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Home / Straighteners / 4 Best Flat Irons for Thick Hair 2024

4 Best Flat Irons for Thick Hair 2024

best flat irons for thick hair FeaturedWelcome to our guide on the best flat irons for thick hair! Straightening thick, frizzy hair can be a real struggle because of its density and the way heat is distributed. You might have faced challenges like your hair being resistant to heat, which makes it hard to straighten. Plus, frizzy hair tends to act up in humid weather, going back to its wild state. And let’s not forget how much time and effort it takes to straighten thick hair compared to thinner hair types. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we’ll explore flat irons that are perfect for taming thick, frizzy hair, making your styling routine easier and more effective. Let’s find the perfect flat iron to help you achieve sleek, smooth hair in no time!


Top Picks

  • Best for Bone-Straight Hair: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Vented Ionic Flat Iron
  • Most Versatile: CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Hairstyling Iron
  • Most Affordable: Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron
  • Best Versatility: CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1
  • Best Budget: VANESSA PRO

4 Key Considerations for Thick Hair

1. Plate material:

Titanium is best suited for hard-to-manage, thick, and curly hair, especially for individuals with type 3B-3C and 4A curls. It provides quick, efficient styling and durability. Recommended for experienced stylists.

Ceramic flat irons can get just as hot as titanium irons but glide smoother on strands compared to titanium ones. This makes ceramic a better choice for coiled and extremely curly hair (type 4B-4C).

Tourmaline flat irons have the added benefit of controlling frizz compared to ceramic flat irons. They work well for dry hair, including color- or chemically-treated, and curly hair types that are prone to frizz and difficult to style.

2. Frizz control:
Look for ionic technology, if you’re prone to a lot of frizzing.

3. Plate size:

1 3/4″ – 2″ Large plates style faster. But they don’t grip hair well enough to elongate tight curls and get it silky straight. These are not the ideal sizes for type 3 and type 4 hair but works great on wavy or straight long hair (types 1, 2).

1 1/4″ – 1 1/2″ Ideal for thick, coarse, and long wavy or curly hair (types 1, 2 and 3). It provides faster styling.

1″ is suitable for all hair types except for those with very short hair at neck length or shorter. It provides a firmer grip and better control, which is crucial for effectively straightening thick and unruly hair. It offers versatile styling for both curly and straight looks.

3/4″ – 1/2″ works great on neck length or shorter hair. It is better for reaching the roots or edges of the hair, and it is also perfect for precise styling and bangs. Its compact size makes it ideal for travel.

 


1. Best for Bone-Straight Hair
BabylissPro Nano Titanium Vented Ionic Flat Iron

BabylissPro Nano Titanium Vented Ionic Flat Iron Review featured

Price: $160
Available sizes: 0.5”, 1.25”, 1.5”, 1.75”
Material: titanium
Heat range: 300 °F to 450 °F
What we like: high-quality material, fast, bone-straight results
What we don’t like: too harsh for fine hair

Here is a tool that won’t disappoint you if you want your thick hair to be tamed. Babyliss Nano Titanium Vented Ionic Flat Iron has the perfect combination of features that makes this tool optimal for thick hair. It has titanium plates, which are known to heat fast and heat a lot. It also has a very high maximum temperature of 450 °F to maximize the strength of this tool. But be aware, if you have fine hair, this tool is not for you. Its minimum heat setting is 300 °F and is way too high for delicate strands. It comes in 4 different sizes and you will find one that suits you no matter how long or short your hair is. The 0.5” size is a very rare option that not many brands offer and does a wonderful job with pixie and bob cots as it can come very close to the roots. It has led display and digital temperature control which are both very useful features that is very helpful for beginners to ensure precision

It’s important to note that there’s no auto shut-off feature in this tool. This is a good thing if you’re a professional and want your tool to stay on for long periods of time. But for home stylists, this feature is quite important for fire safety. Babyliss Flat Irons are preferred often by professionals, and for good reason. They may not be the easiest and the gentlest in the market, but the deliver the fast and bone-straight results that we all desire. They have top-quality material and sturdy as hell. Of course, there is a price to pay for this quality, $160, to be exact. But in our opinion, it’s worth this price.

