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Best Flat Iron For Curly Hair: Straightener Reviews & Buying Guide

Do you need to find the best flat iron for curly hair? You surely want shine, softness without too much damage, right?

It doesn’t matter if you do it everyday or just sometimes to change the looks a little, here you have not only a complete Flat Iron for Curly Hair Buying Guide.

Read to the end because we also have lots of info on how to choose the best flat iron for your hair type and our top 7 picks and reviews.

Best Flat Iron For Curly Hair: Top Seven Picks

As I know that you are here to check for the best flat iron for curly hair, here’s a quick summary with our top Seven picks. 

Below we have more details about each one of these best flat iron for curly hair, so you can have a better idea why these are the top top out there.

  1. ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener, Ceramic Flat Iron
  2. ghd Max Hair Straightener, Ceramic Flat Iron LARGE PLATE
  3. Vibrastrait Pro Vibrating Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron
  4. MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener
  5. MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler
  6. HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron
  7. KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener 

Reviews of the Best Hair Straighteners for Curly Hair

Let’s review each one of these best hair straighteners flat irons for your curly hair, but before we move on, I would like to explain why these are the top picks.

Having curly hair myself, and as an usual user of hair straighteners, I know exactly what it’s like, the struggles we pass while styling my hair.

If you have voluminous hair like me, you know it can take hours to get full head straight, and it gets even longer if you have long hair, right?

Apart from wanting to do our best job to get the hair shiny, straight, we get tired in the middle of the process, so the best hair straightener for curly hair has to be light, so our hands don’t feel heavy and tired.

Also, it is better to use larger plates, because because it will save a ton of time, my life has changed since I switched to a large plate flat iron.

It doesn’t matter if you style your hair often or just sometimes, every now and again, you will want to have your hair protected, as you use the heat.

Also, you want your hair to look naturally shiny, bounce and and look pretty for as long as possible, so a good quality flat irons will be the best for your curly hair.

For all these reasons, invest time to research for a great flat iron and don’t settle for less than the best, because it is your hair, and you want to protect and look after it.

The best flat irons are going to require a little more money investment from your part, but remember it is your hair and you deserve it.

The results will pay off and you are gonna feel guilty free, because you know you are styling your hair and preventing damage.

NOTE: We know that a super hair styling starts with a good dose of self care, a good shampoo, a good hair ritual so after the reviews, I am not only giving you a buying guide (so that you should be able to choose your own hair straightener but also a step by step on how to treat your hair in order to get the best of best hair style.

1. ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener Ceramic Flat Iron Review

Having been using ghd (thin and large plates) for years, I have quite a few thoughts  to share here. 

These flat irons are on the top of the list for a reason. I can tell you this by far the best flat iron for curly hair I’ve used and it’s worth every penny. 

The ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener, Ceramic Flat Iron is lightweight and has automatic adjustable heating temperature and voltage.

This is the best for me because not only I don’t need to worry about the right temperature for my hair, I can travel everywhere without worrying about the local voltage.

GHD

I am not gonna say that this flat iron won’t damage your hair, because in fact, every flat iron will cause some sort of hair damage, from one extent or another. 

We are talking about heating styling here which will impact your hair from one way to another but I have trusted this brand for years with nothing to complain about.

First thing you will notice is that hair is easier to slide through the plates, and there is no burning smell or something like that.

The second thing you will notice is how hair gets extremely shiny. It’s a shine that I was not able to achieve with other hair straighteners.

Then once you are finished with your straightening, you will notice hair gets soft, glossy, buncy. There will be frizz reduction to almost 98%.

 To be honest, you won’t need anything else apart from that, unless you want to do so.

This hair straightener is for every hair type, but if you have curly hair, this is definitely a great tool to invest on.

It will adapt the heat temperature to accommodate your hair type and will help you control your hair and style it in less time than many other tools out there.

If you have very voluminous hair, and / or long hair, you can still use this one, but it will be way better to use the GHD Max version, with a larger plate, that’s gonna make your life much easier. 

