20 Best Flat Irons For Thick Hair

When you have thick hair, you expect your flat iron to do a lot of work. And that’s why owning a high-quality one is less likely to damage your hair.

You want the best flat iron that is safe and gentle, but also powerful and will get the job done. You may find great options that are ceramic, tourmaline, titanium, or a combination of any of the three. You want great results but to stay as anti-damage as possible, and that means avoiding friction, pulls, snags, and excessive heat that leads to damage. 

When buying beauty products like this, you must consider plate sizes too. Larger plates can cover more strands of hair to cut styling time and the amount of time your hair is going to be touched by heat. 

Remember, you want an option that’s powerful enough to get the job done of taming coarse or thick hair, but gentle enough to keep it healthy. And these flat irons can help.

RELATED: 20 Best Hair Straightening Treatments For Smooth, Silky Tresses

1. SEDU Revolution 1" Professional Styling Iron

“I was born with wild thick, curly hair, and it's one of the reasons why I wanted to become a hairstylist,” says Stephanie Angelone, lead stylist at RPZL. “I have sifted through tons of flat irons. My all-time favorite is the Sedu Revolution. It heats up evenly and it’s all ceramic so it’s non damaging on the hair.”

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

2. BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron

“I'm able to adjust the temperature based on the texture of my clients' hair. It gives me smooth, sleek hair on thicker textured hair. It's super lightweight, making it easy to create a variety of hairstyles, whether you want to wear your hair straight, beach waves or create curls,” says Nadia Vassell, a celebrity hairstylist.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

3. CHI Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

The power of CHI Ceramic derived from lava rocks provides gentle consistent heat during styling. This combination allows styling at lower than normal temperature, producing less damage to the hair while offering smooth, shiny results.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

4. BioSilk Titanium Hairstyling Iron

This professional quality hairstyling iron combines the power of ceramic and titanium for smooth, silky results. The plates heat up quickly and evenly. Titanium is high in strength and low in density, allowing for a lightweight, scratch-resistant tool that provides superior glide in fewer passes.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

5. By Gina Excel Infrared Flat Iron

Constructed of tourmaline heating plates, Excel Infrared Flat Iron instantly heats to 450 degrees to create smooth loose waves or straight styles. Exclusive Infrared Smart Technology infuses each strand with micro-moisture particles to prevent the damaging effects of high heat tools. 

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

6. StyleCraft Shmedium Palm-Size Professional Travel Iron

This palm-sized iron is a full-size performer, making styling big sections of hair quick and easy. Its Triplex Fusion helps reduce frizz for health silky hair, plus it heats up with temperatures up to 410°F . Its long floating plates extend longer than a full-size iron heated plates for faster straightening.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

7. FLOW Straightening Brush by Vanity Planet

VP’s Flow Ceramic Straightening Brush allows you to smoothly straighten your hair faster and with less exposure to heat than a flat iron. Designed with a standard hair brush shape, Flow is super easy to use.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

8. Bed Head’s Morning After 1" Straightener

This flat iron offers three unique heat settings for Wash Day, Second Day, and Third Day hair, making it extremely versatile. The 1” plates are wide enough to grab onto thicker strands while the high heat options create stick straight styles. 

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

9. HAI Beauty Superstar 1" Ceramic Flat Iron 

Engineered with black tri-diamond ceramic, Superstar offers a healthy hair alternative to styling through an innovative "diamond glitter" pearl coating that noticeably increases shine up to 25 percent while improving the longevity and reliability of your styling tool.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

10. T3 SinglePass X 1.5" Wide Flat Iron

This is a flat iron designed with a wide body that's specifically made to straighten long, thick or coarse hair — fast.

(Nordstrom, $230)

RELATED: 30 Of The Best Hair Oils To Create Lush, Smooth, And Fuller Hair

11. GHD Gold Series Professional 2-Inch Styler

The ghd Gold Series Professional Styler combines upgraded design and advanced ceramic technology enabling you to create curls, waves or the perfect straight style in less time. Ceramic plates with a high-gloss coating glide effortlessly through the hair for snag-free styling. 

(Nordstrom, $199)

12. GlamPalm GlamPalm Flat Iron with Digital LCD

The Healing Stone ceramic coated plates for healthy, smooth and shiny hair is perfect for most hair types. It has 11 precise heat settings and adjustable temperature range.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

13. Croc Premium Wet to Dry Titanium Plate Hair Straightener Set 

CROC’s Premium Wet and Dry flat iron can be used on wet or dry hair. Floating plates move with the hair, creating a smooth glide, and the deluxe thumb grip makes styling more comfortable.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

14. Salon Tech Silicone Flat Iron

Silicone Flat Iron gives you control to achieve a perfectly sleek and smooth look for all hair types, with adjustable temperature settings from 250 to 450°F.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

15. HUANSUN Steam Hair Straightener Brush Titanium Ceramic Flat Iron

Frequent high temperature heating will destroy the keratin structure in the hair and make the scales curl or peel off. The steam replenishment hair straightener can repair the hair scales and make the hair more smooth.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

16. ForStyler Professional Fuchsia Titanium Hair Styling Iron

Ionic Technology creates negative ions to infuse additional moisture for frizz free, smooth, shiny, silky and long lasting results. The mirrored Titanium plates provide even heat distribution and easy glide through the hair. 

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

17. YINGENG Ceramic Vapor Infrared Heating Flat Iron

Equipped with ceramic tourmaline plate, this professional material is great for hair straightening and reduces harm to hair.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

18. XRFF Steam Hair Straightener Brush

Robust steam provides full protection for hair. Get fast straightening speed without frizz with smooth and long lasting effects.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

19. GKhair Easy Control Digital Touch Hair Flat Iron

This flat iron includes a digital screen with large titanium plates for a smooth, shiny finish.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

20. Repit Universal Express Flat Iron

The Repit Professional Straightener reduces damage hair as you style, also reducing your styling time. Start taking care of your beautiful hair and give it the attention it needs.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

RELATED: The Best Hair Products For Scalp Build-Up: 15 Solutions That Actually Work

Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her.