Best affordable flat irons

Start with the Remington Shine Therapy. It's the safest cheap pick: ceramic plates with a shine-boosting coating, all hair types, and it's the one budget iron that's widely sold and well reviewed — a genuine first flat iron or a spare for travel.

Who the others suit:

• Conair Double Ceramic 1″ — the cheapest way in, with 30 heat settings and dual voltage, so it travels abroad.
• BaBylissPRO 1½″ Ultra-Sleek — thicker or longer hair that needs a wide plate and salon-level heat.
• StyleQ Flat Iron — titanium plates and 12 settings if you want fast, precise heat without salon pricing.
• NuMe Silhouette 1.2″ — a mid-step up in plate quality for frizz-prone hair.
• Ghd Platinum+ — only if you'll pay for one temperature that's tuned for you and a long warranty; it's the premium end, not the affordable one.
• T3 SinglePass Compact — a small travel iron, but the listing is pre-owned.

Skip the Suproot 2-in-1s if you want something that lasts; they're the bargain-bin end.