Here we have some features from the ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener, Ceramic Flat Iron, my top best flat iron for curly hair I’ve used: 

  • This is a ceramic flat iron
  • Exclusive technology with floating plates that guarantees a glossy finish to your style
  • Universal voltage so you can travel without worrying about swapping energy voltage while outside your country
  • Sleep mode after 30 minutes of non use
  • They have a technology called Ultra-zone TM that predicts your hair thickness and adjusts temperature accordingly
  • Maximum temperature 365°F 
  • 20 second heat up time
  • Design that allows you straighten the hair, create curls and beach waves
  • Dimensions : 11 x 1.63 x 1.75 inches; 1 Pounds
  •  three year warranty 
  • hair gets shinier and smoother without breaking
  • Swivel cord

2.  ghd Max Hair Straightener, Ceramic Flat Iron LARGE PLATE Review

GHD

The second best flat iron for curly hair on my list is the ghd Max Hair Straightene. Use this LARGE PLATE Ceramic Flat Iron,  if you have full voluminous and / or long hair or thick hair.

It’s really worth it and I can tell you why. As I have thin curly hair but it is very voluminous and very long. 

I started using this ghd max hair straightener, and have been able to get my entire head done in one and half hours.

Many times I was able to get finished in one hour as well. It depends on how slow I am on a particular day.

GHD

So, that you know my hair is long below the waist (the day that I am writing this review) and very very voluminous.

Of course, we need to take into consideration that I am very used to straightening, as I have been doing this for more than 10 years.

That means that I got good practice and am able to do it more quickly than someone who has just started out now, but you will experience an increase in speed as well.

Apart from that, this is really good, pretty much as the classic or the platinum version. The hair is quick to slide on the plates and it is still lightweight despite the larger plates.

Hair gets really shiny and silky, loves the glossy effect, and it’s definitely ahead of many flat irons out there.

GHD

Have been using that for so long and I don’t feel like changing any time for now. I can tell this is in my opinion the second best flat iron for my curly hair.

The down side, that I know many of you will complain about the ghd max flat iron is that it’s difficult to create curls.

The new model ( the one I am linking in this review) is already better to create curls once you finish the straightening.

I have the older version and I can share that the older version is way more difficult for me for creating curls, although it is not impossive.

Creating curls with this tool will require a lot of practice and once you get the hang of it, you should be able to create very loose curls.

So if you want to create smaller curls, you will need to use a curling wand or another flat iron with thinner plates to finalise your look.

That’s actually what I have done a lot in the past and still do. I use the thinner version of the ghd flat irons, because I bought them when I was away on a trip and forgot my flat iron at home. 

Sometimes I use a curling wand and it works really well. Nothing to complain about. Here we have some features from the ghd Max Hair Straightener, Ceramic Flat Iron:

  • This is a ceramic flat iron
  • Exclusive technology with floating plates that guarantees a glossy finish to your style
  • Universal voltage so you can travel without worrying about swapping energy voltage while outside your country
  • Sleep mode after 30 minutes of non use
  • They have a technology called Ultra-zone TM that predicts your hair thickness and adjusts temperature accordingly
  • Maximum temperature 365°F 
  • 26 second heat up time
  • Design that allows you straighten the hair, create curls and beach waves
  • Two year warranty 
  • hair gets shinier and smoother without breaking
  • Swivel cord
  • Size: 2 inches
  • Large round barrel

Guys, I have just reviewed the GHD flat irons that I have used for many years and recommend. They are on the top 2 of this list, because I have tested and have been using them until now.

They are not first impressions, but instead, they are my experience, after using these flat irons for more than 10 years.

I’m pretty sure if you go GHD, you will not change to any other flat iron out there, but it is always good to keep our hearts and options open to new things.

The next reviews are based on flat irons that were highly rated and recommended by other guys out there, and if these tools have such great reviews, there might be a reason for that.

To be very clear here, the next flat irons reviews are based on a gathering of what people are talking about on the internet as I have not tried these tools myself.

3. Vibrastrait Pro Vibrating Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron Review

The Vibrastrait Pro Vibrating Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron sounds like an interesting alternative curly girl because it has many great reviews.

It is an ionic flat iron which is something I’d love to test. If you don’t know, flat irons and hair dryers that have ions, are great for helping taming frizzy hair.

The Vibrastrait Pro Vibrating Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron

There are people that might say this ‘ions talk’ is just a marketing speech but I truly believe it works for my hair when I use the ion hair dryer.

Accordingly to the fabricants, this flat iron cannot only straighten your hair, but allows you to create different styles, as you wish.

You should be able to easily create beach waves and different types of curls, as your creativity allows you to do so.

What is a ceramic tourmaline flat iron?

Tourmaline ceramic flat irons are being required a lot nowadays, because the tourmaline will serve as a boost to the ceramic plates.

