Best Flat Irons

We tried several of the most popular hair straighteners—including Dyson, GHD, and Hot Tools models—and sent them to our lab for testing to find out if these often-pricey items live up to the hype

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A flat iron is one of the most versatile tools in your hair care arsenal. A good straightener can not only create sleek, glossy tresses but also be used for beach waves, straightening bangs, and smoothing out frizz. But like all hot tools, flat irons pack a lot of heat and have the potential to damage hair. That's why it's so important to find the right tool for your hair type.

In this Outside the Labs evaluation, three reviewers with different hair types tried out five top straighteners at a range of prices to discover which one is worth the investment. Our evaluators:

Alexis Priester, social media program manager at CR, has thick, curly hair that's quick to frizz. When it's straightened it falls just above the middle of her back, and when it's curly it's just below her shoulders.

Tara Claesagens, clerical assistant for CR's Innovation Lab, has medium, shoulder-length hair that hasn't ever touched hair dye.

Laura Murphy (that's me!). I have fine, highlighted hair that has seen some damage. It is cut in layers, the longest of which reach the middle of my back, while the shortest are chin-length.

Despite our differences, we’re all looking for the same thing: A straightener that can give us a sleek style without snagging or burning our hair. We also want a straightener that's easy and safe to use, as well as precise in its temperature.

We tried each of the straighteners at least once on freshly washed hair, and then used them a few more times for touch-ups over the course of a couple of days. Alexis used Verb Ghost Prep Heat Protectant ($20, Ulta), and I used Amika Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout spray ($28, Amazon). Tara, a brave soul, did not use any heat protectant at all. In addition to trying out the straighteners at home, we partnered with Consumer Reports’ labs to do some analytical testing of each straightener. CR testers measured how long it took for each straightener to heat up, how close it was to the temperature it claimed to have reached, and how well each model maintained its final temperature.

The results surprised us. It turns out, you might not need the fanciest straightener on the market to get the results you desire. Read on to discover which tool is right for you.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.