8 Top Wet-To-Dry Straighteners That Won’t Damage Your Hair (2024)

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We all want to walk out with beautifully styled hair in the morning. But what do you do if your hair is starting to show signs of damage due to frequent heat styling?

Because heat styling can be quite damaging to hair, it’s important to choose tools that will give us the hairstyles we desire while minimizing the effects of heat exposure.

Among these are wet-to-dry straighteners!

Thankfully, these tools have unique features that help protect hair from damage — more so than the usual traditional flat irons in the market.

So to aid your quest for beautiful, damage-free hairstyles, we’re highlighting the top wet-to-dry straighteners and their features that make them the top hairstyling tool among the rest. Keep reading to find out!

What Is a Wet-To-Dry Straightener?

A wet-to-dry straightener is a specific type of flat iron that can be used to style both damp and dry hair.

The main advantage of wet-to-dry straighteners is that it lets you dry and style your hair at the same time.

To accomplish this, they often come with unique features such as venting systems and use more durable materials such as ceramic-titanium or tourmaline plates.

Some straighteners of this kind also come with additional features to improve your daily hair care routine.

Pros of Wet-To-Dry Straighteners

Before switching to a straightener for wet and dry hair, take time to consider its pros and cons.

First, take a look at its advantages below.

Saves Time and Effort

No need to use a blow-dryer; a wet-to-dry straightener allows you to dry and style your hair with just one product — and at the same time too!

This is a lifesaver whenever you’re running late to work in the morning.

Minimal Hair Damage

Though you should never forget to use a heat protectant, the top wet-to-dry hair straighteners come with innovative features that help reduce hair damage.

Removes Excess Moisture

Steam vents are a key feature of most wet-to-dry straighteners. They seal moisture into your hair, keeping it free of frizz and static when styling wet hair or during humid days.

Long-Lasting Results

Wet-to-dry straighteners give you flawless pin-straight hair that can last several days.

Versatile Styling Options

This is a great option for all hair types but especially for those with thick, coarse, and curly hair.

Cons of Wet-To-Dry Straighteners

Below is a list of the disadvantages of wet-to-dry straighteners.

Not for Completely Wet Hair

Remember that all wet-to-dry straighteners are designed for damp hair. You still need to air-dry your hair to about 85% dry before using one for the best possible results.

Using it on completely wet hair can pose major safety risks, such as the risk of getting an electric shock.

You should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions for guaranteed safety.

Strips Moisture From Hair

As with any heat-styling tool, high heat from a wet-to-dry straightener may dry out your hair.

So make sure to choose a product with features like steam vents or titanium plates that can help lock in moisture that can counteract this effect.

It’s also important to condition your hair with oils and other products before and after using this tool.

May Damage Hair

Regular exposure to high heat can cause strands to break. Hair damage can be minimized by choosing the top wet-to-dry hair straighteners. They use durable materials and come with features that protect your hair from damage.

A Buyer’s Guide for Choosing Wet-To-Dry Straighteners

When choosing among the top wet-to-dry straighteners, be on the lookout for these must-have features:

Steam Vents

A venting system is essential for wet-to-dry straighteners. The steam vents help dry your damp hair by releasing excess water and converting it to steam.

Venting technologies also ensure your hair retains enough moisture to prevent it from becoming dry and brittle throughout the day.

Plate Material

Choose wet-to-dry straighteners with ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline plates. Some are also coated with both ceramic and titanium. These not only offer more durability, but they also help protect your hair from heat.

These plates also help tame frizz as well as help keep hair soft and smooth.

Plate Type

You may want to opt for wet-to-dry straighteners with floating plates. Compared to traditional plates, they have a spring mechanism that gives the straightener more flexibility.

Floating plates can grip your hair better without painful snags or tugs. They also ensure that each strand is evenly heated for quick and efficient results.

Quick Heating

The top wet-to-dry straighteners heat up quickly, allowing you to style quickly in the morning. Ideally, it should take 20 seconds or less for you to achieve your desired heat temperature.

Heat Settings

The more heat settings available, the more control you’ll have with your wet-to-dry straightener. If you have thicker, coarser hair, make sure to choose one that can go as high as 450 °F to achieve the top straightening results.

Innovative Technologies

Wet-to-dry straighteners also feature innovations that enhance the styling process.

This includes infrared or ionic technology, which releases negative ions that help seal moisture in hair cuticles, as well as keep hair shiny and frizz-free.

Features for Convenience

For your convenience, the top wet-to-dry straighteners also offer extra features such as the following:

• Swivel cords and long power cords that provide ease of movement
• Automatic shutoff to prevent dangerous accidents
• Digital screens and wet/dry indicators for better heat monitoring
• Dual voltage for travel convenience

8 Top Wet-To-Dry Hair Straighteners

The top wet-to-dry flat irons have made provisions that enhance the more positive aspects and significantly reduce the potential damage to your hair.

