Best Flat Irons For 2023: Top 5 Straighteners Most Recommended By Hair Experts - Study Finds
Curly, wavy, frizzy hair doesn’t have to stay that way with all the top-notch tools currently available to smooth it out. With so many hair straighteners available to tame your tresses, StudyFinds helps narrow down your search by finding the best of the best flat irons on the market. They aren’t harmful to your health either, unlike chemical straighteners.
As one study points out: Women who use chemicals to straighten their hair may be doubling their risk for a rare form of cancer. Researchers with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) said they have found a link between these hair chemicals and higher rates of uterine cancer among women. The results come from an analysis of 33,497 women throughout the United States who were taking part in the Sister Study. All participants were between the ages of 35 and 47 and scientists kept track of their health for roughly 11 years. During that time, there were 378 cases of uterine cancer.
The team found that women who reported using hair straightening chemicals frequently (at least four times per year) saw their cancer risk more than double compared to women who didn’t use those chemicals.
Using heat to achieve slick, silky locks is a healthy alternative to using chemicals. All hair straighteners work by heating the hair using metal plates. This causes the hydrogen bonds in the hair to break (a process that also takes place when the hair is wet). The straightening tool then passes over the hair, holding it in a new, flat position.
Whether going for 60s, ‘down-to-there’ festival hair, or ironing out a few strays, straighteners offer low maintenance versatility. They’re a fabulous tool for those wanting to mix up their look. And that option, no matter the era, never goes out of style.
A recent study found that millennials are much more willing to experiment with their hair than the generation that came before them. The poll of 1,000 millennial women (ages 25-40) and 1,000 Gen X women (ages 41-56), asked both groups about how their hairstyles have evolved over time. While the average Gen Xer has only tried six different hairstyles over the years, the average millennial has already tried eight new looks. One in four women say they wouldn’t want to wear the same hairstyle they did ten years ago in 2011.
To guide you in your pursuit of the perfect smoothing hot tool, Study Finds researched 10 expert websites to create a list of the five best flat irons. The list is based on the products that appeared most often across these lists. Do you have any products to add to our list? Please let us know in the comments.
The List: Best Flat Irons, According To Hair Experts
1. GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance Styler
Described by New York Magazine as the easiest, quickest, most foolproof way of creating soft waves, this flat iron is an investment. It’s reasonably lightweight and the swivel cord allows you to reach hard-to-style sections (mainly the back) as well as your mirror from across the room.
“GHD stylers don’t burn my hair to a crisp, even if I’ve used them a few days in a row,” notes one review. Sleek, stylish and professional, GHD may as well stand for gorgeous hair day. One pass is all you need for a smooth finish while still maintaining body and movement.
2. Dyson Corrale
Building on its knowledge from their Supersonic hair dryer, and the AirWrap styling tool, the Corrale combines Dyson’s Intelligent Heat Control technology with new patented “flexing plates.”
Whereas traditional straighteners combine heat and tension to straighten the hair, the flexing plates of this straightener mould to shape and gather the hair. In theory, this gives the user better styling control without relying solely on heat. Since the plates adapt to the hair, they apply tension more evenly. That means it takes less time to achieve stick straight hair since you don’t have to repeatedly run them over the same strand multiple times for the desired effect.
This greater control and a lower reliance on heat means that damage is reportedly reduced by half, according to Dyson’s claims, compared to standard straighteners.
3. BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightener
The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium shows up on nearly all “best hair straightener” or “best flat iron” lists. And it won’t break the bank. This elongated tool comes in three skinny sizes that work exceptionally well for curly hair. The lengthier head is also great for styling long mermaid lengths in half the time.
The titanium plates are impressive heat conductors and can stabilize and transfer heat quickly.
With 50 different heat settings ranging from 200 to 450 degrees, curly and frizzy-haired people can experiment with different temperatures to find what works for their hair type. This is especially helpful for coarse hair, which requires more styling options than just cranking the heat up. Mashable cautions it may be a bit too intense though to use daily if you have finer hair.
4. T3 Lucea ID Straightener
T3 engineered this tool with nine distinct heat settings, allowing it to work wonders for every hair type. The ceramic plates help boost shine—no dull, dry finish here—whether you’re touching up pre-styled hair or coercing curls into straight locks, this iron will work for you.
Most hot hair tools claim to cause less damage than the competition, but the T3 actually delivers with a unique temperature-finding feature the company calls HeatID Technology. To set the right temperature, select your hair features via the touch controls on the iron’s handle: texture (fine, medium, coarse), length (short, medium, long), and if your hair is color-treated. It will then suggest a heat level.
5. Harry Josh Pro Tools Ceramic Flat Styling Iron 1.25-Inch
Marie Claire lends serious star cred to this flat iron by mentioning the hairstylists of Chrissy Teigen, Jourdan Dunn, and Olivia Palermo swear by this nano-ceramic, tourmaline flat iron for shiny waves and evenly straightened hair. It’s incredibly gentle for those with fragile strands, from color-treated to fine.
SOURCES:
- Allure
- Expert Reviews
- Forbes
- Good Housekeeping
- Marie Claire
- NBC
- New York Magazine
- Woman&Home
- Wired
- Vogue
