Editor’s Note: Thick hair isn’t something that I’ve been gifted with in this life, but I have plenty of friends who know the struggle of trying to flat iron or curl their locks, only to be met with a lengthy process and lots of arm pain as they struggle to get the achieved look in their hair. Fortunately, there are several flat irons on the market today that are designed specifically for individuals who are struggling with keeping their thick hair styled. Just make sure that you’re using plenty of heat protectant on your locks once you finally choose the best thick hair flat iron for your needs!
People with thick hair who have a hard time taming their “mane”. It’s both a blessing and a curse. While thick hair can look great when well maintained, the opposite is also true. If you have thick hair, you need a great flat iron.
And this is where we come in. The bad news is that there isn’t a holy grail of flat irons. The good news is that there are ten for you to choose from! We have carefully selected ten of the best flat irons currently on the market, to help you in your quest to give your hair the perfect look no matter what the circumstance.
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First, let’s consider some criteria that is crucial in choosing the right flat iron for you. You won’t be able to get away from some of these technical specs, so we’ll try to be as succinct as possible and only provide you with what you really need to know.
Let’s go over the basics of flat irons:
- The ideal temperature range for thick hair is between 375 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. (the best flat irons have at least 2 settings between these two temperatures)
- The recommended plate type is either titanium, or tourmaline-covered ceramic. The longer and thicker your hair, the wider the plates should be. Otherwise it will take you longer to straighten your hair with a small, 1” wide plated iron.
The technologies that are prone to deliver the best results are ionic (the release of negative ions to reduce frizz and static) and infrared heating.
As technology keeps evolving, hair straighteners become better and better. Companies listen to what users have to say about past products and try to implement the best changes, so that consumers are happy, and the companies keep thriving. We compiled a list of the most advanced forms of hair straighteners on the market today, the ones that are worth your time and investment. This list of the 10 most popular flat irons on the market will surely make you think about how often you use the flat iron, in what transportation and usage circumstances, and how much you really want to save on trips to a professional salon.
Top 10 Best Flat Irons for Thick Hair 2026
1. BaBylissPRO Nano
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
This is a lightweight flat iron that is preferred by users with a tiny bathroom or multiple roommates. Of course, its small dimensions and ease of usage are only an added bonus on top of its useful abilities and features. With its 50 heat settings for hair types of all shapes, styles, textures, and colors, it is one of the most versatile hair straighteners in the industry. The classic Nano works the best on short or medium-sized hair, as the smaller plates will glide through it easier, but it is also available in 1.5 and 2-inch plate models.
Plates
The BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron uses titanium plates, which conduct high levels of heat in a short amount of time. Each plate has built in Nanotechnology, which is an innovative technology that keeps frizziness and static away. Titanium also acts as a barrier from rusting, so your hair straightener will look just as new for years to come.
Temperature
The BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron has a maximum temperature of 450° F, which is the recommended starting temperature for thick hair. You will need to try out different temperature settings (as they are not pre-set like the CHI G2) to find the fitting temperature for your hair. You can either keep it at 450 degrees for the whole session, but in order to prevent damaging your hair, we encourage you to decrease the temperature throughout. Some larger flat irons are good at maintaining the heat even at 370 degrees, but because the BaByliss Nano is a bit smaller, it needs to be kept at 400 degrees to maintain the heat.
Technology
This flat iron uses infrared heat technology to penetrate the hair follicles. Thanks to this technology, hair gets straightened gently from the outside in, causing less damage to the hair. Aside from the titanium plates in the BaByliss Pro Nano, it also features a unique ceramic heater inside the handle, enabling it to heat up faster.
Dimensions
The BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron is the lightest hair straightener. It weighs just over 1 pound, and measures 12 x 2 x 3.5 inches. If you are constantly on the go or travel often, this meets the criteria of your lifestyle perfectly, while delivering results that look great. It could even make a good “second straightener” if you want to leave your heavier and larger primary flat iron at home.
Price
The features that make it one of the best on our list and on the market, basically pay for themselves, and this will become obvious after the very first time you use it. Not only is it a delight to use wherever you find yourself, but it delivers splendid results in a very short time. Its multiple temperature settings make it very versatile and you get to customize it to your individual needs, rather than buying a more limited hair straightener. The color is really cute too, and the ceramic heater inside the handle is great for when it comes to comfort and effectiveness.
Pros
- 50 heat settings
- Great for short / medium length hair
- Titanium plates
- Lightweight and ultra-thin design
- Good travelling companion
- Infrared heat technology
Cons
- No pre-set heat settings (although for some users, this is a good thing)
- The heating elements can become faulty after a while