Straight hair has been a dominant tend for quite some time. And this is now becoming quite popular among all cultures.
However when it comes to afro textured hair, finding a flat iron to straighten your curls can be difficult.
After sorting and selecting we have dedicated this article to help you find the most suitable flat iron.
But before that you must go through a few important factors that can help you in selecting the best.
Composition of Plates
Ceramic and titanium are the primary elements that make up the flat iron plates.
If your hair is less coarse or curly ceramic is an ideal option. But titanium would be a better option for extreme curly hair.
Plate width
You can select the width depending on your hair thickness. If your hair is long and thick consider buying an iron with more than 1 inch of thickness. And less than an inch for thin short hair.
Temperature range
Among the wide range of temperatures offered by most of the products. It is advisable to start straightening with low range if you have brittle or damaged hair.
Now that you have gone through factors that will help you in buying. Go through our best listed products that you can buy online.
If you want to refer to some more factors that would help you in precise buying refer to our Buying Guide. Here you would also find tips and tricks for straightening.
Best Flat Iron for African American Hair Reviews
Flat iron for African American Hair | Composition of Plates | Temperature range | Multipurpose | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
HSI Glider Hair Straightener | Tourmaline and Ceramic | 140-450°F | Straight and Curl | CHECK ON AMAZON |
NITION Hair Straightener | Tourmaline and titanium | 265/300/340/375/410/450°F | Straight and Curl | CHECK ON AMAZON |
KIPOZI Professional Hair Straightener | Titanium | 170F/450F | Straight | CHECK ON AMAZON |
BaBylissPRO Nano hair straightener | Titanium | 50 heat settings upto 450F | Straight | CHECK ON AMAZON |
FURIDEN Hair Straightener | Tourmaline and Ceramic | 450 F | Straight and Curl | CHECK ON AMAZON |
FURIDEN Hair Straightener | Titanium | 20 heat settings | Straight and Curl | CHECK ON AMAZON |
CHI G2 Ceramic Hair Straightener | Ceramic and titanium infused | 370-425F | Straight | CHECK ON AMAZON |
1. HSI Professional Glider Hair Straightener
HSI Professional Glider is positioned on top of our list. But, what makes this flat iron on top?
Now this is the only product in this list that has a combination of tourmaline and ceramic and is available at an affordable range. Now let me tell you this is considered to be the best combination. This will make your hair look shiny, smooth and not frizzy. And you can not only straighten your hair but also curl it.
If you are wondering if all this grooming will damage your hair. Then no, this is equipped with HeatBalance Technology that evenly distributes heat and causes less damage to your hair. This offers a heating range of 140-450F and its 360degree long swivel cord giving you the flexibility of grooming at any angle.
Now you might want to include this wonderful device along in your travel plans. And HSI professionals have made this possible too. This flat iron can work on dual voltage 110/220, making it available to use at home and abroad.
With purchase of this you also get an argan oil that makes your hair smooth and protects your hair.
The selling price is quite affordable for this professional quality iron and you also receive a 1 year of warranty.
Product dimension: 1 pound
Package includes: Glider Ceramic Flat Iron, HSI style guide, argan oil, glove and pouch
Pros
- Dual voltage-110/220
- Comes with argan oil, glove and pouch
- Plate width 1 inch
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Extreme curly hair might take a while to straight
2. NITION Professional Salon Hair Straightener
Our second product’s design is a bit different as compared to our first one. This is a 3D hair straightener. And this implies that it adapts to your hand’s angle. Making it super comfortable to hold and straight your hair. There is also a fun element to it. There are no buttons on its entire body.
You must be curious to know how to power it on and change heat settings. Now, here is the fun element. All you have to do is rotate it clockwise to power it on and anticlockwise to decrease temperature.
Along with its heating efficiency, this is also environmentally friendly. It’s MCH heating technology helps you save 20%-30% power as compared to PTC heaters.
And just like our previous product this can also be used to straighten and curl. Though this has a wider heating plate (4.1inch) which is composed of tourmaline and titanium. But this is available at a higher price as compared to our previous product.
Package dimension: 11.4 x 1.4 x 1.4 inches, 9.1 ounces
Package includes: 1 NITION Professional Hair Straightener, 1 pouch bag, 1 heat resistance glove, 1 salon comb attachment, 2 salon hair clips, 1 user manual
Pros
- Temperature variations- 265°F or 300°F for Fine, 345°F or 370°F for Medium and 410°F or 450°F for Thick
- Heating plate infused with trolamine and titanium
- Looks in natural moisture
- Can be used for curling and straightening
Cons
- It might take a while to adjust the temperature settings
3. KIPOZI Professional Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener
If you have curly hair and are looking for a balanced combination of luxury, versatility and technology. Then here is your deal. This is structured with titanium plate which is known to treat coarse and curly hair.
It offers a temperature range for different hair textures. 270F for fragile hair, 350F for damaged or coloured hair, 410F for healthy hair. Your chosen temperature as per your requirement and this will be visible on the LCD display.
