The 15 Top-Rated, Bestselling Hair Straighteners 'Cosmo' Staff are Using in 2024 (2024)

Working in the beauty industry, I've tested more hair tools than I can even count—but what do I reach for every morning? This cute CHI hair straightener I bought six whole years ago. No, srsly. I've used it multiple times per week, every week for years, and it still leaves my frizzy, 3A curls looking just as sleek and smooth as it did on day one. One of my Cosmo coworkers used the same CHI straightener for ten years, so it's safe to say it's one of the most durable flat irons out there.

While this long-time bestseller doesn't have the bells and whistles that new, high-tech straighteners do (not even adjustable temperature settings), it does feature "floating" 1-inch ceramic plates that offer even heat distribution and uniform pressure as you move from roots to tips. If you're lucky, you can find it at Ulta in a fun, limited-edition colorway like my blue polka-dot print bb—or you can grab it on Amazon in basic black.

• Auto shut-off: No
• Plates material: Ceramic
• Plate size: 1 inch
• Heat settings: 392 degrees

Glowing customer review: "My favorite straightener brand on the market. I am not exaggerating when I say these last years. They are fantastic for travel, easy to heat, and cool down after for portability. My hair is thick and curly, and this straightens effortlessly every single time. It takes time off my morning routine and I can always count on this product. Highly recommend."

Don’t let the light vibrations in this iron surprise you when you clamp down. The oscillating plates encourage your curls and waves to spread out evenly between the plates to help you get the smoothest, most even finish all the way down the length of your hair.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plate material: Ceramic
• Plate size: 1-inch
• Heat settings: 280°F to 450°F

Glowing customer review: "I have always had a problem finding a hair straightener that could actually straighten my hair and take the volume away in my hair since I have very thick and very curly hair—this is the hair straightener I will be using every day. Normally takes me two hours to straighten my hair, and I got it done in one hour. Highly recommend if you have thick and curly hair."

The futuristic Dyson Airstrait is the furthest thing from the wet-to-straight flat iron you fried your hair with during the 2000s. Yes, it too can be used on wet hair, but it uses an entirely different method to take your hair from towel-damp to dry and straight. Instead of traditional hot plates, the Dyson Airstrait uses hot air, allowing it to function as both a smoothing blow dryer and a damage-reducing straightener. It's a pricey tool, but testers (including multiple Cosmo staffers) all agree it's deserving of the hefty price tag since it helps streamline hair routines (no more blow drying before you straighten).

"Frying my hair with a super hot iron is a thing of the past, thanks to Dyson's innovative Airstrait, " says Jasmine Hyman, associate shopping editor. "This device leaves my hair PIN straight and takes just a fraction of the time a typical flatiron would. Plus, it has a bunch of custom temperature settings that dry and style my hair simultaneously—it literally doesn't get better than that!"

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plate material: Uses hot air instead of hot plates
• Plate size: N/A
• Heat settings: 175°F, 230°F, and 285°F

Glowing customer review: I have curly hair and have always hated that I have to blow dry my hair or wait to air dry before using a flat iron. Getting my hair from my natural to straight used to take me 2-3 hours. I can now have my hair from fully wet to dry and straight in about 20 minutes. And, when I want to refresh it after it’s already straight, it’s more like 5-10 minutes. It’s a game changer!"

"The shine and volume I’m able to achieve using this is incredible. I also love that this is not a flat iron, just a really cool blow dryer. I have super fine hair that breaks VERY easily, and since I started using this in place of a flat iron, I’ve noticed significantly less breakage. I know the heat is still damaging,but I use a good heat protectant and my ends are visibly less damaged than they were 6 months ago when I was using a flat iron 1-3 times a week."

As a frizzball who is constantly on the go, I can't imagine life without my little ghd Unplugged Styler. It's hands-down the best cordless straightener I've ever used, and it's my secret to having bouncy bangs and perfectly tousled waves no matter when or where. Yes, ghd straighteners are a tad pricey, but some quick girl math confirms this bb's cost per use makes for a worthwhile splurge in the long run.

