Remington Shine Therapy Argan Oil & Keratin Infused 1" Hair Straightener Flat Iron S9511
A low-cost iron with a wide heat range and conditioning-coated ceramic plates.
Check Price on Amazon Read the full reviewThe 10 Best Flat Irons of 2026, Ranked
Our verdict: The best flat iron in 2026 is the Remington Shine Therapy Argan Oil & Keratin Infused 1" Hair Straightener Flat Iron S9511. It tops our ranking with 9.2 out of 10.
Our flat iron picks
Fewer picks than usual: no dearer model makes the top half.
Remington Pearl Pro Ceramic 1" Flat Iron S9500PP
A value iron with floating pearl-ceramic plates and a digital readout.
Check Price on Amazon Read the full reviewRevlon Smooth Brilliance Ceramic Flat Iron 1"
The cheapest iron here, a drugstore ceramic with a slim 1-inch plate and quick heat-up for everyday smoothing.
Check Price on Amazon Read the full reviewAll 10 flat irons, compared
We compared 16 flat irons sold in the US and ranked ten of them by how happy owners are. They cover 1-inch to 1.25-inch plates in ceramic, titanium and ionic designs, from drugstore irons to salon-grade stylers, from the cheapest here to the priciest. Every product links to its full review below.
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1
Remington Shine Therapy Argan Oil & Keratin Infused 1" Hair Straightener Flat Iron S9511Best Choice
9.2 out of 10
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2
Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve Ionic Salon Flat Iron 1 inch HT7122BG
9.1 out of 10
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3
Remington Pearl Pro Ceramic 1" Flat Iron S9500PPValue for Money
9.0 out of 10
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4
CHI G2 Titanium Infused Ceramic 1" Hairstyling Iron
9.0 out of 10
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- 5 Revlon Smooth Brilliance Ceramic Flat Iron 1"Best Budget 9.0 out of 10 Check Price
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6
Paul Mitchell Express Ion Smooth+ Flat Iron 1.25"
8.9 out of 10
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7
Conair Double Ceramic 1" Digital Flat Iron CS224
8.9 out of 10
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8
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron 1" BNT4072TUC
8.8 out of 10
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- 9 CHI Original 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron GF1001 8.7 out of 10 Check Price
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10
ghd Platinum+ 1" Styler
8.2 out of 10
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Why No. 1 beats No. 2
The Remington Shine Therapy Argan Oil & Keratin Infused 1" Hair Straightener Flat Iron S9511 (9.2) edges the Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve Ionic Salon Flat Iron 1 inch HT7122BG (9.1) on the balance of all three parts.
The full flat iron reviews
1.Remington Shine Therapy Argan Oil & Keratin Infused 1" Hair Straightener Flat Iron S9511
A low-cost iron with a wide heat range and conditioning-coated ceramic plates.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are1st of 10
- How many rated it1st of 10
- How new it is1st of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Adjustable heat up to 450°F with a digital display
- Ceramic plates infused with argan oil and keratin
- Low price for an iron with a digital display
Keep in mind
- Plate coating wears over time with heavy use
- Max heat of 450°F is hot enough to damage fine hair if used carelessly
- Build feels lighter than the salon irons
2.Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve Ionic Salon Flat Iron 1 inch HT7122BG
A salon-style 1-inch iron with adjustable heat at a mid-range price. Owners use it for everything from fine hair to thick, coarse hair.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are4th of 10
- How many rated it7th of 10
- How new it is1st of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Adjustable heat covers fine hair at low settings and coarse hair at high ones
- Black Gold ionic plates, adjustable digital heat and a 9-foot swivel cord
- Owners report fast heat-up and smooth results in one or two passes
Keep in mind
- The 1-inch plates take longer to get through very thick or long hair
- Heavier in the hand than drugstore irons
- Priced well above the drugstore irons here
3.Remington Pearl Pro Ceramic 1" Flat Iron S9500PP
A value iron with floating pearl-ceramic plates and a digital readout. Heats fast and suits medium to thick hair.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are2nd of 10
- How many rated it4th of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Floating ceramic plates infused with crushed pearl
- Digital display up to 450°F with a temperature lock
- 60-minute auto shut-off
Keep in mind
- The 1-inch plates need more passes on long, thick hair
- Plastic body is not as sturdy as pro irons
- Heats up to 450°F, hot for fine hair unless you turn it down
4.CHI G2 Titanium Infused Ceramic 1" Hairstyling Iron
A step up from the Original with adjustable heat and titanium-infused ceramic plates. Suits shoppers with a mix of hair types in the house.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are3rd of 10
- How many rated it5th of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Heat up to 425°F with preset ranges for fine, medium and coarse hair
- Titanium-infused ceramic plates
- One-hour auto shut-off and a long swivel cord
- Dual voltage for travel
Keep in mind
- The 1-inch plate is slow on long or very thick hair
- Heat tops out at 425°F, so very resistant hair may need extra passes
5.Revlon Smooth Brilliance Ceramic Flat Iron 1"
The cheapest iron here, a drugstore ceramic with a slim 1-inch plate and quick heat-up for everyday smoothing.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are5th of 10
- How many rated it8th of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Ceramic plates glide through fine and medium hair
- Ten digital heat settings up to 455°F
- Slim plate handles bangs and shorter styles
- Owners report smooth results in a couple of passes
Keep in mind
- Plastic body and thin cord feel basic next to pro irons
- Hot at 455°F, so fine hair needs the low settings
- The 1-inch plates are slow on long, thick hair
6.Paul Mitchell Express Ion Smooth+ Flat Iron 1.25"
