When it comes to hair straighteners, one size no longer fits all. From extra-large ceramic plates for sweeping through thick hair, to clever cord-free models that deliver maximum practicality, there are plenty of innovative launches out there to choose from.
Whether you want to create smooth, sleek strands, a tousled S-wave or a classic red-carpet curl, we’ve found the hair straighteners that will give you a professional-looking finish.
Which temperature setting is the least damaging for hair?
All GHD stylers are set at 185 degrees, and many other brands have followed suit. This temperature is widely considered to be the ideal middle ground: it's hot enough to straighten strands in one pass, yet won't create unnecessary damage.
However, if you have especially thick or fine hair, a straightener with a variable temperature setting is worth considering. This more personalised approach will deliver guaranteed satisfaction; thicker hair tends to need a higher setting for longer-lasting results, while fine hair can benefit from a lower temperature, which decreases the risk of damage to delicate strands.
Regardless of temperature, always ensure your hair is completely dry before styling, and use a heat protection spray.
What’s the best hair straightener for my hair type?
Wide plates are essential for those with curly, thick hair as they glide through larger sections, cutting down styling time. We’ve included ceramic-coated plates and a steam straightener in our edit, both of which will help to protect afro hair (4A-4C curl type).
Annoying flyaways? Ionic technology is the latest tech to keep hair looking sleek and smooth.
How we test
Over 300 women with various hair types signed up to try more than 60 different hair straighteners in our comprehensive test. We asked them how long each took to heat up, their thoughts on the design and – crucially – how happy they were with the end result.
Each pair was also inspected in the Hearst Institute lab to ensure it lived up to the brand’s claims. Below, see the ones that came out top, for every hair type and style...
1
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENERS
Dyson Corrale Cord-Free Hair Straighteners
Every bit as innovative as Dyson’s Supersonic hair dryer and AirWrap curling tool, the Corrale has patented ‘flexing’ plates, which are designed to grip every strand. This means you won’t need to go over the same section twice, reducing the chance of heat damage. It comes with a heat-resistant travel pouch and flight-mode option, so you can take them in your carry-on (when we can finally travel again). It can also be used cordless, lasting 30 minutes on a full charge — no more tying yourself in knots to reach the back. They weren't the lightest pair we tested, but a firm favourite with our panel.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Manganese copper alloy
Number of heat settings: 3 (160 to 210C)
Accessories: Heat resistant travel case, charging dock, magnetic charging cable
2
BEST HAIR STRAIGHTENERS FOR STYLING
Gold Professional Styler
net-a-porter.com.uk
£139.00
GHD is a brand synonymous with hair straightening — although that’s not all this styler can do. The rounded barrel means it excels at creating natural-looking waves and curls too, and leaves hair feeling sleek and healthy. It takes just 25 seconds to heat up and automatically turns off after 30 minutes for peace of mind. A lightweight option that lives up to the hype.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
Number of heat settings: 1 (185C)
Accessories: Heat resistant protective plate guard
3
BEST FOR HYDRATION
L'Oréal Professionnel Steampod Steam Straightening Tool 3.0
lookfantastic.com
£235.00
Daily straightening can sometimes leave hair feeling frazzled — not so with the Steampod, which features an integrated water tank with a removable comb. Our testers found the steam technology left their hair feeling healthier, shinier and more hydrated than ever. A great option for curly or afro hair.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
Number of heat settings: 3 (180 to 210C)
Accessories: Mini water refill bottle
4
BEST FOR WIDE PLATES
Cloud Nine The Original Iron Hair Straightener
Cloud Nine was started by one of the original founders of GHD, which makes sense as these irons are every bit as effective as their competitor. Our testers appreciated the wide plates that allowed them to style long hair quickly, creating a natural, glossy shine. Our testers were also won over by the time it took them to heat up (just 20 seconds).
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic
Number of heat settings: 5 (100-200C)
Accessories: Carry pouch, protective heat guard, safety heat mat
5
BEST FOR THICK HAIR
Platinum+ Professional Styler
net-a-porter.com.uk
£189.00
GHD’s Platinum+ detects your hair thickness and the speed at which you’re styling to ensure it’s always delivering 185-degree heat. The large plates gripped hair well, and our testers loved how soft and smooth theirs felt once finished. For peace of mind there’s also an indicator noise when they power up and down (so you’re less likely to leave them on). Gripping each strand efficiently, hair was left looking shiny, frizz-free and silky.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
Number of heat settings: 1 (185C)
Additional accessories: None
6
BEST FOR FINE HAIR
Revamp Progloss Touch Digital Ceramic Hair Styler ST1500
With a wide range of temperatures to choose from, fine hair will appreciate the gentler settings available here. Our panel found the ceramic plates were effective at gripping every strand and reducing flyaways, leaving hair perfectly straight. These were better at creating more defined styles over softer waves.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic
Number of heat settings: 32 (80 to 235C)
Accessories: Heat resistant mat
7
BEST KERATIN-INFUSED STRAIGHTENERS
Remington Keratin Protect Intelligent Ceramic Hair Straighteners
Boost shine and reduce flyaways with these keratin- and almond oil-infused ceramic plates. They automatically adjust the temperature according to your hair’s moisture content, and our panel reported well-styled, shiny and less frizzy locks.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic
Number of heat settings: 5 (160 to 230C)
Accessories: Heat resistant storage pouch
8
BEST FOR IONIC TECHNOLOGY
Grundig Touch Control HS7831 Hair Straightener
We know a product has been a hit when our testing panel tells us they’ll continue using it once the trial period ends — as was the case with the Grundig Touch Control. You might not be familiar with the brand (which is better known for home appliances), but its offering comes with effective ionic tech and a sleek design. Hair is left shiny, bouncy and free from flyaways, too.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
Number of heat settings: 8 (160 to 230C)
Accessories: None
9
BEST FOR SMART TECH
Glamoriser Smart Hair Straightener
Our home is awash with smart appliances – smart bulbs, security cameras, speakers – and we’ll be adding these hair straighteners to the list. Accompanied by a smartphone app, you can turn them off from anywhere, (which is ideal if you’ve already left the house), and it saves your personalised heat settings for next time. Our panel couldn’t fault how shiny hair was after use, too.
Key specifications
Type of plates: Ceramic
Number of heat settings: 32 (80-235C)
Accessories: Silicon heat-proof mat
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