Finding the best flat iron for black hair can be a difficult task, with all the ones available on the market today.
There are a lot of factors you must consider and since most of the high-quality flat irons are pricy, you must do your research before you make the jump and invest in a straightener.
So, here I have reviewed some of my top choices for the best flat iron for black hair as well as created a buyer’s guide to help you find the answers you need!
Top 9 Best Flat Irons for Black Hair Reviewed
- BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron — Top Pick
- CROC Classic Silver Titanium Flat Iron — Runner Up
- ghd Platinum+ Styler — Premium Pick
- Moroccanoil Perfectly Polished Titanium Flat Iron
- Best Steam Iron: L’Oreal Professionnel Steampod
- Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Ion Smooth+ Ceramic Flat Iron
- FHI HEAT Platform Tourmaline Ceramic Professional Styling Flat Iron
- HSI Professional Glider — Best Budget Pick
- BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Ionic Straightener — Best Mini Iron
1. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron — Top Pick
You can also find this product on Ulta, Bed Bath & Beyond.
Let’s be honest, who hasn’t heard of BaByliss? Every stylist I know as well as most of my clients own at least one of their products.
They have been a household name in the beauty industry for many years and this is due to the high quality of their hair products and tools.
So, it’s no wonder that their BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium flat iron is my top pick for the best hair straightener for black hair.
Plate Width: 1.5 inches
Plate Type: Titanium
Weight: 1.5 pounds
Voltage: 120V
Temperature settings: Up to 465F
There are a few features that make this flat iron unique from its competition. The ultra-slim design of this straightener not only makes it look sleek and modern but also makes the tool easy to use.
It’s slim and light, so it is designed to eliminate stress on the hand while straightening. That means no more arm cramps while flat ironing, which is an important feature in a professional flat iron for black hair.
The Nano Titanium technology in the plates is there to seal moisture into your hair and minimize heat damage, so it will protect your beautiful black hair.
All the materials used in creating this flat iron are of high quality, so you can know that it’s a good investment and will last you a long time.
Love these features:
- Allows for flexibility while straightening
- Quick heating-up
- Straightens with a single pass
- Long swivel cord
Could do better:
- Dial may be slightly difficult to turn
2. CROC Classic Silver Titanium Flat Iron — Runner Up
You can also find this product on Ulta.
CROC is a Southern California-based brand that has recently been gaining more popularity for its high-quality products. If you purchase a (crocodile-shaped) straightener from this brand, you can be sure that you are getting the very best.
Plate Width: 1.5 inches
Plate Type: Silver Titanium
Weight: 1 pound
Voltage: 110V
Temperature settings: 280-450F
One of the most noticeable differences between this flat iron and others is obviously the design.
Based on the company name this black hair straightener is shaped kind of like a crocodile head and this makes it that much easier to use.
The section of the plates is designed like this to make straightening easier and the whole process smoother.
This is a flat iron you will usually find in salons, so you can get a salon-quality tool to straighten your black hair in the comfort of your own home.
The silver titanium plates heat up surprisingly fast only in a matter of seconds.
Love these features:
- Auto shut-off after 40 minutes
- Ergonomic light-weight design
- Convenient placing of the control buttons
Could do better:
- May sometimes shut off during straightening
3. ghd Platinum+ Styler — Premium Pick
You can also find this product on Ulta, Sephora.
If you have checked out any of my other review articles, you may already know that I tend to include at least one ghd product in my lists. This search for finding the best black hair straightener is no exception.
Their products are known for being super durable and this Platnium+ styler is my premium pick for those who are willing to splurge a little bit on a high-quality tool.
Plate Width: 1.5 inches
Plate Type: Ceramic
Weight: 1 pound
Voltage: Universal
Temperature settings: 365F
You may notice that this straightener is different from the two previously reviewed due to its plate material.
This flat iron has ceramic plates compared to my first two picks with titanium plates.
Ceramic is a material that doesn’t heat up as quickly, however, is much more gentle on the hair.
If your hair tends to break often and is usually dry, then ceramic plates are the better option for you. Another unique feature is the heat monitoring technology.
The flat iron itself regulates the heat it produces multiple times per second to make sure it maintains even heat that won’t damage your hair.
These two features, along with many more that you will notice during styling make this a candidate for the best flat iron for black hair.
Love these features:
- Wishbone hinge for flexibility
- Design that minimizes snagging
- Universal voltage (great for travel)
Could do better:
- Plates are short
4. Moroccanoil Perfectly Polished Titanium Flat Iron
You can also find this product on Sephora.
You may be surprised to find a Moroccan Oil product in my review of a professional flat iron for black hair since they are more known for creating products like serums, masks, and more however they have high-quality hair tools as well.
This perfectly polished titanium flat iron is truly one of my favorites of all time.
