Best Flat Iron for Thick Hair: Top 15 Reviewed

Thick hair is more challenging to straighten. It’s denser and it has a wider diameter. So you will encounter several challenges when using your flat iron. One, it doesn’t seem to straighten with few passes. You might need to pass it through the iron several times to get a decently straight finish.

But the problem is, you increase your chances of getting your hair damaged and burned. The more passes, the more damage heat can do to your hair. 
What you need is a hair iron that is built with the right material and has the right temperature that can straighten thick hair. Let’s take a look at the best flat iron for thick hair so you don’t have to do multiple passes anymore.

15 Best Flat Iron for Thick Hair- Expert Review

Your hair is your crowning glory. But if it’s getting too crowded up there, it won’t be anymore! 
Let’s review the top 15 best fat iron and get you out of that dire situation!

1. Hai GOLD CONVERTIBLE

This posh looking flat iron with gold-coated plates may be one of its kind. It’s equipped with a nontoxic Teflon-like technology that makes straightening faster and prevents product build-up.

What are some of the annoying things that you can experience with a flat iron? Oh, the burnt smell coming from the plates whenever you pass your hair through it. That burnt smell may be caused by product build-up on the plate. Teflon-like technology prevents this from happening. And it also makes clean up a breeze, if there’s something that needs to be cleaned!

Specs

• Equipped with tri-diamond ceramic plates
• Have bevelled plates
• Features variable temperature settings from 250-450 degrees Fahrenheit
• The golden coated plates have the same benefits as Teflon
• Features auto shut off button

Pros

• Safe for colored hair ( at 300-380 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Features a nonstick plate that prevents product buildup
• Heats up fast

Cons

• The flat iron’s grip on the hair can be improved

Why we love the product

This golden coated plate protects the hair more than its competition. It releases a ton of negative ions that prevent breakage and frizz. It can be used safely on colored hair, you just have to choose the perfect setting for processed hair. And do we just have to say that it looks quite sophisticated and the extra-wide plates make it easier to style the hair in more ways than one?

2. HSI PRO

If you want straight hair that lasts for days and curls that stays for hours, the HSI PRO is your flatiron.

HSI PRO works great for those with African curly hair. And if you’re not into washing your hair that much, you can enjoy your styled hair for days too. And it’s not just all about that sleek style. The tourmaline plates ensure a frizz-free and split ends free hair that’s worth a second glance. No wonder, you’d be too lazy to wash that hair! This one is surely one of the best flat iron for thick hair out there.

Specs

• Made with ceramic tourmaline ionic plates
• Comes with protective gloves, pouch, and a travel-sized Argan oil
• Has variable heat settings ( 140- 450 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Dual voltage

Pros

• Even heat distribution
• Straightens hair in a single pass
• Has an extra-long 360-degree swivel cord
• Offers 1-year warranty
• Can be used to straighten the bangs area
• Works on African curly hair
• Can be used to curl hair
• Great for travelling

Cons

• The entire flatiron is not comfortable to handle
• For a flat iron that heats up, an automatic shut off should be a safety feature

Why we love the product

It works rather well on super kinky hair and it keeps that style in place for days. So if you’re one of the lazy types, then this product will serve you well The floating rounded plates is one of the features that we also love, no hair tugging, just effortless styling. The complimentary argan oil also helps keep your locks shiny and healthy! Only a few brands offer that.

3. KIPOZI TITANIUM

KIPOZI Titanium is made for those with thick frizzy hair! Experience straight and soft tresses that last with this hair straightener.

Now, this is a wider plate ceramic flat iron that’ll cover more hair with just one go! It has variable heat settings so you can choose the perfect heat setting for your hair condition. It’s fast, safe, and makes your hair ultra-sleek!

Specs

• Equipped with 1.75 inch floating titanium metal plates
• Has a digital LED display
• Dual voltage
• Equipped with an 8 ft swivel cord that heats from 170- 450 degrees Fahrenheit
• Comes with manual and a velvet storage pouch

Pros

• Can be used for damp hair
• Has an automatic shut off button
• Works for very thick kinky hair. It’s one of our contenders for the best flat iron for thick curly hair
• Travel-friendly
• Has an affordable price
• The floating plates don’t snag the hair
• Has a wider plate for more coverage

Cons

• Takes longer to cool down

Why we love the product

It works for very thick hair, period. This model is a must-have if you have kinky African hair! With just a few passes, your thick afro hair will be transformed into a sleek and beautifully straight. You can even use it on your damp hair and it works just fine. No burning smell, no split ends whatsoever. This model also looks rather posh with its black body and gold accents.

