Good flat irons for african american hair

If you like to flat iron your type-4 hair on occasion and want to minimize the possibility of, you know, extreme heat damage, you need to find the right flat iron for natural hair. But if you've been burned by a poor-quality hair straightener before (I mean that both ways), you know that finding the right styling tools for your hair type, texture, length, and budget isn't easy. What works for your friend's 3b hair might not work for your 4c hair, so you want to make sure you find a straightener that's equipped with all the features to suit your hair needs and mitigate the damage. And to help you make the right choice, we turned to celeb hairstylists Annagjid "Kee" Taylor and David Lopez to explain exactly what to look for in a flat iron.

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But before we get into the key qualities, as well as 13 of the best flat irons for natural hair, now's the time to remind you just how crucial the right styling products and heat protectants are for avoiding damage when heat styling. Before you even think about blow-drying your hair, apply a moisturizing hair serum (Taylor recommends the So Shear Genius Satin Shield) to prep your strands first. After your hair is dry, Lopez recommends using an aerosol heat protectant that has a starch to it, like Kenra Professional Platinum Heat Cast Spray 12, for style longevity.

If you live in a humid climate, Lopez says a humidity-blocking formula is key for minimizing the effects of frizz so you don't have to reach for the flat iron as frequently. Less flat ironing = less heat damage. And finally, always use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner between styling sessions for hydration and nourishment. Got it? Good. Now keep reading for all the deets on the best flat irons for natural hair, plus some tips from our gold-star experts.

Meet the experts

  • Annagjid "Kee" Taylor is the owner of the natural haircare salon Deeper Than Hair and a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Keke Palmer, Tika Sumpter, and Tiffany Haddish. Taylor is also the owner of haircare brand Shear Genius Collection, the creator behind popular YouTube channel Deeper Than Hair TV, and the author of the children’s book All Hair Is Good Hair.
  • David Lopez is an NYC-based beauty expert and celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Ashley Graham, Nikkie de Jager, and Hailey Bieber. Lopez is also a host on QVC and Beauty IQ, lead stylist for T3 Micro, Ulta Beauty Pro team member, Kenra Professional ambassador, and creative director of Glam Seamless.

The best flat irons for natural hair

How to choose the best flat iron for natural hair

Whether you choose a stripped-down straightener or one with all the extra modes and features, the experts say the best flat irons for natural hair have these four core elements: high-performance plates, customization options, consistent heat, and functional design. “All of these factors lead to less passes for you to get the look that you want, which minimizes the heat contact, which minimizes the heat damage,” Lopez says. Here's what to look for in each category:

Plates

Look for ceramic or titanium flat irons for your natural hair. Ceramic (Lopez's choice) holds the heat evenly, glides through the hair smoothly, and is ideal for a beginner, because the plates don't get overly hot. Taylor recommends titanium for someone who's a bit more experienced styling hair because of its overall smoother performance. Ceramic and titanium work on any hair type, but ceramic is gentler, while titanium is more efficient for hair that's resistant to straightening and needs more heat.

Customization

The more customization, the better, but at the very least, you want an adjustable heat dial on your flat iron. “Making sure that you are able to customize the heat is very important,” Lopez says. “Not everyone can use a certain heat level, meaning some hair types do have to dip lower than most when they are flat ironing their hair, especially, for example, natural hair that’s very delicate around the hairline that’s been heat-styled often.”

Heating element

When it comes to heat, Lopez says you want a flat iron that has even, consistent heat distribution across the entire plate (no hot spots). Lopez also suggests looking for a flat iron that emits negative ions, which help with static and create a shinier, smoother, more reflective surface on the hair.

Design

A flat iron that has floating plates, beveled edges, and rounded casing all allow for fewer creases and styling versatility. Lopez explains that smaller plates are better for reaching the hairline and close to the root, while larger plates will allow for faster straightening of longer hair and bigger sections. It goes without saying that the more modes, features, and design elements, the more expensive the tool.

We already have an idea about “The Best Castor Oil For Hair,” for those thinning hair woes. There’s a vast market of hair straighteners out there which makes choosing a conundrum. What more for those who are not quite savvy for thermal tools?

Natural curly or frizzy hair, if handled correctly is beautiful. However, not every curly haired love their waves. Many needed to rely on the best flat iron for black hair to get the hair they want. By all means, it —takes effort! It helps to watch YouTube tutorials from professional stylists in order to make the quest in finding the right shorter.