It’s floating plates are of 1.75inches and this can smoothly groom your hair without pulling or tugging your hair.
Wait, this is not all. There is also an auto shut off feature that powers off your iron 60minutes when not in use. So this is also saving energy.
Product dimension: 1.61 pounds
Pros
- 8 feet long cord
- Titanium plates
- LCD display
- 75inch plate
Cons
- It can get super hot, advised to start with a low temperature
4. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
Another product for your thick curly hair. BaByliss is a titanium plated flat iron. And platinum is ideal for thick coarse hair. Let us tell you this is the most expensive flat iron on this list. This is basically because unlike other products this can use this on wet or dry hair. And this is structured in a sleek and unique design. It’s plates can smoothly glide over your hair to make it straight or give beachy waves. With every pass you can get an ultra shine finish.
It features 50 heat settings upto 450F.
It’s sleek design and light weight structure makes it easy to handle.
You receive 3 year warranty with this product
Product dimension: 12 x 1.2 x 7 inches, 1 pounds
Pros
- Ultra smooth plates
- Works on damp hair
- Makes your hair smooth and shiny
Cons
- Not sturdy
5. FURIDEN Professional Hair Straightener
This is a revolutionary one step straightener. And this not only serves your straightening purpose but also curls your hair. This is a MCH iron and is efficient to save energy. To change the heat setting just rotate it clockwise to get your desired heat setting. This can be used for all hair types. For bleached hair(250F), dyed or dark coloured hair(320F), normal or slightly curly hair(355F-410F), thick curly and wavy hair(450F)
This also has an auto shut off feature.
Its sleek design can easily fit into your luggage bag. And now that we are talking about travelling you should know it can work on dual voltage(110/240AC).
Product dimension: 11.6 x 1.3 x 1.3 inches, 1.7 pounds
Package includes: Heat Resistant Glove, flat iron bag, salon comb and 2 salon hair clips
Pros
- 360degree swivel long cord
- Travel friendly
- Heats up in 15 seconds
- Tourmaline and ceramic plate
Cons
- Not good enough for curling or waving
6. FURIDEN Hair Straightener
Another option of your course and curly hair. This titanium plated iron is structured in a unique design. This product also comes with a fun element where you can rotate and choose your desired heat setting. This lightweight and has floating plates that can smoothly straighten your hair without tugging or snagging.
This product offers 20 heat settings. Once you select your desired heat it is displayed on it’s LCD screen.
Pros
- Titanium plates
- Good for curly hair
- 20 heat settings
Cons
- Temperature adjustment can be difficult
7. CHI G2 Ceramic Hair Straightening
Our list ends with a traditional iron. Its ergonomic design can be relied on to give you smooth straight hair. Its plates are a combination of titanium and ceramic. So it can promise you durability and non frizzy hair with every session of straightening.
This is dual voltage and convenient for travelling. Talking about its heating capacity there are colour codes which display different degrees.
blue(370F) for fragile or fine hair, green (375-395F) for medium or wavy hair and Red (400-425 degrees) for coarse or resistant hair.
Pros
- 25inch plate
- 2 year warranty
- Dual voltage
Cons
- Requires 40 seconds to heat up
Things to consider while buying flat iron for African American Hair
In this segment we would be discussing factors that can help you in precise buying. So make sure to go through them.
1. Temperature variation
This is one of the most important things that you should consider while buying a flat iron. On an average African American women have thick curly hair. And to straighten this hair type, an iron with high temperature should be preferred. However, if your hair is brittle and iron with a low heat setting would be better.
But the good thing is most of the iron provides a wide range of temperature, so you can surely find the best one for yourself.
2. Plate width
Depending on your hair thickness and length consider the plate size. For example if your hair is long and thick consider buying an iron with more than 1 inch of thickness. And less than an inch for thin short hair.
3. Composition of plate
After you have to sort the size of your plate then look for its composition. The most popular type is ceramic and titanium. Ceramic plates heat up evenly and gives you a smoother finish. But if you are looking for durability than titanium is a better option.
4. Multipurpose
If you are not looking to clutter your closet with too many devices and just one device that can serve your needs. Then get an iron that can straighten as well as curl your hair.
5. Strength of your scalp
Straightening might hurt. It might tug your hair and cause pain. This pain might be intolerable for you or you have scalp sensitivity then choose an iron with floating plates. These are slightly different and tug your hair less as compared to a traditional iron.
6. Dual voltage capacity
If you are a frequent overseas traveller. Then check if your iron has dual voltage capacity. 110V and 220V are the two options of dual voltage. This will let you use it at home and also abroad.
7. Safety timer
If you are a forgetful one and if you are always wondering if you have plugged or unplugged your flat iron. Then here is an ideal feature for you. Some flat irons come with 60-minute auto shut off and pre-programmed heat settings. This gives you peace of mind and it doesn’t even cost much higher than the iron that does not have this feature.