Plate Type: Titanium
Plate Width: 2 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Temperature settings: up to 430F
Color: Turquoise
As you would expect, Moroccan Oil integrates its signature turquoise color into its hair tools as well.
This flat iron is a beautiful bright color and you don’t have to worry about losing it anytime soon.
But, jokes aside this is a tool that has uniquely long 4-inch plates which are a huge benefit and puts it high in the contenders for the best flat iron for African American hair.
The long plates cover a lot of surface area make sure you just need 1-2 glides over a section of hair to make it perfectly straight.
I also love titanium as a plate material since it always achieves a smooth and sleek finish without frizz or flyaways. It has a long swivel cord which also makes the whole styling process much easier.
Love these features:
- Buttons on the inside of the handles
- Long cord for flexible styling
- Heats up very quickly
Could do better:
- Long plates may snag hair
5. Best Steam Iron: L’Oreal Professionnel Steampod
You can also find this product on Ulta, Sephora.
Even if you are a newbie in the beauty industry, L’Oreal is a brand you probably know and trust.
They have all sorts of products including makeup, hair products, and more, and have been running the industry since 1909.
The fact that they have been around for so long should already start to convince you that this Steampod is worth trying out.
Plate Type: Steam Plate with Removable Comb
Plate Width: 2 inches
Weight: 1.32 pounds
Temperature settings: 350-410F
Voltage: 120V
This flat iron is different from the others in this guide since it is a steam iron. The technology behind the design is very basic, similar to a clothing iron.
You just fill the tank with distilled water, select your desired temperature, wait for the iron to heat up, and just get to styling as you usually would.
The anodized-coated floating plates are great at fully flattening hair while putting it at minimum risk for damage.
The water tank will hold enough water to straighten a full head of hair, so there will be no refilling involved.
It also comes with a removable comb attachment which I love, so you can comb and straighten at the same time, achieving an even smoother look at the end.
I can surely say that this is the best steam flat iron for natural African American hair I have tried.
Love these features:
- Easy-to-hold design
- Swivel cord for flexible styling
- Cuts down on styling time by a lot
- Floating plates ensure no snagging
Could do better:
- Requires distilled water (not tap water)
6. Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express Ion Smooth+ Ceramic Flat Iron
You can also find this product on Ulta, Walmart.
Paul Mitchell is a well-known celebrity stylist who decided to create his own products over 22 years ago. Now his tools are being used in many salons and homes.
If you haven’t tried a Paul Mitchell product let me just tell you, this company makes some of the best flat irons for black natural hair.
Plate Type: Ceramic
Plate Width: 1.25 inches
Weight: 1.3 pounds
Temperature settings: up to 410F
Voltage: Dual
The slim rounded floating plates of this flat iron make it easy for you to really reach the roots of your hair and straighten without crimping.
The plates are also cushioned which makes sure that the heat is distributed evenly so you can just go over a section once and it will be enough.
This flat iron doesn’t look very special from the outside but it’s a great tool to have in your home.
I haven’t had it for a long time but I can tell that the materials are super high quality and an overwhelming majority of the reviews state that this is a highly durable flat iron.
So, if you are willing to invest in a flat iron knowing it’s the best flat iron for African American hair, then go for this one!
Love these features:
- Heats up in 60 seconds
- Auto shut-off after 60 minutes
- Large digital display for temperature
- One year warranty
Could do better:
- 410F may not be hot enough for some hair
7. FHI HEAT Platform Tourmaline Ceramic Professional Styling Flat Iron
You can also find this product on Walmart.
FHI is a daily newcomer to the industry that has been around for only 18 years, however, they are making huge strides with their products.
Their hair tools are a staple in most salons and are durable and straighten very well but at a very affordable price.
Plate Type: Tourmaline Ceramic
Voltage:120-240V
Weight: 1 pound
Temperature settings: 140-450F
Color: Black with red plates
This is one of the best flat irons for natural black hair due to its technology that works to seal in moisture and reduce frizz.
The bright red plates repel humidity, so you won’t have to worry about hair crimping during straightening.
Heat is distributed very evenly so you can know that all it takes is a single stride to straighten your natural hair.
The long swivel cord and auto shut-off after one hour are just two more benefits that make this straightener so great.
Love these features:
- 12ft swivel cord
- Auto shut-off after one hour
- Maintains even heat very well
Could do better:
- Hard-to-read temperature dial
8. HSI Professional Glider — Best Budget Pick
You can also find this product on Walmart.
HSI is a good brand that produces high-quality amazing products at a highly affordable price.
If you are on a strict budget but are still looking for tools that will style your curly hair, then this HSI Professional Glider is your best option for a good flat iron for natural African American hair.
Plate Type: Ceramic
Plate Width: 1 inch
Voltage: Dual
Temperature settings: 140-450F
Color: Black with red plates
Don’t let the position of this flat iron on the list fool you, it’s almost on the level of all the others on the list.
