BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 1-1/4" Titanium-Plated Straightening Iron

1. InStyle

Review Credibility: Very Good InStyle editors test hundreds of products every year for their annual Best Beauty Buys list. Testing isn't explicitly explained, though "pros" (experts) are asked for their opinion on each product. InStyle editors name the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 1-1/4" the best flat iron for the second year in a row. They say the titanium plates straighten without pulling, and the handles are easy to grip.

Review: Best Beauty Buys 2012: Hair, Editors of InStyle, May 2012

2. Folica.com

Review Credibility: Good This top 10 list incorporates more than 15,000 user reviews as well as "the latest technologies and years of testing." Though the editors say the rankings consider more just user reviews, they don't say how the tools were tested or compared. The BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 1-1/4" Straightening Iron is among the top-10 reviewed, and it earns about 4.5 out of 5 stars from nearly 300 reviews. Several users say it is easy to burn your hands on the sides of the plates and damage hair because the iron gets so hot.

Review: Top 10 Flat Irons, Editors of Folica.com, As of April 2013

3. Ulta.com

Review Credibility: Good At Ulta.com, the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 1-1/4" Straightener gets more than 80 reviews and averages over 4.6 out of 5 stars. Users who review this flat iron classify themselves as having thick, curly, frizzy or wavy hair, and overall they find the iron to be high-quality, quick and effective. Reviews are generally short, but positive. The few negative reviews say the iron can be very damaging on the highest heat settings. Some also say this iron is heavy.

Review: Flat Irons, Contributors to Ulta.com, As of April 2013

4. MakeupAllcom

Review Credibility: Good At MakeupAlley.com, contributors offer nearly 50 reviews for the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium, though they're more critical than reviewers at other sites. The iron averages 4.5 out of 5 stars. Several say it is the best flat iron they've owned, saying the results are quick and long-lasting. Eighty-nine percent of users said they would buy it again. Some users report the iron breaking, though they don't say whether they tried returning it for warranty.

Review: Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron, Contributors to MakeupAlley.com, As of April 2013

5. InStyle

Review Credibility: Good Editors round up the best hair tools at two price points. The best "splurge" straightener is the same iron selected in the Best Beauty Buys 2011 and 2012, the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium. Hair stylist Riawna Capri tells editors that the 450 degree Fahrenheit setting "smooths hair in one swipe." Other than price, it's not clear what distinguishes these two irons' performance. Because it's not dated and it's unclear whether testing was involved, this article is not as credible as the other InStyle review.

Review: The Best Hair Tools for Every Budget, Editors of InStyle, Not Dated

6. Amazon.com

Review Credibility: Good Amazon.com is generally a good source for flat iron reviews, and this particular model gets more than 900 reviews. Users gave this iron an overall score of 4.6 out of 5 stars, and they say this iron works exceptionally well, even on thick, curly or wavy hair. Users say it works in just one pass.

Review: BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium 1-1/4" Straightening Iron, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of April 2013