These Flat Irons Will Put Your High School Version to Shame (2025)

Using a flat iron can feel like a delicate balance: You want enough heat to create super-glassy, pin-straight strands that stay in place but not so much that it causes damage. (We'll never forget the smell of our burned flat-ironed hair in high school.) To do it right, you need time, patience, and most importantly, an innovative tool. Today's flat irons boast advanced technology, features, and designs that make hair straightening faster, easier, and safer.

The Best Way to Wield Your New Tool
The most important thing to remember: "As you straighten the hair, maintain consistent movement, gliding the iron from roots to ends. If you hold it for too long in one spot, you'll damage the hair," says celebrity hairstylist Sophie Gutterman. The next key tip: Look for an iron with adjustable heat settings; temperature is not one-number-fits-all. Those with fine or damaged hair should keep hot tools at or below 300ºF, which is generally recommended to prevent damage while still achieving desired style.

If you like to curl your hair with a flat iron, you'll want to pay attention to the shape of the plates. "I love when the flat iron's edges are rounded versus square because then you can also use the flat iron to create a curl or wave," Gutterman says. Keep scrolling for the flat irons that will get the job done with ease.

With this tool, you can create pin-straight hair, waves, or polished curls thanks to rounded edges and 1.25-inch titanium floating plates. We like that this is a more affordable flat iron than other options but still offers a professional-looking finish.

Keep your hair protected and shiny with this flat iron. The one-inch ceramic-coated tourmaline plates are infused with aloe to provide easy glide and nourishment to the hair while styling. The ionic technology also helps to reduce frizz and enhance shine.

Curly and coarse hair textures can handle more heat than finer textures, says Gutterman. That's why she loves "being able to see how hot the iron gets with the LED display—it sold me!" she says, adding that she also loves its 1.25-inch plates, unique color, and ability to create straight and curly hair with ease.

Cut styling time in half with this two-in-one tool. Unlike hot plates that may take a second to heat up, this straightener utilizes air to dry and straighten hair simultaneously, so you can go from wet to dry with minimal damage. It has high-tech features such as an LED screen display, auto-pause, a lock feature that keeps the arms in place so you can use it like a blow-dryer, and intuitive airflow, meaning it senses when your hair is not between the arms and drops to a lower airflow for a quieter styling experience.

Consider this flat iron your trusty go-to that always offers sleek results with minimal breakage. It automatically adjusts the heat to 365°F, an ideal temperature to help avoid excess heat damage. (The iron's tech distributes and maintains the heat so well that it still creates smooth, shiny results.) The edges are curved to easily create curls or waves as well.

Get high-quality results anywhere you go with this cordless flat iron. You can get over 40 minutes of styling time on a single battery, and you can adjust the heat up to 425˚F. It's lightweight and easy to store, and you can take it wherever you go (even internationally).

This tool surrounds hair with steam as you glide down the strands to straighten. The steam helps prevent excess breakage and split ends. In addition to plates, there's an integrated comb to help detangle hair while straightening. To use, you'll need to fill the built-in water tank with filtered water using the provided bottle then adjust the heat to the preferred setting. Ensure the arrows on the SteamPod are pointing downwards before using. Then, clamp a thin section of hair and glide through to the ends slowly. You can also use this tool to curl or wave hair.

Available in 1, 1.5, and 2 inches, the ultra-smooth titanium plates on this iron heat up quickly and glide through all hair types. The plates are up to five inches longer than the average flat iron to cover more hair and offer a faster styling experience. There are also up to 50 heat settings, allowing you to customize the temperature depending on your hair type and needs.

Stop into your local drugstore for this wallet-friendly option. It features AirPause technology, which activates airflow when you squeeze the handles together to dry hair as you straighten. It also has built-in teeth to detangle and smooth hair with every pass.