Best flat iron for black natural hair

As the coily-haired beauty editor of Best Products, I'm especially happy to share that yes, flat ironing is safe for natural hair. However, finding the best flat iron for natural hair isn't easy. There are various factors naturalistas need to consider, like temperature, size of the iron’s plates, and the materials it’s made from. We also have to worry about heat damage and accidentally heat-training our hair.

To help you discover the all-time best flat irons for natural hair, I reached out to a few Black female hairstylists for their expert guidance. The pros also shared a few of their must-have hair straighteners, along with tips for using them safely.

Best Flat Irons for Natural Hair

    How to Buy a Flat Iron for Natural Hair

    Plates

    Flat irons are typically made with one of three types of plates: ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline. Sometimes, brands combine multiple materials, so that your hair gets the best of both worlds. And luckily for you, all three types work for naturalistas. However, it's important to note that certain hair densities stand to gain the most when opting for one plate over another, says hairstylist Courtney Foster.

    • Ceramic flat irons are ideal for thin hair.
    • Titanium flat irons are best for thick, curly hair.
    • Tourmaline is universally flattering for both thin and thick hair.

      When you discover a flat iron boasting two technologies, it's typically a hybrid of ceramic and tourmaline, notes Alicia Bailey, the global education manager at haircare line Design Essentials. “They help to infuse moisture back into the hair, instead of pulling moisture out of the hair,” she says.

      Best flat iron for black natural hair
      Nicole Saunders

      Temperature

      “Most naturalistas start out with a big chop, and pride themselves on how much growth their hair has achieved over a certain amount of time,” says Bailey. “Using the wrong temperature even once can cause irreparable damage, and all the time they took to grow out their beautiful curls would be for naught.”

      So, what's the ideal temperature range when using a flat iron for natural hair? It actually depends on your hair density, and if your strands are color-treated, says Foster.

      • 340 degrees to 370 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for fine or color-treated hair.
      • 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit is beneficial for medium to coarse hair.

        There is room to experiment with various temperatures, of course. But starting lower is your safest option and helps prevent heat damage — which is "the loss of elasticity in the hair when using irons that are too hot for your hair type and texture."

        What do you put on natural hair before flat ironing?

        Bailey and Foster both stress the importance of applying a heat protectant before using any hot tool, including a hair dryer, curling iron, and hair dryer brush. Heat protectants form a barrier between the hot plates and your delicate strands, notes Foster. She recommends using a serum-based heat protectant instead of a liquid spray because “natural hair reverts to curly when wet. Some sprays wet the hair, causing a slight curl that can lead to burning or scorched hair.”

        Now that you understand what the pros recommend looking out for, here are eight of the best flat irons for natural hair. These selections start at $30 and either have received praise from hairstylists or are aligned with their guidance.

        1

        Best Overall

        BaBylissPRO

        Nano Titanium Prima Straightener

        2

        Most Affordable

        CHI

        Original Ceramic Flat Iron

        3

        Best Splurge

        Dyson

        Corrale Hair Straightener

        4

        Best Ceramic Iron

        Cocco

        GNS Hair Straightener

        5

        Best for Long Hair

        Kim Kimble

        Ceramic 2-Inch Flat Iron

        6

        Best Infrared Flat Iron

        KOSA

        Elite 1” Infrared Styler

        7

        Best for Short Hair and Bangs

        Terviiix

        Small Flat Iron

        8

        Most Stylish

        T3 Micro

        Wide Flat Iron

        Nicole Saunders Beauty Editor Nicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.

        Here at That Sister we’re supported by you, our sisters. If you buy via a link on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This doesn’t cost you anything & it doesn’t influence the products we talk about.

        You love your natural black hair, but you’re thinking about straightening it for a little while. There’s nothing wrong with that – as long as you do it safely! Without proper technique and heat protection, you could damage your hair beyond repair.

        Where do you begin?

        First, you’re going to need the perfect flat iron.

        Now, what are the best flat irons for natural hair? We’ve sorted through hundreds to bring you the top 5.

        • GHD Classic Styler 1″, The Best Flat Iron For African American Natural Hair
        • HSI Professional Digital Ceramic Flat Iron with Tourmaline
        • Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Flat Iron
        • Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic, The Best Flat Iron For Relaxed Black Hair
        • OSIR Professional and Digital Nano-Titanium Wet & Dry Flat Iron – A Good Budget Choice
        • What Should I Look For When Comparing Flat Irons, Ceramic Or Titanium?
        • Will I Need To Buy A Different Flat Iron Depending On Whether I Have 4a, 4b Or 4c Hair?
        • Will A Flat Iron Damage My Hair? How Can I Avoid That?
        • Which Heat Protectant Should I Use With My Flat Iron?
        • Can I Flat Iron Hair Extensions? If So, How?
        • What Are Myths About Heat From Flat Irons And Natural Hair?
        • Is It Possible To Keep My Hair Straight For A Month?
        • Best Flat Iron For Natural African American Hair (4c, 4b And 4a) – We Review & Compare

        GHD Classic Styler 1″, The Best Flat Iron For African American Natural Hair

        Best flat iron for black natural hair

        The good:

        GHD is a well respected name, and the Classic Styler is a worthy addition to their product range!

