If you love your natural hair, you may also enjoy rocking a sleek-straight style from time to time. And to get professional-looking results, you’ll need to use the best flat iron for natural hair.
Natural hair textures tend to be more fragile due to their curl pattern (like 3A soft curls to 4C coils), so experts advise taking caution when using flat irons. “You should only straighten the hair when it’s 100% clean, without oils or products [except for heat protectant] because that can cause heat damage,” says Angela C. Stevens, Emmy award-winning celebrity hairstylist and founder of Conscious Curls.
And, you should only run a hair straightener through your hair once to reduce damage. “When you go over the hair several times with a flat iron you will cause damage, only one pass is needed,” says Stevens.
How to choose the best flat iron for natural hair
Look for heat settings. “The most important thing to look for when choosing a flat iron is the temperature control settings,” says Hope Mitchell M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mitchell Dermatology. “Make sure the iron has more than just an off and switch so that you can control the heat,” she adds.
Choose the right plate. “I suggest using ceramic irons over titanium ones,” says Stevens. “Titanium can be too strong on the hair strands because the plates don’t have pores, which makes ceramic a bit more gentle, and it’s better for retention,” she explains.
Use the correct temperature. Not all hair textures require high temperatures. “If you have color-treated hair, I recommend staying at 350 degrees or under,” says Kendall Dorsey, celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Alicia Keys. “Thicker and kinkier textures can go for a higher setting like 375 degrees,” he advises.
Use a heat protectant. All experts agree that you should use a heat protectant before applying any type of heat to natural hair. “This will protect the curls by sealing the cuticles and reduce heat damage,” says Stevens.
Below, find 13 of the best flat irons for natural hair, including selects from experts and top-rated options. Whether you're looking for a lightweight hair straightener that is easy to use (and ergonomically friendly!) or a flat iron that’s small enough to straighten your baby hairs, you’re guaranteed to find a tool you’ll love.
1
BEST DIGITAL CONTROL
Creative Energy Smoother
Crafted with special hydroionic crystals inside the ceramic plates, this flat iron works to hydrate and condition the hair while straightening it. “It heats up well and provides a sleek, silky finish,” says Stevens. It also has a digital control to adjust the heat settings for the perfect temperature.
2
BEST OVERALL
Professional Glider
HSI PROFESSIONAL amazon.com
$46.95
This flat iron is a best seller on Amazon and has over 51,000 5-star ratings. It’s designed with high-quality ceramic plates that feature tourmaline crystal ions that help create a shinier and silky finish. The one-inch plate is also great for straightening bangs and targeting hard-to-reach areas at the back of the head.
3
MOST VERSATILE
Tourmaline Ceramic Professional Styling Flat Iron
FHI Heat amazon.com
$125.99
“FHI has great ceramic plates that are heat controlled,” says Stevens. And this pick has negative ion materials that work to seal in moisture, reduce frizz, and create a shiny effect. The tourmaline ceramic plates also offer an easy glide throughout the hair, and the iron can work on all types of curls, including wavy and kinkier textures.
4
BEST FOR SHINE
Expert Classic Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron
This flat iron works great at straightening natural hair types at a budget-friendly price. It takes just 30 seconds to heat up, and it goes up to 410 degrees. It also has tourmaline ceramic plates, which help distribute heat evenly as the iron slides down the hair. It’s great for creating versatile hairstyles like curls, waves, and flips.
5
BEST HEAT SETTINGS
Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron
INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR amazon.com
Conair is well known for their hair straighteners and this pick is just what you need for natural hair. Its features include tourmaline ceramic plates, 30 heat settings, and extra-long floating plates. “This flat iron turned my super curly and thick hair bone straight,” wrote one satisfied Amazon customer. “I love it.”
6
BEST FOR FRIZZY HAIR
Vivace Professional Variable Temperature Ceramic Iron
This iron has adjustable temperature settings from 140 to 450 degrees, a feature that Dorsey loves. “This works great for all curl textures since it has so many different temperature settings,” says Dorsey. The ceramic plates are coated with argan oil, which leaves behind a shiny effect on the hair. You can also use this flat iron to create bouncy waves and mermaid curls.
7
BEST FOR SMOOTH STRANDS
Micro-Shine Flat Iron
HOT TOOLS amazon.com
$109.56
Another top-rated pick on Amazon, this flat iron features a unique pulse technology that warms up the plates quickly and keeps them hot. You’ll also find an easy-to-read digital LCD screen that will show you 27 different heat settings. It has a nine-foot swivel cord and a rotating temperature dial at the end to make it easy to control the heat while styling.
8
BEST AWARD WINNING
Classic Original IV Hair Straightener
Amazon reviewers gave this flat iron a 4.5-star rating and over 1,300 rave reviews, thanks to its non-damaging features. It has ultra-glossy ceramic plates, which allows it to move across the hair easily and it can heat up to 365 degrees. “I love this straightener,” wrote one reviewer. “It leaves my hair smooth and straight without frying the ends.”
9
BEST FOR ALL CURLS
Lucea ID Digital Ceramic Flat Iron
T3 Micro amazon.com
$249.00
$186.75 (25% off)
Pricilla Valles, a celebrity extensionist loves this flat iron for all its high-tech features and so do reviewers. It’s equipped with a smart-touch display and HeatID technology, which adjusts the temperature based on your hair texture, length, and color treatments. It’s also designed with ion generators that help to reduce static and frizz.
10
BEST SAFETY FEATURES
The Confidante Moisture Maintenance Styler
This top-rated iron is just what you need for your hot tools lineup. Designed specifically for one pass, this flat iron has an infrared beam light within the plates that distribute heat wavelengths to help get deeper into the hair cuticle, according to the brand. It also has a smart shut-off feature that automatically turns off after 60 minutes.
11
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT
Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
BaBylissPRO amazon.com
$154.99
$129.99 (16% off)
This ultra-thin flat iron is easy to use and great for bringing with you while traveling. Its lightweight, slim design helps to reduce hand pain and saves time styling your hair, thanks to its wide five-inch plates. Its interior is coated in a smooth titanium material that won’t corrode over time, and it can go up to 450 degrees.
12
BEST ALL-AROUND
Corrale Straightener Gift Set
Dyson nordstrom.com
$499.99
“This flat iron is cordless, and it’s good for curly hair because it has heat-controlled features,” says Dorsey. Even better? It’s the only straightener made with flexing plates designed to shape around the hair. Its intelligent heat control technology responds to the thickness, texture, and length of your hair by automatically adjusting the temperature to the right setting for your specific needs. This gift set also comes with a charging dock and a heat-resistant pouch to store the flat iron away safely.
13
BEST PROTECTION
Ceramic Flat Iron
EAP Heat eapheat.com
$239.00
“This brand is Black-owned and their flat irons produce really great results,” says Stevens. This pick features three layers of ceramic plates that make it super easy to straighten natural hair with just one pass. It’s also designed with Far Infrared heat, which helps to reduce frizz and lock in moisture.
Shauna Beni Shauna Beni is the Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention.
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