Here are the top wet-to-dry straighteners you can use for your hair.

You’ll never have to rush through your morning routine again with BaBylissPRO’s wet-and-dry straightener!

It features 5-inch durable and corrosion-resistant nano titanium plates, which means it can straighten more of your hair with fewer passes.

With 50 heat settings up to 450 °F, you can achieve optimal heat control regardless of your hair type and length.

Ionic technology also ensures your hair stays smooth, shiny, and frizz-free.

As the top wet and dry straightener, there are vents that help eliminate excess heat when drying damp hair. This helps protect your hair from heat damage.

For your convenience, the flat iron also comes with an ultra-thin and lightweight build, a 9-feet 360-degree swivel cord, and dual voltage.

The Remington Pro Wet2Style Flat Iron has wide plates that can grip more strands for faster styling. It can reach up to 450 °F, making it suitable even for thick and coarse hair.

According to Remington, the Pro Wet2Style offers up to 50% more protection compared to other wet-dry hair straighteners in the market.

This is thanks to its ceramic-titanium plates that smoothen hair and lock in moisture. It also has vents that turn excess water from your wet hair into steam to further protect your locks.

This tool also heats up in 30 seconds! Plus, it has a 30-second heat-up time, a digital screen indicator, a “+” button that allows for easy switching between wet and dry styling, and a convenient swivel cord.

Not to mention this straightener for wet and dry hair comes in a mauve pink color, so it’ll be a great addition to your vanity table!

One of the disadvantages of heat styling is dry and damaged hair. Croc aims to change all that with its Premium Wet to Dry Black Titanium Flat Iron.

The floating black titanium plates ensure that your hair will glide smoothly and straighten with just one pass — regardless of hair type or texture.

This premium wet-and-dry straightener also releases negative ions to help close cuticles and increase the shine of your hair.

A ventilation system also releases excess heat for added luster and minimal hair damage.

The Croc Premium Flat Iron has 18 heat settings and a heat range of 280 to 450°F. It also features ceramic heaters that ensure heat is evenly distributed.

Even if you set it to a high temperature, the color-changing cool tip will help prevent burns and accidents. It also automatically turns off after 30 minutes of non-use.

For easy use, this product also comes with

• a digital screen with control buttons;
• a tangle-free swivel cord that extends up to 9 feet;
• an ergonomic design and comfortable thumb grip; and
• dual voltage with automatic °C/F conversion.

A lot of hair-related accidents can happen when you’re in a hurry. Thankfully, the Rosily Professional Wide Flat Iron can help protect your hair from damage or breakage.

You’ll be safe from snags or pulls thanks to this tool’s nano-titanium plates that provide a smoother glide across your hair.

This wet-to-dry straightener also features extra wide plates, which is great for those with long or coarse hair. The ceramic heaters help improve the appearance of dull and frizzy hair.

Meanwhile, the 3D floating design provides flexibility. It will adjust to the depth and texture of your hair. You’ll be able to straighten more hair per pass, so you can style your hair at a faster rate.

Additional features of this product include the following:

• Innovative steam vents
• Adjustable temperature dial that goes from 290 to 450 °F
• LED heat indicator that stops blinking after heating
• Fast heating at 30 seconds
• Automatic shutoff after 60 minutes
• 9-feet swivel cord
• Dual voltage

As one of the top wet-to-dry hair straighteners on the market, you can expect the Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Wet/Dry Flat Iron to get the job done.

It may not come with bells and whistles, but when it comes to styling wet hair, it will never let you down.

This wet-to-dry straightener features ceramic technology for protection against hair damage, large tourmaline plates for smooth and shiny hair, and floating plates for a comfortable styling process.

Meanwhile, the steam vents remove excess water from wet hair, so you can go from wet hair to styled locks in a matter of minutes.

There’s also a uniform heat recovery system that ensures heat is evenly distributed. Other features include 25 heat settings, a touchpad power button with LED indicators, dual voltage, automatic shutoff, and a 30-second heating time.

Among all the hair straighteners that dry wet hair, the 7Magic Nano Titanium Flat Iron stands out. It’s equipped with advanced technologies that help enhance your styling experience.

First, it makes the hair-straightening process faster thanks to its wider and longer nano titanium plates, which allow you to straighten larger sections of your hair with fewer passes.

The all-directional floating plates ensure that there is 100% contact with your hair.

And not only do you get ultra-shiny and silky straight hair, but it also protects your wet or damp hair from heat damage.

This wet-to-dry straightener heats up quickly. It only takes 15 to 30 seconds to achieve your desired heat. The MCH instant heater also guarantees that heat is evenly distributed.

Any excess heat is released by steam via vents located in the plates and housing. This allows you to use high heat on wet hair without compromising the health of your strands.

