Perfect for travel (or inconveniently placed outlets in the bathroom), this Dyson flat iron can be used cord-free: The brand claims one 70-minute charge grants 30 minutes of cordless styling. Unlike traditional flat irons that have a solid surface, the Dyson’s plates are flexible so hair doesn’t get squished flat which “left [hair] a bit voluminous like a blowout” and a style that testers said “retained volume,” yet “stayed straight and kept its body.” It’s heavy and bulky, but experts found that “it didn’t seem to matter during use.” From the operational standpoint, the Dyson excelled: It heated up to 95% of its claimed temperature in 60 seconds and maintained a steady plate temperature for 15 minutes, while the outside surface temperature stays cool to the touch. However, in Lab tests, hair struggled to maintain straightness after 24-hour humidity exposure, and our experts found it pulled and snagged hair more than other irons during styling.
• Plate size: 1-inch
• Temperature settings: Three heat settings (330°F, 365°F, 410°F)
• Auto shut-off: 10 minutes
This iron is our Beauty Lab standard: We use it for various evaluations such as anti-frizz studies. It glides through hair without tugging and is easy to use according to consumer testers. Plus, with over 10,000 five star reviews on Amazon, it’s safe to say people are obsessed with this flat iron from BaBylissPRO. Because the titanium iron is so thin and the plates go all the way to the edge of the clamp, it’s able to nab frizz right at the root of the hair, making this iron perfect for stubborn frizz or super-curly and natural hair. One reviewer who says she has “very, very curly hair,” claims that this flat iron cuts her styling time in half and gets rid of frizz in one pass.
• Plate size: 1-inch
• Temperature settings: Adjustable up to 450ºF
• Auto shut-off: None
