Should I Buy a Wide or Thin Hair Straightener?

We’ve all heard the saying, ‘Size doesn’t matter; it’s the way you use it.’

But does that apply to hair straighteners too?

On top of your usual decisions about brands and materials, now you can choose between a wide or thin hair straightener.

Wide Iron Hair Straightener vs Thin Hair Straightener

Well, experimenting with different-sized tools can be fun! 😜 But seriously, if you’re unsure whether to reach for a wide hair straightener or a thin hair straightener, assessing your hair type and needs is key.

A narrow flat iron is a great choice for polishing fine or mostly straight hair that just needs a quick run-through.

And if you have the travel bug, a thin hair straightener packs conveniently without wasting precious luggage space. More room for all your killer outfits!

A wide plate hair straightener offers fiery power. If you have coarse, thick, or curly hair, then wider plate straighteners will move through your mane more easily.

However, wider straighteners tend to reach a higher temperature. So, if you already have damaged locks from colouring or generally dry hair, you need to be careful handling the heat.

Unsure of what wide straightener or thin hair straightener to pick? We’ve done the hard work for you with our guide on hair straightener sizes.

A Wide-Plate, Thick-Hair Hero

For coarse or thick hair, wide plate hair straighteners are a must. It's simple physics: larger plates apply more heat to your hair.

A wide plate hair straightener makes styling larger sections of hair easier, which is great news for those with a bounty of thick locks.

Because thick and curly hair tends to be drier by nature, do use a heat protectant to support your locks and prevent straw strands during styling.

The Narrow Flat Iron: An All-Rounder

When you’re comparing wide or thin hair straighteners, you’ll see that 1-inch straightener plates are the most common option, as they work for most hair types.

So, what’s the difference between all those same-size appliances? It’s those extra details that’ll elevate your straightening sesh from hot-iron hell to waves of glory.

*PRO TIP* To reduce heat damage, use a narrow flat iron on one small section at a time. This way, you only need to glide that thin hair straightener through once to get it right. Once you’re looking flawless, finish your style with hairspray and serum to keep your tresses straight all day long.

The Future of Hair Straighteners

Remember when we used to stand in line for the latest iPhone release? Those days are over—for now. 😒 But here's another space-age gadget you can play with in the meantime: the Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener.

Great for all hair textures and types, this narrow flat iron offers 3 precise heat settings—165°C, 185°C, and 210°C—to suit your needs. The Corrale’s innovative Manganese and Copper Alloy plates are engineered to the width of a human hair to style faster and more effectively.

The cool thing about these thin hair straighteners is the integrated sensor system, which checks and adjusts the temperature of the narrow plates 100 times a second. More often than you check your phone? Sounds intense, I know! But this means you can be confident that the temperature showing on the dial is the temperature on your hair. And it’s perfect for you hairstylists with control issues. 😉

Because We Love a Good Aesthetic

You know you want to show this rose gold thin plate hair straightener on your IG stories ASAP! Along with clever touchscreen temperature controls, the Silver Bullet Titanium 230 Supernova Rose Gold features 25 mm Titanium plates for smooth styling.

When you’re considering between a wide hair straightener or a thin hair straightener, an important factor is being able to maneuver when styling. A wide plate hair straightener can feel clunky. So, if you need the freedom to create that perfect selfie-worthy look, then a thin plate hair straightener is for you.

It’s Cute But it Packs a Punch

Measuring only 6 inches in length (only?), the CLOUD NINE The Micro Iron is perfect for short hair, fringes, and to-the-root styling. Infused with Sericite and Tourmaline, the plates on this beauty help seal the hair’s cuticle and lock in moisture. In other words: goodbye frizz, hello shiny, on-point hair.

This narrow flat iron is hot within 20 seconds, ready for touch-ups or short hair styles. Caveat for babes with thick or long locks: this thin plate straightener will have a hard time taming your beautiful tresses, so you should opt for a bigger wide or thin hair straightener.

As soon as you're finished using your Micro Iron hair straightener, you can clasp the plates back together, slip on the protective heat guard, and throw it into your luggage. 

We think you’re 100% ready to take on the world of hair straighteners now! Remember, when choosing a hair straightener, do your recon to find out what’ll work best on YOUR hair.

We totally get that it can be tempting to reach for the cheapest option. But this approach could lead to undue damage or breakage.

No matter what wide straightener or thin hair straightener you choose, always prep your hair beforehand with a thermal protector of your choice—no excuses!

And treat yourself to a luxe hair mask once a week for some mane hydration.

Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.