A deep look at Drybar’s luxury flat iron that promises the highest quality results
Drybar The Tress Press Straightening Iron
Price: $170
Available Sizes: 1”, 1.25”
For Which Hair Type: Medium To Thick Hair
What We Like: Tames Thick Hair Fast And Effective
What We Don’t Like: Overpriced
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Drybar is a brand famous with its luxury tools. They’re not cheap but the results are usually highly satisfying. We had to test its flat iron to make sure if it’s up to their standards.
Every home stylist has different needs when it comes to straightening tools. If what you need is a very fast and effective tool that provides super sleek results, and if you don’t mind paying a high price for it, Drybar Tress Press may be the right tool for you.
It has titanium plates which is known to be the strongest and fastest material. It heats up fast and reaches higher temperatures as well as preserving them. It’s not the best for fine hair as it’s harder to manage with its speed and high heat. So, if you have thick hair, this iron is highly recommended, but we can’t say the same for fragile strands.
It has a maximum temperature of 450°F which also makes it very effective on unruly hair.
It costs $170 and obviously not the most affordable flat iron in the market. It’s true that it’s a bit overpriced but its material quality compensates for it. Below we share our experiences with Drybar The Tress Press.
You may also like: Best Titanium Flat Irons
Table Of Contents
- Shape And Size
- Heat And Variable Settings
- Material And Performance
- Ergonomics
- Price And Guarantee
- Competition
Shape And Size
Flat irons can differ a lot when it comes to plate size and it’s one of the most important aspects to consider if you want perfect results. Drybar The Tress Press comes in two different sizes.
First one is 1” and is considered medium-sized. It’s the most versatile as well as the most common size in the market. If your hair is medium length and thickness, this size is definitely for you.
If you have long and thick hair on the other hand, the larger 1.25” is the one you may want to choose.
If your hair is very short, we recommend to consider another brand with smaller plates.
There are many others on our list such as FHI Platform Signature that has super slim plates with 0.5” and it delivers the best results on pixie and bob cuts.
The length of its plates is 3.54” which is one of the shortest numbers on our list. This may also affect the speed of your session as shorter plates can cover less area at one pass. But we can say that with its titanium plates, Drybar is a fast enough flat iron.
It has the classically shaped plates with rounded edges, which helps a lot when it comes to creating perfect curls and beach waves.
It also comes with multi-directional floating plates that keep perfect contact with hair at all times. This is a great feature that not all flat irons offer and really affects the speed and quality of your session.
Size of the tool is 10.7”, which is below average and we can say that this is a quite compact tool.
Heat And Variable Settings
Every hair type needs different temperatures to tame. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a tool with variable heat settings. Drybar Tress Press heats up till 450°F and is perfect for thick and stubborn hair. But the low setting is not very low and combined with its titanium plates, this tool is not the best for fine hair.
If you have fine hair and want a gentler tool, one with low heat settings and ceramic material would be ideal. We can recommend FHI Platform Signature Pro Styler which has a minimum temperature as low as 140°F as well as 3 layers of baked ceramic plates, or Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve which has titanium-infused ceramic plates.
The heat of its handle is 190°F and is slightly too hot to touch for long periods of time. But should be okey as long as you don’t have sensitive hands. The back of its plates on the other hand, gets extremely hot with 203°F and this tool should be used with caution.
It doesn’t have any audible warning but it has auto shut-off which means the tool turns off automatically after 60 minutes. This feature makes this tool safer as a hot flat iron can start a fire.
It has led screen and digital temperature control which allow you to find the perfect temperature for your strands.
Material And Performance
Drybar The Tress Press has titanium plates. This material is considered to be the fastest one available. It heats up very fast and recovers its temperature very quick. It’s important to note that titanium plates are riskier, especially for fine hair as they can overheat fast. If you’re a beginner and not sure how to use your flat iron correctly, they have the capacity burn your hair in seconds. But if you’re an experienced stylist and want the quickest and most effective results, especially if you have thick and unruly hair, this material is for you. Fragile strands may want to opt for a tool with ceramic plates. There are many in the market that will satisfy your needs such as Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron.
Like all Drybar products, The Tress Press is a luxury tool with high-quality material. It’s not the most affordable flat iron in the market but it compensates with its material quality. It’s very sturdy to hold and will last you for many years.
Ergonomics
Drybar The Tress Press weighs 8.6oz which is a below-average number considering that flat irons can get very heavy, as much as 13.4oz (Babylisspro Nano Titanium Prima3000 1¼” Ionic Straightener). 8.6 oz is easy to hold and carry for longer periods and it most likely wouldn’t cause arm fatigue.
Diameter of its handle is 4.4” and its average sized. It would fit most hands, as long as they’re not very small.
It has a 9ft cord which is one of the largest sizes in the market. It comes handy if your plug is far from your mirror. It’s also swivel which makes things much easier if you want to curl your hair.
It has dual voltage that allows you to use it anywhere in the world in case you would like to travel with your flat iron.
We can easily say that it’s an ergonomically designed tool and is very comfortable to hold.
Price And Guarantee
Drybar Tress Press is considered to be e luxury tool rather than being budget-friendly. It costs $170 and is an investment. It’s true that it has high-quality material and it brings very fast and affective results. But we have to say that it’s a bit overpriced since it doesn’t fit every hair type and is a bit harsh on the strands. Tymo Sway is another Flat Iron that has similar qualities with Drybar but costs only $70. It may not be as durable but it’s something to think about if you don’t have the budget for Drybar.
This tool comes with a 2-year limited guarantee which is the average number amongst hot hair tools.
Competition
Tymo Sway, as we mentioned above, is a much more affordable alternative of Drybar Tress Press with only $70. It also comes with titanium plates which makes it appealing for thick and stubborn hair. It has a heat range from 140°F till 450°F, which makes it more versatile than Drybar as its minimum temperature appeals to fragile strands. Of course, it’s not as sturdy nor durable as Drybar, but it’s still a very effective tool and definitely value for money.
If you have fine hair, a ceramic alternative to Drybar Tress Press is worth considering. Drybar Reserve is a great option which has ceramic plates and a minimum temperature of 250°F. It has the similar material quality and nearly 1″ longer plates.
