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Thick hair is generally quite robust and a quality flat iron hair straightener helps maintain its proper way and keep heat damage to a minimum. Heat protection sprays and balms are also helpful to help to protect the hair; however, the device’s quality is the key. Today we talk about thick hair; what are the best flat irons for thick hair? The day flat irons were unleashed within the world of hair and beauty, Curly and wavy hair women across the globe were saved. With thick hair, the plate width will also play a role in how effective it is to gain the results you want.
Our Best Selection
Product | Check Price |
---|---|
Best Straightener: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Iron | Shop On Amazon | $159.99 |
Best Instant Heat: RUSK Engineering Heat Freak Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon |
Best For All Hair Type: CROC Premium Infrared Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon | $199.98 |
Best NanoIonic: BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron | Shop On Amazon | $199.00 |
Best Convertable: HAI Gold Professional Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon | $89.95 |
Best Ceramic: CHI G2 Professional Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon | $120.66 |
Best Quicker Styling: Remington S5500 Anti-Static Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon | $17.99 |
Best Adjustable Heat: HSI Professional Glider Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon | $48.95 |
Best Infrared: xtava Pro Satin Infrared Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon |
Best For Beachy Waves: BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Flat Iron | Shop On Amazon |
Related: Solano Flat Iron Review – Popular Hairstyle Tools
Top 10 Flat Irons for Thick Hair In 2024
1. Best Straightener: BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Iron
A good option for those with thick curly hair, this flat iron comes with Titanium plated plates. This type of plate is good for all types of hair as well as thick hair. What you will find is that they will heat up very fast! And hold the heat well. This is an advantage for this kind of plate. Another good feature of this iron is that you can change the heating temperature to suit your hair and needs. If your hair is thicker the higher setting or even medium one on this device will be more than adequate for pin-straight hair.
The device itself is very durable and high quality; it does not have a flimsy or delicate feel. It’s sleek and stylish looking also. Only two to three swipes along your hair will be needed with the flat iron. The overall quality of this product is high. It is worth the money if this is within your budget. The flat iron is also available in a range of sizes which is a good option. Please watch this video for more about the product.
Benefits
- Natural metal is used for the plates.
- Lightweight and stylish looking.
- Great for thick hair especially African- American hair.
- Natural irons will help to reduce frizz in the hair.
- Heats up to 450°F- That’s hot!
Drawbacks
- The price is more at the higher end and may not be suited to everyone’s budget.
- Only available in one color.
2. Best Instant Heat: RUSK Engineering Heat Freak Flat Iron
If you have thick hair and are looking for the best flat iron to style it, you can think of RUSK Engineering Heat Freak. It is one of the best hair straighteners for thick hair you can buy with money and it is produced with the best ceramic material. If you know how to hold it, you can achieve a better hair look. Just position it to the hair’s root and ensure that it does not touch the skin because it can burn. Apart from the ceramic straightener, this product also comes with a tourmaline straightener.
Because of that, it gets the hair done very fast and quickly. The system can heat very fast and that is because of the infrared heating technology. When you apply this, you are sure of frizz-free hair. This remains the best for the best because it can penetrate thick hair very well. The hair product is great for professionals. It is recommended that you allow professionals to use it and if you do not know how to use it, study how it works because it can burn your skin when it touches the skin. When you use it, this makes the hair straight, and smooth and ensures that your hair is in optimal condition.
Benefits
- Ceramic and tourmaline make heat up quickly.
- Two different plate sizes are available.
- Instant heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Infrared technology helps to get a straightened look.
Drawbacks
- Outside the areas of the plate also overheats when working on large-scale projects.
3. Best For All Hair Type: CROC Premium Infrared Flat Iron
Sleek black design, with 1.5 Inch titanium plates, The control functions of the device are all located on the handle’s top, making the device easy while you have the irons in your hair. There is no need to remove it to turn it over and make changes to the functions. The Croc logo is also embodied on the side of the handle. The lead on this device is long, which is another safety enhancement and helpful feature to have. The auto shut-off function also enhances safety. Overall, this is a device that has been designed with safety in mind with these features.
