12 Best Flat Irons and Straighteners for Thick Hair

If you’ve got a lot of hair, you know getting through those gorgeous thick locks of yours can be quite the hassle. That’s why you want to ensure you are using the best tools for your hair for effortless (or at least lower effort!) and effective styling.

Styling thick hair doesn’t have to be hard or take hours of your time. It’s amazing how hair technology has progressed, and there are fantastic options out there.

Knowing what features your hair needs is the first step. If you have coarse or thick hair, this list has some of the best flat irons for thick hair types!

What to Look for in a Flat Iron

There are flat iron options in a variety of price points, so your budget will dictate some of your choices. Consider how often you plan to straighten your hair. If you will use it all the time for years, you’ll want to invest in a higher quality flat iron so it will last longer.

Straighteners can be used to curl your hair too. For a more versatile flat iron, go for one with slightly curved edges. This will give you a gentle curl rather than creating accidental stark creases in your hair.

Plate size can make a difference if you have thick hair (especially if it’s also long!). Wider plates will cut down on the time it takes to straighten your hair.

While thin haired women need to worry about damaging their strands with high temperature and take more care when choosing a hair straightener, your thicker hair can withstand higher heat.

As long as your hair isn’t prone to heat damage or frizz, shop for an iron with a higher temperature to make your styling process easier and faster.

This post contains affiliate links.

What Type of Styling Iron Will Give You the Best Hair?

Are titanium or ceramic flat irons better for thick hair?

A titanium iron is one of the hottest irons you can use. This heat is what is going to permeate your hair and give you the desired hairstyle you want with a hot tool.

That’s why titanium over ceramic is the best choice for thick hair types when it comes to styling with flat irons.

Is a titanium or ceramic iron better for frizzy hair?

If your hair tends to be frizzy, a higher heat produced by a titanium iron may cause more frizz and damage. This is why a ceramic iron is the best pick for frizzy hair.

If you have thick and frizzy hair, a ceramic iron with a high-heat setting is the best for that hair type. There are also irons made with both ceramic and titanium plates, and you can find an iron like this at the end of my best flat irons list, so stick around!

Like all things, your hair is unique to you! If the first flat iron you try doesn’t do the job, don’t be afraid to try another one!

12+ Best Flat Irons for Thick Hair

1. Best Titanium Iron: Morrocanoil Perfectly Polished Titanium Flat Iron

This flat iron comes in a bright and beautiful turquoise color and extra-long titanium plates that covers more hair surface with better heat distribution.

It also has a 9-foot cord, which makes it an accessible styling tool for most areas in your home. If you have thick hair, this is a fantastic pick for styling with a flat iron.

Pros:

• Extra-long floating plates
• Ergonomic grip
• 9 ft cord
• Max temperature: 430 degrees F

Cons:

• May not keep hair style for a long time

2. Best Titanium Iron Runner Up: Kristin Ess 3-in-1 Titanium Flat Iron

As a close runner up and more affordable titanium flat iron option is this Kristin Ess flat iron that also uses ionic technology on your hair. This is the flat iron my sister uses and has used for years!

Because titanium plates heat up faster and better, this iron works amazingly on hair types that have more styling needs and outperforms ceramic plates in this category.

Pros:

• Great price
• Automatic shut-off
• Ionic technology
• Max temperature: 440 degrees F
• 9 ft cord
• 4 heat settings
• 1 minute heat up time

Cons:

• Can’t set temperature to anything other than the 4 temperatures programmed 

3. Best Ceramic Flat Iron: NuMe Megastar Flat Iron

Made with tourmaline ceramic, this flat iron uses ion conditioning technology for added shine and floating plates for easy hair styling. It shuts off automatically after 60 minutes, uses dual voltage, and comes in three different color choices on Amazon. You will get salon-quality styling with this ceramic flat iron.

I own this one and let me tell you, it’s magic! It gives you the most flawless finish, has kept my hair healthy, and heats up quick.

Pros:

• Ion conditioning technology
• Infrared heat
• Dual voltage
• Floating plates
• Automatic shut-off

Cons:

• More expensive 

4. Best Flat Iron for Frizz: HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Flat Iron

There is nothing more frustrating than combating frizzy hair, especially when you’re trying to get sleek smooth hairstyles. Finding a styling tool that actually works to reduce that frizz is essential, but a tricky task. That’s why I’ve done the homework for you.

This one comes highly rated and for good reason! It effortlessly glides over your strands, adding shine and reducing frizz. This iron works on all hair types but is especially great on thick and coarse hair.

Pros:

• Adjustable heat
• Doesn’t snag
• Micro-sensors
• 360 swivel cord
• Dual voltage

Cons:

• No automatic shut-off

5. Best Budget Iron: CHI Tourmaline Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

CHI flat irons have been some of the most reliable flat irons for years, and this one is a great budget hair straightener for quality styling and durability. Seriously, some CHI users have said their irons lasting up to 10+ years if used properly!