This is a ceramic flat iron that is infused with a semi-precious mineral, which is the tourmaline. But how?

The tourmaline that is processed as powder, is then baked and infused into the ceramic plates, in the fabric. This is supposed to provide your hair with extreme shine.

Very interesting, isn’t it? Another fun fact is that tourmaline emanates negative ions that in matches the positive ions emanated by dry / damaged, causing it to be silkier and taming frizz. 

So, this flat iron will work great on all hair types, but if you have frizzy, dry and / or damaged hair, this should be a good idea to try this one.

Now that we are clear about the tourmaline part, let’s briefly talk about the vibrating feature. I must confess that I thought this was really odd, but after reading more it made sense.

Here’s what happens. According to the producers, this flat iron  comes with a “vibrating technology that vibrates 7500 times a minute Each tourmaline”.

That will leave your hair even smoothie and silkier, according to them. Who doesn’t want that? I surely do! Here a few features that you are gonna find in this flat iron:

  • It is lightweight 1-inch Ceramic Flat Iron
  • innovative vibrating technology that vibrates 7500 times a minute for shinier and smoother hair
  • Suitable for all hair types, but dry damaged hair will really like it
  • Anti frizz solution with ions
  • Design allows you to create multiple style (straight, beach waves, different types of curls)
  • Suitable for thick hair
  • Multiple temperatures to choose ( from 190-450 F degrees)
  • Super fast 8 seconds heat up 
  • Has digital display window
  • Automatically turns off after 50 seconds of inactivity
  • Long 360-degree tangle-free swivel cord
  • LED temperature display
  • Dimensions : 12.5 x 4.5 x 2 inches; 1 Pounds

4. MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener Review 

The MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener called my attention not only because of the great reviews but also because it claims to have retractable Detangling Pins for Faster Styling.

Now, you must be asking yourself, what does having retractable Detangling Pins means? I know, I have made the same questions as well.

MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener

Well, before I start trying to explain what does that mean, have in mind this is a steam hair straightener.

I have written an entire article called Steam Hair Straightener 101: Best Steam Flat Iron Reviews & Guide.

Make sure you go there and check it out for more info about hair straighteners and how to style your hair.

MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener

Now getting back to explaining the retractable detangling pins, it is actually simple and easier than we thought.

Retractable detangling pins are small pins that are activated on the flat irons plates that will kind of ‘brush’ your hair while you straighten it.

So, there is a button that you press and small ‘teeth’ come out on the plate so you can have a quicker application.

Does that make sense? The only thing you need to pay attention to is that your hair strand should be firstly detangled by a comb or a brush, otherwise it will not work really well.

Well, I tried my best to explain but I believe you can understand better by taking a look at this instructional video provided by the manufacturers:

Now, here’s the main features that you can expect to find on the  MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener:

  • This is a steam flat iron
  • Plate is almost on the large side, so might work well on long hair
  • Adjustable heat (190-450°F) allows you to have control of the temperature accordingly to your hair type
  • They promise straight hair on the first pass, which is less damaging and saves time
  • The steam flat iron technologies provides hydration while straightening your hair at the same time
  • Comes with protective ridges that allows you to get the steam flat iron close to your roots without getting burned. This is very important because many steam flat irons will burn your head if you let it get too close to hair roots
  • The device will Turn off within 60 minutes of inactivity
  • full 90 days to try it out money back return policy in case you don’t think the tool worked for you
  • Has Ionic ceramic coating
  • Can be used without the detangling teeth
MAXIUS Maxiglide RP Hair Straightener

Best Flat Iron For Curly Hair [If You Are On a budget]

The next reviews are gonna to come in if you are not really to straighten your hair everyday or often enough and need something cheap, but good and that will do the job.

Once again, I would like to remind you that I have not tested these flat irons listed below, but I have chosen them, because of the great reviews they received.

5. MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler Review 

The MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler can be used for both straightening and curling your hair.

It costs around 60 Dollars (depending on your area) and it seems that people are liking it a lot, if you take a look at the great reviews it is receiving online.

MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron

It is a flat iron that is indicated to dry and / or damaged hair and normal hair, so if you are concerned your hair is dry, you should not worry about using it.

Also it is Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener, which is less damaging. We have already talked about it here, but just in case, here’s a quick recap.

Ceramic tourmaline hair straighteners promise to give an extra touch of shine to your hair. They have tourmaline powder that contains ions that in conjunction with your hair will keep it hydrated.

