Best Hot Tools Flat Irons: Reviews and Top Picks

Image	Product	Features	Price
Entry-Level	HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron	Best-seller Great mix of value and features Ceramic plates suitable for all hair types	Check Price
Good for Curling	HOT TOOLS Professional Black Gold Micro-Shine Flat Iron	Titanium ceramic plates Rounded outer barrel great for curling Digital display and twist base temperature controls	Check Price
Titanium Plates	Hot Tools Professional Radiant Blue Salon Flat Iron	Very fast heat up Good for coarse, thick hair Ultra-slim design easy to hold and use	Check Price
Good for Long Hair	Hot Shot Tools Rose Gold 2” Digital Flat Iron	Super wide 2" plates make quick work of long hair Excellent heat retention on rose gold plates Leaves hair silky smooth to the touch	Check Price

If you’re considering a Hot Tools flat iron for your next hair straightener, you’re in the right place.

Between their 24k gold, black gold, ceramic, and titanium-plated models to their “Micro-Shine®” and “Pulse Technology®” components, it’s totally understandable if you’re lost figuring out which one to get!

Don’t worry, we’ll go over everything you need to know – plus I’ve narrowed it down to their top 4 irons.

Best Hot Tools Flat Irons Reviews

Best Entry-Level Iron: HOT TOOLS Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron

This is one of the best-selling Hot Tools flat irons, with a lot of great features packed in an equally great price.

The iron is built with Hot Tools’ proprietary Pulse Technology®, where the appliance monitors heat loss to the plates. When it senses a change, it immediately restores it for an even, consistent temperature while you are working with it.

Its floating plates also have their Micro-Shine® technology, using tiny particles of blended ceramic to leave your locks sleek, silky and frizz-free. 

If you have short hair, bangs or layered sections, the 1” plates are definitely a benefit as they allow you to work closer to the roots and achieve even straightening.

One thing I have noticed about this tool is that you need to press and hold the power button for a few seconds to turn it on and off.

While it may seem a bit of a hassle at first glance, it actually prevents you from accidentally turning it off during use.

I love its royal purple color, and the matte finish makes it easy to hold and grip.

You can set the heat to your desired setting from 280°F to 450°F with easy-to-use digital controls and a lighted display.

It also heats up to the max setting super quick – 30 seconds. 

One issue that can be problematic is getting an “ERR” message on the display from time to time. While most Hot Tools flat irons last a decent amount of time, some are just lemons that don’t turn on after a while.

Best For Flat Iron Curls: HOT TOOLS Professional Black Gold Micro-Shine Flat Iron

The Hot Tools Professional Black Gold Micro-Shine Flat Iron is a tool meant to deliver high quality, salon-grade performance.

Its titanium and ceramic plates are extremely durable and resistant to breakage, and the smooth, shiny styling surface ensures that your strands don’t get pulled as they move through the iron.

To be honest, I’m not sure if the surface of the plates are coated with gold (in a black color), or what “black gold” actually means. But who cares as long as it produces amazing results – which it does!

The outer barrel is perfectly rounded so you can use this iron to curl as well without having to invest in a separate curling iron.

It has a wide range of heat settings – 27 to be exact – which can be controlled by rotating the base. It can heat up from 205°F to 455°F, so there’s an appropriate setting for any hair type. 

One feature I always look for when choosing a straightener is auto shut-off, as it gives me peace of mind whenever I leave the house in a rush. 

This one comes with a 2-hour auto shut-off. That still seems like enough time to melt your countertop, but not enough to burn your house down. 🤷‍♀️

The iron also comes with a heat resistant glove, though it doesn’t really get too hot on the outside.

All in all, this flat iron is sturdy yet sleek, easy to grasp and gives long-lasting style. Definitely one of my favorites from the Hot Tools lineup!

Best Titanium Model: Hot Tools Professional Radiant Blue Salon Flat Iron

Like the name suggests, this iron comes in a beautiful blue color, which is great if you like your appliances to look stylin’ while you style. 🙂

Its floating titanium plates produce a great amount of heat in a short time, and maintain good contact with hair at all times as a section moves through the iron.

This allows the iron to straighten quickly in one pass, leaving your tresses sleek and shiny, without stripping them of moisture.