A mid-range pro iron with curved-edge ceramic plates that handle curling as well as straightening. The brand prints a hair-type temperature guide.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are6th of 10
- How many rated it9th of 10
- How new it is3rd of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Curved plate edges let you curl and flip ends
- Heats to 410°F with a guide for very fine through very coarse hair
- Wide 1.25-inch plates cover long or thick hair in fewer passes
- Two-year warranty when you register within 30 days
Keep in mind
- Tops out at 410°F, cooler than some irons for resistant hair
- Warranty covers US and Canada and only authorized sellers
- Costs far more than the drugstore irons here
7.Conair Double Ceramic 1" Digital Flat Iron CS224
Extra-long floating plates and five heat settings at a drugstore price. A good spare iron for light use.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are7th of 10
- How many rated it2nd of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Extra-long floating plates cover more hair per pass
- Five heat settings up to 410°F
- 60-minute auto shut-off
Keep in mind
- Tops out at 410°F, so very thick or resistant hair needs extra passes
- Plastic body feels basic and less sturdy than pro irons
- Cord is about 5 feet, short if the outlet is far from the mirror
8.BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron 1" BNT4072TUC
A slim titanium iron with 50 heat settings and a long cord. A favorite with stylists for fast, close work on thick or coarse hair.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are8th of 10
- How many rated it6th of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Fifty heat settings up to 450°F with an LED readout
- Titanium heats fast and suits thick, coarse or coily hair
- Ultra-thin body reaches close to the roots
- Four-year limited warranty and a 9-foot swivel cord
Keep in mind
- Titanium at high heat can damage fine or color-treated hair if left at the top settings
- Plates are rigid, not floating
- The 1-inch size is slow on very long hair
9.CHI Original 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron GF1001
A long-time salon standard with floating ceramic plates and far-infrared heat. One fixed heat, so it suits medium to thick hair better than very fine hair.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are9th of 10
- How many rated it3rd of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Ceramic floating plates with far-infrared heat and ionic output
- Fixed 392°F suits medium, thick and normal hair that tolerates high heat
- Backed by a limited manufacturer warranty
- Owners report smooth, shiny results
Keep in mind
- Fixed 392°F heat with no way to lower it for very fine hair
- No temperature display, so you can't tell the iron's heat at a glance
- Floating plates are not as slim as titanium irons for close work at the roots
10.ghd Platinum+ 1" Styler
A premium iron that holds one set temperature and uses sensors to keep it steady, so there is no dial to get wrong.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are10th of 10
- How many rated it10th of 10
- How new it is4th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Fixed 365°F styling temperature suits most hair and removes guesswork
- Sensors in the plates adjust heat to keep it even
- Universal voltage works for travel with a plug adapter
- Rounded barrel shape styles waves and curls as well as straight hair
Keep in mind
- The most expensive iron here
- No temperature control, so very fine or very coarse hair gets the same heat
Before you buy a flat iron
What type of flat iron is best for my hair?
Fine or damaged hair does best with an iron that has adjustable heat and low settings, such as the Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve or the CHI G2. The CHI Original and the ghd Platinum+ run at one fixed heat, so they suit hair that copes with that single temperature. Thick, coarse or coily hair needs a wider plate and higher heat, so look at titanium or 1.25 to 1.5-inch plates. Curly and frizzy hair benefit from ionic plates and an adjustable temperature you can set yourself.
Are ceramic, titanium or tourmaline plates better?
Ceramic heats evenly and is gentler, so it suits fine, color-treated and medium hair. Titanium heats faster and runs hotter, which suits thick, coarse or coily hair but can damage fine hair if left at the top setting. Tourmaline is a mineral coating that releases ions to cut static and frizz, and is often blended into ceramic plates.
What temperature should I use on fine, thick or curly hair?
Fine or damaged hair: roughly 250 to 330°F. Medium hair: 330 to 370°F. Thick, coarse or curly hair: 370 to 410°F, going higher only for very resistant hair. Start low and raise the heat only if one pass does not work, and use a heat protectant.
What plate width should I buy?
A 1-inch plate is the all-round size: it handles short and medium hair and bangs, and it can curl. Choose 1.25 to 1.5 inches for long or thick hair, since fewer passes means less heat on each section. Wider plates are clumsy near the roots on short hair.
Is an infrared or ionic flat iron better for hair?
Ionic plates release negative ions that reduce static and frizz and leave hair smoother. Far-infrared heat is said to warm hair more gently. Both help, but heat setting and technique matter more than either feature.
Which flat irons do the least heat damage?
Look for adjustable heat so you can use the lowest setting that works, floating plates for even pressure, and sensors that hold the temperature steady. The CHI Original and the ghd Platinum+ have fixed heat, 392°F and 365°F, so they give you no way to turn it down. The ghd uses sensors to hold its temperature, while the CHI Original, Paul Mitchell Express Ion Smooth+ and Remington irons add ceramic or conditioning-coated plates. Avoid pulling the same section repeatedly. Check the plug is a US 120V type and look for a UL or ETL mark on the cord.
How we ranked these ten flat irons
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover flat irons for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 16 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.
How we rank, in fullOur No. 1 flat iron
Remington Shine Therapy Argan Oil & Keratin Infused 1" Hair Straightener Flat Iron S9511
A low-cost iron with a wide heat range and conditioning-coated ceramic plates. 9.2 out of 10.