The better and more versatile the flat iron, the less time you need to spend hassling with hair products to boost shine and body, texturizing spray, *a curling iron,* or even a hair dryer (you heard right, more on that below). To guide you in your pursuit of the perfect hot tool, we've compiled the greatest hits of hair straighteners, from affordable but reliable goodies to "pricey, but worth it" styling stars.
Remington Wet2Straight Flat Iron
Created with custom heat settings and special steam vents to remove water from hair, this iron literally promises to take your hair from wet to straight. While we don't actually encourage people to use this on shower-fresh hair (it's best used after some towel drying or when it's just slightly damp), it works well for the price to smooth and straighten hair, while saving you time in the morning.
$28
BUY IT: ulta.com.
Conair Infiniti Pro Rainbow Titanium Flat Iron
If you just want a straight-forward flat-iron without spending a quarter of your rent, a Conair Titanium Flat Iron is always a safe bet. It's a unicorn among cheap flat irons in that it's reliable, can curl and straighten all in one, and doesn't take ages to get the job done.
$40
BUY IT: ulta.com.
Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
This longer tool comes in three skinny sizes that all in all are much better suited for thick, curly hair (a great thing, as most flat irons are meh at tackling thicker waves), since the iron doesn't entirely clamp down all the way on finer hair types. The longer head is also better for styling long mermaid lengths into enviable waves, in half the time.
$140
BUY IT: ulta.com.
Drybar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron
Having a shorter flat-iron has its perks: it's easier to fit into your luggage when you want to take your straight style overseas, plus it can fit into trickier bits around your ears better. This one's crafted by the pros at Drybar to help you get satiny strands at home, with a professional length cord and floating plates that evenly heat hair.
$150
BUY IT: sephora.com.
Chi G2 Ceramic and Titanium 1" Styling Iron
No other straightener has the appeal of Chi, the brand that's set the standard for hot tools and conveniently 🙌 falls in the mid-priced range. You can't go wrong with their 1" styling iron that comes with an LCD screen to read the temperature plus smart controls. Use if you want super smooth, frizz-free hair.
$160
BUY IT: ulta.com.
Harry Josh Pro Tools Ceramic Flat Styling Iron
The hair stylists to Chrissy Teigen, Jourdan Dunn, and Olivia Palermo swear by this nano-ceramic, tourmaline flat iron to achieve shiny bombshell waves and evenly straightened hair. It's especially gentle for those with fragile strands that are frequently bleached and highlighted.
$200
BUY IT: dermstore.com.
Bio Ionic 10X Pro Straightening and Styling Iron
If you've ever wondered how celebrities achieve wondrously shiny, glossy hair, it's probably all in the ions. This best-selling hot tool uses them to smooth hair and add lustrous shine in under 10 minutes. Plus, it's kind of the best of all worlds with a professional-length cord, a nimble smaller body to hit all your hair angles, and rounded edges to style and straighten.
$230
BUY IT: ulta.com.
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