I've used this mini flat iron literally everywhere: at work, at the gym, in the car, at my hotel, on set at a photoshoot, in the airplane bathroom, just to name a few. Its lightweight, compact design (and the little carrying case it comes with) makes it easy to toss in your carry-on, gym bag, or work tote. The ceramic-coated plates heat up fast and they're small enough to reach the bed head right at my roots, flick out the ends, and twist unruly pieces into the perfect beach waves.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plate material: Ceramic
• Plate size: 1.25 inches
• Heat setting: 365°F

Glowing customer review: "I can't believe I spent $299 on a flatiron, but it has been worth it!! I LOVE it! I bought it for a trip abroad and was so happy not to have to worry about electrical outlets and adaptors (except to recharge). It works like a charm on my straight bob that has developed some weird waves in recent years. The charge lasts long enough for me to use twice. I wish it lasted longer, but the no-cord convenience is so worth having to recharge it frequently."

What makes this Bondi Boost straightener so special? Its hot plates are ~aloe-infused~ to help boost shine and smooth out frizz. While there isn't much scientific evidence to back these claims (yet), Cosmo beauty staff who have tested Bondi Boost styling tools confirm the ceramic-coated tourmaline plates glide easily through your hair, leaving it feeling incredibly sleek and smooth. They also raved about how the cord is super long and swivels a full 360° so it doesn't get tangled.

"I've already stashed this Bondi Boost flat iron in my travel bag multiple times since I started testing it because it's soooo easy to use," says Beth Gillette, beauty editor. "Whether I wanna smooth my bob haircut, flip out my ends, add bb bends, or do a full flat-iron curl, this compact iron gets it done. And it does all of this without tugging at my precious fine hair or making it frizzy."

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plate material: Aloe-infused, ceramic-coated tourmaline
• Plate size: 1-inch
• Heat settings: 210°F- 480°F

Thick hair + flat-ironing can equal an hour of arm-exhausting, damage-ensuing labor. Enter: this tourmaline-and-ceramic straightening iron with one-and-a-half-inch plates. The wider plates (with softer ceramic heating) help straighten thicker hair types with fewer passes and less heat damage.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plates: Tourmaline and ceramic
• Plate size: 1.5 inches
• Heat settings: 260 to 410 degrees

THE REVIEWS: “It heats up super quickly with several adjustable temperature settings,” writes one reviewer. “It glides through my curly hair quickly, and best of all, my hair stays straight for days—even on hot, humid summer days."

I had blunt bangs for years and this was the *only* flat iron that made it easy to straighten and smooth them without burning my forehead. The plates are just a half of an inch wide, so you can easily maneuver and glide them through shorter, smaller pieces of hair. This one is also great for straightening hairs close to the roots or smoothing short styles, like a sleek Hailey Bieber bob or pixie cut.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plates: Ceramic
• Plate size: .5 inches
• Heat settings: 365 degrees

THE REVIEW: "I have bangs and can't live without the 1/2 inch iron to get them straight as can be," writes a tester. "I would not recommend this iron if you are wanting to do mid-to-long length hair, but for my shoulder length bob and bangs it works like a charm!"

This is hands down my favorite travel-size flat iron. It easily fits in a duffel or carry-on and is ultra lightweight too so don't need to worry about it making your bag weigh a million pounds. While testing, I found the smoothing and straightening results to be comparable with the original BaBylissPRO straightener, which is pretty impressive IMOs since it's legit half the size.

• Auto shut-off: No
• Plates: Titanium/ceramic
• Plate size: .5 inches
• Heat settings: 430 degrees

THE REVIEW: "This iron is small. The plates are approximately 5 inches by a half an inch; however, it is perfect for travel. I have straight thick hair and my ends turn outward—I can use this to turn them under without the need to carry a larger flat iron or curling iron," reads one tester's review.

Okay, even though this straightener doesn't come from a big-name brand, I've personally tested it and can confirm the hype (i.e., 10,000 reviews on Amazon) is legit. It had no issues straightening my curly hair, and, in fact, many reviewers also loved it for its ability to easily straighten coarse, 4b hair without a zillion passes. It's also available in two plate widths—one inch and two inches—depending on how thick your hair is.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plates: Titanium
• Plate size: 1 inch or 2 inches
• Heat settings: 265 to 450 degrees

THE REVIEWS: "I used heat setting 430 and I literally only have to glide the iron like once to get a silky-straight outcome," one reviewer writes. "Highly recommend. The side-by-side picture speaks for itself if you don’t believe me."

