Keep your hair sleek wherever you go.
Mini flat irons (also known as travel flat irons or mini hair straighteners) are small, lightweight styling devices that have a few purposes that are specific and practical. This is why one may require or want to use a mini flat iron. You will require a mini flat iron when you need portability, accuracy, and versatility, particularly when traveling with short hair, or when you need to fix your hair in a hurry.
Trying to keep off frizz, flyaway and otherwise dull or puffy hair usually leads to the use of your good ol flat iron. However, when you are going on a quick weekend trip or you are just in need of packing as much as you can in your bag, the large hot tool can easily be dropped off your list. That’s why relying on a mini flat iron to keep your hair sleek and pin straight whenever you’re on the go is a great option.
Compared to the ease of picking up mini toiletries, which is simple due to the specific section of most stores that is devoted to the mini-size category, a mini flat iron may be a little harder to shop. Although these small tools are ideal in terms of space saving, not all of them are constructed equally.
You are probably searching to find a model that is cordless, spreads the heat evenly or has small enough plates to fit shorter strands. No matter what you need, we have our experts in The Beauty Homes- Beauty, Health and Sustainability to refer you to the right direction so that you will be able to shop with the same ease as clicking on the add to cart button.
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1
Best Overall Mini Flat Iron
CHI Ceramic Dual Voltage Mini Flat Iron
PROS
- Effectively straightens hair
- Stays cool to the touch
- Heats up fast
CONS
- Slightly larger than most mini flat irons
All of our consumer testers stated that the CHI straightened their hair to perfection and most of them rated it the highest in terms of reaching the correct temperature to straighten their hair. Its smooth plates, lightweight design, and quick heat-up time were also highly praised by many. Most of the mini flat irons we tried got too hot to touch, but this was the only one that remained cool to the touch.
Another reason why our pros like it is that it has dual voltage, so it can be used when traveling abroad. Remember that its on/off switch is on the inside of its handles. Since this iron was one of the longest of the mini flat irons we tested, the switch is not as distant as the hinge of the handles, thus it is easier to reach.
Plate material: Ceramic | Plate width: 0.75 inch | Temperature: 392°F | Dual voltage: Yes | Automatic shut-off: Yes
2
Best Budget Mini Flat Iron
Conair Mini 1/2-inch Ceramic Flat Iron
PROS
- Heats rapidly
- Compact and travel-friendly
CONS
- Less effective at straightening compared to others
The less than $25, Mini Ceramic Flat Iron by Conair might not be able to deliver all the luxurious features, but it certainly delivers a good performance. It is eight inches, which is small and can be carried around, hence it is a good companion during short trips or touch-ups on the go.
Bang users especially like the fact that it can be used to produce a blown-out appearance rather than a very smooth finish. Many reviewers also praise the speed at which it heats and the red indicator light is convenient and switches off when the desired temperature is achieved. This mini flat iron is cheap, effective and portable, and this implies that one does not have to spend a lot of money to have good styling.
Plate material: Ceramic | Plate width: 0.5 inch | Temperature: 356°F | Dual voltage: Yes | Automatic shut-off: Yes
3
Best Lightweight Mini Flat Iron
Harry Josh Cordless Styling Flat Iron
PROS
- Lightweight design
- Provides up to 40 minutes of cordless use
CONS
- A bit bigger than other options
Our experts loved this cord-free Harry Josh straightener because it is portable and easy to use in styling hair, which is why it made it into our Beauty picks. It’s small and light, heats fast and lasts 40 minutes, Beauty testing found.I liked its smooth design, easy to use and reachable controls.
Plate material: Ceramic | Plate width: 0.5 inch | Dual voltage: Yes | Automatic shut-off: Yes
4
Best Travel Mini Flat Iron
Sam Villa Pro Results Cordless Flat Iron
PROS
- Extremely lightweight
- Praised by testers for gliding smoothly without snagging hair
CONS
- Less suitable for long or thick hair types
The Sam Villa cordless flat iron weighs only half a pound so it is light to carry around. Straightening your hair with it is easy thanks to its simple instructions and easy power button. When tested, it was praised for gliding easily without catching or pulling. Its small size of the plate may take a little longer to straighten longer hair but convenience beats that drawback. Put the cordless rechargeable flat iron in its travel case.
It’s small enough to fit in a carry-on suitcase and even has a lock button to keep it closed, said a tester. I can also keep it in my purse to do a quick touch-up, which is ideal in controlling my frizzy hair.
Plate material: Tourmaline | Plate width: 0.5 inch | Dual voltage: Adapter needed for charge | Automatic shut-off: Yes
5
Best for Curly Hair
BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Mini Flat Iron
PROS
- Distributes heat evenly
- Excellent for controlling frizz
CONS
- Some users noted that it takes a bit longer to heat up
Its larger version is our Beauty standard in several anti-frizz studies, thanks to its curved edges that help smooth hair from root to tip. One of my top recommendations is the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron,” says our expert. It has titanium plates that give even heat and get really hot fast. It helps you get your hair smooth and sleek.
