PRO
Lightweight
Heats up fast
Features quick recovery system
CONS
Tends to overheat
Not suitable for damaged hair
Hunting for the best flat iron for black hair or the best flat iron for African American hair isn’t an easy endeavor “thanks” to the vast variety of brands out there in the market. Chances are you might find one brand marketing their non-damaging features whilst others boasting their plate materials—either way, you’ll be bound to be on trial and error.
So how do you even start looking for the right flat iron for yourself?
While we are all made equal, flat irons aren’t, or rather not all of them are. With the abundance of choices, some irons may fail straightening your thick hair to cascading tresses whereas other flat irons may succeed instantly.
When purchasing a flat iron for natural hair, it’s important that you be clear on your needs and wants. Understanding your hair is one way to go, by identifying the types of irons that are suitable for your hair type, finding out which one of them can distribute heat evenly,
figuring out how to deal with common straightening problems, and many more.
Without beating around the bush, let’s delve into the 13 best flat irons for black hair. Behold the comprehensive list that works especially well for natural African American hair.
The BaBylissPRO is our top pick courtesy of its affordability. You can count on it to get the job done anytime. Boasting titanium-plated ionic plates that are infused with ceramic, the technology is a breakthrough design which offers full coverage in ironing your hair. It maintains a Ryton housing that controls extremely high temperatures, making it more durable even under high pressure. If you’re not down for waiting, look no further than this flat iron which will heat up in milliseconds, yet has a speedy heat recovery system. Thanks to its lightweight body, you can easily pack things up right after you’re done styling.
Ceramic plated flat iron with great temperature control.
Lightweight
Heats up fast
Features quick recovery system
Tends to overheat
Not suitable for damaged hair
This flat iron is one to live for if you’re on a budget! Its 1-inch plate is made of ceramic and micro-sensors that evenly distributes heat through your hair. We love that this hsi flat iron comes with adjustable temperature settings that can reach a maximum of 450 Fahrenheit. Better yet, each of your purchases comes with a box that includes protective gloves, a travel pouch, and a sample of hair-loving argan oil, you’re basically getting more than what you’ve paid for!
Professional flat iron with a 1-inch, ceramic plate and micro sensors.
Features adjustable temperature settings
Heats up quickly
Reduces frizz and static
Doesn’t have an automatic shut-off feature
Bulky
We’re calling this another best flat iron for black hair because it’s a beast. The GHD Platinum + Professional Performance Styler is able to predict your hair needs and monitor the heat settings at a speed of 250x a second, all thanks to an intelligent feature. The built-in sensors can instantly pinpoint your hair type and choose the perfect heat setting for optimal results. Its ceramic 1-inch plate type caters for your preferred styling temperature, and is said to be able to reduce breakage by up to 70%. Another feature we love about this ghd flat iron is that it boasts a technology that ensures zero cold spots as you style your hair. Rather than you pressing on your hair multiple times, it does everything for you in one run.
: Ceramic flat iron with a 1-inch plate and built-in sensors.
Automatically uses the best styling temperature for each hair type
Avoids distributing too much heat
Tames down coils
Adds shine to the hair
Pricey
Non-adjustable heat setting
If you’re looking for a flat iron that is both effective and durable but doesn’t cost you a bomb, look no further than this model by Conair. This flat iron features tourmaline ceramic plates which provide efficient hair straightening while eliminating frizz. Not to mention it’s also extremely gentle hence dry- and thin-hair friendly without them being susceptible to heat damage or burns. Despite that, we still recommend that you use a heat protectant. We find this pick one of the best ceramic flat irons for afro textured hair thanks to its ability to tame even the curliest of hair strands.
Flat iron with floating plates, tourmaline ceramic plates for even heat distribution.
Distributes heat evenly on the hair
Ensures zero cold spots
Heats up within 15 seconds
Can heat up to a maximum of 450 degree Fahrenheit
Doesn’t have an LCD temperature display
Nobody likes getting their hands ache when styling their hair, in this case, we introduce to you the Croc Classic flat iron that boasts a curvy body. Its ergonomic design gives you a comfortable grip without causing pain in your fingers and wrist. It also avoids the straightener from slipping out of your hands—which is especially helpful if you have children or pets around you. We love that this flat iron for black hair has an instant heating feature together with an automatic shut-off option. It heats up within 30 seconds, even if you max up the volume to the highest level of 450 degree Fahrenheit. When left unused for more than 20 minutes, it’ll shut down on its own, which is helpful if you’re a forgetful person or just too busy in general—hands down one of the best titanium flat irons out there!
Flat iron with a curvy body for comfortable grip.
Ergonomic design
Heats up instantly
Automatically shuts off when left unused
Heats up too quickly you may burn yourself
If you have damaged, prone-to-damage, thin or fine hair, the Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Express makes the perfect hair straightener thanks to its ceramic plates and a controllable heat setting that allows you to adjust with the LCD monitor. The wide plates work to smooth down your tangles easily if your hair is extremely long and thick. Most importantly, you don’t have to spend hours trying to straighten your tresses as it can handle large sections of hair per pass with ease. On top of that, the plates are designed with a special type of silicone that prevents snagging and tangling when you’re straightening your hair. Its ionic and infrared heat technology also imparts a glossy and bouncy finish to your hairdo.
Flat Iron with high quality ceramic plates designed with a unique silicone.