And if you’re forgetful Fred, no need to worry. It shuts off automatically after 60 minutes non-use. And oh! The longer cord makes it ideal makes it super convenient to use. You can even prance around while styling your hair. It then becomes a routine to look forward too!

4. XTAVA

It’s a posh black infrared hair straightener that can be used for all hair types.

To style your hair beautifully, you must use the right heat setting. Style it with a high temperature and your hair will burn to a crisp, while a low setting will give a so-so result. Form thick hair to fine and limp, XTAVA has the perfect heat setting for your hair. Another great addition to our best flat iron for thick list.

Specs

• Equipped with a 2-inch infrared ceramic plates
• Dual voltage
• Has a temperature LCD display
• Equipped with floating plates that followed the shape of your hair

Pros

• Has an automatic shut off button
• Ensures high consistent heat
• Doesn’t snag your hair
• Equipped with an extra-long 8 feet cord
• Comes with a 2-year warranty

Cons

• A bit bulky

Why we love the product

Straight hair is beautiful, but straight and soft hair is a bliss, especially if you’ve been ironing your hair daily! Most flat irons tend to rip off the moisture from your hair and making you look like a straight broomstick. We love how the infrared technology of these ceramic plates heat the hair from the inside to the out, this technology results in softer and smoother hair! It heats up fast too, reducing your hair’s exposure time to the heat. We love how you can go from kinky to silky straight in under 25 minutes!

5. BaByliss Pro

Straightening your hair doesn’t have to feel like an arm workout! BaByliss is super lightweight and it’s perfect for curling your tresses too.

Oftentimes, you just get tired of straightening that thick hair. This BaByliss number is easy on your arms, it’s super lightweight and it can cover more hair in just one grab. You can save time on prepping up especially with that thick hair!

Specs

• Titanium plated
• Equipped with up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit settings
• Made with Ryton housing
• Available in 1 ¼ and 1 ¾ inch plates
• Has 5 inch long plates
• Has LED temperature controls

Pros

• Lightweight
• It heats fast
• Straightens hair faster 
• Perfect for curling hair
• Can be used for a variety of hairstyles
• Has extra long plates ( 5 inches)

Cons

• Not that durable. A lot of users have experienced product damage in less than six months.
• It can get really hot. Not suitable for those with sensitive hair
• Can cause frizziness
• Doesn’t have an automatic shutoff

Why we love the product

You can’t make a list of best flat iron for thick without mentioning BaByliss products. Most metal-coated plates tend to burn your hair, but titanium won’t! It conducts heat faster but there’s no burnt smell at all. We love that you can use the same tool to achieve those lovely sexy beach wave curls! The size of this hair straightener makes it possible! The extra-long plate makes it possible to curl longer tresses too! This is a super time saver!

We also love that it has many temperature settings! Life’s better if you have more options right?

6. BaByliss PRO Porcelain Ceramic

This posh and sleek PRO hair straightener smoothen your thick hair in a breeze without drying it up. 

While most metals tend to leave the hair dry and feeling a bit crisp, porcelain ceramic plates can help you achieve flawlessly straight hair without stripping the life out of it. Don’t you just have it when your flatirons have a hot or cold spot? The even heat distribution styles hair faster. 

Specs

• Comes in 1,1.5 and 2-inch models
• Equipped with porcelain ceramic plates
• Can heat up to 45 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros

• Even heat distribution
• Gets rid of the frizz
• Can be used for a variety of hairstyles
• Comes with a super long model for those with extra-long thick hair
• Has a decent price tag
• Works well for thick hair
• perfect for travelling

Cons

• Can’t be used to smoothen out hair near the scalp
• Not that durable
• Several wiring issues reported by users

Why we love the product

We love how ceramic can be gentle on your hair. Though it works well for super thick hair, it can also be used for fine hair without worrying about burning it. We love the hairstyles that you can create with this posh-looking number. Since it has extra-long plates, it gets the job done faster. Even those with Rapunzel-like hair could straighten their tresses in half the time. Another BaByliss into our best flat iron for thick list.

