13 Hair Straighteners for Natural Hair That Won't Fry Your Strands

If you like to flat iron your type-4 hair on occasion and want to minimize the possibility of, you know, extreme heat damage, you need to find the right flat iron for natural hair. But if you've been burned by a poor-quality hair straightener before (I mean that both ways), you know that finding the right styling tools for your hair type, texture, length, and budget isn't easy. What works for your friend's 3b hair might not work for your 4c hair, so you want to make sure you find a straightener that's equipped with all the features to suit your hair needs and mitigate the damage. And to help you make the right choice, we turned to celeb hairstylists Annagjid "Kee" Taylor and David Lopez to explain exactly what to look for in a flat iron.

But before we get into the key qualities, as well as 13 of the best flat irons for natural hair, now's the time to remind you just how crucial the right styling products and heat protectants are for avoiding damage when heat styling. Before you even think about blow-drying your hair, apply a moisturizing hair serum (Taylor recommends the So Shear Genius Satin Shield) to prep your strands first. After your hair is dry, Lopez recommends using an aerosol heat protectant that has a starch to it, like Kenra Professional Platinum Heat Cast Spray 12, for style longevity.

If you live in a humid climate, Lopez says a humidity-blocking formula is key for minimizing the effects of frizz so you don't have to reach for the flat iron as frequently. Less flat ironing = less heat damage. And finally, always use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner between styling sessions for hydration and nourishment. Got it? Good. Now keep reading for all the deets on the best flat irons for natural hair, plus some tips from our gold-star experts.

Meet the experts

• Annagjid "Kee" Taylor is the owner of the natural haircare salon Deeper Than Hair and a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Keke Palmer, Tika Sumpter, and Tiffany Haddish. Taylor is also the owner of haircare brand Shear Genius Collection, the creator behind popular YouTube channel Deeper Than Hair TV, and the author of the children’s book All Hair Is Good Hair.
• David Lopez is an NYC-based beauty expert and celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Ashley Graham, Nikkie de Jager, and Hailey Bieber. Lopez is also a host on QVC and Beauty IQ, lead stylist for T3 Micro, Ulta Beauty Pro team member, Kenra Professional ambassador, and creative director of Glam Seamless.
  

The best flat irons for natural hair

• Best flat iron for customization: T3 Lucea ID 1” Smart Flat Iron with Touch Interface
• Best flat iron for minimizing tension: Deeper Than Hair 22TiTania Flat Iron
• Best flat iron for the price: InfinitiPro by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron
• Best flat iron for straightening long hair: Kim Kimble 2” Infrared Flat Iron
• Best flat iron for curling hair: Kristin Ess 3-in-One Flat Iron - 1 1/4"
• Best flat iron for tighter areas: FHI HEAT Platform Tourmaline Ceramic Professional Styling Flat Iron

How to choose the best flat iron for natural hair

Whether you choose a stripped-down straightener or one with all the extra modes and features, the experts say the best flat irons for natural hair have these four core elements: high-performance plates, customization options, consistent heat, and functional design. “All of these factors lead to less passes for you to get the look that you want, which minimizes the heat contact, which minimizes the heat damage,” Lopez says. Here's what to look for in each category:

Plates

Look for ceramic or titanium flat irons for your natural hair. Ceramic (Lopez's choice) holds the heat evenly, glides through the hair smoothly, and is ideal for a beginner, because the plates don't get overly hot. Taylor recommends titanium for someone who's a bit more experienced styling hair because of its overall smoother performance. Ceramic and titanium work on any hair type, but ceramic is gentler, while titanium is more efficient for hair that's resistant to straightening and needs more heat.

Customization

The more customization, the better, but at the very least, you want an adjustable heat dial on your flat iron. “Making sure that you are able to customize the heat is very important,” Lopez says. “Not everyone can use a certain heat level, meaning some hair types do have to dip lower than most when they are flat ironing their hair, especially, for example, natural hair that’s very delicate around the hairline that’s been heat-styled often.”

Heating element

When it comes to heat, Lopez says you want a flat iron that has even, consistent heat distribution across the entire plate (no hot spots). Lopez also suggests looking for a flat iron that emits negative ions, which help with static and create a shinier, smoother, more reflective surface on the hair.

Design

A flat iron that has floating plates, beveled edges, and rounded casing all allow for fewer creases and styling versatility. Lopez explains that smaller plates are better for reaching the hairline and close to the root, while larger plates will allow for faster straightening of longer hair and bigger sections. It goes without saying that the more modes, features, and design elements, the more expensive the tool.

Now that you know what you look for, get to shopping one of our top picks, here.