This is a very basic and simple flat iron visually, compared to the others featured; however, while there is not much fancy about it in terms of visual looks, it works well to straighten thick hair. The infrared technology featured on this device does help to seal moisture within the hair. Those with curly or wavy thick hair will benefit from this; it would be a great advantage. Infrared also helps to prevent or reduce dandruff and also protects colored hair. The plates are made of titanium metal but also have ceramic heaters. This is an excellent feature and design.
The titanium will transfer heat to the hair well and retain it, while the ceramic is less damaging. Another benefit of titanium metal is frizz reduction overall; it will help smooth and tame the hair flat. In comparison to the others, this flat iron for thick hair is a smaller size. This could work well for those that travel a lot. For more details about the product, please visit the video.
Benefits
- High heat can reach 450F
- Compact and small.
- Long lead.
- Travel accessories included.
- Auto shut off.
- Fully digital screen.
Drawbacks
- Heat settings can’t be varied.
- The price tag is on the high end.
- Only one color is available.
Related: Top 10 Best BaByliss Flat Irons In 2024
4. KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron
Another excellent value of flat iron is in the mid-range in terms of price. This is wider and a lot heavier. The wideness is great for thicker hair, time, and how quickly you can use a flat iron on your hair. This is one of the major bonuses this flat iron has a feature. The design is a standard black and gold color and is only available in one color. The handle is slightly more on the longer side, which makes holding the flat irons while doing your hair a lot easier to control.
The plates are 1.75 inches wide with a Titanium metal plate. Again, these plates are fine and will work well; however, ceramic is the best for thick hair. Especially to help keep damage to a minimum.
There are only two adjustable temperatures, 170/450°F. Even though there are only two, it is super hot! This flat iron has the highest temperature of those featured.
Benefits
- Can be used from wet to dry.
- Auto shut-off feature.
- LCD digital screen.
- Long lead.
- Comes with accessories such as a travel pouch.
- Price excellent value.
- Longer handle.
Drawbacks
- The wide plates may be harder for those with shorter hair to use.
- Only available in one color.
- Only two options for temperature control.
5. Best Convertable: HAI Gold Professional Flat Iron
This flat iron is highly protective and can preserve your hair instead of burning it. The temperature is easy to adjust, and that means that the heat is also adjustable. It does not only make for healthy hair; this product ensures that the hair is voluptuous. The product is one of the best and you cannot compare the styling quality with others; you notice the difference. It is meant for professional use as you can comfortably use this in a saloon shop.
This heats rapidly and can recover instantly. The most important thing is that it makes for even heat distribution across the iron. When you want to protect your hair strand, you can make do with this fantastic product.
Another great feature is versatility. Its negative ions ensure that moisture is distributed across the hair. Irrespective of any kind of hair, this product is great for that. Whether you have thick hair or natural or delicate hair, this product is just perfect for that. Furthermore, it is easy and simple to use. The automatic shut-off features mean that you are safe using it. The product is also lightweight and this makes it very convenient to use. It is the best in the industry and you can use it on different hairstyles and that is why it makes a list. For a complete overview of the product, you can also check out this YouTube video.
Benefits
- Adjustable Temperature setting up to 450°F.
- Lightweight and durable.
- Salon quality flat iron.
- Variable heat settings with temperatures up to 450°F.
- Best for thick and fine hair.
- Negative ions serve the moisture across the hair.
- Auto shut-off is available.
Drawbacks
- A little bit pricey.
6. Best Ceramic: CHI G2 Professional Flat Iron
It is another wonderful product, and it consists of ceramic and titanium plates. The temperature is already preset, and the new button mode makes that easy. The heating system is a high speed and it is also very reliable. It comes with a double voltage system and this makes it suitable for both local and international use. If you are the type who likes traveling with your hair straightener, you can consider this type the most useful in the market.
The heating temperature is another unique thing about this product that stands it out in the market.
