Here they are, StyleBell’s best selling, top rated, must-have hair straighteners of the year and why we like them! You’ll notice a few newbies on the list this year, as well as some past favorites.  

GHD 1″ Ceramic Hair Straightener MK3 
Alias: The International Fave
Already a best-seller in the UK and Australia, the GHD MK3 flat iron has a large, loyal fan base here in the US. Even heat conduction allows for quicker heating time than a conventional flat iron, and the long lasting temperature leads to optimal, snag-free hair straightening in minutes. Just brilliant!  

Plus: GHD has expertly formulated a line of hair care and thermal protectors to accompany your heat styling endeavors for maximum hair happiness. Check out the Obedience Cream, it’s truly a must-have.

Insider Info: This iron delivers snag-free results, more than most irons I’ve seen. Great for every hair style and hair type. A little pricier than other irons, but the results are worth it. 

BaByliss Pro Nano-Titanium 1-1/4″ Flat Iron
Alias: The Mac Daddy of Techno
Love to take control? With the Babyliss Nano Titanium Digital flat iron, you get the superior heat conductivity coupled with the smoothest surface available in a styling tool – Titanium. No more overheating, over-drying, over-damaging your hair. Titanium rocks. Plus the super smooth snag-free surface straightens hair up to 40% faster, what’s not to love? 

Bonus: The Babyliss Pro Nano-Titanium flat iron looks as great as it performs! I love its major counter appeal and never want to put it away. It looks great on any vanity (on top of a heatproof mat, of course!) Gotta love an appliance that has style.  

Insider Info: This iron is chock full of amazing technology for the price, and includes a killer 4 year warranty. It goes toe to toe with those pricey irons, and kicks some of them to the curb. It’s newbie on my list, but the impressive results are sure to convince you.

HAI Convertable 1-1/4″Ceramic Flat Iron 
Alias: The Multi-tasker
The HAI Convertable’s ceramic plates are unmatched for equal heat distribution and the ergonomic design makes it is easier to press, hold, mold, twirl and curl your hair. Talk about multi-tasking! People seriously love this iron, and you will too. The HAI Convertable is another one of my all time favorite straighteners. 

Plus: The HAI is just right for smoothing your hair, and for creating loose waves, perfect for those of you who like to mix it up! 

Insider Info: This is the flat iron they use at my salon, and everyone agrees, it’s awesome!

Maxiglide
Alias: The Cult Favorite
Soft, shiny, straight and snag free! That’s what I keep hearing from Maxiglide users. Unique steamburst technology and ceramic detangling pins make this iron unlike all the others – in a good way. Not only does this iron get consistently high reviews on beauty sites, Maxiglide customers are very passionate about this straightener; they keep raving about it again and again. There is a reason it’s a best seller. Need I say more?  

Plus: The Maxiglide also has a slimmer, smaller version – the Miniglide. It’s the perfect traveling companion for touch ups on the go. 

Insider Info: Comb through your hair first and style small sections of hair at a time. Less potential for snagging, especially if you have very thick, textured hair. Definitely use the steam on the ends. Definitely. The Beyond Straight is awesome with the Maxiglide – I’m talking super straight. 

GHD Ceramic Hair Styler and Hair Straightener, Flat Iron MK4
Also known as: The Innovator
With tons of media buzz, the newest arrival of the GHD family does not disappoint! Being one of the lucky few to get a sneak peek, last year, I am still in love with this iron a year later. Incorporating state-of-the-art styling technology, this heat styler curls as easily as it straightens, giving you the ultimate in versatility. Plus it auto adjust for international voltages, has a stronger cable, and a new sleep mode which turns itself off after 15 minutes. That’s one smart styler! 

Plus: Just to make sure you’ve got the styling ‘know-how’, there’s a step-by-step DVD included in the box. Watch out competition, there’s a new player in town, the GHD MK4 has arrived. 

Insider Info: This is one of the most innovative irons on the market, hands down. The technology is tops and you just cannot match the smooth glides of this iron. Pricey and totally worth every penny, it’s my favorite on the list this year.

Chi Original Ceramic 1″ Flat Iron
Alias: The Original
Great hairstyles are simple with the right tool; CHI proves that time and time again. With an extensive product line and many different irons to choose from, I have to agree with their loyal customers, you can’t go wrong with CHI, but the original model is always a customer favorite, and surely to be one of yours! Well known in the industry for continually creating new limited edition irons in trendy colors, CHI is great for you fashionistas out there.  

Bonus: CHI has a killer line of hair care to keep your hair smooth with pure silk!  

Insider Info: Tons of street cred, everyone’s heard of CHI. The CHI Original narrowly beat the CHI Turbo this year, mainly due to pure customer popularity, but I personally like the Turbo a little better for my hair. Also note, some CHI Original followers have been spotted recently upgrading to other brands due to the increase in technological advancements in the past year, I’ll keep you posted. 

