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Tech has been tech-ing the past few years, as I’ve seen an influx of cool new options, like hot-air tools, multiple barrel systems, and automatic rotating features that help me get any type of curls or waves you want. Of course, I tested ‘em all for you and compiled my favorites. But to help you figure out which hot tool best suits your needs, I enlisted the help of four hairstylists ( Tamika Gibson, Priscilla Valles, Joseph Maine, and Amy Abramite) for all the details on choosing the best curling iron for you: What to look for in a curling iron, what works best for your hair, and even what size barrel creates the hairstyle you want. As a great writer does, I went in to this with zero research, with no user manual in sight. I know, I'm so good at my job. As such, I had no expectations. I turned on the slightly chunkier-than-average hair straightener-lookalike and was greeted by the sound of a small jet engine. Interesting. If Rachel Green circa Friends is forever your icon and you're looking for the best hair straighteners, you've come to the right place. Hair Straightener and Curler 2 in 1】Curl, wave or straighten your hair with one tool! The Pro 1" Multi-Styler with Twist & Curl Technology features unique twisted & curved & round plates that guide hair to set bouncy curls, beach waves, or straight styles 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.
And the worst thing you can do? “Don’t clamp your straighteners down at the root,” warns Ky. “Instead, gradually close the plates as you’re pulling down the hair and make sure there’s no angle, as this will give your hair an indent that's hard to get out.” Why we love it: Taking a break from chemical formulas from time to time should be a no brainer – hair care included, and this L'Oréal straightener is as close as we'll ever get to naturally straightening your hair. This steam hair straightener, which promises soft, shiny and velvety hair, comes with a little pod, which you fill with water to steam your hair straight – and it totally works. Styling with less heat damage, it's unique and innovative, coming with a built-in brush which results in a style which lasts all day long. Hair feels shinier and softer after use, and the steam makes your hair feel more hydrated. So good that it'll save you money on heat protection sprays too.
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The more customization, the better, but at the very least, you want an adjustable heat dial on your flat iron. “Making sure that you are able to customize the heat is very important,” Lopez says. “ Not everyone can use a certain heat level, meaning some hair types do have to dip lower than most when they are flat ironing their hair, especially, for example, natural hair that’s very delicate around the hairline that’s been heat-styled often.” Heating element One thing about me: I am obsessed with hot tools. The heat-styling fixation began in middle school, and since then, my natural hair has never seen the light of day. Under my bed (lol, New York), you can find hair straighteners, hot rollers, crimpers, Dyson Airwrap attachments—and plenty of Airwrap dupes—, as well as various sizes of curling irons and wands. Basically, I know my hot tools. The funny thing is, I actually have naturally curly hair, but my god-given curls simply don't compare to the beach waves , ringlets, soft “Hollywood glamour”-style curls, and model-off duty piecey crimps that can be achieved with a good curling iron. Yes, you can't really create anything else but poker-straight strands ( mermaid waves and tight curls are sadly out of the question) but it really does what it says on the tin. I'd never seen my hair this healthy-looking after using a hair tool. Considering most hair straighteners range from between 190°C-210°C, and this device is set at 150°C (with the plates themselves coming in at 120°C), I was surprised to find I didn't have to re-style my hair at any point in between my next wash day. It really did live up to its frizz-free claims.
Next, you want to decide if you want a classic curling iron with a spring clamp, a marcel iron, or a curling wand. Not only does the type of curling iron change the way you hold and maneuver it, but it also affects the end results of your curls. “I love a curling wand for a beachy, messy look, and the iron for a perfect curl shape and hold.” says Tamika Gibson, hairstylist and wig expert. “A wand is great for looser curls but doesn't give the same hold or structure as an iron." Of all the curling irons and wands I’ve tested, my favorite is the Conair Double Ceramic 1-inch Curling Wand for how long my curls last and how simple it is to use. When it comes to heat, Lopez says you want a flat iron that has even, consistent heat distribution across the entire plate (no hot spots). Lopez also suggests looking for a flat iron that emits negative ions, which help with static and create a shinier, smoother, more reflective surface on the hair. Design Instead of purchasing a bajillion different tools to create all your lewks (or filling your suitcase), just grab this interchangeable ceramic-coated curling iron set. It includes a spring-clamp barrel, a clampless wand barrel, and a triple barrel for perfect S-shaped beach waves, and was actually created by hairstylist Joseph Maine. One small detail that might sound like NBD but makes the biggest difference, IMO: The temperature dial is on the far end of the handle, rather than right underneath the clamp (the usual spot for it), so it’s out of the way and won’t accidentally get bumped and change your settings. It's the little things, y'all. From travel options to steam pods, to coconut oil-infused plates, we've covered all bases because if you've had the same irons since your teenage years, tech has come a long way since then. Keep scrolling to find our winners. Which hair straighteners are best for damaged hair? We've reviewed a bunch of the UK's top-rated straighteners (including ghd, BaByliss, L'Oreal Professional, T3 and Dyson) to compile a definitive ranking of the very best hair irons to invest in, whatever your budget.