As you can see, it can heat up within the first forty seconds and which means that you can achieve a hairstyle result within the shortest possible.
The product is also durable. It is going to serve you for a very long time. When you spend your money on this product, you will like it; you will use it for a very long time.
When it comes to quality, it is one of the best and can serve different hair styling purposes. You will no longer have any problem with your thick hair when you use this flat iron.
Benefits
- Titanium-infused ceramic plates.
- Heats up in 40 seconds.
- Color-Coded digital temperature setting.
- Dual Voltage allows international travel.
Drawbacks
- Need some practice using the device.
7. Best Quicker Styling: Remington S5500 Anti-Static Flat Iron
This flat iron comes with fully ceramic plates, which for thick curly hair is perfect! Just what is needed to help protect the hair? Remington S5500 is quite thin in comparison to the others in terms of width. The plates themselves are extra-long, which helps to speed things up a little if you have long hair compared to the others. In terms of size, the pates are one inch.
One of the key features of this device is the digital screen. You can see exactly what temperature you are working with at a glance. It is easy to hold and use even though the plates are slightly longer; they quickly give the results.
There is no need to swipe the plates up and down the hair more than two or three times.
This device also works extremely well on African- American hair types. For the price, this is an excellent quality and value flat iron. But do keep in mind that the plates are not that wide.
Benefits
- Thirty seconds to heat up.
- Full ceramic longer plates.
- Digital screen.
- Auto shut off function for safety.
- Available in a wide range of colors.
- Anti-static feature to keep hair sleek.
- Great price.
- Matching hair dryer.
Drawbacks
- Not for use from wet- dry.
- Thinner plate size.
Related: The 10 Best Titanium Flat Irons In 2024
8. Best Adjustable Heat: HSI Professional Glider Flat Iron
The good flat iron for thick hair is of excellent value and has good all-around performance. It has a smooth black design and additional hand grip texture at the top. This is an excellent feature as it enhances safety while using the device, especially if you have applied the product to your hair with your hands. The dials and controls are inside the actual device on the lower section.
It reduces the ease of use, as you need to remove the flat iron from your hair before making changes.This Professional flat iron has one-inch tourmaline ceramic plates. The cord can rotate fully to 360 degrees, increasing safety while using and rotating the flat iron through the hair.
An excellent feature of this straightener is the worldwide voltage allowance, which means it can be used in Europe and outside the EU. This is an excellent feature for those who travel a lot. It works excellently on thick and curly hair types.
It has adjustable temperatures for the heat which is a notable feature to have, to help women with unique needs customize the flat iron to their hair. It heats up to a super hot 400°F. It will mean that there will be less swipes of the flat iron through your hair with an adjustable temperature.
The plates are not fully ceramic, they are infused with ceramic with a tourmaline plate. This is still a great feature, as tourmaline will help give the hair shine and transfer heat to your hair well, as well as retain it.
Benefits
- Swivel the cord for ease.
- Adjustable temperature 240°F-400°F
- It works excellently on thick and curly hair types.
- Universal around the world use.
Drawbacks
- No LCD screen.
- Plates are not fully ceramic.
9. Best Infrared: xtava Pro Satin Infrared Flat Iron
A smooth sleek design underneath and a skinny texture on top. Visually, this flat iron is appealing to the eye. It also has an illuminated red infrared light on the center of the plate. With wide two-inch ceramic tourmaline plates, this device has ten heat levels! The amount of variety in the heat levels is a great advantage to women with thicker hair. You can easily find the right setting for your hair and decide which setting will help cut downtime and result in less swipes of the iron through the hair – reducing heat damage overall.
The plates’ width is great for thick hair; the wider the better, as it will help to cut down the time, spent straightening the hair also. With a wider straightener plate, the heat will be more evenly distributed through hair that is more on the thick side; this will also reduce heat damage.
It has universal voltage and can be used anywhere in the EU and outside of it. Again, this is also a notable feature for women who may travel. The design is robust and sturdy; it’s also easy to hold, given the width of the plates.
