13 Best Flat Irons for Natural Hair, According to Pros

This red hot CHI iron received a rare perfect score in GH Beauty Lab testing for heating up super quickly and keeping hair smooth and frizz-free all day. Plus, it didn't pull or snag strands, was comfortable and easy to hold and use, and has a wide temperature range (which Hardges notes is key for natural hair). 

With lightweight, long plates and an easily adjustable temperature range, this GH Beauty Lab test-winning budget-friendly iron from Remington is a triple threat. It also has a lock button to make sure you keep the heat consistent. "The temperature lock was great so that you couldn't accidentally hit during use," an expert evaluator noted. "One pass effectively straightened hair with results that lasted." 

Titanium flat irons are best for a silk press, Hardges says. "The titanium plates create a great level of shine and straighten hair with a single pass," she notes. This one from BaBylissPRO heats up super quickly and has a wide, adjustable range of temperatures. 

"You have the option of controlling the heat which is great and the cord seems to be pretty long which is always a plus," Amazon reviewer shared. "It left my hair super straight in no time!" This iron is also our Beauty Lab standard: We use it for anti-frizz studies, and it's an expert favorite for gliding through hair without snagging. 

Though we haven't put this model to the test in the Beauty Lab, Hardges loves this Amika iron for 4C curls because she says "the infrared lights make for more gentle distribution of heat, which is ideal for highly sensitive 4C hair." It "also has a wide range of heat settings for use on all hair types, has an automatic shut-off, and locks closed," an Amazon reviewer raved.

Conair's steam flat iron claims to lock moisture into strands every time you swipe and steam is released. While we haven't tested these claims in the Beauty Lab, reviewers swear by this iron: "I was afraid of damage and agree with the other reviewers who've found this iron to impart a healthy gloss to hair rather than frying it," an Amazon reviewer shared.

Coarse hair tends to hold heat and can become scorched, but this T3 flat iron is optimal for preventing damage: It has nine unique heat settings, and for personalized styling, you can input information like hair length and texture to find the best styling temperature for your hair. Hardges is a big fan of the technology, as it "ensures even heating." 

Ulta reviewers agree and love how fast it works, even on thick hair. "After one swipe my hair was smooth, no burning smell and still pretty shiny," a user said. "I was able to straighten my hair rather quickly without having to go over it numerous times."

The extra long plates on this Revlon straightener have greater surface area, so it can straighten larger sections of hair in one pass. Translation: it can help speed up the straightening process especially for longer hair. Win, win! While our technical Beauty Lab test revealed that it kept hair straight, it didn't get a high score for minimizing frizz all day, so you may want to add an anti-frizz styling product into your routine before ironing. 

When straightening hair edges, Hardges recommends looking for a flat iron that's small and narrow. "FHI Heat's half-inch flat iron is optimal for smoothing edges and short tapered haircuts," she says. "And the ceramic plates deliver a more gentle heating method for fine hair."

Some people with thick, coarse hair struggle with straightening every strand, no matter how small the section. This BaByliss PRO iron with teeth "grabs every hair with the comb and straightens it all out," an Amazon reviewer reported. Despite its high heat capabilities, reviewers say it isn't damaging on hair, though we haven't tested this in the Beauty Lab. "Even though I straighten my hair so often, my hair is still super soft and healthy," another commented. 

We haven't tested this model in the Beauty Lab, but Hardges is a big fan of Hairart's iron and its super smooth plates. "Thanks to ceramic and tourmaline blend technology, the heat stays even and is less damaging, " she says. "It leaves strands with incredible shine." 

This cult-favorite ghd flat iron is ideal for protecting damaged strands, since it holds a steady temperature of 365ºF to protect hair from excessive heat. ghd's predictive technology makes for even heat distribution across the entire plate: The brand claims heat is monitored 250 times per second. The edges are curved so you can curl and flip hair's ends as well as straightening. In the Lab, it heated up in 30 seconds flat, but one caveat: 365º may not be hot enough to get coarse, thick, or kinky hair totally straight. 

Multiple Ulta reviewers agree that this compact-sized classic CHI iron lasts for years. One shared that "the same straightener will still work 15 years later," while another one said: "I've had this straightener for 14-15 years and it still works so amazing." It also straightens all hair types and its smaller silhouette makes it great for travel.

With over 54,000 reviews on Amazon, this HSI Professional iron is a best-seller for good reason: Reviewers say it's efficient, keeps hair healthy, and is a true multi-tasker for all hair types."I did not need to pass through the hair many times, only ran through twice and hair was left straight and shiny," one reviewer shared. "It also curls effortlessly." 

Another user commented that she "loves the extended cord and the rapid heat up; hair glides smoothly and doesn’t snag," but heads up that in GH Beauty Lab tests, it didn't do as well: Testers rated it poorly for ease of use and satisfaction, and in Lab tests, it had a long pre-heat and it didn't keep swatches straight in humidity tests.