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Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron vs Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron is cheaper at $149.99. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron or Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron?

On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron is the cheaper at $149.99.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron
US price $149.99 List price, Ulta Beauty $169
BrandHot ToolsDrybar
Released
Plate material Ceramic-titanium with Micro-Shine coating Titanium
Plate width (in) 1 1.25
Max temp f 455 450
Cordless No No
Dual voltage Yes Yes
Heat settings 30
Auto shutoff Yes Yes
Release

Sources — Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron: ulta.com (verified 2026-06-15). Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron: nordstrom.com (verified 2026-06-15).

What's the difference between the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron and Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Plate material: Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron Ceramic-titanium with Micro-Shine coating vs Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron Titanium
  • Plate width (in): Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron 1 vs Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron 1.25
  • Max temp f: Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron 455 vs Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron 450

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold 1" Flat Iron

Only Reviewed (USA Today) hands-on-tested this exact Hot Tools HT7122BG Black Gold flat iron, naming it Best Overall in its 2026 flat-iron guide. Tester Jessica Kasparian praised the ~14-second heat-up, sleek frizz-free results with little visible damage, the audible ready-chime, the long 4.25-inch plates and nine-foot cord, and the wide 205–455°F range in precise 10-degree increments, and listed no cons. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Sleek, frizz-free, shiny results with little visible damage; Fast ~14-second heat-up time; Audible chime/beep when target temperature is reached.

Flagged: Reviewed found no downsides for this iron (Cons listed as 'None that we could find').

Drybar The Tress Press 1.25" Straightening Iron

No sourced tester review yet.

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