It is an excellent choice for days when you are short of time and need to get smooth straight hair ASAP!

It heats all the way up to 450°F, so if you have thick or coarse hair, this baby can handle it. 

(Do be careful and use a lower setting if your hair is fine, thin, or damaged though.)

You can adjust the temperature setting with all digital controls via the +/- buttons.

A rounded barrel allows you to curl your hair easily without leaving any creases or dents. 

Unfortunately, the biggest issue with this particular flat iron is that it sometimes shuts itself off during use. It’s unclear why this occurs, but for those that have encountered this problem, it’s certainly annoying.

Best For Long, Thick Hair: Hot Shot Tools Rose Gold 2” Digital Flat Iron

If you prefer all things shiny and feminine yet elegant, this is the iron for you. It combines the sleek black finish of Hot Tools with rose gold accents for a beautiful, classy straightener.

One of the most striking features is the plates – they are extra-wide at 2” across, making quick work of getting through your entire head of hair.

You can straighten bigger sections at a time, which is a real time-saver if you have long or very heavy and thick tresses.

Its rose gold plates are an excellent conductor of heat, transferring even, consistent heat to your locks. The result is smooth and silky hair that stays for days if you don’t wash your hair.

This tool can achieve a maximum temperature of 450°F, heats up really fast, and works well for nearly all hair types, even extra frizzy manes.

One of the things I find particularly useful is that the plates can be locked together for convenient storage. 

It also has dual voltage capability, so if you travel a lot, you can safely take this with you wherever you go.

The auto shut-off is really handy on days when you are running late and forget to turn it off before leaving.

Are Hot Tools Flat Irons Good?

In a word, yes.

Hot Tools is a well-known budget to mid-range brand when it comes to hairstyling. They manufacture a range of hair products from flat irons to curling irons and hair dryers.

Their hair straighteners come in a variety of plate materials, including ceramic, titanium, tourmaline and 24k gold – so there’s a tool for every hair type.

Most models are lightweight and have a soft touch matte finish that make it easy to hold and use.

Features of Hot Tools Flat Irons

Standard features on most models include floating plates, digital display and temperature controls, as well as a long swivel cord. 

Hot Tools styling tools support dual voltage as well, so you can take them along to any corner of the world.

They also come in a full range of sizes, from 1” to 1 ¼”, 1 ½” and even 2”. The company also produces ones with extra long plates, for those with thicker hair.

Their hair straighteners have a sleek, lightweight design in black, but some of their most popular models come in bold colors like fuchsia, blue and purple.

Hot Tools or Hot Shot Tools?

You may have come across a brand by the name of Hot Shot Tools, and wondered if it is an imitation of Hot Tools or a sister brand.

The truth is that these are both the same brand. 

Hot Shot Tools is just a name variation when sold through Sally Beauty.

Everywhere else online or off, they are marketed under the name Hot Tools.

So don’t worry about getting a cheap knock-off if you see similar-looking flat irons with the name Hot Shot Tools. They’re the same in terms of quality and build.

Hot Tools vs. CHI

For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at how the Hot Tools Signature Series Ceramic Digital Flat Iron fares against the CHI Original 1” Flat Iron.

Both irons have 1” ceramic floating plates, a swivel cord and support dual voltage. They have rounded outer barrels and both are good at creating curls.

The Hot Tools Iron features their Pulse Technology, which retains high heat well and ensures the iron stays hot at all times while you work.

CHI’s famous ceramic ionic technology produces far-infrared heat, which also maintains a consistent temperature and generates negative ions to smooth frizz.

For the most part, you’ll get smooth results with both irons, but CHI has the edge when it comes to eliminating frizz and static.

However, the CHI doesn’t have adjustable heat controls. This is the biggest downside with only one temperature setting (392°F). 

The Hot Tools iron has variable heat settings from 280°F to 450°F, adjusted by digital controls.

If the CHI temperature setting works for your hair, I’d recommend it since the material and craftsmanship of their ceramic flat irons are second to none. But the Hot Tools Signature Ceramic Flat Iron will give you decent results for a fraction of the price (and more control over the amount of heat exposure).

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a mix of functionality and performance in an affordable price range, a Hot Tools flat iron is right up your alley. 

They may not be top-of-the-line hair appliances, but they’re effective and better than drugstore brands for everyday use.