In testing, it only took 20 seconds for the iron to beep and indicate it was ready. To use this tool, you press the button on the inside of the smart styler, and it heats to 365 degrees. “This standard setting is the ‘sweet spot’ where the heat can break down the hair just enough to mold it into shape and fight frizz without burning it or causing damage,” says Henry. “Maintaining this slightly lower temperature ensures your hair will be healthy, straight and tremendously shiny.” While straightening, predictive sensors in the plates monitor heat 250 times per second to make sure the iron doesn’t overheat and potentially singe your hair.

Some straighteners come with heat-resistant mats or gloves, which are helpful for keeping countertops or fingers from getting singed. A storage pouch is another plus. If you travel a lot, look for an iron with universal voltage to allow you to use it abroad. Justine Marjan is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Camila Cabello, Ashley Graham, and Shay Mitchell.

Are titanium straighteners better than ceramic?

To gauge maneuverability, I measured factors such as weight, cord length and swivel. These contribute to the overall ease of use of the tool. Another important criteria is temperature. I considered heat-up time, temperature control variability, accuracy and whether the iron has temperature memory and automatic shut-off. Product Specs: This cordless flat iron uses ceramic-coated plates and maintains an optimum styling temperature of 365 degrees Fahrenheit. BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 1.5-Inch Flat Iron: This model offers five heat settings conveniently placed on the side of the iron, and it covers a lot of ground per pass with its wider plates. But its vents—which are intended to eliminate excess heat—produced a drag, and the iron left crimp marks on my hair because the edges were more straight than beveled. GHD Unplugged Styler: This cordless iron offers no-nonsense smoothing and straightening at a safer-for-hair temperature of 365 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s extremely lightweight, feels luxe and comes with a heat resistant storage case. My gripe with this straightener, though, is that it only provides up to 20 minutes of styling time and can’t be used while charging (unlike the Lunata model).

This Chi flat iron doesn’t have multiple temperature options, but it does have an under 30-second heat-up time and extra-long (over 10 feet) swivel cord that gives you extra reach while styling. Most importantly, it has gloriously smooth ceramic plates with beveled edges that make it a nimble tool for creating everything from pin-straight styles to polished curves at the ends of hair.Harry Josh Cordless Ceramic Styling Iron: This straightener was a standout due to the smooth glide of its nano silver tourmaline floating plates, three heat settings and the fact that it gets 40 minutes of full power from a single charge. It straightened well, but only after two to three passes per section. It took 70 seconds to reach its middle heat setting—longer than non-cordless models by about 45 seconds—and the exterior placement of the power and heat settings button was just where my hand gripped the barrel, making it very easy to accidentally change the setting. Takisha Sturdivant is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose, and Storm Reid.