As a result, you have frizz control, extra shine, more hydration, and a healthier looking hair. 

This is an ergonomic, lightweight flat iron and the design also allows you to be creative with different hair styles. You decide if you want your hair just straight, or to make curls and waves.

Another thing I like about this flat iron is that it comes with a cool kit that includes one heat resistant glove, Travel Pouch, a Styling Comb and two Alligator Hair Clips.

Here are some other  key features you will find on the MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron and Curler: 

  • Digital Custom Precision Temperature Control (180-450°F)
  • Good for curly hair that is naturally dry hair by nature
  • It is a Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener
  • This is an ergonomic, lightweight flat iron
  •  Design also allows you to be creative with different hair styles (straight, curls, waves)
  • Has Digital Custom Precision Temperature Control (180-450°F)
  • Has Swivel Cord
  • Takes only 5 seconds to fully heat up
  • Dimensions : 13.45 x 5.2 x 2 inches; 1.7 Pounds
  • Auto turn off feature after a few minutes of inactivity 
  • LCD Display for temperature

6. HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron Review 

The  HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron with ceramic technology promises to reduce frizz and can be indicated to thick hair, once heat can reach up to 450 F degrees.

The large plate permits you to straight larger strands, which will save you a lot of time and allow a quicker style.

The pulse technology maintains a defined heat for the entire styling time. This makes sure that all hair sections will receive the same amount of heat. This is good because it will avoid some areas to be more straight than others.

 MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron

If you travel to other countries, it is good to know that this flat iron has dual universal voltage, and heat temperature can be controlled by you, so if you have thin hair, you don’t need too much heat.

There is the LCD digital display that allows you to easily check and control the temperatures. Just make sure to start with low temperature and then adjust to higher temperatures if needed. 

Their promise is that hair will be softer, smoothie, sleek, shinier, frizz reductions and long lasting results.

They say it is possible to create curls, or at least curl your ends with this flat iron but in my opinion, it will be difficult because of the large plates.

My advice is that you use a curling iron if you want to create curls on your hair, because with large plates, it takes time to learn how to make curls and even then, they are very loose curls.

This flat iron has an automatic turn off feature if the device is inactive. But this is weird because it will turn off after 2 hours of inactivity. 

 MONDAVA Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Hair Straightener Flat Iron

Normally the automatic turn off feature is activated after 30 seconds or 60 seconds, but in this case, it’s after 2 hours.

I don’t know if this is good or bad, but at least you know that it exists. 

The design is ergonomic and the flat irons are made out of a soft touch material for easy operation, that makes you feel more comfortable while styling your hair.

HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron Top features:

  • Tourmaline ceramic plate that provides extra shine and nourishment for curly hair that is normally dry by nature
  • Adjustable temperature (maximum temperature 450 F degrees)
  • The large plate is ideal for long and voluminous hair, as it permits you to straight larger strands, making the style quicker and  more comfortable
  • Comfortable ergonomic design, with soft touch texture for better performance while styling your hair
  • Pulse technology emits tourmaline to the hair for more shine
  • Universal dual voltage
  • Flat iron takes 30 seconds to fully heat up
  • Auto turn off feature after 2 hours of inactivity 
  • Dimensions : 2 x 5.6 x 13.9 inches; 0.04 Ounces

7. KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener Review 

The KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener has over seven thousand reviews on amazon.  Actually it has almost eight thousand the moment I’m writing here.

They are mostly great reviews and it is highly rated almost with five stars. There must be something special about it, right?

KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron

It is not expensive either. Of course prices may vary depending on the area you live but in the USA, it is listed for as low as $37 Dollars and 06 cents.

Seems like we have a good bond here, if you are on a budget because it has pretty cool features we are gonna talk about now.

First, its large plate is ideal for longer and fuller hair. The temperature is adjustable, from 170F to 450F, that can be adjustable on a led LCD display.

Because this flat iron has titanium plates that are easy to slide on the hair, it is more indicated for thick hair that is hard to manage.

However because it comes with temperature regulation, you might use it on the lowest heat, in case you have thin hair.

But overall, if you have thin hair, I would advise you not to use a titanium flat iron but a ceramic one instead, because it is gonna be less damaging. 

Having in mind we are dealing with a titanium flat iron, I think it’s important here to let you know these types of hair straighteners are more indicated for professional use.

Also, if you are planning to use it for your everyday hair styling, it is not indicated to do so. Because at pace that this is going to provide a more powerful styling, it is also more damaging.