CHI gives you a bang for your buck, which is why it’s my best budget pick. It’s a fantastic ceramic flat iron for thick and curly hair, straightening one section with just one swipe. The curved floating plates give you the option to straighten or curl with this flat iron.

Pros:

• Comes in fun fire red color
• Adjustable heat setting dial
• Dual voltage for travel
• 9 ft swivel cord
• Curved floating plates
• 1 hour auto shut-off
• 2-year warranty

Cons:

• Could make hair staticky

6. Best High-End Iron: T3 SinglePass X 1.5” Professional Straightening Iron

If you’re wanting to splurge on a styling tool, this one from T3 is amazing! Most flat irons are made with 1-inch plates, but this one has 1.5-inch plates, which adds greater heating and styling power, covering more of the hair’s surface.

It’s designed with thick and coarse hair types specifically in mind. Wider plates mean your hair will be straight faster!

Pros:

• Great for thick hair
• Wide plates
• 1 hour automatic shut-off
• 5 adjustable heat settings
• World voltage for travel
• Ergonomic grip
• 2-year warranty
• 8 ft swivel cord

Cons:

• Expensive

7. Extra Wide Plates: GK Hair Global Keratin Titanium Styling Flat Iron

For super demanding, coarse, coiled, or thick hair, opting for an iron with wider plates will give you better and easier results. This iron is made with extra wide plates to give you a sleek and straight finish, for even the unruliest of hair.

Some users have reported this iron lasting up to a decade, so it’s a worthy investment for the price.

Pros:

• Wide plates
• Auto shut-off
• Long swivel cord
• One control button
• Max temperature: 450 degrees F

Cons:

• Not great on fine hair

8. Extra Long Plates: Infiniti Pro Rainbow Titanium Flat Iron

Like the concept of wider plates, longer plates also cover larger amounts of the hair without having to go over the same surface multiple times, which causes damage and breakage over time. This iron has extra-long titanium plates, and is great for thick and fine hair.

Pros:

• Long plates for better surface coverage
• Beautiful rainbow plates
• Auto shut-off
• Max temperature: 455 degrees F
• 6 ft cord

Cons:

• May snag hair more easily
• Harder to style with short hair

9. Best Cordless Iron: Lunata Cordless Styler Plus+

For on the go and travel, or even just for convenience at home, a cordless flat iron is a must! This iron gives you 45 minutes of cordless styling and can easily be plugged in for later use.

Because it’s made with titanium plates, its heat distribution will cover any of your thick hair needs, and with a whopping 25 heat settings, you can have full control over your hair’s styling.

Pros:

• 1″ titanium plates
• 45 minutes of cordless styling
• 25 adjustable heat settings
• Max temperature: 450 degrees F
• 1 minute heat time
• Dual voltage

Cons:

• Plates are shorter than normal
• A bit pricey

10. Best Iron for Shine: ghd Original Styler

This a cult classic flat iron with many positive reviews for all hair types providing sleek and shiny results. The ceramic plates hold a steady heat, creating smoothness and shine for your hair. Comes with several features and in a chic black or soft pink color.

Pros:

• Round barrel
• Floating plates
• Ceramic heat
• 8.8 ft cord
• Heats up in 30 seconds
• Automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes
• Universal voltage
• Long-lasting flat iron

Cons:

• Pricey 

11. Best Iron for Styling: T3 Lucea

This iron is amazing for styling and creating frizz-free results. It’s made with curved ceramic plates, which help with snag-free styling, and it will give your locks a gorgeous and glossy finish. It’s suitable for all hair types, but it especially tackles frizzy and thick hair.

Pros:

• 9 heat settings
• Curved ceramic plates
• Salon quality
• HeatIQ
• CeraSync Heaters
• 2-year warranty

Cons:

• Too thick for short and thin hair

12. Best Iron for Both Ceramic + Titanium: Hot Tools Pro Signature Ceramic + Titanium Digital Flat Iron

This one has a mix of both ceramic and titanium plates, so you get the best of both worlds! The titanium gives your thick hair the heat intensity it needs, while the ceramic will give shine and sleekness to your hair and reduce any frizziness.

It’s also designed with 1.5″ wide rounded plates, so this will make styling easy and also keep your hair from snagging. The price is fabulous for a Hot Tools flat iron and for what it offers. Definitely a high quality and effective pick for thick hair!

Pros:

• Ceramic and Titanium plates
• Auto shut-off
• Dual voltage perfect for travel
• 1.5″ wide plates
• Amazing price
• 26 adjustable heat settings
• 6 ft swivel cord
• Rounded plates for effortless styling

Cons:

• Could dry out and damage hair if heat settings are not used properly

When you’re straightening your hair, you want to be sure you use a good product to help you get that sleek, smooth style! Here are the best hair straightening products to use before you grab your flat iron.

And here’s how to use your straightener to curl your hair.

Just want to mix up your color? Try hair chalk!