8. Warranty
If your product comes with warranty, it is always better. This just makes the product more reliable as compared to others.
9. Titanium or Ceramic
Now that you know iron plates are usually of ceramic or titanium. You must be curious to know what are its advantages and disadvantages.
Ceramic is a favourite choice among many. As it smoothy straightens your curls with its evenly heat distributed technology. It is also efficient to increase the moisture which is required for hair straightening. And the best part is ceramic iron which uses ionic technology that uses negative ions that balances hair making it relax and smooth.
Now titanium is a lightweight metal that gets heated up in a very short time. This property makes it ideal for all the busy women. Being lightweight and durable makes it convenient for straightening.
This is most suitable for thick, coarse and stubborn hair.
So you can choose the material depending on your hair type. If your hair is not stubborn then a ceramic flat iron would work best. While if the nature of your hair is thick and coarse, then go for a titanium flat iron.
Things to consider before straightening
Well, there are a few things that you should follow before treating African American hair. So in this section, we would be letting you all the ins and outs of straightening thick and curly hair. And this will let you avoid the least damage.
- Select the best straightener- It is very important to purchase a suitable straightener for your hair. We hope our things to consider will help you choose a suitable straightener.
- Avoid frequent straightening- frequent exposure to heat will damage your hair and cause split ends and make your hair frizzy. So it would always be better if you straighten your hair and then leave your hair natural for at least 3-4 days.
- Moisturize- The nutrients and minerals present in your hair are responsible for shine and softness. And frequent heat exposures will damage these nutrients. So it is important to moisturize your hair. Use a leave-in conditioner and hair mask to replenish the natural oils.
- Clean your hair prior- cleaning your hair and then straightening is a better option. If your hair is dirty or has excess, this will transfer all the dirt to your flat iron and in the long run, can damage the plates.
- Use heat protection- Invest in a good heat protecting sprays. This will nourish your hair while you straighten it. Straightening can make your hair brittle and cause split ends. By using a hair spray you can avoid all these and protect your hair.
Steps for straightening your hair
1. Clean dry your hair
Cleaning your hair prior to straightening is very important. As discussed above heating your hair with dirt and oil will not just damage your hair but would also damage your flat iron. Also, make sure your hair is dry. Because straightening wet hair will be frizzy and weak.
2. Start with a low heat setting
Every flat iron plate reacts differently with your hair. So to start with it is always better to initiate with a low-temperature setting. Otherwise, you might just burn and damage your hair.
3. Section your hair
Use clips and section your hair. This will avoid reheating a section more than twice.
4. First comb and then iron
After you have sectioned your hair comb it out to remove all the knots. Start ironing from the top and then come down.
5. Hold your hair straight
Make sure to hold your hair straight and do not stop in the middle. This will avoid your hair from getting any curl as you iron.
6. Apply a finishing solution
After you are done with straightening. Apply a finishing solution. It would be better if its ingredients have argan oil, jojoba oil and olive oil. And also wash your hair three days after straightening. This will allow your hair to secrete natural oils.
Things to avoid when straightening hair
- Try to avoid a heat temperature over 450degree. This temperature can damage your hair.
- Many people use oil or butter before straightening. Doing this wouldn’t make your hair look sleek. So do avoid this.
- To get the best results, avoid straightening wet or damp hair. Or it can make your hair frizzy.
- Do not heat a section of your hair twice. This might damage your hair.
- Avoid using water based moisturizer. Avoiding water for this process will give you better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
This would depend on the texture of your hair.
*Thin and damaged hair (250-300F).
*Hair with average length and strength (300-350F).
*Long thick hair (350-400F)
Try not to use flat irons that exceed a temperature of 450K. This will damage your hair and cause breakage.
If you want your hair to be shiny and less frizzy, then tourmaline can help you with that. This is a crystalline gemstone which is crushed and used in flat irons. But when it comes to heat distribution ceramic is a better option. The best thing is if you get a combination of tourmaline and ceramic.
Yes, this can definitely be called the best combination. Ceramic evenly distributes heat while tourmaline can make your hair look shiny, smooth and less frizzy.
More than 1 inch size is considered to be large. Large plages would be better for long hair, be it of a thicker or finer texture. Flat iron are found in sizes of 1.25inch, 1.5inch, 1.75inch, 2inch and even 2.5inch.
Conclusion
Finally, we have reached the last segment. Our selection was based on product efficiency and highest reviews. We hope this article has served your purpose. Finding a flat iron for afro hair can be difficult. But we are sure these above listed products will help you get over those curls.
If you are curious to know what is the best among these top products. Then it will surely be HSI Professional Glider. This professional quality iron is made available at an affordable rate. This is a combination of tourmaline and ceramic which is the best for your hair. While you do all the grooming you can be rest assured about the least heat damaged caused with its heatbalance technology. This can easily accommodate with your travelling(dual voltage 110/220V). And you also get a 1 year warranty with its purchase.
This is our favourite pick, do let us know which one was yours.