We updated this article in January 2023 to ensure all products researched by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab were in stock and accurately priced.

Whether you have naturally curly hair, waves or even mostly-straight hair, there's nothing quite like the shine and sleekness that comes from smoothing out hair with a straightening iron. The problem: It can be difficult to find the one that's best for your hair type (and budget). That's why each year in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, we evaluate thousands of hair tools, from the best hair dryers to top-tested curling irons and hair-smoothing hair dryer brushes, to find the only ones that are worth your money.

After over 4,914 heat data points measured and 108 swatch expansion measurements taken in our most recent Beauty Lab test, we found the top flat irons and straightening brushes at all price points for every hair type that make easy work of straightening your hair — we even found the best flat irons that can curl your hair, too (just remember to douse hair with heat protectant before using). Based on GH Beauty Lab tests, these are the best hair straighteners you can buy now.

Our top picks:

Below, you can read more about how we evaluate hair straighteners as well as tips for finding the best hair straightener for you, including the best heat settings for your hair type, features to keep in mind (and claims to watch out for) and insight from top stylists on whether titanium or ceramic hair straighteners are better.

CHI

ulta.com

$169.99

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This speed-heating, power-smoothing CHI earned a rare perfect score with GH’s expert evaluators and was by far our top-tested flat iron. In tests, it warmed up to 96% of max temp in 60 seconds, although our pros wish there was an audible tone to indicate when it reaches temperature.

Still, it ranked best in almost all categories, including fully straightening hair and keeping it sleek and frizz-free all day. It also got perfect marks from testers for gliding smoothly through hair and being easy to use, with all commenting on the "noticeable shine" in just one pass. "I really like how fast I was able to style my hair," said one tester, with another saying, "I would buy this product in a heartbeat."

Remington

amazon.com

$19.84

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Though we haven't tested it in the Lab, with over 38,00 reviews on Amazon and an average 4.5-star rating, it's clear people are absolutely obsessed with this flat iron, and it has an astounding amount of great features for an under-$20 hair tool. Floating ceramic plates are coated with titanium for even heating and a silky smooth glide through the hair, and the temperature is adjustable up to 410ºF, so you can tweak it according to your hair type. But at this price, don't expect a ton of longevity from the tool!

HSI Professional

amazon.com

$39.95

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According to Amazon reviewers, this is the best flat iron money can buy (and for under $40!), racking up over 57,000 five-star reviews on Amazon (it's worth checking out the thousands of before and after photos, too). Reviewers say it can press hair silky smooth in one pass, cut down on styling time and is snag-free, but in our Beauty Lab tests, it scored low for ease of use and satisfaction with testers citing the heat dial as "difficult to adjust," plus it took the longest of all irons to heat up — we also found hair didn't remain straight.

CHI

amazon.com

$85.53

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This pick by CHI got high marks across the board in Beauty Lab evaluations, including perfect scores for heating up quickly and creating the desired look. Evaluators found it straightforward and intuitive to use, saying it had “easy-to-use buttons,” “nice cord length, “a noise when it reached the temperature” and especially loved the “simple digital read that reminds you of what hair type is recommended for the temperature you set.”

It’s the shortest-length iron we tested, so while it’s nice and compact, it may not be ideal for super long or thick hair which can benefit from longer or wider plates. It also had a below average score for maintaining straightness after 24 hours exposure to humidity, so if frizz is a primary issue for you, you may want to look elsewhere.

REVLON

amazon.com

$44.99

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Revlon’s super long, 1-inch-wide tool gave lasting straightness to even the longest, thickest hair. It had the widest temp range (180°F to 455°F) in our tests and at 4.9 inches, the longest plate length we tested ("but not too long," said testers) which aided in “making the process quicker,” a pro noted, although it does have a shorter-than-average cord.

It took around a minute to reach 94% of its claimed temperature, but our pros were disappointed that there was no audible tone to indicate when it reaches temperature. It earned the top score for maintaining hair straightness in our technical test, though the lowest score for keeping hair straight, shiny and frizz-free all day long, according to consumer testers, so make sure you use an anti-frizz serum.

Mermade

saksfifthavenue.com

$74.00

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While we haven't Lab-tested this pick, it's a favorite of GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn, who loves just how easy it is to bring when traveling. "I bring it on every trip with me because it’s lightweight and has universal voltage," she says. "It heats up quickly and has a super straightforward design, not to mention how cute it is in pink! It straightens my thick, wavy hair quickly and easily." Malzahn notes that it glides pretty smoothly, but not exceptionally so, so watch out for potential snags or minor pulls when using. We love that the temperature goes all the way down to 265ºF, making it suitable for more fragile hair types.

Remington

amazon.com

$33.83

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This lightweight and bargain-priced Remington delivers smooth strands that stay in place. The tool was the lightest-weight of the winners in our most recent test (0.77 pounds!) and tied for best at maintaining sleekness. “One pass for effective straightening that lasted,” an evaluator said, with another adding hair "felt soft and looked straight with this iron," perfect for even tough-to-manage frizzy hair.

