# Flat iron for thick hair

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/flat-iron/for-thick-hair/
Category: Beauty > Flat iron. Updated 2026-10-10. Based on 143 counted first-hand reports from Ulta shopper reviews, Dec 2012 to Aug 2026.

**Question:** Which flat iron is good for thick hair?

**Short answer:** Conair XL Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron has the best record for thick hair, with 19 of 21 shoppers saying it straightened their hair in a pass or two, and CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron follows at 22 of 25. We could not confirm the exact Amazon listing for either, so the best pick sold on Amazon is Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron, which ranks third at 18 of 21. Each record counts just shoppers who said they have thick hair.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Straightens thick hair | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conair XL Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron | 19 of 21 | 90% | yes |
| 2 | CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron | 22 of 25 | 88% | yes |
| 3 | Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron | 18 of 21 | 86% | yes |
| 4 | BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Styling Iron | 12 of 14 | 86% | yes |
| 5 | BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra Thin Flat Iron | 14 of 18 | 78% | yes |
| 6 | BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron | 12 of 16 | 75% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Conair XL Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron

Shoppers call it smooth and shiny in 24% of its 25 reviews and good value in 16%, and no complaint shows up in more than one review.

- Praised for: Smooth and shiny (24%), Good value (16%), Heats fast (16%)
- Reports counted: 25

### 2. CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

Of its 30 reviews, 13% credit it with a smooth, shiny finish and 13% with less frizz, while its 3 misses said it didn't get hot enough or took too long on their thick hair.

- Praised for: Smooth and shiny (13%), Heats fast (13%), Less frizz (13%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 3. Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron

Durability complaints show up here, with 17% of its 24 reviews saying it stopped working. Shoppers also credit fast heat-up (12%) and a smooth, shiny finish (12%).

- Praised for: Heats fast (12%), Smooth and shiny (12%), Shiny hair (8%)
- Complaints: Stopped working (17%)
- Reports counted: 24

### 4. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Styling Iron

Ease of use comes up in 18% of its 22 reviews, and 14% mention shiny hair.

- Praised for: Easy to use (18%), Shiny hair (14%), Style lasts (9%)
- Reports counted: 22

### 5. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra Thin Flat Iron

Its finish draws praise, with 30% of its 20 reviews calling it smooth and shiny. Others say it heats fast (20%), though 15% call it too expensive.

- Praised for: Smooth and shiny (30%), Heats fast (20%), Easy to use (10%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (15%)
- Reports counted: 20

### 6. BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron

This iron has the weakest record here at 12 of 16, and its 4 misses said it struggled with their thick hair, needing several passes or not straightening it at all. Reviews first posted on BaBylissPRO's own site were more positive, at 8 of 8, and we show them but don't count them.

- Praised for: Heats fast (18%), Good value (18%), Shiny hair (14%)
- Reports counted: 22

## Questions

**Which flat iron works for thick hair?**

Conair XL Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron has the best record (19 of 21), followed by CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (22 of 25), Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron (18 of 21) and BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Styling Iron (12 of 14). BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra Thin Flat Iron (14 of 18) and BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron (12 of 16) come after them. Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron and BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Styling Iron both stand at 86%. Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron ranks higher because more shoppers stated a result for it, 21 against 14.

**Is CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron good for thick hair?**

Mostly yes: 22 of 25 shoppers with thick hair said it straightened their hair in a pass or two. More shoppers stated a result for it than for any other iron here, and it ranks second.

**How should I use a flat iron on thick hair?**

Follow the heat settings and instructions that come with the iron. Use a heat protectant if you already use one. We count what shoppers said about results, not safety, so the maker's directions are the place to check how to use it.

**Which of these flat irons are sold on Amazon?**

Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron and BaBylissPRO Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron are sold on Amazon by the brand or Amazon itself, and Drybar Tress Press Straightening Iron is the best pick sold on Amazon. For Conair XL Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron, CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Styling Iron and BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra Thin Flat Iron, we could not confirm the exact Amazon listing, so their buttons search Amazon for them.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/