Additional Hair Straighteners We Tested
Photo Credit: Kat Merck
Paul Mitchell Neuro Style+ for $150: The newest addition to Paul Mitchell’s impressive lineup of hair straighteners, this ceramic iron features the brand’s innovative NeutraHeat temperature-regulating technology, reaching up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and offering dual voltage for travel. However, its body feels surprisingly cheap and lightweight compared to older Paul Mitchell models. It also required over a minute to heat up and didn’t perform particularly well on my curly hair.
Amika the Confidante Moisture Maintenance Titanium Flat Iron for $150: This high-performing titanium iron features a design reminiscent of our Best for Thick Hair selection, the Sutra IR2, complete with its infrared strip. It boasts a sturdy, premium feel and tackled curls and frizz with ease. However, the Sutra heats up quicker and maintains smooth hair longer, while the titanium runner-up, the Kristen Ess 3-in-1 ($68), delivers a comparable outcome for less than half the price.
NuMe Megastar X for $169: This sleek matte-black straightener features wide 1.75-inch plates and resembles the Amika Confidante and Sutra with its infrared technology, but utilizes tourmaline ceramic plates rather than titanium. It excelled in providing shine, but required a minimum of four passes to tame a section of my hair. While this might suit easier-to-straighten textures, you’d be better served by the T3 SinglePass Smooth X (Best for Fine Hair, noted above), which has comparable pricing and features T3’s exclusive heat precision technology. Additionally, the T3 is easier to handle due to its longer, narrower plates.
Dyson Corrale for $500: Previous WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano expressed her admiration for the Dyson Corrale (8/10, WIRED Recommends), aside from its steep price. She noted that it imparts a luxurious feel, typical of Dyson products, and its flexing plates effectively straighten hair using lower heat, conforming to the hair and avoiding the splaying effect and uneven heat distribution common in other irons. Nevertheless, she identified some drawbacks for a $500 straightener; although it can function cordlessly, the battery life is insufficient for straightening her entire head of curly hair, and the onboard battery adds considerable weight.
Chi Vibes on the Edge Curved Edge Hairstyling Iron for $110: As a devoted Chi fan, having relied on the original ceramic flat iron for over ten years, I was keen to glam up my bathroom counter with this vibrant metallic version from Chi’s Vibes line. The 1- or 1.5-inch ceramic plates (I opted for the latter) curve around the iron, allowing users to reach closer to the roots and create seamless waves if desired. While this feature impressed me with its ability to smooth flyaways (and I appreciated the unusually long 11-foot cord), both I and another tester found the overall construction to feel subpar for the price, with alarming plate movement during use.
BondiBoost Aloe-Plated Flat Iron for $80: This straightener features ceramic-coated tourmaline plates infused with aloe powder, intended to “add shine and frizz control with each stroke,” according to the manufacturer. It’s noteworthy for its ability to heat to 480 degrees Fahrenheit—warmer than any other tested iron and exceeding the limits of most heat protectant sprays. However, I didn’t notice any substantial difference in the plates compared to standard ceramic options, and the plastic design felt light and somewhat flimsy for this price range. Additionally, my hair became frizzy again fairly quickly after styling. That said, this iron does have a strong following online, so experiences may vary.
L’ange Le Duo Airflow Styler for $89: This innovative flat iron features a clasp similar to a curling iron, differing from traditional models that rely on the plates staying apart and require pressure to activate. It performs as well as any other straightener, and the clasp design and rounded edges facilitate curling as well. The standout feature is the air vents that emit cool air to set your hairstyle. The fan operates automatically, though an off-switch is available. (Note: it isn’t intended for drying hair—attempting that will lead to disappointment.) —Medea Giordano
Tymo Ring Hair Straightener Comb for $60: I’d seen Tymo Ring widely promoted on social media for years before finally trying it, and it didn’t disappoint. It combines elements of a traditional hot comb and a straightening brush, allowing for close roots without the risk of burns, thanks to an outer cover surrounding the heated teeth. While straightening brushes typically don’t replace flat irons for my hair, the Tymo Ring effectively removed curls without requiring multiple passes; I needed only to go over sections once or twice. —Brenda Stolyar
Sleek’e for $81 and Kosa for $195: These straighteners are essentially identical, with Sleek’e confirming shared manufacturing, a common practice in the industry. The Kosa has a slightly lighter feel, but both perform comparably. They emit ions and have an infrared light strip down one of the plates, designed for even heat distribution that won’t harm hair. —Medea Giordano
Brilliance New York Smooth Pro Ceramic Flat Iron for $45: WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe, also a curly-haired individual, is a staunch advocate for this flat iron. She impulsively purchased it via a Groupon in 2014 and has consistently chosen it over various other straighteners since—she even prefers it to the Dyson Corrale. It has lost some heat consistency over the years, and occasionally snags hair, but still manages to leave her unruly curls sleek, shiny, and most importantly, straight. —Medea Giordano
FoxyBae Tres Sleek Flat Iron for $40: This budget-friendly titanium straightener does a decent job of straightening thick, curly hair given its low price; however, its flimsy-feeling construction, slow heat-up time, and clumsy maneuverability with its 1.75-inch plates make it less appealing compared to our top budget selection, the Conair Infiniti Pro, mentioned earlier.
Revlon Easy Heat Precision Flat Iron for $29: This entry-level flat iron, featuring a vibrant pink design with user-friendly temperature settings, feels more substantial than its price tag suggests. It heats up in 30 seconds—one-third the time of most competitors in this niche. However, I was surprised by its ineffectiveness on my curls, despite reaching its maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Ultimately, my barely-straightened hair reverted to frizz in mere minutes.