We will break down the important aspects regarding the best selling flat irons for black hair in Amazon. The details in this article are based on the positive feedback from the users themselves who posted their insights about the products.

Read also related articles: Best brush for curly hair, best hair straightening brush, best flat iron for natural hair, and best jet black hair dye.

Post Contents

  • How To Choose The Right Flat Iron That Won’t Fry Your Hair?
  • If The Outcome Meets Your Expectations..
  • How Long It Takes To Heat Up.
  • Perfect For The Budget
  • Doesn’t Die On You Too Soon
  • It Should Be User-friendly And Not Rocket Science
  • Ceramic Flat Irons: Probably the most “user-friendly” to use for beginners
  • Titanium Flat Irons: One toughie that lasts longer
  • Tourmaline Flat Irons: Electrifying organic crystalline mineral
  • Bio Ionic Flat Irons: It’s simple a whole new level of hair straightening
  • Wet to Dry Flat Irons: For those quick hairdo’s
  • How Much Heat Can Each Hair Type Handle?
  • How Often Should You Use Your Flat Iron?
  • Don’t Disregard The Warranty
  • Use A Thermal Protectant Spray Before Applying Heat
  • Pamper Your Hair With High Powered Hair Mask
  • Our Picks Of Best Flat Iron For Black Hair
    • 1. HSI Professional Glider (Ceramic/Ionic/Tourmaline) = Perfect Travel Buddy!
    • 2. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated = Slim With Massive Performance
    • 3. BIO IONIC Onepass = The Name Says It All
    • 4. KIPOZI Professional (Nano Titanium/Ceramic) = It’s Definitely Grabby For Moms
    • 5. HSI Glider Elite Professional = For Control Freaks, I mean the hair..
    • 6. INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR (Ceramic/Tourmaline) = The Underdog
  • Bottom line

How To Choose The Right Flat Iron That Won’t Fry Your Hair?

There’s a wide variety of brands and types of flat irons apart from the extra features that give some of it the upper hand. Furthermore, the only time you’d realize its variety is when you start shopping making it more confusing to find a particular one that will go well with your hair.

 


Understanding the different types of flat irons helps in getting yourself familiar with the options that will work best for you. A good straightener is an investment. Check the plate type, the grip, and temperature controls you find comfortable. So, before deciding on what tools will help achieve the hair you want, make sure you choose the one that won’t harm your hair.

If The Outcome Meets Your Expectations..

You can judge the performance of a flat iron by the number of passes it takes to get your hair straight.

How Long It Takes To Heat Up.

Heat transfer is the time it takes for a flat iron to heat up from the plates and to your hair strands. The pros and cons of flat irons will mostly depend on the hair type of the one using it. At a ceramic plate’s maximum temperature, the fastest heat transfer is 30 seconds depending on the brand itself. It favors hair strands. If you have thick hair, titanium wins without question in this category as the metal heats up much quicker than other materials.

Perfect For The Budget

Price wise, the choice often goes down into choosing between titanium and ceramic if budget is a huge concern. It won’t hurt getting a brand or model at around $200 if it has features worth the price. A budget flat iron isn’t really a bad place to start and still get a steal that treats your hair right. Pure ceramic plates (not the ceramic-coated) are slightly more pricey than titanium unless it’s the high-end type.

Doesn’t Die On You Too Soon

The deal breaker about durability is it rubs elbows with “you got what you paid for.” If it gets crazed too soon, it will hit you hard thinking where your money went. Pure ceramic plated flat irons are great in terms of heat distribution making it less prone to damage unless it gets dropped. Titanium, on the other hand, is pretty durable that it even outlive the iron itself.

Good flat irons for african american hair

It Should Be User-friendly And Not Rocket Science

It’s all about the grip, the shape, the weight, maybe ergonomics, and how natural it is to operate. With any product, the design is the usual battle between trying to deliver functionality and trying to deliver ease of use. For beginners, it is recommended to purchase the heat-adjustable flat iron to save yourself from using the wrong temperature and sabotaging your hairstyle.
Does Ceramic, Titanium, Wet-To-Dry, Boi-Ionic, and Tourmaline ring a bell?

