More 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.
Revlon Easy Heat Precision Flat Iron for $29: Another entry-level flat iron, this deep-pink model with easy-read temperature settings feels heavier and more expensive than it is. I also loved that it heats up in 30 seconds—one-third the time of most irons in its price category. However, I was surprised how ineffective the 1-inch plates were on my curls, even at the iron's maximum temp of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, my (barely) straightened hair poofed back up again within minutes.
T3 Singlepass Smooth X for $160 and T3 Style Max for $160: The Singlepass Smooth X with its extra-long plates and internal temperature-regulating chip was previously our top pick for fine hair. The Smooth X and its regular-plate-length sibling, the Style Max, were perfectly serviceable irons, though they did require multiple passes on very curly hair. However, my long-term fine-haired tester ended up vastly preferring the GHD Chronox Max over these.
Photograph: DryBar
Drybar Straight Shot Blow-Drying Flat Iron for $179: WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar discovered there's a bit of a learning curve with this air-powered iron (7/10, WIRED Recommends), and that it won't replace her traditional straightening iron any time soon, but it did help her style her wavy hair quickly and at a fraction of the cost of comparable air tools like the Dyson Airstrait (8/10, WIRED Recommends).
Amika the Confidante Moisture Maintenance Titanium Flat Iron for $150: This is an effective titanium iron with a design similar to our Best for Thick Hair pick, the Sutra IR2, right down to its infrared strip. It has a hefty, high-quality feel, and it made short work of curls and frizz. However, the Sutra heats faster and keeps hair smooth longer, and the titanium runner-up, the Kristen Ess 3-in-1 ($68), does a comparable job for less than half the price.
NuMe Megastar X for $189: This matte-black iron with wide 1.75-inch plates looks much like the Amika Confidante and Sutra with its infrared strip, except it has tourmaline ceramic plates instead of titanium. It was great for imparting shine, but it took at least four passes to de-frizz a section of my hair. That may be fine for easy-to-straighten locks, but you might be better off with the T3 SinglePass Smooth X above, since it’s a similar price and offers T3’s proprietary heat precision technology. The T3’s size is also easier to maneuver than the NuMe, since the plates are longer, not wider.
Photograph: Dyson
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