The 7Magic Nano Titanium Hair Straightener has five heat settings, temperature control, dual voltage, and light indicators. It shuts off after 60 minutes. Plus, it has a compact and travel-friendly design.

The ghd 2-in-1 Flat Iron may be a new entry to the market, but it’s fast becoming recognized as one of the top wet-dry hair straighteners.

This premium tool is powered by advanced technologies that help simplify your hair routine.

It features an air-drying chamber in between the ceramic-coated floating plates. This revolutionary design will dry and style your hair at the same time.

With just four passes, you’ll be able to achieve smooth, soft, pin-straight hair that lasts up to 48 hours.

There are also minimal snags, frizz, and heat damage. The wet-to-dry straightener has outward-flowing vents to prevent burns while working with high heat.

It also helps lower the temperature for your safety. Additionally, it shuts off automatically after 30 minutes of non-use.

Though a motor powers this hot air styler, it’s energy efficient. The acoustic system also ensures a low, comfortable sound when in use.

Other features include the company’s signature Shine Shot mode that adds shine to dry hair and a heat-resistant plate guard.

Remington produces some of the top wet-to-dry straighteners, so we also included the S7311 Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron in our list.

This Remington wet-to-dry hair straightener simplifies the hairstyling process. It features 30 heat settings to adjust the temperature to easily suit wet or dry hair. It also goes up to 420°F, so it’s suitable for all hair types.

Meanwhile, the 1-inch ceramic-titanium plates can quickly style your hair while reducing heat damage by 60%. Its thinner plates best suit those with fine or short hair.

It’s also very convenient to use with a 30-second heat-up time, automatic shutoff after 60 minutes, a “+” button that activates the steam feature, and a wet/dry styling indicator.

How to Use a Wet-To-Dry Straightener

To maximize the benefits of wet-to-dry straighteners, make sure to follow these instructions:

Step 1: Towel-Dry Your Hair

Dry your hair with a towel to remove excess water. You can also use a wide-toothed comb while drying to detangle your strands. This will make the styling process faster and easier.

Ensure your hair is at least 85% damp before using a wet-to-dry straightener. The wetter your hair is, the higher the risk of hair damage.

Step 2: Apply Heat Protectant

Hair damage may be inevitable when using heat-styling products. However, applying a heat protectant can significantly reduce the potential damage.

Do not skip this step even if your wet-to-dry straightener already has features that reduce hair damage.

3. Point Vents Away From Hair

Using a wet-to-dry straightener is the same as using other flat irons. However, because they have steam vents, it’s important to point those vents away from you.

Otherwise, the vents will come into contact with your hair or scalp, which can lead to serious burns.

For your safety, ensure your wet-to-dry straightener glides away from you. It also helps to use a protective glove in case your hand comes into contact with the heated components.

4. Finish with Hair Oil or Serum

Heat styling can be very drying on your hair. So after straightening your hair, apply hair oil or serum to your strands to rehydrate them. Doing this can also help tame frizz and flyaways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Wet-To-Dry Straighteners Bad for Your Hair?

There is a prevailing notion that wet-to-dry straighteners are bad for your hair. This is because your hair cuticles remain open when your hair is wet.

So wet or damp hair is especially vulnerable to damage when exposed to high heat from hairstyling products.

While this may have been true in the past, it’s no longer the case in the present.

Wet-to-dry straighteners have come a long way. The ones we’ve featured above have advanced technologies that deliver amazing hairstyling results without compromising the health or integrity of your hair.

Is It Best To Straighten Hair After Washing?

Applying heat to dirty hair can exacerbate any lingering odor.

So it’s ideal to straighten your hair after washing it to ensure your strands are clean and free of any buildup.

Just make sure that your hair is at least damp before straightening to prevent electric shock and/or hair damage.

Can I Comb My Hair After Using a Wet-To-Dry Straightener?

Combing hair before a wet-to-dry straightener is ideal. This removes snags or tangles to ensure a smooth experience. It also minimizes potential heat damage.

You can also use a comb while straightening to keep hair even smoother and tangle-free. Just make sure to use a heat-safe comb!

With all that done, your hair will be ready to go after using a wet-to-dry straightener. No need to comb after, although it’s safe to do so if you feel the need.

Choosing the Top Wet-To-Dry Straightener For Your Needs

Although the top wet-to-dry straighteners already cater to all hair types, it’s still important to take time to look at each product’s specific features that make your styling experience easier and more convenient.

This will allow you to find the perfect wet-to-dry straightener that not only protects your hair from damage but also makes your daily routine more efficient.

With all the benefits of the top wet-to-dry hair straighteners, we know that whatever model you pick from this list will become a staple in your hair care arsenal!

Want to Discover More Hairstyling Options?

Check out these articles:

• 10 Automatic Hair Curlers for Easy, Perfect Curls
• 7 Vibrating Hair Straighteners (Top Reviews)
• Perm vs Relaxer: Which Is Right for You?