In choosing the proper one to straighten your hair with extreme precision, know that it also relies on the PLATE MATERIAL, not just the old-school metal plates. Each plate material gives a different result. Some flat irons are built with a mixture of different materials, even provide health and retain moisture of your locks, —mostly the professional level flat irons. Now that you know buying a flat iron is no small decision! Let’s take a look at each type of flat iron!

Ceramic Flat Irons: Probably the most “user-friendly” to use for beginners

The ceramic flat irons are perhaps the most widely used as preferred by most women worldwide. It’s been a household name of mane addicts for roughly 20 years! Why? It’s because Ceramic flat irons are extremely safe to use. It’s even heat distribution lowers its chances of burning your hair. A quality ceramic flat iron provides consistent temperature, and they don’t get hot spots. Thus, making the ceramic type ideal for thin, fragile hair.

And if you are a beginner, you will find this more manageable since you can easily control its temperature. Unlike other flat irons that would heat up too quickly, you wouldn’t know it just toasted your tresses. Beware not to get the ceramic coated flat irons as it chips off easily, —and can cause snagging. There are many budget-friendly full-ceramic plated hair flat irons out there.

Titanium Flat Irons: One toughie that lasts longer

Titanium flat irons work by producing heat using negative ions similar to its Ceramic and Tourmaline-plated counterparts. So, no high heat is much needed to keep frizzy, coarse hair straight. Titanium heats up quickly but evenly, —no hot spots. It’s pretty lightweight and retains hair’s natural moisture. More importantly, it is no doubt the most durable material used in flat irons for more than two decades.

Why are Titanium-Plated flat irons the most common option for professionals? It may not be the choice for thin hair strands, —but titanium’s fast heat transfer rate works so well with thick, curly, stubborn hair types. And the majority of women using flat irons are with thick, curly, or frizzy hair. Pretty neat huh? It’s the heavy duty flat iron suitable for salon usage.

Tourmaline Flat Irons: Electrifying organic crystalline mineral

Imagine a shiny, semi-precious gemstone as part of the construction of a hair straightener? Its plates are coated with crushed Tourmaline stones. For real. Is the Tourmaline stone’s “natural electric properties” taking part in making the best flat iron for black hair? It may appear too fancy, but the buzz surrounding Tourmaline technology is actually a “real-deal” with a greater advantage compared to others.

Tourmaline works similar to Titanium irons but goes a step further by generating higher natural moisture-locking negative ions when heated. In return, enhance the texture of the hair. Ain’t that sweet with no more puffy ball on your head? You get from a frizzy mess to organized straightness in just a few minutes. The stone’s ability to release healthy infrared seals the hair cuticle. So it really creates sleek styles like a charm with minimal effort.

Bio Ionic Flat Irons: It’s simple a whole new level of hair straightening

A breakthrough technology that takes performance and user experience to a whole new level. It cuts the usual styling time in half may help give you a little boost in the right direction. At least, you have a clearer path to know where to start, right? The Bio-ionic flat iron is another interesting type with a name that not only sounds “high-tech,” but has the highest quality for an incredibly sleek hair.

Currently, bio-ionic plated flat irons are regarded as the fastest flat iron. It promises to provide exceptional results in just a single pass. By using Nano Ionic technology, it protects the hair from breakage while styling. It also emits the negative ions keeping the hair rehydrated. Overall, the whole idea of the one-pass thing with amazing results just makes it so grabby! If it’s something that goes smoothly through hair and won’t eat up 15 minutes of your time in the morning is great!

Wet to Dry Flat Irons: For those quick hairdo’s

Would it be great if your flat iron can dry at the same time as straightening your hair? Several women love the wet to dry flat iron for this very reason, —it saves the hassle of needing to use a hair dryer before styling. With the right temperature, it can dry your hair while styling as it doesn’t strip off moisture. For fine hair, since fine hair is naturally more delicate and susceptible to damage. Therefore, it requires more care.

Unlike the traditional flat irons, the wet to dry versions have different technology. It is manufactured with a venting system that carefully dries the hair by converting the water it into steam. It’s helpful for women who are always in a rush. Although this product favors particularly those who don’t have enough time to do everything in the morning, albeit the precision is not as great as its counterparts.

Game Changer Hair Care Tips For Frequent Flat Iron Usage.

How Much Heat Can Each Hair Type Handle?