The controls are all located on the flat iron side, which helps with ease of use and safety. This flat iron has all the best features of the other five and more. The results are good on thick hair.
Benefits
- Can be used worldwide.
- Quick heat-up time.
- Auto shut off.
- 360-degree swivel cord.
- Heat ranges from 265°F – 445°F which is ideal for each kind of hair type.
- LCD screen.
Drawbacks
- Not suitable for short thick hair, due to the plate sizes.
- Just one color is available.
10. Best For Beachy Waves: BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Flat Iron
It is made with an ordinary ceramic plate but with the best porcelain ceramic materials. This is one of the best and it features the top-rated features. It can heat very fast and it can distribute heat across the iron, which makes for a perfect hairstyling. The infrared hair generated through the system is the most reliable in this industry.
It is gentle on the hair and you do not need to worry about your hair’s health because it will not damage it; instead, it will ensure that your hair is in the best health condition. It provides frizz-free hair styling.
The heating system is the most significant aspect of this product. Its temperature can reach up to 450F and that is why it can heat fast. It is not surprising that it can handle all kinds of hair, including thick and the most delicate hair. The plate technology is significant because it accounts for the performance.
The heat is instant and the recovery process is also instant. It comes with long hair and that is why it is faster when it comes to hair straightening. This is one of the best and when you choose it, you will have value for your money.
Benefits
- Three different plate sizes (1″, 1-1/2″, & 2″) are available.
- Heated up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Instant heat and recovery options provide complete safety.
- The swivel cord makes it extremely easy to handle.
Drawbacks
- This model is not dual voltage.
How To Choose The Right Flat Iron for Thick Hair?
The Plate
It goes without saying, ceramic plates will protect the delicate strands of your hair better. These plates are much gentler and distribute heat evenly across the hair. Thick hair, this is what will help to speed up the hair straightening process.
Where possible look for hair straighteners that have this type of metal plate. They heat up quicker also and remain hot for longer. Watch out for flat irons that claim to be ceramic.
Some will state ‘ceramic coating,’ which means they are not ceramic; they have the coating. The quality will not be the same as a fully ceramic plate. This will mean more damage and overall lower performance of the device.
However, they are a lot cheaper and these disadvantages are the reason why.
The coating is prone to remove itself over the lifetime of your flat irons; keep this in mind. With thick hair, the best option is to look for a device with wider plates, not necessarily longer. This will help with two things.
Firstly, speed and how long it will take you to straighten your thick hair. Second, wider plates will mean that you spend less time swiping the plates up and down your hair, resulting in less heat damage.
Related: Top 8 Best Cheap Flat Irons In 2024
Quick Styling- Wet To Dry
More recently these kinds of flat irons have entered the market. Of course, they will save you time as there is no need to use a hair dryer on your hair first.
However, with very thick hair, think about how practical this option is for you. Your hair’s thickness will mean that extra heat and drying are needed. As much as a pain it may be to have to use a hairdryer first, for you as a woman with thick hair, this is advantageous.
Using a wet-to-dry flat iron may mean longer styling and possibly a bit more heat damage if you pull the plates through your hair, more than what you normally would as it’s still wet.
Smaller Irons
If your hair is thick, consider opting for a flat iron with smaller or narrower plates on the shorter side. The smaller size plates could help you get closer to your roots and be easier to handle while straightening your hair.
Heat Control
As an option, it is an advantage to you with thick curly or wavy hair if you can control the heat settings on your flat iron. Also, think about the level of heat you want your flat iron to reach.
Will it be hot enough for quick results and less swiping? Is it a question you should ask yourself while deciding what type of flat iron to buy?
The higher the heat, the less time should be spent swiping up and down your hair. Add this in with a thicker width plate; you are in heaven! Also, think about the type of thick hair you have; if you have African- American hair again, the heat control level will be of excellent value.
How To Use Flat Iron On Thick Hair?
