ConsFirst / Hair straighteners / Compare
Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) vs Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on straightening results.
The biggest complaint about the Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) is feels cheap; for the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron it's some units fail early. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) | Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in hair straighteners | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $ | $$ |
| Type | Flat iron | Flat iron |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 4% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Straightening results | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Hair-friendly heat | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Heat-up & temperature control | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $60 · $$ $60–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin)
- Feels cheap
Wirecutter testers say the plastic housing 'feels a bit rinky-dink'. One said that although it is light, it feels cheap in the hand.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Confusing heat lock, clamp can pinch
To lock the temperature you hold minus for two seconds, and to unlock it you hold plus. None of Wirecutter's testers found this intuitive. Some panelists also found the clamp pinched their palms until they had more practice.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Frizz control not for everyone
In Amazon's review summary, frizz control is the most mixed topic: 76 of 328 owners who mention it are negative. Mentions of effectiveness are mostly positive (1,050 positive, 177 negative).
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron
- Some units fail early
Amazon's summary says some owners' irons are still going strong, while others broke within two months. Durability is its most negative topic (66 negative vs 50 positive mentions).
- Heating complaints from a minority
Heating speed is mostly praised, but 121 of 660 Amazon mentions are negative.
- Value questioned by some
56 of 375 Amazon value-for-money mentions are negative. Reviewed found no cons.
Who should pick which
Pick the Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) if
Sleek results on a tight budget
Curly and coily hair (goes up to 450°F)
Edges and the nape (narrow 1-inch plates)
Skip it if: You want a tool that feels solid and premium; You change settings mid-style (the lock is fiddly)
Pick the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron if
Fast heat-up (about 14 s)
Curly hair that needs smoothing without tugging
Straightening plus curling
Skip it if: You want proven long-term reliability; You want the lowest price
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