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The advanced infrared heat technology has an adjustable temperature from 240°F to 400°F to work with all hair types. This dual voltage flat iron also comes with a 1-inch plate that’s wide enough for any hair length. The following picks are based on a combination of top performers and brands we love from other expert testing by our beauty editors. Here are the best mini flat irons for all hair types, including ones for curly hair and thin hair, that'll make it easier to part from your full-sized straightener. With plates just a half-inch thick, this mini of all minis (it is one of the smallest on the list) is best used for shorter styles like bobs or modern mullets. With only one heat setting, this simple tool is designed to smooth waves, style bangs, and keep flyaways at bay.
What to consider when shopping for a mini flat iron
I’m a bit obsessed with hair tools and have tried a bunch that work worldwide. The ones I recommend are still going strong even though sometimes I use them a few times a week in Europe with an adapter. Some electronics, such as newer Macbooks and iPhones have dual voltage that automatically adjust in their destination. However, you may need to adjust the voltage manually by moving an external switch in certain items such as hair tools. All of the 10 best travel straightener options listed in this post are compatible with international voltages to make it easier to take them anywhere in the world.
Do I need an adapter to use a flat iron abroad?
The ceramic floating plates are made from tourmaline, ensuring that your hair has a glossy texture without harming it. The iconic mint green plates are just as powerful cord-free, and they hold a charge for a whopping 40 minutes of styling. The silky ceramic plates glide over your strands without snagging, so you can straighten or use to create Farrah Fawcett level waves.
Lighter and more compact: Rusk W8less Professional Ceramic and Tourmaline Str8 Iron
When we tested mini flat irons, we evaluated 10 models against five full-sized Lab-tested straighteners. Every one of our consumer testers agreed the CHI straightened their hair to perfection, and a majority gave it a top score for reaching the right temperature to straighten effectively. In fact, many praised its "smooth iron," "lightweight" feel and quick heating. A majority of mini models we tested felt too hot to the touch, while this was the only one to keep cool on the surface. Our pros also love that its dual voltage makes it a good option for overseas travel.
The Best Flat Irons and Hair Straighteners 2024 The Strategist - New York Magazine
The Best Flat Irons and Hair Straighteners 2024 The Strategist.
Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There are some general temperature guidelines by hair type, but even those vary by head. If you already own a hair straightener you like—one that you can hold and maneuver easily, and that heats to the temperature you want and stays there—you’re probably set. If you find the device clumsy to use, you’re damaging your hair unnecessarily. If it’s hard to hold and move around, you’re probably clamping your hair too tightly, unevenly, or for too much time. If hair regularly gets snagged or otherwise caught on the device, you’re forced to apply more heat on those areas to fix them. This lightweight and bargain-priced Remington delivers smooth strands that stay in place.
Best Lightweight Travel Straightener
When curling your hair with a flat iron, it’s best to use a tool with beveled edges. Once you have your straightener, complete the above step one, then follow the directions below. The durability of the device matters as well and it’s important to look for options that will stand up to the wear-and-tear of travel. You don’t want a dual voltage straightener that breaks because it was exposed to too much pressure in your suitcase (some models include travel bags included with special protective padding). With both straightening and curling, the iron’s angle automatically adjusts to keep from snagging the hair.
If your hair is damaged, limiting heat styling is the advice for reviving your strands. However, if you need to use a hot tool, make sure it has a variety of temperature settings. See, heat doesn’t start damaging your hair until somewhere over 300 degrees. Nast loves that this mini straightener boasts over 13 temperature options. “This will help to ensure that you are not damaging your hair,” she says, “Keeping the tool on a lower setting cuts down on the damage.” Its inexpensive price point is a bonus.
The 14 Best Hair Straighteners of 2024, Tested - InStyle
The 14 Best Hair Straighteners of 2024, Tested.
Posted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The plates on the BaByliss Pro Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron we tested didn’t touch, making it hard to straighten hair. Another high-end iron we tested, the BaBylissPro Nano, is very narrow and overall good, but we didn’t find anything to justify the cost. In size and design it’s very similar to our budget pick from Conair, except the Nano has a longer cord. Chiara Butler, a reviews analyst in the GH Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, led our latest round of flat iron testing and produced a highly detailed technical report on the findings. It took around a minute to reach 94% of its claimed temperature, but our pros were disappointed that there was no audible tone to indicate when it reaches temperature.