In Lab tests, it heated up to 93% of its claimed temperature in 60 seconds, which is speedy but not as fast as the 15 seconds claimed. Keep in mind it does have a narrow temperature range of 300-450°F, so it might not be suitable for thinner or fragile hair types, and the cord is shorter than average which can make styling cumbersome.

CHI

ulta.com

$199.99

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This innovative iron has four plates: Two flat ones inside and two curved ones outside for versatile styling options. In preliminary Beauty Lab evaluations, Lab evaluators found that the outside plates made adding a slight shape and volume easier. “I’m not skilled in curling my hair with a traditional flat iron, but I could produce lovely soft waves with this one,” said one. “What I like the most is that it glides smoothly over hair, almost seamlessly.” This iron is perfect for when you don’t want your hair to be pin-straight, but if you do prefer a sleeker-pressed style, you might want to opt for a more traditional design.

T3

t3micro.com

$249.00

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This smart flat iron allows you to plug in personal info like hair length and texture to automatically calculate the perfect styling temperature for your hair. "Far too many times, people use a hotter setting than they actually need," our Lab pros say, but with nine temperature settings, this iron has the perfect fit for everyone, meaning you won't scorch even super fine hair. It nabbed top scores for making hair noticeably shiny, with testers noting it "glided effortlessly" through strands without pulling, tugging or creases for a style that "lasted all day long."

Mane Addicts stylist Sabrina Porsche says, "I love T3 because if I am doing a silk press, I know I am getting super straight and shiny results." The iron remembers your settings but also offers instructions for re-touches and manual setup, though testers found the touch screen power and adjustability buttons difficult to use.

ghd

amazon.com

$279.00

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Thanks to rounded edges and a universally convenient 1-inch plate, this flat iron is great for both straightening and curling hair. The plates are super smooth, which means no more snags or broken pieces of hair, even as you curl. In Lab tests, we found that the flat iron heated up the quickest, reaching 99% of its claimed temperature in 30 seconds. It maintained a consistent, steady temperature of 365º to protect hair from excessive heat damage and its technology ensures even heat across the entire plate for even styling, too, however the lack of adjustable temperature may be a turn-off for some (all of our testers noted they wished they could adjust the temperature).

In our Lab tests, it had below average score for maintaining straightness when exposed to humidity for 24 hours, with one tester noting, "my straight hair did not last all day," but it's still favorite of GH editors and several celebrity stylists we interviewed for this article. Porsche says, "I recommend ghd irons for anyone who has natural hair and wants to use the best iron that won't damage your hair with heat."

BaBylissPRO

amazon.com

$159.99

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This iron is our Beauty Lab standard: We use it for various evaluations such as anti-frizz studies. It glides through hair without tugging and is easy to use according to consumer testers, though it does take a bit longer to heat up than other irons. Plus, with over 11,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, it's safe to say people are obsessed with this flat iron from BaBylissPRO.

Because the titanium iron is so thin and the plates go all the way to the edge of the clamp, it's able to nab frizz right at the root of the hair, making this iron perfect for stubborn frizz or super-curly and natural hair. One Amazon reviewer who says she has "very, very curly hair," claims that this flat iron cuts her styling time in half and gets rid of frizz in one pass. Since there's no auto shut-off with this iron, you'll have to remember to unplug it after use for peace of mind.

Amika

sephora.com

$98.00

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This clever hair straightening brush requires absolutely no styling skills to transform your hair into smoother strands, plus it won't sacrifice volume at the root or give hair that crunchy, too-straight look. Don't expect it to get your hair as pin-straight as it might with a traditional straightening iron, though. However, we still recommend using it whenever hair is misbehaving but doesn't need to be stick-straight. We haven't tested it in the Lab, but one of our curly-haired editors said it slashed her straightening time in half.

Dyson

sephora.com

$499.00

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Perfect for travel (or inconveniently placed outlets in the bathroom), this Dyson flat iron can be used cord-free: The brand claims one 70-minute charge grants 30 minutes of cordless styling. Unlike traditional flat irons that have a solid surface, the Dyson's plates are flexible so hair doesn't get squished flat which "left [hair] a bit voluminous like a blowout" and a style that testers said "retained volume," yet "stayed straight and kept its body." It's heavy and bulky, but experts found that “it didn’t seem to matter during use.”

From the operational standpoint, the Dyson excelled: It heated up to 95% of its claimed temperature in 60 seconds and maintained a steady plate temperature for 15 minutes, while the outside surface temperature stays cool to the touch. However, in Lab tests, hair struggled to maintain straightness after 24-hour humidity exposure, and our experts found it pulled and snagged hair more than other irons during styling.

We also consider each iron's weight and size, ease of use, user satisfaction, ability to impart shine and ability smooth hair, plus durability, safety and efficacy. After all of this, we tallied up 4,914 heat data points, 972 survey questions and 108 swatch expansion measurements in our latest test to find the best of the best.