Compare Our Top 10 Hair Straighteners
Other Straighteners We Tried
Photograph: Kat Merck
Paul Mitchell Neuro Style+ for $150: The latest in Paul Mitchell’s lineup of otherwise standout hair straighteners, this ceramic iron with Paul Mitchell’s new NeutraHeat temperature-regulating technology goes up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and has dual voltage for travel. However, the body feels weirdly cheap and lightweight compared with older Paul Mitchell models, it took over a minute to heat up, and it was not especially effective on my curly hair.
RevAir Reverse Air Dryer for $459: Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano absolutely loved the vacuumlike RevAir, declaring it faster than a blow-dry brush. However, she did not find that it gave her curls the same silky-straight finish as a straightening iron, so those with stubborn curls will still need to use one afterward. I will also note that the RevAir is similar in price to our top air-powered pick, the Dyson Airstrait, but much bulkier to store.
Photograph: Kat Merck
Vibrastrait Pro Vibrating Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron for $139: Like the Drybar Reserve, above, this is another excellent vibrating straightening iron that runs up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. I admit I was initially skeptical of the vibrating technology's effectiveness, but I ended up being impressed by how quickly it smoothed my frizz. I'm not sure I necessarily noticed less damage over several weeks of testing, but I definitely would not hesitate to recommend this iron to anyone curious about vibrating flat irons. I tested the 1-inch, but it also comes in a 1.75-inch size.
GHD Duet Style for $429: The GHD Duet Style looks very much like a large flat iron, except that hot air vents are on the center of each arm to dry your wet hair with a single pass. You can stop there, or, if you want to add extra shine, you can switch the Duet Style to Shine Shot Mode. This turns off the air and turns on two thin ceramic plates, thus transforming the Duet Style into a traditional hot-plate straightener. In my time testing the Duet Style, the Wet mode was more than enough to create poker straight styles. The hot plates are what sets the Duet Style apart from the Airstrait, which by comparison only uses hot air, but in terms of usage and design they produce the same outcome. This means your choice will likely come down to price, or brand loyalty. —Victoria Woollaston-Webber
Photograph: Kat Merck
Conair InfinitiPro for $30: This was former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano’s favorite low-cost hair straightener, and I agree that it checks a surprising number of boxes for the price. It has tourmaline ceramic plates, heats up to an impressive 455 degrees Fahrenheit, and also boasts an encyclopedic 30 heat settings accessible via a small dial on the side. It’s also got a generous five-year warranty. However, it still took multiple passes at max temperature to smooth my blow-dried frizz, which had me worrying a bit near the end of my trial about my hair health, and the iron's 6-ounce body—half the weight of a pricier iron—felt pretty flimsy. It also took significantly longer to heat up than the 15-second claim on the box.
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