It’s the best cheap flat iron for African American hair and for its price, it’s a very good deal.
The ceramic and tourmaline crystal ion plates will be gentle on your curls but will straighten them with a few passes.
The plates also move around slightly and even though it won’t affect the straightening effect, it will be great when you want to achieve beach waves with a flat iron.
It’s easy to hold and use because it’s a fairly compact design and the swivel cord also makes straightening easier.
Love these features:
- Super long swivel cord
- Convenient placing of temperature buttons in the straightener
- Different sizes available
Could do better:
- Temperature dial (no display)
9: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Ionic Straightener — Best Mini Iron
You can also find this product on Walmart.
I already raved about how much I love BaByliss products above so I won’t get into it so much. However, this is a product I like taking with me on the go because it’s all the features I love in a compact small size.
Plate Width: 0.75 inches
Plate Type: Titanium
Weight: 0.9 pounds
Temperature settings: 140-450F
Color: Silver and Blue
This BaByliss flat iron is great for those always on the go. It’s super small yet amazing at straightening thick hair. The titanium plates are noticeably very high quality.
The IonMultiplier Technology of this flat iron makes sure that heat is evenly maintained throughout the styling process. If you are always traveling, or just need a small flat iron to keep in your purse, this is the one for you.
Love these features:
- Compact mini flat iron
- Comes with a traveling case
- Long swivel cord
Could do better:
- Temperature dial (no display)
How to Pick a Flat Iron for Black Hair
In order to make it easier to pick a flat iron for black hair, there are a few factors you have to consider. Here is what you should be looking for when choosing a flat iron.
Plate Material
Nowadays, there are a lot of new materials being used to create hair tools but the three that I would consider the best and most widely used are titanium, ceramic, and tourmaline.
None are necessarily better than the others, they each have their own benefits!
Titanium
Titanium is a highly durable and expensive material used to make heat tools. It is generally a lighter material, so the flat irons with titanium plates are also light.
Titanium is also highly resistant to rust and also tarnishes, which makes these tools durable and snag-free. This means even if you spend a lot of money on a titanium tool, you can know that it will last you a long time.
Titanium plates on a flat iron lock in moisture and seal the hair shaft, which means no more frizz or breakage.
This material heats up very quickly and maintains this heat during the styling process, so these flat irons are ideal for people with thick, curly, and coarse hair so ranging from 3A-4C hair.
Ceramic
Ceramics is the most common material used for flat iron plates. Although it heats up slower than titanium, it’s better at distributing this heat evenly.
It has ion-neutralizing properties that put your hair at a lower risk of damage as well as minimize frizz. Ceramic flat irons are best for hair that is susceptible to heat damage and doesn’t do well with high temperatures.
If you have natural hair that is thinner and doesn’t require a lot of heat to style, ceramic plates are for you. Make sure your flat iron has full ceramic plates and not just ceramic coating.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a stone material that’s used for creating flat iron plates. It can be present alone on plates or alongside ceramic. Flat irons with tourmaline plates tend to be highly durable and can last you for years.
Tourmaline releases negative ions which help settle down curly thick hair and minimize frizz. Straightening with tourmaline flat irons can also provide the hair with a shiny finished look.
It’s an all-around great material that works on any type of hair and is especially great for easily straightening hair that other materials can’t tackle.
The only downside is that it is fairly expensive but totally worth the investment.
Also read:
What is a steam flat iron?
Stem flat irons work similarly to regular irons that remove wrinkles from clothes. You will fill a steam flat iron tank with distilled water, and turn up the heat.
Distilled water is used to avoid mineral build-up from normal water. The steam flat iron will heat the water and then emit vapor which will smooth out your hair.
The vapor will be emitted through special holes in the flat iron plates. Hair that is resistant to regular straightening with a normal flat iron can be tamed with a steam flat iron.
There are a few benefits to using a steam flat iron. Firstly, it works well on coarse and curly natural hair that may be too much for a regular straightener.
As you can probably guess, using steam also hydrates the hair which not only prevents heat damage but also makes hair look healthy and shiny.
The effects of a steam flat iron also tend to last longer than that of regular flat iron, keeping your hair straight for a long time. Lastly, steam iron vapor also makes hair resistant to humidity, so you can say goodbye to frizz.
Temperature Settings
In the past, flat irons used to come with a single on/off button without any temperature controls. However, the ability to control temperature settings is very important.
This will help you turn up the heat to the degree you need to straighten your hair fully while also being able to avoid using more heat than necessary.
Hair textures 1A-2A with an average density won’t require too much heat to straighten and about 300-400F should be fine. You can start off with a lower degree and just gradually go higher until you read the temperature you need.