NOTE: Check out this article: Steam Hair Straightener 101: Best Steam Flat Iron Reviews & Guide

However a titanium flat iron will give you an extra shine and long lasting results, that a ceramic hair straightener might not give.

But to be honest, I use the ceramic and don’t have anything to complain about shine, silkiness and long lasting results as I am able to have all that with ceramic as well.

KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron

If you go out and forget to turn it on, you shall fear not, because it will automatically turn off after 60 seconds of inactivity.

It comes with a long cord, for extra comfort while styling your hair and the universal voltage that automatically converts it for worldwide usage, allowing you to travel and bring it with you, without problems.

If you have very thick stubborn hair, this flat iron can save you lots of time, because it will straighten your hair in the first pass.

Here we have a few key features from the KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener:

  • Suitable for all hair types but larger plates makes it easier for curly, long and / or thicker hair to get styled
  • Titanium plate
  • Maintains even temperature on both plates for consistent styling
  • Adjustable temperature with LCD display for better control (270F for fragile hair, 350F for damaged hair/colored hair, 410F for healthy hair ) 
  • Long 8ft cord with 360 degree gyratory cable
  • Automatic worldwide voltage
  • PTC Heater technology for instant heating and stability

Flat Iron for Curly Hair Buying Guide

Now that we have talked about the best flat iron for curly hair, let’s talk about key points we all should have in mind while choosing a hair straightener.

Let’s have the straight talk. Straightening the hair is going to cause damage from one extent to another.

It doesn’t matter how wonderful the flat iron is, even the best flat iron will cause some sort of damage, for any type of hair.

I have given to you some awesome examples, in this the beginning of the article, but in case you didn’t like any of my suggestions, after reading the rest of the article, you should be able to spot a great hair straightener far way down the other corner.

Having had this straight talk, it is really important to know what to do, not to avoid damage, because this is inevitable, but at least reduce damage for as much as you can.

Especially if you have curly hair, that is dry by nature and oftentimes is opaque, and frizzy, it is important not only to invest on a good quality flat iron but also take real good care of your hair with great shampoos, deep conditioning, heat protectants and finalizers.

On the next lines let’s take a look at some of the most important information you should pay attention while choosing the best flat iron for curly hairs.

Tip Number 1: Invest On A Good Flat Iron

If you roll up your eyes and tell me oh yeah but this is obvious, I can tell you that many people do not pay much attention to it.

Some people just think about a cheap flat iron without thinking if it will be harmful to their hair in the future.

Many people may say that you should avoid heat styling at all costs and if you don’t like or don’t need to straighten your hair, it is ok. But if you do want to straighten it, you should not listen to it.

Because if you find a great quality hair straightener, combined with a proper hair care routine, you have good chances of having beautiful healthy hair.

As I told you, a good flat iron doesn’t have to be super expensive, but that happens that the best flat irons, especially for curly hair, are not on the lower price side.

But if you are planning and have the desire to have your hair straight, you should think about investing in a great quality tool, even if it is expensive, because it will really make the difference, in the long and short term.

For example, I recommended in the beginning of this guide the GHD flat irons. They are not the cheapest ones out there.

In fact, they are in the expensive range, but I know, because I have them at home, that one GHD flat iron has been with me for a decade and it’s still working.

Not only did I make a long term acquisition, I also have short term benefits with a super beautiful straight hair that is shiny and very natural straight hair.

After all those years, my hair is dry because I was born this way, but the hair is healthy and improving over time.

Tip Number 2: Know what is your hair type and have it in mind when shopping for your best flat iron for curly hair

This is very important info to have on the top of your head while choosing the best flat iron for your curly hair, right?

I say this, because when I bought my first flat iron, I just wanted a flat iron and I didn’t know that having a hair straightener that was specific for my hair type would:

  • Reduce hair damage;
  • leave it healthier with a more beautiful texture;
  • save me time during the styling process.

I can explain why this is so important. Firstly ask yourself the following questions: Do I have voluminous, long, short, thin, thick hair?

  • Long Hair or voluminous hair (thin of thick): If you have long hair give preference to larger plates, because it will save tons of time. By saving time, you get less tired, having the strength to perform a better straightening on yourself for less time.
  • Short Hair: You surely need a thinner plate, or a normal plate that will do a great job 
  • Thin hair: If you have thin hair, chances are that you won’t need too much heat to have it straight. In this case, opt for ceramic flat irons that have low unique or multiple heat temperatures.
  • Thick hair: Thick hair that  is more difficult to manage can use ceramic or titanium flat irons. A good ceramic flat iron is more recommended and the titanium might cause more damage, even though the second can sometimes provide a quicker and more effective straight that lasts longer.  

