Fine hair requires a certain amount of care, as it’s more vulnerable to heat damage and oiliness. As a result, ensuring that you have the best flat iron for your fine hair is key, so that you can maintain its silky-smooth appearance and healthy texture.
Lucky for you, we’ve done the legwork to find out which are the best flat irons on the market for those of you with fine hair – read on for more.
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In A Hurry? Our Top Picks
Image | Title | Buy |
---|---|---|
Top | Remington S5500TA 1" Anti-Static Flat Iron with Floating Ceramic Plates and Digital Controls, Grey/Coral | Buy on Amazon |
Conair Unbound Cordless Titanium 1-inch Flat Iron From Conair – Rechargeable Flat Iron For Sleek and Straight Styles | Buy on Amazon | |
Remington S9520 Pro 2" Pearl Ceramic Flat Iron, Hair Straightener, Digital Controls + 9 Heat Settings, Black/Pink | Buy on Amazon | |
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium 1" Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron, Blue | Buy on Amazon |
What Flat Iron Type Is Suitable For Fine Hair?
There are a number of things to look out for when considering which is the best flat iron for fine hair.
Automatic Shut Off
This is a basic feature of any flat iron, but it’s just as important for those with fine hair. You need to be looking for a tool that has automatic shut-off.
We can all be scatter-brained, and this is a good way of ensuring that, even if you do have a bad day, you’re at minimal risk.
Automatic shut-offs will turn your flat iron off when it’s been left unused for a period of time.
Depending on the tool, this can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, and some flat irons give you the option to adjust this time.
Material
When we say that the material your flat iron is made of matters, we really mean it. The plates of your flat iron are essential, as they’re responsible for straightening your hair.
You want to be avoiding materials like steel. Fine hair is already vulnerable to heat damage, and flat irons with steel plates will literally fry or burn your hair, so avoid these as a priority.
The best material for the plates of a flat iron for fine hair is either ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline.
Ceramic is durable and affordable, and it conducts heat well. This makes it ideal for fine hair, as it distributes the heat evenly and heats up fast, both of which help to minimize the risk of heat damage.
Titanium is also a good heat conductor, so works in a similar way to reduce heat damage to your fine hair.
Tourmaline works similarly, distributing heat evenly throughout your strands.
Tourmaline plates also tend to have a negative ionic charge, which works to minimize frizz and therefore keeps your hair static-free and silky.
Negative Ions
As with the best hair dryers around, the best flat irons for any hair type will have negative ion technology.
This works to reduce static and frizz, contributing to the shine and smooth texture of your strands, and also helps to distribute heat evenly.
Having a flat iron that reduces heat damage and frizz is essential for fine hair, which is prone to both.
Adjustable temperature
As mentioned, fine hair is vulnerable to damage from styling tools that use heat. The best flat irons for fine hair will therefore have features to adjust their temperature.
You don’t want to go over 300 to 350 Fahrenheit when straightening fine hair, otherwise, you do risk frying it.
Plate size
The best plate size for you depends on your hair length as well as its fineness. For shorter, fine hair, having a flat iron with a fine plate is best – it will give you more styling control.
There’s also something to be said for floating plates if your hair is thin and fine.
These help you to straighten your hair more easily and cause the least damage. That said, you’re more likely to find flat irons with fixed plates.
10 Best Flat Irons For Fine Hair
1. Remington 1” Anti-Static Flat Iron
Your fine hair will notice fewer flyaways and frizz, as this flat iron works specifically to counter static in your strands.
The tourmaline ceramic plates are floating, providing a more controlled straightening effect, and are the ideal size for fine hair, providing a smooth glide.
The tourmaline helps for heat control, ensuring fine hair is less likely to fry under the heat, but there’s also a great digital control system by which to adjust temperatures – there are in fact six settings for ease of use.
Why we like it: Anti-static tourmaline ceramic technology helps to manage heat distribution for fine hair
2. BabylissPro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
A slim design tool, this flat iron also has titanium technology to help distribute heat better over your fine hair. The five-inch plates are ultra-thin, giving you maximal styling control, but it also means that they’re lightweight, making them great for travelling.
You have 50 heat settings up to 450 Fahrenheit (but remember, you shouldn’t be going this high for fine hair). We also like the ice blue color. It may be slightly pricier, but there’s a three-year warranty and the titanium plates are resistant to corrosion, so should last you for years.
Why we like it: Lightweight and ultra-thin five-inch plates make styling easy
3. ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener
It’s definitely not a cheaper flat iron, but it’s one of the best for fine hair. Heat is monitored 250 times per second – yep, you read that right – ensuring precise heat dispersal for your strands, which is ideal for fine hair prone to heat damage.
It’ll maintain a heat of 365 Fahrenheit, allowing you to concentrate on your styling. We love that there’s a technological feature that recognizes your hair type and adjusts its styling accordingly so as to provide a look that works for you. It also has an automatic sleep mode and comes in great colors.
Why we like it: Seriously sophisticated flat iron that gauges your hair type and adjusts accordingly
4. Conair OhSoKind For Fine Hair Flat Iron
The clue is in the name – this flat iron is designed for fine hair, so is undoubtedly one of the best out there.