For curlier hair with textures 2B-3C that’s usually more coarse you are definitely going to want to go higher. It’s safe to say that the flat iron has to be above 300F and usually up to 410F.
Once again, it’s better to start low and go higher instead of immediately starting at 400F.
The lower heat you use the better, but if it requires more than 2 passes to straighten a section of hair, then you may be at a temperature that’s too low.
Textures above 3C will be harder to handle because these curls tend to be collier and thicker. This type of hair usually requires a flat iron at 350F even up to 425F.
Remember that these are high temperatures, so be wary of your skin and hands while using a flat iron at this temperature.
Plate Size
Alongside the above-mentioned factors, the flat iron plate size is also important when it comes to straightening African American hair. The best plate size for hair of average length is about 1-1.2 inches.
Narrower plates don’t have a lot of surface area, which means, less heat and longer styling times. These plates will also require multiple passes to cover the entire length, putting your hair at a higher risk of damage.
Wider plates will work well on longer, curly hair but will be harder to maneuver and will make it difficult to reach the roots of your hair.
Additional Features
There are a few other features you can look out for to find the perfect flat iron. A long, swivel cord won’t affect the outcome of the styling but it will make the process that much easier.
A swivel cord means you can flip the flat iron around while straightening without having to readjust your sitting position.
This will help make the styling process easier along with cutting down on the time.
Auto shut-off is another great feature you should look out for. This is when the flat iron automatically turns off after about an hour, so you can go about your day even if you aren’t sure you switched it off before leaving the house.
This minimizes the risk of fires and is overall a great feature. Another bonus feature you should look for is the warranty.
Warranty will guarantee that your flat iron will be repaired or replaced in case of damage within a certain time period.
This is usually available when you purchase a flat iron from directly the selling company and not a third-party seller.
How to Use a Flat Iron on Black Hair
First and foremost, it is important to start the styling process with clean hair. Otherwise, you will, in a way, bake the dirt and buildup into your hair which will affect both the look and the health of your hair.
Then, it’s vital that you use some sort of heat protectant spray or serum to seal the cuticle and layer your hair strands with a protective coat, otherwise you risk heat damage.
Divide your hair into sections (1-1.5 inches) and clip them together. Flat ironing all at once will be tedious and much more time-consuming than necessary. Once you have your sections, it’s time to start straightening.
Remember, slow and steady wins the race. It’s better to slowly straighten a section and only go over it with one pass as opposed to trying to go fast and having to glide over the hair multiple times.
You can also go the extra mile and hold a brush under the iron as you go through the hair, so you are both combing and ironing at once. This will make sure you have silky smooth hair after each pass.
That’s basically all there is to it, just start from the roots and slowly go down, with or without a brush. Once you are done, you can add some gloss for extra shine and you are good to go.
Picking Straightener for African American Hair – FAQs
Is ceramic or titanium better for 4c hair?
Both of these materials have their benefits. Ceramic is much gentler on hair and applies less heat, however, titanium is better for hair that is super curly and resistant to straightening.
For 4c hair, I would recommend titanium for easier and faster styling. But, if you don’t mind going over a section multiple times and spending a little more time on straightening hair, then go for ceramic.
How can I flat iron my black hair without damaging it?
Whenever you use heat to style your black hair, you put it at risk of damage. To minimize this risk, always use heat protectant spray or serum before styling.
Try to go over a section of hair only once or twice, since a few passes may damage black hair. Focus on using products like masks, serums, and sprays that are targeted at protecting black curly hair.
Can you curl black hair with a flat iron?
Yes, as long as you know the technique. If your hair is already curly, you will have to get it to be somewhat straight at first before you can use a twirling technique to curl your hair with a flat iron.
Final Thoughts
With my top pick being the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin flat iron, there are still a lot of options you can choose from for your next favorite flat iron.
Just look out for the features mentioned above, and you should be good to go! Have you tried any of the flat irons I reviewed, what did you think? Let everyone down below!
Also read:
- Best Flat Irons for Silk Press
- CHI vs BaByliss Flat Irons
- Best Hair Straightener & Curler Combo
- Best Vibrating Hair Straighteners
- Best Wet to Dry Straighteners
- Rusk Flat Iron Reviews
- Best 1/2 inch Flat Irons
- Silk Press vs Flat Iron
- Curling Iron vs Flat Iron
References:
- How to Prevent and Repair Heat-Damaged Hair, According to Pros – https://www.dermstore.com/blog/heat-damaged-hair/
- Flat Iron Tips: How To Not Let Your Straightener Ruin Your Hair – https://www.huffpost.com/entry/flat-iron-tips-hair-damage_n_5024242
Allyson Carter
Ally is a professional hairstylist with more than 6 years of experience, but hair has been her passion since early childhood. Here, at Hair Spies, she blogs about all things hairdressing, hair tools, and everyday hair care. Read more about Allyson here.