You can’t just yank a heating styling tool and expect it to stay healthy. Knowing the type of hair you have is vital in choosing the right tools and the proper heat setting to use. A healthy fine hair can handle as high as 300° while strong, coarse hair can handle 400°. Tourmaline and ceramic hair straighteners work great with all hair types, but Titanium flat irons are better with coarse and thick hair types as Titanium plates cope best with high heat.

How Often Should You Use Your Flat Iron?

Nothing can be quite frightening than watching your hair strands break off. But this matter, even the damages associated with long-term flat iron use is outweighed by the desirable the styling benefits it offers. There’s nothing wrong about pampering your mane, but the healthy habit is doing it not more than once per week.

If part of your daily beauty routine involves smoothing out natural curls or waves, it makes sense to invest in a high-quality flat iron. You cannot risk the health of your hair for any cheap product because growing your hair back from burning it is way more difficult. Pricey but doesn’t harm your hair while styling it more than three times a week is your best bet against heat damage.

Don’t Disregard The Warranty

Good flat irons for african american hair
What else makes the best flat iron for black hair? The fact that you just shelled out a great amount of money for a great quality product, you might as well have the convenience of good warranty service. You don’t want to be pulling your hair in anger in case something goes wrong. Although this shouldn’t be a problem because most high-end flat irons come with long warranties, it’s an important note to count. It makes the purchase worth every penny.

Use A Thermal Protectant Spray Before Applying Heat

If you have been feeling that these heat protecting sprays are just a marketing ploy, well, nope! To set the record straight, here’s what makes these products worth another purchase. It works similar to how zinc in sunscreens, it shields our skin from the sun. It contains water-soluble silicones that act as a barrier protecting hair from getting scorched by frequent use of flat irons. If you love your dear hair, give it a tall glass of water!!

Pamper Your Hair With High Powered Hair Mask

Just like our bodies, we need to feed our hair strands with goodies that help maintain its glory. It happens that your regular wash-and-style hair routine doesn’t seem to cut it and result in a hey, hey dry hair! Using a good brand of coconut oil once a month is a hair life-saver and please, once a month is not too much, right? Your daily styled hair needs a high-powered hair conditioner once in a while or as long as it’s needed.

 

Our Picks Of Best Flat Iron For Black Hair

1. HSI Professional Glider (Ceramic/Ionic/Tourmaline) = Perfect Travel Buddy!

Good flat irons for african american hair

 

Good flat irons for african american hair

When you are a gal who frequently grabs her travel bag and globe trots, you have to have everything easy to pack. The Professional Glider is a budget-friendly hair straightener with all the lovely goodies of an expensive flat iron. 1-inch solid ceramic plates infused with a crystal-born silicate and Ionic complex. The adjustable temp control (240°F-400°F) and narrow enough to even style up your bangs.
What makes it a great travel buddy? Although it doesn’t have the automatic shut-off, it has dual voltage system that can work anywhere in the world. Another thing to love about the HSI Professional is its swivel cord that makes it easy to move. Seriously, ladies, the auto-shutoff isn’t really that important. Simply don’t forget to unplug it!

2. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated = Slim With Massive Performance

Good flat irons for african american hair
Good flat irons for african american hair

Getting yourself a great quality flat iron is an investment! So, it’s completely natural not to compromise style over price value, —it’s a principle. Without beating around the bush, the BaBylissPRO with its Ryton stay-cool housing is the best flat iron for black hair. Whether you are blessed with a luscious thick pluffy, wavy black hair or slightly stubborn hair, you’ll love what this ultra-thin flat iron can do!

It may have that small construction, but its large plates work favorably with natural black hair. The smooth, pure titanium plating ensures easy gliding. So, you don’t have to worry about your hair snagging. The slim design makes it easy to hold and control with 50 heat settings up to 450°F degrees. It can simply grant your desire to flaunt different looks. There’s an option to get 1 or 1 ½ inch wide plates depending on your hair length.

3. BIO IONIC Onepass = The Name Says It All

Good flat irons for african american hair
Good flat irons for african american hair

This advanced tech flat iron for black hair is designed to be as straightforward as possible. It has BioCeramic 5-second heaters made with silicone speed strips that make straightening faster with salon-quality shine. This flat iron is no BS at all! It surpasses other flat irons that also offer one-pass deals. This impressive bad boy can even prettify fine hair strands without giving you a possible heart attack.