Read more: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Vented Ionic Flat Iron Review


2. Most Versatile
CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Hairstyling Iron

CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Hairstyling Iron Review featuredPrice: $110
Available sizes: n/a
Material: tourmaline-infused ceramic
Heat range: 360 °F to 425 °F
What we like: versatile styling and durable material
What we don’t like: no low heat setting for fine hair
Rating: 4.3/5.0

There’s no doubt that CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in1 offers a unique styling experience. It’s a multifunctional tool that doubles as a curling iron while still being able to tame your strands perfectly. It has a multiple heating system that allows you to customize your session. There are 3 different settings to choose from. The “Smooth” setting only heats the inner plates to straighten and smoothen your strands. The “Curl” setting activates the outer curls to create beautiful lock. There is also a third “Smooth and Curl” option that heats both parts in case you want to create waves and texture.

This tool is perfect for thick hair as the inner plates heats up till 425 °F and outer plates till 410F. But be aware, its minimum temperature is 360°F and is far from being gentle enough for fine hair. Ceramic plates add a level of gentleness, but not enough. Tourmaline infusion brings the negative ions that makes sure you eliminate the frizz as much as possible, as well as adding shine. Its 1” barrels are perfect for shoulder length or longer hair but it may not satisfy you if you have shorter hair.

We know that this tool takes some time to get used to but it’s very handy to have. It may cost $110 which is an investment but as it saves you from buying two separate tools, it’s definitely worth its price.

Read more: CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Hairstyling Iron Review


3. Most Affordable:
Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron

Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron Review featured
Price: $29
Available sizes: 1”, 1.5”, 2”
Material: double ceramic-coated plates
Heat range: 266°F to 410°F
What we like: budget-friendly, large plates for long hair
What we don’t like: not very durable
Rating: 4.0/5.0

If you’re seeking for a strong flat iron that can tame your unruly strands, but you don’t want to pay a fortune for it, Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron is perfect for you. It’s the cheapest flat iron on our list but don’t be fooled. This tool has high levels of performance and can tame unruly strands, creating super smooth results. Not only its maximum heat setting of 410 °F is high enough for thick hair, it also comes in many different plate sizes for different hair lengths. It actually offers a 2” sized option, which is the largest available flat iron plate size in the market. On top of that it also has very long plates, actually the longest on our list with 4.73”. We know that the larger the plate gets, it also gets hotter, another reason why this tool is very efficient on thick strands.

Of course, like every affordable tool in the market, it does make a couple of compromises. It’s not as durable as its luxury alternatives and it probably won’t last as long. It’s a lightweight tool and it’s not the sturdiest one we know. It also comes with a short-sized cord of 5 ft which may be frustrating if your mirror is far from your plug. But in terms of value, Conair Double Ceramic is a winner with only $29.

Read more: Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron Review


4.
Hot Tools Purple Ceramic Digital Flat Iron

Hot Tools Purple Ceramic Digital Flat Iron Review featured
Price: $30
Size: 1”, 1.25”
Material: 3 layers of baked ceramic infused with tourmaline
Heat range: 280 °F to 450 °F
What we like: very affordable
What we don’t like: not very sturdy, not fit for fine hair
Rating: 4.1/5.0

Hot Tools’ Purple Ceramic Flat Iron really impresses us when it comes to counting our buck. We think that they put together a solid tool. Its plates are 3 layers of baked ceramic infused with tourmaline. It not only creates frizz-free results; it also does this while being gentle on the strands. It’s a great flat iron for everyday use, especially if you have thick hair. Its maximum heat setting is 450 °F, which can tame the unruliest strands without a problem. We recommend you to be careful though, in case you have fine hair as its minimum temperature is not low enough for all hair types. It comes with the most convenient two size options in the market and either 1” or 1.25” will fit your hair length.

Its price is only $30 and is one of the cheapest flat irons on our list. This tool has seriously great value for money and if you’re in the hunt for a budget tool, it might be the perfect option for you. In testing Hot Tools, it was interesting to find out how many features it has in common with Conair Double Ceramic, from the heat range to their price and even their ceramic plates. What is their difference? Most notably, while Hot Tools is more durable and sturdier than Conair, Conair comes with extraordinarily large plates that makes things much faster for longer hair types. Hot Tools also comes with tourmaline which brings in the frizz-free element. So, it’s a close call and the decision will be mostly about your hair length and how versatile you want your flat iron to be.

Read more: Hot Tools Purple Ceramic Digital Flat Iron Review

You may also like: Bio Ionic OnePass Styling Iron

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