It’s also unbelievably lightweight and you can easily stack it in your suitcase for that lovely sojourn. You still get to enjoy soft and straight tresses even if you are away from home.

7. Paul Mitchell

Soft, smooth, shiny, and straight tresses, that’s what you’ll get with this Paul Mitchell hair straightener.

Straighten your tresses like a pro with Paul Mitchell ceramic express flat iron, it heats the hair follicles from within, straightening each strand from the inside out. This locks in your hair’s moisture and results in a smoother and frizz-free hair!

Specs

• Equipped with 1.25 inch wide ceramic plates
• Heat setting up to 410 degrees Fahrenheit
• Backed up express Ion Concept
• Has a two-year warranty

Pros

• Heats fast
• Has a longer swivel cord
• Straightens even the thickest hair
• Gives off a smooth and shiny finish
• Won’t snag or pull your hair

Cons

• Not durable
• A bit expensive for its worth
• Has a burnt rubber smell

Why we love the product

No more hair tugging and pulling! The bevelled edges of this Paul Mitchell hair straightener prevent your hair from being pulled in. We always get that, especially with the extra-long tresses. We also love how this flat iron keeps the hair’s moisture intact. We felt like we just had our hair straightened by a professional! What can we say, this is one of the smoothest and straightest hair that we have achieved! You can use this every day and never have to worry about drying out your crowning glory.

8. NITION Platnum

This could be your ultimate hair straightener. Infused with argan oil, nanosilver, ceramic and tourmaline, NITION allows you to style your hair in a lot of ways while keeping it soft, shiny, and healthy!

With its posh-looking exterior. You’d know that this flat iron means serious business. The inclusion of these five elements makes it probably one of the best flat iron for thine hair. Apart from that sleek and straight locks, you can effortlessly style your hair in a dozen ways with just one tool. And you don’t even have to worry about dryness and frizz. The sophisticated technology of NATION Platnum nourishes your hair at the same time!

Specs

• Equipped with tourmaline ceramic-titanium plates
• Dual voltage
• Has an auto shut off button
• Equipped with temperature settings ranging from 265-450 degrees Fahrenheit
• Comes with a protective glove, pouch bag, and 2 salon clips

Pros

• Posh looking with its gold body
• Can be used for a variety of hairstyles
• Makes hair soft, shiny, and smooth
• No hair tugging
• Heats up fast
• Has a longer heating plate ( 4 inches)
• Offers 2-year warranty

Cons

• Quite expensive

Why we love the product

Well, everything! To start, the posh gold exterior looks sophisticated. This flat iron also solves our common dilemma- that awkward position of the temperature. It’s convenient to handle and use too.

And it probably has everything that you’ve been looking for in a flat iron- straight sleek, healthy, and smooth hair.

9. CROC Nano Titanium

Titanium plates seem to be one of the fastest heating materials, so expect this CROC nano titanium to heat up fast!

Titanium plates could be the best flat iron for thine hair when it comes to heating capacity. It heats up pretty fast, that’s even heat distribution sans the hotspot. This, combined with the nanosilver technology makes it a front runner in hair straightening.

Specs

• Has temperature settings from 280-450 degrees Fahrenheit
• Has silver titanium metal plates
• Dual voltage
• Equipped by nano silver technology

Pros

• Has an auto shut off feature
• Heats up fast
• Durable and long-lasting
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Equipped with a convenient digital temperature control
• Makes hair silky and shiny
• Works best for longer and thicker hair

Cons

• Tends to pull or snag the hair
• The internal thermostats tend to break easily

Why we love the product

Nanosilver technology! This is a real treat for your frizzy thick hair! We love how you can still get smooth and healthy hair despite everyday styling. Even if you’ve thick hair, all you need is a few, not a single pass and it smoothens out beautifully. That’s why it’s one of the best flat iron for thick hair based on consumer reports.

It’s dual voltage too! So you can bring it with you everywhere.