Tip Number 3: Choosing Multiple Heating Settings Vs Fixed Heating Settings, What is best?

There are two types of hair straighteners. The ones with multiple heating settings that you can personally choose and the ones with fixed heating settings.

In my opinion, the fixed heating setting can be very handy, especially nowadays that there are flat irons with adjustable technology that adapts the heat according to your hair type.

I don’t know exactly how they do it, but it is said that these particular flat irons will release a heat that is not going to harm your hair.

The GHD for example is the one that I used and has that type of technology. In my opinion, I prefer this, because as I am not a hair stylist, I just stay on the safe side.

My GHD hair straightener has been working pretty well for so long. 

If you want to go with fixed heating settings, just make sure you get a flat iron that is appropriated for your hair type.

For example in my case, I use the ceramic flat iron with large plates that allows me to do my styling way quicker and more comfortable.

As the manufacturer knows that this type of plate is indicated for curly, long hair, and is normally voluminous, they obviously will carry on heat features for this type of hair.

If you aim to go to multiple settings, make sure to consult a professional hairdresser, so they can tell you exactly what type of flat iron will be the best for your hair.

It is important to request personalised professional advice in this case and not to rely only on the material you find online or in books.

This is because an experienced hairdresser will feel your hair texture and identify the particular needs of your hair.

Any ways we are gonna share here a quick reference table so you can have more or less an idea of what temperature you could go for, depending on your hair type:

Choosing Your Flat Iron Temperature: Table For Quick Reference

Hair Type

Temperature

Fine hair / Chemically Treated Hair

300° Degrees or less

Healthy hair with intermediate texture

300 to 380° Degrees

Curly Hair / Thick Hair 

350 to 450° Degrees

 

Source: UltaBeauty.Com

Tip Number 4: Check For Heating Technology And The Plate Material

You are probably asking what is heating technology, how do I identify it on a flat iron and why this is a good thing?

Hold on because we are gonna answer your questions right now. But before that, I am gonna ask you one thing.

Have you ever seen someone, or maybe it has happened to you that in the front the hair looks really straight, but when the person turns around there might be wavy or parts that didn’t get straightened very well? 

Well, we all have seen this and it has even happened to me when I straighten my hair myself, because on the back, it is difficult to look at what we are going, right?

Depending on the plate material, there can be a heating technology that’s gonna help us with that.

The flat iron can have a ceramic plate, tourmaline plate or titanium plate for example and these plates carry different heat technologies.

There is also the situation where the plate will conduct less heat such as ceramic which is going to be less damaging and is appropriated to all hair types.

You can still find a situation where your hair is more difficult to tame and depending on the occasion you might need more heat to get it super glossy and straight.

In this last case, a heating technology from a titanium flat iron is more suitable for a particular event you want to attend.

Maybe your hair is dry, then it could be interesting to have a tourmaline ceramic flat iron that contains ions that matches your hair natural ions resulting in a shinier and moisturised hair look.

If you suffer from frizz, perhaps you might want flat irons that releases ions, resulting in a frizz free look.

Let’s take a closer look at the common types of plates that you can find on the shops:

Ceramic Flat Irons

flat irons with ceramic plates have lower thermal transmission than metal plates. This means that it is not going to overheat, which will consequently cause less damage to your hair.

Because of that, ceramic flat irons became very popular once it works really well for all hair types. 

In my opinion, even though people may argue that other metal plates will provide more shine or long-lasting results, there is no reason not to choose ceramic.

This is because ceramic flat irons are going to do a great job even on stubborn hair that is hard to manage.

If you decide to for ceramic plates, it is important to have in mind that there are different types of ceramic plates.

I think the most important information about ceramic plates that you truly pay attention to is to know if the flat iron is coated with several layers of ceramic or just coated with one layer of ceramic.

A flat iron that is coated by a thin layer of ceramic is not as good as those that contains several layers of ceramic.

Normally, flat irons that are coated with a thin layer of ceramic are cheaper and you should explicitly find it explained somewhere in the description that a particular flat iron is coated with ceramic.

In other words, If you find on the product description it is ceramic coated (or something similar), then you should avoid it.