All of the irons we tested weighed less than a pound, and the difference between the lightest and heaviest straighteners was minimal (1 to 2 ounces). The GVP weighs 0.56 pound—it was one of the heaviest straighteners we tested, but it weighed only 0.12 pound more than the lightest straightener we tested. The GVP is still light enough to hold on a daily basis, and the iron’s other features, such as quality plates and a digital display, compensate for the added weight. The cord is 9 feet long, giving you plenty of space to plug it into an outlet that is located far away from a mirror. The straightener itself is 13 inches long, which we found to be the perfect length to wield while styling hair—and the plates are around 3.5 inches long, plenty sufficient to capture a good-size section of hair. Travel hair straighteners and flat irons are cleared to be brought on planes and trains.
“Once it has been straightened from too much heat, it’s hard to bring it back,” she said. Even before it gets that bad, accumulated damage can cause frizz, split ends, rough-feeling hair, and breakage. We can’t promise that you’ll never damage your hair again; it’s a risk you take whenever you use any heat styling tool. But by using a quality device and using it correctly, you can reduce your chances of heat damage and keep your hair looking healthy (and as straight as you prefer). Some flat irons claim to prevent damage, and others claim to be made with the best material for a healthy shine, but as a shopper, it can be confusing to tell which is best. Testers loved how comfortable it was to use, praising its soft-touch surface and comfortable grip.
It is designed to deliver 20 minutes of cord free styling time and heat up in under a minute. Chi is known for their affordable yet high-quality styling products. This mini tool does the work of a full-sized iron without skipping a beat.
Conair's MiniPro may not pull out all the bells and whistles, but it certainly gets the job done. Those with bangs may appreciate this more as some online reviews say it gives a "blown out" effect rather than totally sleek. Others attested to its quick heating, with a red light that blinks off once it reaches the temperature setting. We haven't tested this in Lab yet, but our pros appreciate its dual voltage capabilities. You should be certain that children don’t operate this flat iron by themselves, but the miniature size means that you can use it to straighten a child’s hair. Usually, I am terrible with curling but this hair straighteners moves so smoothly on my hair with no snagging that I actually can curl my hair with a straightener!
Though this Gama G Evo flat iron isn’t technically designed to be a travel iron, Pipino insists he cannot leave home without it. At around 16.5 inches, it isn’t a mini per se, but Pipino insists it is worth it to pack. “It heats up super fast if you need to straighten your hair quickly and works well on all hair types in all climates, even if traveling to humid summer locations,” he says. Hair tools such as blow dryers, wands, curling irons, and your travel flat iron use a large amount of electricity, so it’s particularly important that they are used with the correct voltage. Drybar's Baby Buttercup dryer's compact, lightweight design and collapsible handle make it super portable and perfect for travel or on-the-go styling. And with its super-cute logo travel bag scribbled with a cheeky slogan, you'll want to take this tool everywhere.
The compact 1.25-inch can be carried in your carry-on for easy traveling! This is one of the best dual voltage flat irons for international travel. For a durable travel straightener that works with fine to coarse hair, the HSI Professional Flat Iron is a step up.
Keep in mind that its on/off switch is located on the inside of its handles. Since this iron was one of the longest among the mini flat irons we tested, the switch is not as close to the hinge of the handles, making it easier to reach. In order to find the best mini travel flat irons, we sought the advice of seven experienced hair experts, and personally road tested highly rated options. Ahead, the top 15 mini irons and travel hair straighteners you should consider snagging before your next trip. A lightweight travel straightener, the Herstyler Forever Travel Flat Iron has an ultra-fast warm up to 460°F with an adjustable temperature allowing you to manage your hair with ease.
We spoke with Trefor Evans, the director of research at TRI Princeton, a hair testing and consulting firm; cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski; and stylist Tippi Shorter, Aveda’s global artistic director for textured hair. We read research papers on heat damage, blog posts about hair destroyed by hair straighteners, plus hundreds of customer reviews of various flat irons. After an extensive evaluation period and input from expert hairstylists, our testers agree that Ghd’s Platinum+ Styler is the best hair straightener of 2023. The 1-inch plates are a practical size for working close to the roots of your hair when needed, without requiring multiple passes for a smoothed look on the lengths of your hair.