You will love that comes in two sizes, 1 and 1.5-inch plates. It is also compact enough for easy maneuverability. Breathe in. Breathe out, this is not as scary to use if you have fine hair strands since it has an adjustable temperature setting up to 400°F. The silicone strips also play an important role in it is suitable for fine hair strands. It buffers the outer edge of the plates, reducing chances of hair snags.

4. KIPOZI Professional (Nano Titanium/Ceramic) = It’s Definitely Grabby For Moms

Good flat irons for african american hair

Good flat irons for african american hair

Yes, it’s a pure ceramic-plated flat iron wrapped in titanium that does more than plainly smoothing out crazy frizz. The sleekness you’ll get from working with this straightener is seriously superb. Since ceramic plates hold heat longer than other materials, it won’t hurt your electric bill. How? KIPOZI comes with a “heating” LED light. It serves as a signal to stop sending heat whenever the plates reach the set temperature.

You can’t go wrong with KIPOZI Professional. It delivers silky smooth hair and locking system to keep kids out! The teamwork of nano titanium and advanced PTC ceramic gives dramatic effects. Plus you can just engage the locking system, leave it plugged in, and not worry about little fingers trying to turn it on when you’re not around! Just like most modern flat irons, this has adjustable heat settings from 170℉ to 450℉ to cater to all hair types.

5. HSI Glider Elite Professional = For Control Freaks, I mean the hair..

Good flat irons for african american hair
Good flat irons for african american hair

It’s very common for black hair to have a mind of its own and can defiantly decide to do what it wants. Here is yet another innovative flat iron design. It’s a familiar name on the list of the best flat iron for black hair. It’s not one, not two, but three elements combined in a single hair straightener. Boasting a solid ceramic, tourmaline, ionic plate, no thick stubborn hair can’t be tamed. It has digitized temperature control and an advanced infrared ceramic heat technology.

Another upper hand in its design making it a toughie for thick black hair is its floating plates with curved edges. It flexes as you move your head while styling or bend your wrist to avoid snagging as it glides nicely over hair.

6. INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR (Ceramic/Tourmaline) = The Underdog

Good flat irons for african american hair
Good flat irons for african american hair

When you search this flat iron, you will notice how many times it shows in product reviews.  It has ceramic plates wrapped in tourmaline with extra long plates might seem a bit silly. What makes this flat iron ‘excellent for grabs?’ Those silly extra plates have the advantage of ironing bigger chunks of hair. Moreover, this baby boasts a definite time saving 15-second heat up. That’s a piece of art there!

Finding the proper temperature for your hair type is simple with its 30 temperature control settings, —ranging from 265℉ to 445℉. If you’re the type who tends to forget unplugging your devices, the flat iron’s auto-off feature will be very useful for you. Aside from the awesome features, everything else about INFINITI PRO is fairly standard. But it’s definitely a flat iron with bragging rights.

What is the best type of flat iron for African American hair?

Both Kimble and Miller agree that when it comes to flat ironing natural hair, ceramic plates are a great option for their ability to evenly distribute heat while minimizing damage to the hair. “Compared to titanium, ceramic heats up more slowly but more evenly,” says Miller.

What type of flat iron is best for 4C hair?

6 Flat Irons The Pros Swear By To Straighten 4C Hair.
1 of 6. Enso Tools 1.25" Medium Flat Iron. ... .
2 of 6. By-Gina Excel Infrared Flat Iron. ... .
3 of 6. GHD Classic 1 Inch Styler. ... .
4 of 6. Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Ionic Straightening Iron. ... .
5 of 6. NuMe Style Setter Titanium Hair Straightener. ... .
6 of 6. EAP Heat Ceramic Flat Iron..

What is better for 4C hair titanium or ceramic?

A thick hair type will need more heat and therefore work better with titanium. Ceramic, on the other hand, is suitable for Fine hair which causes less heat damage. If you've damaged or color treated hair, you obviously require moisture, the best for that is a ceramic.

What do African Americans use to straighten hair?

The most common chemical treatment for African American women is the relaxer. Relaxers are made of sodium, potassium or guanidine hydroxide. They break the cystine disulfide bonds in the hair, resulting in permanently straight hair.