Comes with an LCD monitor
Smooths down tangles
Ideal for long, thick hair
Uses infrared and ionic technology
No auto-shut off feature
Tends to produce too much heat
When it comes to the best flat iron for black hair, it’s important to opt for one that’s gentle and won’t damage your hair. Lucea Electric Flat Iron boats a T3 plate material that’s made of premium ceramic, which smooths the hair while it straightens. The plate’s ionic technology helps tame down frizzy hair while adding shine to it, making it a great flat iron for those with African American natural hair.
Flat iron with a T3 plate material made of premium ceramic.
Uses ionic technology to reduce frizz and add shine to the hair
Distributes heat evenly
Lightweight design and non-slip grip
Smooths the hair as it straightens
Has an automatic shut-off feature
Slightly pricey
We know how it feels to be stuck with a flat iron that promises everything else but the ability to deal with thick hair. The FHI HEAT styling iron is one to count on for that matter. It comes in fairly lightweight, making it easy to hold and boasts a slip-resistant coat that allows you to hold it firmly while using. Coming In 4 different sizes: ½ inch, 1 inch, 1 ¼ inch, and 1 ¾ inch, it works well whether you have short, medium or long hair. The variety of sizes also offer more flexibility when straightening or curling natural hair. It has nano-titanium plates and adjustable heat settings, so you’ll never have to worry about frying your follicles, or damaging your hair cuticles, ever again—also making it one of the best flat irons for dry and damaged hair.
Flat iron with 4 different plate sizes to cater for every hair length.
Has a 2-year warranty
Reduces frizz
Starts with a temperature of 176 degrees and ends at 450 degrees
Easy to use
Boasts several great features
Malfunctions after months of use
This innovative flat iron by Infrashine is one of the best irons for natural hair and has some of the greatest features you’ll ever find in styling tools. The ergonomic design is easy to grip, and the 1-inch ceramic plates are ideal for all hair texture and types. This heavy-duty silk press flat iron for black hair comes with a 9-foot cord that prevents tangles, and will make straightening 4c hair a breeze. This product features premium tourmaline crystal ion plates that are infused with micro-silica to help reduce frizz and add shine while you style.
Ergonomic flat iron with tourmaline crystal ion plates that are infused with micro-silica to fight frizz and add shine.st you for up to six weeks.
Glides smoothly down the hair
Reduces frizz and adds shine
Features a temperature dial for easy adjustment
Prone to overheating
Though not available on Amazon, we’re letting it pass because we think this is one high quality flat iron that deserves some recognition! The Kipozi professional flat iron is pure ceramic-plated and is wrapped in titanium that does more than just smoothing out insane frizz. The sleekness you’ll get from it is straight up superior. It comes with an LED light that serves to give you a signal and stop sending heat whenever the plates reach the set temperature—deliver silky smooth and visibly healthier hair while keeping your kids and pets safe! The nano-titanium and PTC ceramic make a great combination, plus, you can simply engage the locking system, leave it plugged in, and not worry about your children accidentally turning it on when you’re not around. Catering to all hair types, this flat iron for black hair has adjustable heat settings from 170 degrees Fahrenheit to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ceramic flat iron with plates wrapped in titanium.
LED light signals and stops distribute heat when desired temperature is reached
Locking system prevents the flat iron from being accidentally switched on
Great for all hair types
Affordable
Low versatility
Maybe you don’t want to shell out a ton of money for a flat iron no matter how great of a tool it is, then the Remington 1-inch anti static flat iron is for you. This budget-friendly ceramic flat iron styles hair quickly while being the most gentle. It only takes 30 seconds to heat up and you can adjust the temperature to a maximum of 410 degrees Fahrenheit on a handy digital display. To ensure some peace of mind, there’s also a 60-minute automatic shut-off feature if you happen to leave the flat iron unattended.
Affordable ceramic flat iron with floating plates.
Heats up quickly
Has floating plates
Has an automatic shut-off feature
Requires longer styling time for long, coarse hair
To fight frizzes, knots, tangles, and split ends while you straighten your naturally curly hair, opt for a flat iron with ionic technology. This pick by BaBylissPRO utilizes the power of four advanced technologies: graphite, titanium, ceramic, and ionic to gently straighten hair, especially those that are damaged.
Advanced flat iron with four technologies: graphite, titanium, ceramic, and ionic.
Boasts multiple technologies
Suitable for those with fine or damaged hair,
Has dual voltage for travel
Pricey
This best flat iron has extra-long four-inch titanium plates that maximizes surface area for fast performance and even heat distribution. The titanium plates glide smoothly and seamlessly for silky, frizz-free styles, adding extra shine. The digital display it comes with gives precise temperature control of up to a maximum of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Better yet, it has an automatic shut-off feature.
Titanium flat iron with four inch plates.
Ideal for long hair
Smooth titanium plates
Shuts off automatically when left unattended for 60 minutes
Pricey
The BaBylissPRO is our top pick courtesy of its affordability. You can count on it to get the job done anytime. Boasting titanium-plated ionic plates that are infused with ceramic, the technology is a breakthrough design which offers full coverage in ironing your hair. It maintains a Ryton housing that controls extremely high temperatures, making it more durable even under high pressure. If you’re not down for waiting, look no further than this flat iron which will heat up in milliseconds, yet has a speedy heat recovery system. Thanks to its lightweight body, you can easily pack things up right after you’re done styling.
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Last Updated on August 12, 2022 by Celine