If you want to achieve a perfect result with your flat iron in making your thick hair, then you must first learn how to use the iron. All the flat irons are not the same. If you want to handle the ceramic counterpart, you must be very cautious and because of that, you learn how to use it.
The first thing to do is to condition your hair by washing it. You can always achieve a good result when you first wash your hair and make it clean. It makes the hair well-nourished for a better result.
When you wash, you can use shampoo and you have to be gentle when doing that to avoid stripping the hair. When you wash it, dry it before you apply the flat iron to it to prevent damage.
The most important thing is to ensure you hydrate your hair before conditioning it. You have to add moisturizing ingredients such as coconut water, argan oil, and Macadamia oil. These are great because they can make the hair smooth and achieve a good result when you condition the hair.
When you apply whatever to the hair, you must ensure that the hair is dry before applying the flat iron to straighten it. The benefit of drying that hair is that it makes it healthy and it does not much time to straighten it with flat irons.
If you think that heat can damage the hair then you can use a heat protectant. The type of heat depends on the type of flat irons you use. This is in the form of lotion and sprays.
If you have thick hair this is good for you. You can then apply the iron to the hair and do it gently and you can gradually adjust the temperature until you achieve the kind of results you want to achieve.
Is Titanium Or Ceramic Better For Thick Hair?
If you are looking for a product you can use on your thick hair, you can always think of flat irons. There are two leading models here and they include titanium and ceramic plate materials, which are great for different hairstyles.
These can handle all kinds of hair. If you compare different hair types using this product, you can see that the ceramic model has an edge in the other respect.
They can distribute heat fast, which is one of the things you require in this kind of product. Moreover, they are versatile and this means that it is good for all types of hair. It is more expensive than its titanium counterpart.
Flat Irons for Thick Hair FAQs
What Is The Difference Between Ceramic And Non- Ceramic Plates?
Ceramic plates allow for even distribution of heat, this is important as it means less time will be spent ironing over areas that are not straight enough. It will also reduce heat damage as not all the heat will be concentrated on one area of your hair.
Some devices have a ceramic coating this is what makes them cheaper and more affordable. Be careful, please! As the coating can chip and peel. This will expose your hair to damage and burning.
The best thing to do is always read the labels carefully before you buy, the price does not dictate if it is or is not ceramic… only the description does.
Titanium plates heat up very quickly and will transfer the heat a lot faster than ceramic plates. That said when using this kind of plate, you are more open to burns, because of the high level of heat that is transferred and retained against the hair. The advantage is they will work quickly.
Tourmaline is a mineral that is crushed and added to the metal of the plates of a flat iron when it is produced. It helps to give hair a healthy shine.
What Products Should I Use To Flat Iron My Thick Hair?
A heat protector always, it can be a spray, lotion or balm this is your choice, as long as the primary focus of the product is to protect the hair from damage. A leave-in condition is also recommended.
Stay away from oils as this can burn under the heat, and cause damage to your flat iron in the long term with the product built up and burned onto the device.
Will I Damage My Hair If I Use A Flat Iron Every Day?
Sadly, there is a chance yes! But make sure you use a heat protection product, also limit the time you spend swiping your hair with the irons if you can. Keep an eye on the level of heat you use also.
Can I Use A Flat Iron To Do Different Styles?
Of course, you can! You can use it to add volume and create soft waves in your hair. Just curl your hair around the flat iron instead of swiping it straight at the ends to create waves.
Final Verdict
Overall when it comes to flat irons suitable for thick curly or coarse hair, it appears that ceramic plates, different heat options, and wider plates are the best options to look out for.
You can’t go wrong; there will be a suitable setting for everyone.
The wide plates make dealing with thicker hair much easier to manage and faster to straighten.
You could also keep in mind that universal usage is a good option to have from a flat iron. This will mean you will not need to reinvest in a new one if you travel.
These are all excellent flat irons to consider as a purchase for women with thick hair. From the six recommended devices, all you need to decide is which one suits your preferences!
They will all do a fantastic job to help you tame your thick hair.