Copper is famously known for being an even heat conductor (just ask any cook), which is why I love this flat iron for coarser hair: Its copper-infused plates will straighten hair with fewer passes, which means less heat damage for you. Bonus: The detachable comb also smooths and distributes your coarse hair evenly over the plates, so you’re left with stick-straight hair on the first pass.

1. Auto shut-off: Yes
2. Plates: Copper and ceramic
3. Plate size: 1.5 inches
4. Heat settings: 180 to 455

THE REVIEWS: “I straightened my very coarse, thick hair quicker than I ever have before,” one review writes. “It warms up fast, and the copper plates glide across my hair without snagging.”

This hair straightener is a dream for anyone who's absolutely terrified of destroying their damaged or fine hair with heat tools. It has 30 heat settings (so it's suuuper customizable for fine or damaged hair), and its tourmaline/ceramic combo means your hair gets straighter with fewer passes and less heat. If you don’t want to spend a bunch of money on more heat tools, you truly can’t go wrong with this one.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plates: Tourmaline/Ceramic
• Plate size: 1 inch
• Heat settings: 248 to 455 degrees

THE REVIEWS: “The Infiniti Pro does a great job of straightening my fine, wavy hair,” writes one tester in a review. “I have a short/medium bob, and it leaves my hair smooth and shiny in no time at all! My hair looks like I just came from the salon in just minutes.”

You know when you try to curl your hair with a straightener, and you're left with creases, bumps, and snags? Yeah, that won't be the case with this rounded-edge hair straightener. It's smoothly curved to allow you to clamp, twirl, and twist your hair without crimps, so your flat-iron waves and curls look genuinely good, not just good-for-a-flat-iron good.

• Auto shut-off: Yes
• Plates: Ceramic
• Plate size: 1.25 inches
• Heat settings: 280 to 440 degrees

THE REVIEWS: “My hair is fine and straight, and this tool does a fantastic job putting a little ‘bend’ in my usual blow-dry style,” writes one reviewer. “Very easy to use, and I really like the temperature control feature.”

Neither ceramic nor titanium is necessarily better or worse—it's just that one plate is likely better for your specific hair type. “Ceramic plates are often ‘safest’ for dry, damaged, or fragile hair,” says hairstylist Amy Abramite, adding that these plates, in general, don’t get overly hot, so the overall temperature of ceramic irons stays in a relatively safe range.

The only potential downside? Ceramic usually takes a little longer to heat up. Meanwhile, titanium plates heat up very quickly and can reach higher temperatures than ceramic irons, which is why they’re recommended for thick and curly hair that requires extra heat to get smooth.

But those aren’t the only types of plates out there. Here’s a quick breakdown of the four most common types of plates in a hair straightener:

• Ceramic: Heats evenly and slowly and can be less damaging on fine and fragile hair because it often doesn’t reach high temperatures
• Titanium: Heats very quickly to high temperatures, so it requires fewer passes, making it great for thick, curly, and coarse hair
• Tourmaline: A coating that can be added on top of ceramic plates that heats quickly, adds shine to hair, and is good for all hair types
• Copper: Plates get an even amount of heat very quickly, so it’s suitable for all hair types

All of these will straighten your hair, but the type of plates on the iron you choose should align with your hair type and goals. When in doubt, a tourmaline or copper iron can work for most all hair types, while titanium should be reserved for hair that is hard to straighten.

Before we get into the “best” straightener for damaged hair, you need to know that all hair straighteners can be damaging to some extent, especially with repeated use, so there’s no magical hair straightener that will inflict zero damage on already damaged hair. You’re putting your hair in between two super-hot plates, and if it’s not a good iron, you’re likely going over and over the same piece of hair to flatten it. This can all lead to dryness, split ends, dullness (especially if your hair is color-treated), flyaways, and hair breakage.