This not only rescued me from a bad hair day, but it also worked wonders on my hair!” shared one Ulta reviewer. It made my frizzy bangs straight as a board. The device comes with a heat-resistant pouch, so you can set it down when you are not using it.
Plate material: Titanium | Plate width: 0.5 inch | Dual voltage: Yes | Automatic shut-off: No
6
Best Cordless Mini Flat Iron
ghd Unplugged Styler Cordless Flat Iron
PROS
- Heats up fast
- Perfect for curling with rounded edges
CONS
- Expensive
Almost the same as the full-sized straightener of the brand we tested, this mini cordless one is expected to impress with its ceramic plates and rounded edges that guarantee a smooth flattening process whenever curling or straightening hair. The brand boasts of having a full 20-minute charge, and a steady temperature of 365º to achieve even styling. It is said to warm up in 45 seconds and cool in 15 minutes when prepared in a hurry.
Some of the hairstylists that we have talked to suggest the ghd Unplugged Styler Cordless Flat Iron, and they say that the models are focused on performance, but they are small and can be easily carried around. Amazon customers are equally impressed, noting that it heats up quickly and leaves hair smooth and shiny, which is great for travel!
Plate material: Ceramic | Plate width: 0.8 inch | Dual voltage: Adapter needed for charger | Automatic shut-off: No
7
Best Mini Flat Iron for Short Hair
Kiss Red Pencil Ceramic Flat Iron
PROS
- Enables precise styling
- Excellent for creating tight curls
CONS
- Doesn’t get as hot as some other flat irons
Pixie cuts, cheer up! The ceramic plate on this iron is pencil-sized and works well even on the shortest of hairdos. Sarmin Sima, a certified trichologist at Beauty ambassador, says that she likes it to make small waves or curls. You can even steal coarse hair along the hairline.
Online critics are also fans. Others used it to tame baby hairs and others used it to style their bobs easily. One of the reviewers wrote that she could make super tight, kinky curls. And it warms up so quickly. Nevertheless, others observe that it does not get very hot as compared to other flat irons.
Plate material: Ceramic and tourmaline | Plate width: 0.3 inch | Dual voltage: Not listed as a feature | Automatic shut-off: No
8
Best for Fine Hair
BondiBoost Aloe Plated Flat Iron
PROS
- Ceramic-coated plates for consistent heat distribution
CONS
- Expensive
When you have color-treated hair, you are naturally wary of straighteners, too much heat will burn the hair and fade your color. This flat iron will deal with that issue using soft ceramic plates impregnated with aloe vera, which will hydrate the hair, minimize frizz, and decrease breakage and color loss.
I recently applied a salon gloss to my hair, so I was a bit reluctant to apply hot tools to my hair. This straightener was in fact very mild since it has a broad temperature range which can be easily adjusted and the plates themselves do not get too hot even when you turn it up a notch. The ceramic and aloe vera coating make them relatively cool yet do not interfere with the styling. According to Sarmin Sima, once I used it on two sessions, my hair was smooth and velvety, and my hair color did not fade.
Plate material: Ceramic | Plate width: 1 inch | Dual voltage: Yes | Automatic shut-off: Yes
Things to consider when buying a mini flat iron
✔️ Choose plates made of ceramic, tourmaline, titanium, or a combination of these materials, says our expert Sarmin Sima. Ceramic offers even heat distribution, tourmaline reduces frizz by releasing negative ions, and titanium heats fast and evenly.
✔️ Dual voltage is a nice feature to have- you do not have to worry about compatibility when you are traveling overseas. Nevertheless, it is also worth carrying an appropriate travel adapter because the voltage of the outlets in different countries may differ.
✔️ The majority of mini flat irons have a plate that is 0.5 inches wide. Consumers who have long, thick or curly hair might find it more difficult or time consuming to do their usual styling with a travel iron, so keep this in mind before you leave your regular one behind on your next trip. According to Sarmin Sima, narrow plates should be used on short hair or when making a precise style, whereas wider plates should be used on longer hair or on thicker textures.
✔️ In the case of travel irons that are relatively short in length and small in size, the controls can be too close to the hot plates or the hinge. The user may then burn his or her fingers or struggle to change settings such as switching it on and off. Sarmin Sima suggests that a model with easy-to-reach controls, preferably with an auto on/off feature, should be selected. The weight of the iron and its ergonomic design to make it comfortable to use should also be taken into consideration.
✔️ Sarmin Sima recommends buying a flat iron with a variable temperature, as he says that various hair types need different amounts of heat. Thin or split hair must be done at a lower temperature (approximately 250-300°F), whereas a heavier or coarser hair can withstand a higher temperature (as high as 400°F), she says.
