Flat Iron Brands: A Comprehensive Guide

When you’re looking for the best hair straighteners to buy, knowing what to expect from the different brands can be a massive bonus.

Today, I’ll give you my take on a few of the biggest hair straightener brands on the market so that you’ll know exactly what you’re getting when you choose to buy.

Let’s start from the very beginning and compare hair straightener brands from the drug store ranges right up to the top professional models, so you’ll know which hair straighteners do what.

Conair

The Conair flat iron range focuses on the lower end of the market and is most often found in drugstores, rather than salons. That being said, their products are a lot better if you compare straighteners from other drugstore brands in a similar price range.

In fact, there are one or two, such as the Infiniti Pro by Conair, that I’d actually recommend to someone who wants a cheap but good set of hair straighteners. If you look out for a sale, you can pick these up for under $25. They won’t last forever but they’ll definitely do the job while you’re saving up for the pair you really want!

Revlon

Yes, Revlon is everywhere! From makeup, to nail polish, to hair dryers: if it’s got anything to do with beauty, they make it! The Revlon hair straightener range is quite popular among users who have easily tamed hair and just want it for occasional touch ups. In my opinion, the Revlon flat iron is okay, but I’d rather buy hair straighteners from a specialized company.

Remington

Remington makes a huge range of home, health and beauty appliances and are very popular in department stores. The Remington hair straightener range has all sorts of features, including the steam flat iron and special anti-static irons for people prone to frizz.

Even though they are a bottom of the range brand, there’s got to be a reason they sell so many straighteners. For example, the Remington S5500, has recieved overwhemingly positive reviews on Amazon.com and has an average consumer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

If you’re on a tight budget, you’re pretty limited in which straighteners you can buy and Remington models like this one, while they are by no means of professional quality, are a pretty good option.

Hot Tools

These guys specialize in making fun, funky and affordable straighteners. Hot Tools’ number one aim in life is to make their hair straighteners cheap but good. Their straighteners come in lots of different designs and functions and retail for between $30 and $60. They aren’t professional grade, but they’re a cut above the drugstore models.

For looks alone, I love the HOT TOOLS HT5100ZB Safari Zebra Flat Iron. The funky zebra pattern makes it a fashion statement in itself and it makes a great gift for a pre-teen girl.

HSI

This company aims to make the best value hair straighteners on the market. They’ve tried to appeal to both ends of the market and produce both professional quality models and a range of lower priced (and less functional!) models. If you have the cash for a middle or top of the range iron, then HSI should definitely be in the running, but I’d sooner have the Remington than buy their cheaper products.

For example, their mid range model, the HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron is immensely popular. It’s actually a Number 1 Best Seller on Amazon.com with well over 20,000 positive reviews! You can pick this product up for around $50 and it’s worth every penny!

Izunami

This is another company which makes straighteners for both end of the market. Their upper range are really good flat irons so, if you’re looking to spend around $150 and are wondering what hair straightener to buy, models like the IZUTECH Flat Iron Ktx450 are well worth your consideration. I’d stay away from the lower range, though, as reviews suggest that there are issues with reliability.

Solia

The Solia flat iron range is developed by a smaller company which makes quality irons in the mid price range. You can expect to pay around $60 for one of their irons and they provide everything that most people need. Some reviewers have reported issues with parts but they have good warranties and this is definitely a brand to keep an eye out for as they get themselves established.

Rusk

The rusk flat iron is tailored to appeal to the middle of the market and their prices range from $40 to $80. Some of their models use the word “professional” in their title but they are not quite up to the mark of the professional brands. However, they make solid straighteners that are a great option for home or travel use.

If you’re looking for something convenient for travel, the Rusk RSK688 W8less Professional Str8 Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron is a light and compact wireless option.

Croc

The Croc flat iron is named for its unique shape, which resembles the jaws of a crocodile. This shape is actually a really clever design because it grips the hair really well and you can use them for long styling sessions without discomfort in the wrist or hand.

They are definitely a higher end brand and models such as the Croc Titanium Flat Iron, Premium Black are extremely popular in stylist circles.

CHI

The Chi hair straightener is probably the most recognized name in the industry. They were the first to revolutionize styling with the ceramic plate and many hair straightener reviews claim that they still make the best ceramic flat iron.

Models like the CHI PRO G2 Digital Titanium Infused Ceramic Flat Iron have a faithful following among stylists and home users alike. This Ionic Tourmaline Hair Straightener can be purchased for around $120 and is really excellent for coarse hair types.

Babyliss Pro

Another model that you’re most likely to find in a professional salon is the Babyliss flat iron. This company specializes in professional flat irons and makes a wide range of very popular models including their titanium flat iron and tourmaline flat iron. There are tons of cheap imitations of the Babyliss Pro out there, so shop carefully and make sure you’re getting the real thing!

Bio Ionic

And, last but not least, my absolute favorite. I’ve used a lot of top flat irons and, in my opinion, Bio Ionic offers the very best professional flat iron! Why do I think this is the absolute hair straightener best brand? Because the Bio Ionic products are just so versatile and so effective! Use them as a straightening iron, for detailing in hair ups, for that elegant flick under and even as a curling flat iron. And the ionic technology in their models fight frizz like nothing I’ve ever seen!

At the moment, my go-to straightener is my Bio Ionic OnePass Iron - it heats up evenly and quickly and the silicone coated plates mean that it glides effortlessly down the hair - leaving it silky and straight in just one sweep and causing the least possible damage. This is my own personal silver bullet hair straightener.

Smaller Brands

Even if we think of the brands I listed above as “The Big Twelve” they are by no means the only ones out there. There are hundreds of other manufacturers jumping on the flat iron bandwagon - and some of them are actually quite good!

, For example, ISA makes a number of models that retail for over $100 and claim to make the best flat iron for thick hair. Among the lesser known brands who aim to make professional quality straighteners, you’ll also find the H2pro flat iron, Fhi flat iron, Infrashine flat iron, Corioliss flat iron, t3 flat iron and the Solano flat iron. These are quickly gaining popularity in stylist circles and I’ll be watching carefully to see if any of them can knock my Bio Ionic off its perch!

Other brands, such as the Herstyler flat iron, GVP flat iron, Amika flat iron, Hai flat iron and Jilbere flat iron target the middle of the market, making straighteners priced around the $60 to $80 mark.

Bear in mind that even the top 10 hair straighteners brands in the universe started off small and only got big because people were willing to give them a go, found they were excellent, and spread the word! So don’t completely write off the smaller brands - you might miss out on a pot of gold! Keep your eyes peeled: I’ll be adding lots of reviews of all the different brands in the coming weeks.
Xoxo Elley.