10. Chi Ceramic and Titanium

This professional flat iron combines ceramic and titanium for that ultimate sleek and straight hair. Feel like you just walked out of the salon

Ceramic and titanium. The combination of these two materials makes this CHI flat iron a definite contender on our list. The titanium heats up fast while the ceramic ensures even heat distribution. You can get faster results and healthier and shinier straight hair. This CHI model also can produce moist heat, that makes it safe for fine or color-treated hair. Check out the best shampoo for color-treated hair. It’s even on our recommendation of one of the best flat irons for fine hair

Specs

• Equipped with ceramic-titanium floating plates
• Has a digital LED display
• Dual voltage
• Has heat settings up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros

• Offers 2-year warranty
• Has a long cord
• Straightens very thick hair
• Heats up quickly and stays hot longer
• Has options for temperature settings

Cons

• The temperature settings are located inside the flatiron.
• It doesn’t have curved plates and can pull the hair 

Why we love this product

Because it’s recommended and used by hairstylists! So if it’s in their vanity kit, it must be good right? What sets this CHI model apart is that it makes use of high-grade titanium plates. Not only does it heats up fast, but it also straightens super thick hair too. It also has options for heat settings. The heat stays on longer too. But make sure to use the one which is suitable for your hair type and you’ll be safe. The temperature options are also color-coded so you won’t make a mistake even if you’re half-awake!

11. CHI original ceramic flat iron

Static electricity no more! The advanced ceramic ion technology of CHI Original flatiron gets rid of the frizz and results in a smoother and shinier straight hair. That spells heaven for thick coarse tresses!

The advanced ceramic ion technology of Chi Original makes hair soft and smooth. Each strand is infused with negative ions, making it healthier and smoother. It’s one of our top runners for the best flat iron for thick coarse hair.

Specs

• Equipped with infrared technology
• Built with floating ceramic plates
• Dual voltage
• Has swivel cord

Pros

• Has a 2-year warranty
• Heats up quickly
• The floating plates don’t snag the hair
• Can be used for a variety of hairstyles
• Gives extra moisture and sheen to hair

Cons

• Not that durable
• Doesn’t have an automatic shut off and tends to get hot
• Quite expensive

Why we love the product

Static electricity can wreak havoc to your hair, especially if you’ve been ironing it daily. You don’t need to worry about the frizz, split ends and dryness caused by it with CHI original flat iron. The negative ions protect each strand from the harmful effects of excess heat. And since it heats up quickly, a single pass or two is all that’s needed to tame your thick hair. We also prefer the floating plates as it has less tendency to pull your hair.

12. INFINITIPRO by CONAIR

The tourmaline ceramic technology on INFINITI PRO straightens even thick afro hair while protecting it from frizz, flyaways, and split ends. 

The INFINTPRO stands out from the rest with a sophisticated tourmaline ceramic technology. A combination of these two materials renders the hair straight, soft, and smooth despite the daily heat. It straightens the hardest to manage hair while keeping the lustre of your hair intact.

Specs

• Made with tourmaline ceramic floating plates ( 1 ½ inch)
• Heats fast in 15 seconds
• Equipped with 5 heat settings with a maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros

• Straightens afro mix thick hair well. That’s why it’s one of our top bets for the best flat iron for natural hair.
• Has a reasonable price tag for its worth
• Removes frizzes
• Covers more hair at a time
• Has an auto shut off button

Cons

• Not that safe for processed or treated hair
• The low setting is too hot for fine hair
• Even with floating plates, it still tends to pull the hair with the gaps at both ends of the plate.

Why we love the product

It’s fast! Speeding through your morning routine is easy peasy with this one, even if you’ve thick curly hair. It heats up quickly and even the lowest temperature is a bit enough to render your hair straight. And in case you forgot to turn it off, you can leave your worries behind as it also features an automatic shut button. This a must for flat irons that tend to heat up fast, that’s a safety precaution INFINITI PRO considered. Another great iron from our best flat iron for thick hair list.

We just simply enjoy how you can get a sleek finish with just a single pass. And there isn’t even any frizz or flyaway.

13. SALONA

This slim and sleek flat iron makes it ideal to pack along for your travels. It won’t even take much space in your luggage.

