Sleek hair in one pass: the flat irons worth buying (and the one that skips the heat)

The ghd Platinum+ is a stylist favorite because it takes the guesswork out of heat. Rather than offering a dial of temperatures, it's designed to hold one optimal styling temperature evenly across the plates, which gives smooth, shiny results in fewer passes.

Owners love how quickly it works and how glossy hair looks afterward. It's expensive, and the lack of adjustable temperature isn't ideal for very fine or fragile hair. It also has an automatic sleep mode.

BaBylissPRO's Nano Titanium iron is a salon staple for thick, coarse and curly hair. Titanium plates heat up quickly and transfer heat efficiently, so you can straighten thick sections in fewer passes.

That power is also the warning: it gets very hot, so fine or damaged hair should stay at lower settings. Owners love the speed and the durable build.

The CHI Original has been around for years, and its ceramic plates provide gentle, even heat that suits fine and normal hair. It's simple to use and glides without snagging.

The original model has no temperature control, which is fine for many people but limiting if your hair is very fragile or very coarse. Owners praise its reliability and long life.

The Dyson Corrale uses flexible plates that bend to gather hair, applying even tension so you need fewer passes. It works corded or cordless, which is handy for touch-ups and travel.

It's the most expensive pick by far and heavier than standard irons. Owners like the results at lower heat but agree it's a splurge.

Remington Shine Therapy is a dependable budget flat iron with ceramic plates, adjustable temperature and a fast heat-up. It's a good first straightener or a second one for travel.

It doesn't glide quite as smoothly as premium irons, and the plates are shorter. For the price, owners find it does the job well.