurs from damp hair sizzling between the plates.” To ensure your hair is bone dry, Lennon recommends waiting until your hair cools off post blow dry, as hot air can mask the feeling of dampness. “If you still feel any dampness at all on your hair, keep drying—and always use a heat protectant.”
- Adir Abergel is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Emma Watson and Kristen Stewart.
- Erinn Courtney is a celebrity hairstylist and braider for Rickey Thompson, Nazanin Mandi, and Willow Smith, and more.
- Naeemah LaFond is an editorial hairstylist known for her sculptural styles that have been seen on countless runways, campaigns, and publications.
- Rachel Lee Wright is a pro makeup artist whose work can be seen in i-D, Dazed, and Another Magazine.
- Gregg Lennon Jr. is an LA based celebrity hairstylist. Hise clients include Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, Lisa Rinna, and more.
- Nigella Miller is a celebrity hairstylist and barber who has worked with brands like Burberry, Nike, and Cartier.
- Mideyah Parker is a celebrity and editorial hairstylist and ambassador for Pattern Beauty.
- Mara Roszak is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Natalie Portman, Zoe Saldana, and Riley Keough.
- Takisha Sturdivant is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose, and Storm Reid.