Specs

• Made with 1-inch titanium plates
• Comes with a travel bag ( heat resistant)
• Has an LCD temperature display
• With a maximum heat temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros

• Dual voltage
• Has a 100 % money-back guarantee
• Offers one year warranty

Cons

• Doesn’t straighten thick curly hair that well
• Tends to pull the hair
• A bit expensive for its worth
• The exterior tends to heat up

Why we love the product

It’s sleek design and dual voltage makes it for travelling. You can just simply slip it in your handbag and you’re set to enjoy beautiful straight hair wherever you go.

And since it emits a ton of negative ions, your tresses won’t get burnt instead, it’ll be soft, smooth, and shiny. It’s indeed one of the best flat irons for travelling. Apart from its lightweight, the heat resistant pouch allows you to store the flat iron even if the plates are still hot. You don’t want to miss your flight while waiting for the plates to cool down, do you?

14. Conair Infinitipro

If you’ve been dealing with frizz and flyaways, CONAIR INFINITRO is a must-have.

This surely desere to be in the best flat iron for thick hair list. The ceramic plates emit negative ions, in return, these ions protect your hair from static electricity. It’s the main culprit of frizz, split ends, and flyaways. This flat iron decently straightens thick curly hair but if you’ve got fine hair, better look for another alternative.

Specs

• made with 1-inch tourmaline ceramic plates
• Has the highest heat setting of 455 degrees Fahrenheit
• Has an auto shut off button

Pros

• Equipped with extra-long floating plates
• Heat up in as fast as 15 seconds
• Curls hair nicely
• Has a cheap price tag
• Reduces frizz and flyaways
•  Has a longer cord

Cons

• Not durable
• Gives off an inconsistent heat
• Tends to burn fine hair

Why we love the product

It’s another no-fuss, basic flat iron for your thick man! And we love the longer swivel cord, it allows for more movement and gives you more freedom to style or curl your hair. And what girl doesn’t love the color purple? It’s an eye candy and it’s quite light too. It can be given as a gift for those who are just starting to straighten their locks!

15. Remington

This purple flat iron is quite affordable and does a decent job in straightening the hair. Frizz and flyaways are kept at bay.

Specs

• Has 1-inch floating ceramic plates
• The plates are titanium coated
• Equipped with longer plates
• Has an LCD temperature display
• Comes with 6 variable heat settings

Pros

• Has an auto shut off button
• As a 360 swivel cord
• Heats up fast and straightens hair in under 15 minutes
• Has a cheap price tag

Cons

• Can smell like a burnt plastic during use
• The annoying electrical smell is easily transferred to the hair
• The plates tend to snag the hair 
• Quite challenging to handle
• Can cover only small sections of hair

Why we love the product

Aside from its pastel purple color, this is a decent and no fuss flat iron that can straighten hair fast. You can also use it for curling. It’s one of those basic flat irons that most girls used to have.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Flat Iron

If you’ve been looking for the perfect hair straightener for your thick hair, we’ll help you spot it. 

Nothing can be more frustrating than passing your hair a few times under the iron but to no avail! So let us help you ease your dilemma.

1. Check the variable temperature setting

Working with the right temperature can help save your hair from damages. For thicker hair, it’s recommended to use 350-400 degrees. A lower temperature will compel you to make multiple passes. 

And the heat can really be damaging on your tresses. Anything lower than 350 degrees is actually kind of useless since it can just dry your hair out.

So make sure that your hair iron can go up to 400 degrees. 

2. Check what it’s made of

Hair straighteners are essentially made of three types of material- tourmaline, ceramic, and titanium. Let’s briefly see what differentiates each.

Ceramic works best for normal to fine hair. And it is the cheapest one.

Tourmaline plates can calm frizzy hair with the negative ios that it can produce. And titanium plates can reach the highest temperature. That’s why it’s best for your thick hair.

Titanium plates also have a longer lifespan but it can be more expensive than ceramic and tourmaline.

You may also like: How to Curl Short Hair with a Flat Iron

3. Get the right plate size 

Hair straighteners come in different plate sizes. And the width or the plates will determine what it’s best used for.

If you have fine or short hair, you’ll find narrow plates easier to use. While wider plates are best for thicker longer hair. 

You may be able to feed more sections of hair into a 1-1.5 inch plate. So it can cut your styling time in half too.