One-inch plates are infused with almond and aloe vera and are made of ceramic to help manage static and frizz. The plates are also round-edged to prevent any snagging, and there’s an automatic off feature. The flat iron also comes with a heat guide for you to customize the temperature depending on how fine your hair is, with a range from 295 to 375 Fahrenheit.
Why we like it: A flat iron designed for fine hair with a heat guide that’s customizable depending on your hair type
5. InStyler Cerasilk Hair Professional Styling Flat Iron
There are silk and ceramic ridges on this flat iron. Sound fancy? It is. They’re designed to better protect hair from heat by distributing it more evenly, resulting in over 90% less damage.
Although this is a more expensive flat iron, this also makes it one of the best for fine hair. Floating ceramic plates also give you more control over your styling and will keep a consistent amount of heat. There are also four heat settings and an automatic shut-off.
Why we like it: Sophisticated silk and ceramic technology minimizes heat damage
6. Conair Unbound Cordless Titanium Flat Iron
If you’ve had enough of endless cords lying around, this cordless flat iron is for you. You charge via USB to have up to 25 minutes of cord-free straightening.
You have four temperature settings and an automatic shut-off, and the titanium plates will distribute heat across your hair strands. It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch – ideal for travel – and we love the color.
Why we like it: A cordless flat iron that’s super portable
7. Remington Pro 2” Pearl Ceramic Flat Iron
For a Remington flat iron, this is reasonably priced, and still delivers a serious straightening effect.
The floating plates are two inches in width, providing more styling control, and are made of ceramic, ensuring great heat distribution.
The plates are also infused with crushed pearls, which promises a superior straightening effect in less time. Less time means less exposure to heat, making this one of the best flat irons for fine hair.
Why we like it: Superior pearl ceramic technology creates salon-ready results
8. Furiden Professional Hair Straightener
This flat iron heats up in fifteen seconds, and we love the heat temperature tool – you just twist the base in order to reduce or heighten it.
The floating ceramic tourmaline plates help you to manage your style better, and you won’t find yourself tripping over the cord, as it swivels 360 degrees for maximum maneuverability. This flat iron also travels really well.
Why we like it: A professional standard flat iron that’s great for travel
9. Rosily Professional Wide Flat Iron
Heating up in thirty seconds, these tourmaline ceramic extra-wide floating plates provide a smooth glide with minimal pulling.
We love that you can straighten damp hair with these flat irons, so they’re perfect if you’re short on time. Five temperature settings give you more control, and the cord swivels 360 degrees for ease of use.
Why we like it: Minimal pulling and high-temperature control
10. Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron
With five heat settings, you’re in control of this flat iron, which has double ceramic coated floating plates for even distribution of heat.
It will work well to straighten your locks, but also doubles up well as a curler. It turns off automatically and heats up in thirty seconds, too.
Why we like it: A reasonably priced professional flat iron for fine hair
Thin Hair And Fine Hair – How Are They Different?
Don’t get confused – thin hair is not the same as fine hair, but you can have hair that is both thin and fine.
This article details the best flat irons for fine hair, helping you to make a cost-effective decision for a styling tool that will work with your particular type of hair.
If you don’t know whether your hair is fine, or if it’s just thin, the following is a good way to establish it. The main difference is in your hair’s diameter and the density of strands.
Fine Hair
If your hair is fine, the diameter of your strands will be thin, as your hair follicles are thinner.
However, people with fine hair will tend to have more strands per square centimeter on their heads, which is why fine hair can become prone to oiliness.
Typically, fine hair also tends to be flatter, with less natural bounce, but it can be straight, wavy, or curly.
Fine hair also tends to be very fragile, which is why you need the best flat iron for it, so as to cause minimal damage.
Fine hair is very vulnerable to heat damage, so bear this in mind when you’re looking for the best flat iron. However, fine hair also straightens much quicker than curly or wavy hair, therefore requiring less heat in the first instance.
Thin Hair
This refers to the density of your hair. If you have thin hair, you have fewer strands of hair per square centimeter of your head. This is usually determined by genetics or hormones.
If your hair is both thin and fine, you’ll need to be very careful about what flat iron you purchase, and should always try to use as little heat as possible in order to minimize damage.
Fine Hair Straightening Tips
Fine hair can get oily easily and is also more likely to fry under extreme heat. As such, preparing your hair is essential.
Follow these steps in order to get fine hair readt for straightening:
1. Wash and condition your hair as normal, being sure not to over-apply conditioner to your roots. Squeeze out any residual water with a towel, leaving your hair damp.
2. Grab your heat protectant and apply it to your locks, ensuring that it’s evenly distributed. You can always use a wide-toothed comb to do so.
3. Use a hairdryer on cool settings and dry your hair thoroughly.
4. Section your hair using clips, and grab your flat iron. Ensure it’s at relatively low heat, and begin styling, ensuring that you work from the roots down.
5. You want to apply firm pressure, but not overdo it, otherwise, you may cause kinks or even burns. Immediately stop using the flat iron if you do smell burning, and consider adjusting your temperature.
6. Repeat this straightening process on all sections of your hair. If you have time, use a blow dryer again to add some volume in, and finish with a hair serum to seal in some moisture.
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