FHI Platform Ceramic Tourmaline Professional 1-3/4″ Flat Iron
Middle name: Big Daddy
If you have long, thick, coarse or unruly hair, the FHI Heat Platform Professional 1-3/4” Ceramic Tourmaline ionic flat iron is your one way ticket to smooth. FHI’s Ceramic Nano-Fuzeion Technology combines Titanium, Titanium Oxide and Silver to seal in hair’s moisture and shine, while removing build-up and toxins on the hair. Plus an enormous amount of negative ions neutralize the positive ions found on coarse, dry and damaged hair. If you’ve ever set aside a few hours to straighten your thick, massive mop, you’ll be amazed at how quickly this flat iron tames your tresses.  

Plus: FHI makes an amazing heat protectant – FHI Heat Hot Sauce. It’s moisture-based, and when used with a flat iron it actually penetrates into the core of you hair to reconstruct and deeply condition from the inside out. Talk about protection.  

Insider Info: Another newbie on the list, I find this to be one of the best Tourmaline straighteners out there, and the FHI Platform beat the FHI Classic in my iron to iron showdown this year. I find that some irons with Tourmaline make my hair static-y for some reason (and that’s never a good look) but not FHI Platform. Whew! 

CHI Wet to Dry Ceramic Flat Iron Auto-Digital Hair Straightener
Also known as: The Powerhouse
Specially designed for damp hair, the CHI wet-to-dry flat iron utilizes ceramic ionic technology to eliminate frizz while straightening and transforms hair into shiny, super-smooth locks directly out of the shower. State of the art digital technology allows you to set the precise temperature and it even has a timer with automatic shut off. Great for every hair type, the CHI wet-to-dry straightens the fullest, most unruly locks with ease.  

Plus: The CHI works just as well on dry hair, making it perfect for every primping situation. Sometimes I run late you know…  

Insider Info: The CHI Wet-to-Dry iron works best on hair that is 90%-95% dry. Not only is your hair much easier to straighten if it’s drier to start with, there is less potential for damage and frizz. Remember, hair is more vulnerable when it’s wet. Note: The T3 Wet-or-Dry flat iron was a top contender for this spot and missed by just a hair.

Hot Tools 1″ Ceramic Far-Infrared Heat Flat Iron
Nickname: The Professional
A separate heating system for each heating plate ensures superior styling performance and puts the ‘hot’ in Hot Tools. Professional Soft Heat™ technology produces gentle, far infrared heat for more efficient heating, faster styling, and shinier hair, and the Ceramic and Titanium Technology provides snag-free styling as it glides smoothly down your strands. Any hair appliance that won’t snag or pull an overworked ‘do gets an A+ in my book. Thanks Hot Tools.  

Plus: This iron does a great job of smoothing those strands and adding an unbeatable shine with gentle far-infrared heat. Most irons at this price point just don’t have the technology to compare. 

Insider Info: This flat iron proves you can get great technology at a great price point! This is perfect for those of you who straighten your hair from time to time and want a quality iron without spending the big bucks.  

HAI Twig Flat Iron 3/8″ Ceramic Styling Iron 
Alias: The Root Smoother
Get up close and personal with those roots and transform even the shortest hair into smooth shiny locks with the HAI Twig. One use and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. The ultra-slim 3/8″ ceramic plates work wonders on bangs and those whisper-y wisps we love so much. For the best results and styling control, you should never use a plate width larger than necessary, and now you don’t have to. Now everyone can have the same results as the pros, Twig makes it so easy!  

Plus: This sleek styler features the same rapid heating element and adjustable temperature settings as the larger HAI models, making it a great choice for anyone looking to style extremely short sections in seconds.  

Insider Info: Perfect for pixies, roots, tendrils… and guys! Yes men love this one for super short hair that’s seeking some sleeking. This iron has the slimmest, teeniest plates ever but works like a smoothing fiend to get those roots straight. It’s a great second iron for those of you who need that slimmer design for styling.

FHI Technique Professional Pink 1″ Hair Straightener 
Middle Name: Versatility
One flat iron, with all the styling capabilities you will ever need. You can straighten, flip, and even curl your hair in seconds with this baby in our favorite shade, PINK. The Ceramic Tourmaline technology generates negative ions to help neutralize positive ions found on damaged hair, allowing the hair to lay flatter and smoother. This means shinier and healthier hair is yours with FHI, and who doesn’t love pink?  

Plus: Smooth and sleek or sexy curls, change your style as often as a celeb with this FHI Pink flat iron. And you thought flat irons were just for straight styles!  

Insider Info: It curls and straightens with ease, it’s got Ceramic and Tourmaline technology and it’s pink. What more could you ask for? 

As you can see, there are plenty of great irons that are perfect for your individual hair type and styling needs. Whichever you choose, don’t forget to use a heat protectant. All of these Ceramic, ionic styling tools get super hot and can cause dryness or damage if you aren’t careful. Using a thermal protectant on your hair before styling should always be your first priority. It will keep your hair healthy and shiny and it will enhance the styling potential of any iron you choose.