In my opinion, the best flat iron for curly hair should be a ceramic flat iron. There are ceramic flat irons with tourmaline (we are gonna talk about it later) and with ions which can be a good idea to try them on.

The reason I think that the best flat iron for curly hair is ceramic, is because curly hair is very dedicated by nature and needs a more gentle treatment.

Now, having all these being said, I really need to state here that I am not saying that this is not damaging.

As we all know, there is no heating without side effects. What I am saying here is that there are flat irons that are better for curly hair than others.

Tourmaline Flat Irons

I have explained already about Tourmaline Flat irons, but I’m gonna give you a quick recap, in case you forgot or hadn’t seen it yet.

There are tourmaline ceramic flat irons and these ones I think are really interesting.

Tourmaline  is a gemstone that gets processed and transformed into powder that is crushed and infused inside the ceramic plates.

This is going to bring benefits to your hair such as frizz reduction, shine injection, smoothness and hair strands may slide more easily on the plates.

Titanium Flat Irons

Titanium is a strong metal and titanium flat irons provide a more powerful straightening than ceramic flat irons.

Titanium plates get hot more quickly and are more durable than ceramic plates as well, and if you have thin hair, this is going to be a little too much for you as you won’t need such power.

Many 4C curly ladies out there may love the titanium flat iron, but it is important to use it with moderation because they can quickly damage your hair, given the high heat.

I have written a full article comparing titanium flat irons Vs ceramic flat irons, go take a look for more info on that.

Ion Flat Irons

A flat iron that contains ions, is going to mainly take care of your frizz. It will also give a nice bouncing balance to your hair.

I truly believe in the power of ions on the hair to reduce frizz. Even though I have a hair dryer with ions, I personally don’t have a flat iron that contains ions.

So it doesn’t matter if your flat iron has ions, if you have a hair dryer that has ions, it will work fine in the same way.

Tip Number 5: If You Travel A Lot To Different Countries, Remember To Go for Universal Voltage

I like this one a lot, because I really travel a lot and even if you don’t travel a lot, you never know when you will need to do so. 

So go for universal voltage anyways because in case your friends or boyfriend, girlfriend gift you with a surprise trip to another continent, you won’t be caught with short pants.

Tip Number 6: Choose Flat Irons That Heats Up Quickly And Contains Automatic Turn Off Feature

We need flat irons that follow our lifestyle. Who has plenty of time to wait today? LOl OK, Ok, a little exaggerated, but deep inside you might agree with me.

Also, if you forget your hair straightener on, you want to have peace of mind that it won’t burn your  house, right?

Thankfully, most flat irons are very smart and you can find tools that will fully heat up after 20 seconds, and turn itself off after 30 seconds of inactivity. 

What Kind Of Flat irons are good for curly hair? Quick List on what to think about while buying a flat iron

Here’s a quick recap just for your reference. Make sure you have these tips in mind while choosing the best flat iron for curly hair:

  1. Look for a lightweight and ergonomic designed flat iron, with swivel cord
  2. Give preference to ceramic plates ( note that ceramic plates are not the same thing as ceramic coat plate)
  3. If you have unruly, curly, thick voluminous hair, go for larger plates
  4. Choose flat irons that heat up quickly
  5. Choose flat irons that has a safety feature that turns off automatically 
  6. If you have thick unruly hair, go for automatic heating setting, and make sure that you find a flat irons that goes up to 450° F
  7. Look for flat irons that claim to deliver even heat distribution. This is important especially if you style your hair yourself, as it will avoid some parts of the hair get styled while some other parts don’t
  8. Buy flat irons that are from reputable brands, always ask for recommendations and read different recommendations online

Best Flat Iron For Curly Hair Conclusion

In this article, we took a look on what the best flat iron for curly hair should look like. We have also brought to you some reviews on great flat irons, that I’m sure you’re gonna find one that you like.

To wrap up this article, I want to once again remind you that heat styling your hair will always bring some side effects, so our task is to really take care of your hair, by providing proper care and using good quality products.

Even though this is not going to eliminate all side effects of heating such as drying your hair and so on, it will allow you to use these tools and still possibilitate your hair to grow healthy.

Remember to read everything that is listed here in this article, because it is packed with useful information that will hopefully help you make a good decision.

If you like this article, please I’d love to ask you to share on your social media with a friend that you know would be interested in this type of guide.

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Before you go I have separated a few articles that you might find interesting, go check them!

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