4. Round vs flat edges

Most hair irons come with a flat edge. But a rounded edge may have some benefits. One, you can use it to curl your hair. And two, it will prevent that straight crease when you’re ironing your hair. Hence, it can result in more bouncy and natural-looking hair.

But if you want pin-straight tresses, the flat edge will be more useful for you.

5. Other features

These additional features will help styling more convenient for you depending on your circumstance. Not all hair irons come with these features, so you have to look for the specifics when you buy

• Does it have a cordless or portable unit? Is It a dual voltage?

Ask yourself this if you intend to bring it with you for travels

• Does it have an automatic shut off system?.

Useful for the forgetful ones

• Does it have a swivel cord?

It lets you move freely when styling. Works best when curling hair too.

• How fast does it heat up?

The faster the better, well for those who are always in a hurry.

• Does it have infrared technology?

This lessens damage from heat

• Does it have floating plates

Floating plates make it easier to use

What’s the Difference Between a Straightener and Flat Iron?

A hair straightener refers to all hot tools that can be used to straighten your hair. It can be flat iron, a hairdryer, or a hot brush. Flat iron, on the other hand, refers to just one hot tool.

A flat iron is also used to straighten your hair. You can refer to a flat iron as a hair straightener since it can straighten your hair. And all flat iron can be hair straighteners. But not all hair straighteners are flat irons.

 How To Straighten Hair With Flat Iron?

Straightening your hair is simple and straightforward. But you still need to follow a particular step so that you won’t damage your hair.

These are just smoke and basic steps. But don’t skip on one of them, especially step #2!

1. Prep your hair

You might want to start on a clean slate. Using a gentle shampoo, remove all the grime, dirt, and product buildup from the previous day. You may also use a conditioner. It can add a layer of protection from the neat. 

Not washing your hair before straightening it can be counterproductive, if your hair is full of product buildup, it can cause frizziness and dryness. So the first step begins in the shower!

2. Dry your hair 

Your hair is at its weakest when wet. And a lot of flat irons don’t work on wet hair. And even if your flat iron clams that it does, just don’t.

You may use your blow dryer or fan to dry it out. When using a blowdryer, you can just roughly dry it ( up to 80 percent dry). And make sure that the nozzle is pointing downwards so you won’t subject your hair to too much heat.

3. Apply heat protectants

Applying serums and oils can help protect our hair from the direct heat. Oil seems to be better absorbed by the hair. So they can provide better protection compared to serums. 

You may also like: Best Curling Iron

4. Keep the temperature in check

You need to work between 350-400 degrees for your thick mane. But going beyond that can also damage your thick locks. So check your flat iron if it stays at a maximum of 450 degrees. Some flat irons tend to increase temperature. Or if the temperature knob dial is in an awkward position, you might be unknowingly jamming up the temperature!

5. Divide your hair into sections

Don’t just grab and go. And if you have a thick mane, it’s a must to do proper sectioning. Divide your hair into 4-6 sections.

The thicker your hair the more section you’ll need. And work at one section at a time.  

If you feed the flatiron with too much hair at a time, it won’t straighten. Then you need to do multiple passes.

6. Keep the style that you want in mind

Do you want a pin-straight hair or just a smooth and bouncy one? Dividing your hair into more sections will let you achieve super sleek and straight hair. The less hair you feed the iron, the more straightforward it can get.

Whereas, if you just want to smoothen out the frizz and maintain a bit of natural bounce, you can feed the flat iron with more sections of hair,

7. Gently pull your hair taut

Keep a soft tension on your hair by holding it taut at the ends. And this will also help you achieve straight hair with fewer passes.

8. Park your comb and use a brush instead

Combs, especially plastic ones can cause static electricity. And this can cause annoying frizz. Using a brush for dry hair is better. Use only your comb when your hair is wet.

9. Lather on some serum

Once you’re done, you can lather a small amount of serum for shine and lessen the frizz. Be careful though not to put too much as it can make your hair look and feel too greasy

FAQs

Final Word

Straight, sleek, and shiny hair- yes every woman wants that. But if you’re born with naturally curly hair, you can still achieve that style with the help of the best hair straighteners for thick hair in the market. High-quality ones won’t rip your wallet and the life off from your locks. It may cost a bit than the standard ones, but believe us, it’s worth every penny!