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.
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.
Photo: Nicole Saunders/Best Products
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.
Foster uses this iron in her New York salon when styling natural hair “because the dual plates allow you to straighten and curl effortlessly.”
This iron combines titanium plates with the brand's Ion Multiplier technology to give you a high-quality silk press at home. Titanium plates are especially great when you have thick, curly, or coily hair, notes Foster.
The Ion Multiplier tech also produces millions of frizz-fighting ions, so that your hair is sleek and shiny.
This was my flat iron of choice back in high school because every popular beauty YouTuber recommended it. While I've since upgraded to the Dyson (more on that in a bit), CHI's iron is both affordable and effective at straightening natural hair.
I consider it a cheap introductory flat iron — you won't get a pro-grade silk press at home quickly, but given its price and features, you really can't complain.
Hairstylist Noël Reid-Killings of Salon Noël in Brooklyn, NY, is also a fan of this old-school iron because it has multiple heat settings. In fact, it only takes 30 seconds for the plates to heat up to 393 degrees Fahrenheit.
It features ceramic plates, which are great for anyone with dry, damaged, or fine hair because ceramic heats up evenly, glides through hair, and leaves it shiny.
Yes, I know that $500 is a lot of money to spend on a flat iron, but Foster argues that this one is actually worth the high cost because of its copper flex plates that mold to your hair, creating even tension for smoother results.
Although it has three preset temperatures — 330, 365, and 410 degrees Fahrenheit — Foster doesn't think naturalistas will have issues with just a few heat options.
Weighing in at 1.23 pounds, the Corrale is also handy for traveling. Plus, it's the sole option on this list that allows you to use it cordless for 30 minutes! (But of course, you can use it plugged in if you prefer.)
I own this iron and find the cordless technology convenient compared to the short or extra long cords that get in my way while styling. If you have a nice disposable income or are a Dyson brand loyalist (like me!), then it's worth adding to your routine for salon-quality results.
“This is one of my favorite irons because of the consistent heat technology that the iron delivers,” says Bailey. “It has a unique blend of germanium, nano-ceramic, and nano-tourmaline to maintain maximum health benefits for the hair.”
When you order this flat iron for natural hair on Amazon, you'll receive a free serum and boar bristle brush to perfect your coif, too!
Unfamiliar with Kim Kimble? Well, she's kind of a big deal.
For starters, Kimble is the go-to hairstylist for Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj! Beyond working with pretty much every Black it girl in Hollywood and music, she's also currently the lead hairstylist of Euphoria on HBO.
Her namesake haircare and hot tool line offering includes an impressive two-inch flat iron that's worth using, especially if you have long hair.
The tourmaline and ceramic plates allow the iron to heat up fast and evenly, all while smoothing your natural hair. The best part? You can pretty much guarantee that your coils will be frizz-free, thanks to the iron's infrared technology.
Speaking of infrared technology, that's KOSA's specialty. Essentially, this allows you to use a lower temperature because negative ions do the work for you. They help lock in moisture and banish frizz, meaning you're less likely to experience heat damage.
Like Dyson's, this 1-inch flat iron has floating plates. KOSA's plates are made with three layers of ceramic — infused with tourmaline chips — so your hair gets the best of both materials.
And if you're like me and always have to triple-check that you didn't forget to turn off your hot tools, then you'll likely appreciate the fact that this iron automatically shuts off after 60 minutes.
Whether Halle Berry's iconic pixie cut is on your Pinterest mood board or you just want to ensure that your part is frizz-free, you'll need to grab this fun-sized, cheap flat iron for natural hair.
In just 15 seconds flat, this mini flat iron heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Since it features tiny plates, you can easily straighten out any kinks at your roots, like touching up your bangs or ironing out your nape.
Costing you just under $28, this mini flat iron seems like the perfect addition to your hot tool collection.
Kamara Brown, a StyleSeat hairstylist and natural hair expert, loves using this flat iron on textured hair. She says it's great for thick, long, or coarse hair. Plus, the combination of tourmaline and ceramic plates — coupled with ionic technology — gives natural hair a long-lasting, smooth, and shiny finish.
This flat iron boasts T3's SinglePass technology, which is just a fancy way of saying you'll get frizz-free results right away. There are also CeraGloss ceramic plates that ensure your mane is smooth and shiny after styling.
Sporting an ergonomic handle, this lightweight flat iron for natural hair shouldn't feel uncomfortable while you're silk-pressing your coils.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
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