Still, there are a few features in a straightener that is best for damaged hair, specifically a hair straightener with ceramic plates, super customizable heat settings, and excellent reviews backing up claims that it really does straighten in one pass, since more passes = more damage, even at low heat, says hairstylist Anthony Dickey. And when you do flat-iron your hair, keep the temp low (under 350 degrees) and dial-up the temp little by little. Final reminder? Always, always use a heat protectant first to help your hair resist some of the damage.

How much money you spend on a hair straightener definitely comes down to preference. Expensive hair tools aren’t necessarily “better;” they often just have more accessories and controls—basically, the difference between a five- and three-star hotel. If you want a tool with unique features (like cordless, “smart” technology, copper and ion-infused plates, etc.), you can expect to pay a bit more.

But if you just want to efficiently straighten your hair on a budget, give it a beachy wave once in a while, or use your hair straightener four times a year max, you can absolutely find an excellent iron for less than $50 (ahem, see the options above).

I wish the only factor to take into account when buying a new hair straightener was the price, but that's really only a fraction of the decision. Of course, the price tag might help you narrow down the selection, but you still gotta decide between all the devices within your budget. So while shopping, remember to:

Consider your hair type and condition.

The best hair straightener will depend on your hair's thickness, texture, length, and condition. Thin, fragile, or damaged hair should stick with flat-irons with lower heat settings. “Hair that's finely textured, or compromised by chemicals, or already damaged may not be able to handle hot temperatures and still remain healthy,” says Abramite, so instead look for a hair straightener with adjustable controls and low-heat options (like 350 to 375 degrees). But hair that’s coarse, curly, and thick will likely need an iron that heats to 400 degrees or higher.

Long hair that takes forever to straighten will appreciate an iron with extra-long and wide (like one-and-a-half or two-inch plates) plates that can fit larger sections of hair to cut down on styling time. But if your hair is short, you’ll maybe prefer a shorter, narrower iron that can get close to the root. Think about what you love and hate about straightening your hair (give me low heat that doesn’t fry my fragile hair all day, pls)—choose your hair straightener based on those parameters.

Compare the features.

If you’re still overwhelmed by the options, look for added features that you’ll actually use, like an auto shut-off if you're always forgetting to unplug it, ion technology for extra shine and silkiness, vibrating plates if your hair is coarse or curly, or floating plates for less tension and breakage. You might have to pay a little more for a tool that has more than just the basics, but hair pros argue that a nice design can really be worth it.

“A well-designed flat iron should close evenly on the hair to prevent pulling or uneven tension,” says Abramite. “It should glide smoothly through the strands and feel comfortable when maneuvering.” So if you try a hair straightener and it snags, pulls, or leaves your hair feeling anything but good on the first try, check the return policy (Sephora and Ulta will always let you return within 30 days, even if the box is opened, but check your Amazon seller before purchasing as they can have varying return policies).

Choose the intended use.

Are you wanting a hair straightener for both straightening your hair and curling it? Are you using it to style bangs or a short pixie cut and need something that can get close to the root? Are you planning on traveling with your hair straightener? These are all questions to ask yourself before clicking that “Place Order” button so you don't end up with a device that doesn't fit your needs.

Because at the end of the day, even the best hair straightener won't do you any good if it doesn't have the shape, design, features, and modes that you're looking for.

• Amy Abramite is a hairstylist and the creative director at Maxine Salon in Chicago, IL. She’s an expert in hair cutting, styling with flat irons and curling irons, and blowouts.
• Anthony Dickey is a hairstylist and the founder of Hair Rules salon in New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Atlanta, GA, and Hair Rules, a line of hair products for every texture. He is known for his ability to work with and enhance all hair textures through haircutting and styling.

Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing haircare stories in print and digital, including the best leave-in conditioners and the best hair-thickening shampoos. Her hair straightener picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.

Sarah Maberry is a commerce writer at Hearst Magazines with over four years of experience researching and writing beauty content, covering topics ranging from red carpet hair trends to anti-frizz hair products. She has tested hundreds of styling products, hot tools, and viral TikTok hair trends on her frizzy, type 3A curls.