I straighten my very thick, kinky hair. I don't use a flat iron, I blow dry and then use a very large barrel curling iron. I feel it gives my hair more shape. If judging from hair dryers, I would say pony up the money for the more expensive one. I used a T3 hair dryer for years, it recently died. I bought a $40 cheapie from the hairdresser, and I hated it. I went right back on line for my T3. T3 is a tourmaline dryer, it costs about $200 retail (sorry budget folks) I got it for $100 from ebay. My last one was over 5 years old when it died. My understanding is that the wet to dry ones are really hard on your hair. I dry and then iron, so that is not from personal experience. I use Moroccan Oil on my hair (again, sorry budgeters) it is expensive $30 for a 100ml bottle, but it works great, and you only use a little bit at a time. Like a nickel sized amount. It leaves my hair soft and smooth and shiny.