        This flat iron’s plates are thin, which is great for thick hair, because it allows you to focus on one small section at a time.

        If your hair is naturally dry, then the aluminum added to the ceramic plates will reduce frizz.

        The universal voltage and plate guard are perfect for travelers; this straightener will work in international outlets.

        The bad:

        While not always the case, for some it’s got glitchy after a few months, so get the two-year warranty. As you’re dealing with GHD and they’re usually good with sorting out any faults that come up, I wouldn’t let this be something which stops me from buying.

        Perfect for:

        Natural African American hair. Also anyone with dry, thick hair of any type.

        HSI Professional Digital Ceramic Flat Iron with Tourmaline

        Best flat iron for black natural hair

        The good:

        The HSI Professional has ceramic plates are infused with tourmaline, which is perfect for straightening out loose curls.

        The LDC temperature gauge also makes it easy to monitor the amount of heat you’re using.

        The bad:

        This flat iron has a light touch, which is fine for Type 3 or Type 4a African American hair, but it fails on hair with tighter curls. If you use this on Type 4b or 4c hair, you’ll find yourself going over the same sections of hair so many times that you’ll burn them.

        Perfect for:

        Anyone with Type 3 – Type 4a hair. A top flat iron from HSI.

        Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Flat Iron

        Best flat iron for black natural hair

        The good:

        Next we have the Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth flat iron. This flat iron is small but powerful. It’s lightweight enough so that if you have thick hair, your arm won’t get tired.

        The titanium plates will straighten your hair on one pass, no matter how curly, so you won’t ruin your locks with heat damage.

        Best of all, its Smartsense microchip detects when your hair is getting too hot and will automatically lower the temperature.

        The bad:

        Don’t rely on the microchip to keep your hair safe. This flat iron can get very hot, so make sure you keep an eye on the temperature setting! You can get more tips on using a flat iron safely here.

        Perfect for:

        Type 4b and 4c hair.

        If you’ve never heard of this company before, you can check them out here.

        Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic, The Best Flat Iron For Relaxed Black Hair

        Best flat iron for black natural hair

        The good:

        Ok, so let’s look at The Onei MK-I Halo Ceramic. This iron goes as low as 140 degrees and has a handy digital adjuster so that you can monitor the heat.

        The multiple layers of ceramic coating mean that you’ll always get a sleek shine.

        It is gentle enough to use on relaxed or dyed hair.

        The bad:

        It heats up very, very quickly, so if you accidentally leave it on an unprotected surface, you might find scorch marks.

        Perfect for:

        Anyone with chemically treated or hair more on the fine side (Type 4a). This flat iron from Onei Beauty is worth checking out.

        OSIR Professional and Digital Nano-Titanium Wet & Dry Flat Iron – A Good Budget Choice

        Best flat iron for black natural hair

        The good:

        This powerful flat iron, the OSIR Professional, does it all. The nano-titanium plates are designed to straighten thick, kinky hair without damaging it.

        The temperature control is easy to navigate, so you won’t find yourself accidentally frying your follicles.

        The bad:

        It’s a bit small, so if you have a lot of afro hair you may find yourself working on it for hours.

        Perfect for:

        Type 4c hair.

        Pages: 1 2 3

        Which flat iron is best for African American hair?

        RECAP: Best Flat Iron For Natural Black Hair List....
        BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ionic Straightening Iron..
        BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron, 1 Inch..
        Croc Classic Nano-Titanium Flat Iron..
        GHD Platinum & Professional Performance Styler..
        Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Ion Smooth + Flat Iron..

        Is ceramic or titanium better for 4C hair?

        According to Kimble, both ceramic and titanium plates will work for natural hair, but which one is best depends on your individual texture. Ceramic is best for swapping between straight and curly styles, she says, while those with kinkier coils or hair that's harder to straighten will benefit from titanium plates.

        What flat iron is used for silk press?

        Titanium flat irons are best for a silk press, Hardges says. "The titanium plates create a great level of shine and straighten hair with a single pass," she notes.

        What is the best straightener for 4C hair?

        The BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron is ranked NHP's #1 best flat iron for natural hair silk press..
        It straightens your natural hair very quickly and with fewer passes which causes less heat damage all while leaving your hair healthy and shining..