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For the most accurate temperature reading, find a curling iron or wand with a digital screen (see: Kim Kimble Tourmaline Ceramic Multi-Barrel Auto-Rotating Curling Iron and the Trademark Mood Starter Kit). Otherwise, a dial or toggle button works, too—it's just less precise. Just make sure you have the option to adjust the temperature as needed. Hairstylist Amy Abramite says you always want to take into consideration the overall condition of your hair and adjust the heat for the safest, healthiest results. Start low and raise the temp in small increments until you've found the sweet-spot that styles without scorching. FYI: We updated this article in June 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on mini flat irons, including our editors' favorites and a guide on how to choose the best mini flat iron for yourself, according to a hairstylist. To reap the benefits of your new straighteners, Ky Wilson founder of The Social and ambassador for BaByliss suggests blow-drying first (you can find our fave hairdryers here, btw) using a good heat protector. Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She's an expert at writing hair stories that range from curl creams to sulfate-free shampoos. She's an authority in all haircare categories, but an expert when it comes to straightening products, thanks to a lifetime of trying every hair-straightening product she can get her hands on. She regularly tests and analyzes them, while working with the industry’s top hairstylists to assess new products and brands.
But before we get into the key qualities, as well as 13 of the best flat irons for natural hair, now's the time to remind you just how crucial the right styling products and heat protectants are for avoiding damage when heat styling. Before you even think about blow-drying your hair, apply a moisturizing hair serum (Taylor recommends the So Shear Genius Satin Shield) to prep your strands first. After your hair is dry, Lopez recommends using an aerosol heat protectant that has a starch to it, like Kenra Professional Platinum Heat Cast Spray 12, for style longevity. If you want a curling iron that will get you through a “ bus, club, another club, another club, plane, next place” kind of night, look no further than this ceramic curling iron set. No, seriously, it's gotten me through at least six bachelorette parties because it comes with three different barrels (0.5 in., 1.25 in., and 1.5 in.) depending on the ~vibe~ I’m going for that day/night. It has five heat settings and comes with a detachable barrel that you can switch out with two other sizes, whether you want tighter ringlets or loose, tousled waves. Don’t just take my word for it: Both Gibson and celebrity extensionist Priscilla Valles swear by T3 curling irons for how well the curls last. “The next day when I wake up, my hair looks exactly the same,” Valles says. Why we love it: If you're looking for ground-breaking technology – Dyson is your go-to. Not only has the brand revolutionised the haircare market by applying its trailblazing vacuum know-how to curling wands and hair dryers (Dyson Airwrap, anyone?), but they've also made a sideways jump into heat styling.We're not being dramatic when we say that finding 'the one' will make a huge difference to your daily routine. We're talking no more frazzled lengths, no more static flyaways and best of all, no more split ends. And if you live in fear of anything oil-based touching your already-oily hair, Rubenstein says to "avoid products with heavy oil ingredients like coconut, almond, or avocado oils, to name a few." But she says that as long as the product is far enough from your scalp (which is what's really causing the oiliness) in just the length of your hair, you should be able to use most of these straightening creams. But if you have dry hair? "Keratin, rich oils, and ingredients with hydrating properties are important," says Rubenstein. Or mix 'em all together, like in Ouai's Finishing Crème. Look at the formula The best bit? My hair didn't smell like it been set on fire (those loyal to their hair straighteners will know exactly what I'm talking about) and I could even smell faint notes of the shampoo I'd used. Further proof that this really might not be detrimentally damaging to hair health. Prevent Hair Damage】With anti-static, ceramic, tourmaline ionic and smooth glide coated plates, the hair straightener delivers 4x more protection, extra shine and less static (*VS standard ceramic coating)
ghd claims that their unique 'Air-fusion' tech (sounds science-y, right?) allows for ultra concentrated airflow to effectively dry and straighten hair at a lower temperature. Thus, avoiding stripping the hair of its natural moisture and minimising damage.
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There's never been a better excuse to ditch your old – probably super damaging – hair straighteners for some swishy new ones. If you like to flat iron your type-4 hair on occasion and want to minimize the possibility of, you know, extreme heat damage, you need to find the right flat iron for natural hair. But if you've been burned by a poor-quality hair straightener before (I mean that both ways), you know that finding the right styling tools for your hair type, texture, length, and budget isn't easy. What works for your friend's 3b hair might not work for your 4c hair, so you want to make sure you find a straightener that's equipped with all the features to suit your hair needs and mitigate the damage. And to help you make the right choice, we turned to celeb hairstylists Annagjid "Kee" Taylor and David Lopez to explain exactly what to look for in a flat iron. After more hair content? Head this way for the best hair dryers, in this direction for travel hair dryers to take on your next weekend break and over here for curling wands. We've also got the best hot rollers, sleep in rollers, best hot brushes and air stylers, as well as the best ghd hair straighteners, best hair curlers and tongs and the best shampoos and conditioners.
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