TechGearLab

While the Remington S5500 might not be the best of the best, it's hard to beat if you are not trying to break the budget. It typically costs a fraction of what the premium products do and does a decent job of straightening hair. It glides reasonably well and matches the maximum temperature of some of the top products. We also appreciate this model's swivel cord and hinge lock. 
This iron has one of the shorter cords of the entire group, though, and the interface and digital display aren't necessarily our favorites. However, our biggest complaint with this hair straightening iron is that it feels like you need to apply more clamping pressure to ensure the plates make full contact with your hair. Though not our first choice, it will straighten your hair well for considerably less money than the premium models. It's a good option for anyone pinching pennies or someone who uses a straightening iron from only time to time. 

While the Remington S5500 might not be the best of the best, it's hard to beat if you are not trying to break the budget. It typically costs a fraction of the premium products and does a decent job of straightening hair. It glides reasonably well and matches the maximum temperature of some of the top products. We also appreciate this model's swivel cord and hinge lock. 
This iron has one of the shorter cords of the entire group, though, and the interface and digital display aren't necessarily our favorites. However, our biggest complaint with this hair straightening iron is that it feels like you need to apply more clamping pressure to ensure the plates make full contact with your hair. Though not our first choice, it will straighten your hair well for considerably less money than the premium models. It's a good option for anyone pinching pennies or who only occasionally uses a straightening iron. 

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If you're willing to spend a bit more to invest in a quality hair straightening iron, but the premium tools are out of your budget, check out the Hot Tools Signature Series Ceramic Digital. This economically priced model just about holds its own against the top-tier irons, offering quality straightening performance with its ceramic plates. It glides well across both thick and thin hair types and is available with either 1" or 1.5" wide plates. It has a listed maximum temperature of 450°F and will automatically shut off after two hours if you accidentally left it plugged in. It also has a cord pivot, a storage hanging loop, and is compatible with 110V-240V if you happen to be traveling. 
We thought the cord was on the short side &mdash; around 6' &mdash; which definitely might preclude it from salon use. It doesn't have a hinge lock, and we measured the maximum temperature to be slightly lower than the claimed amount. All in all, it's a great value hair straightening iron — not the best for professionals, but we think it's the perfect choice for anyone looking for the best value when it comes to these products. 

If you're willing to spend a bit more to invest in a quality hair straightening iron, but the premium tools are out of your budget, check out the Hot Tools Signature Series Ceramic Digital. This economically priced model just about holds its own against the top-tier irons, offering quality straightening performance with its ceramic plates. It glides well across thick and thin hair types and is available with either 1" or 1.5" wide plates. It has a listed maximum temperature of 450°F and will automatically shut off after two hours if you accidentally left it plugged in. It also has a cord pivot and a storage hanging loop, and is compatible with 110V-240V if you happen to be traveling. 
We thought the cord was on the short side &mdash; around 6' &mdash; which might preclude it from salon use. It doesn't have a hinge lock, and we measured the maximum temperature to be slightly lower than the claimed amount. All in all, it's a great value hair straightening iron — not the best for professionals, but we think it's the perfect choice for anyone looking for the best value when it comes to these products. 

Upgrade Pick

bazaarvoice

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Wirecutter

The plates on the Conair Infiniti Pro flat iron grip and style hair just as well as the high-end straighteners, plus you’ll have a very wide range of temperature settings, but it has a short cord.

expert-review

The Best Hair Straightener

The Rusk W8less is a great lightweight travel iron that’s durable enough for daily use.

With a real-time digital display, good-size plates, and no sharp corners or gaps to snag your hair, the GVP flat iron makes straightening quick and effortless.

Flat Iron Comparison