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12 best hair straighteners, tried and tested for every hair type and budget

Our beauty expert reviewed top-rated hair straighteners for salon-worthy results

Sabine Wiesel
Thursday 07 March 2024 12:26 GMT
<p>Our tester is an experienced beauty editor and put the latest hair straighteners to the test</p>

Our tester is an experienced beauty editor and put the latest hair straighteners to the test

Our Top Picks

From shiny, poker-straight strands to enviable cascading curls, the best hair straighteners make it possible to create polished salon-style results as part of our everyday routines. It’s hard to imagine the frizz-filled days before ghd popularised the heat-styling iron some 20 years ago.

It’s not the only impressive haircare brand on the market. With design and innovation constantly evolving in hair tech, there’s a constant stream of new launches making styling easier, speedier and safer for your strands.

Although you’ll still find high-performing, good-value options, such as the irons by Flower, and Revamp, all this high tech does come with a price. So, if you’re investing in an upgrade, you want to make sure you’re getting the best hair straightener that’s going to work for your individual needs.

We know there’s a lot to weigh up, so we’ve done the hard work for you. In our round-up of the best hair straighteners, you’ll find models that will not only work for every hair type but budget too.

How we tested the best hair straighteners

Our tester has naturally frizzy, wavy hair

Our tester is an experienced beauty editor, so puts the latest hair straighteners to the test as they launch. With our tester having naturally frizzy, wavy hair, the straighteners had their work cut out to make this line-up. Design and manoeuvrability – including how easy and speedy they were to use – were considered. But, most importantly, we wanted to know how well they created both silky smooth straight styles as well as curly ones, and how well these finishes lasted.

The best hair straighteners for 2024 are:

  • Best hair straighteners overall – ghd duet two-in-one hot air styler: £379, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget hair straighteners – Flower ceramic styling iron: £49.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best cordless hair straighteners – Dyson corrale straightener: £399.99, Sephora.co.uk
  • Best wide-plated hair straighteners – Revamp progloss wide x ultra shine hair straightener: £119.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best lightweight hair straighteners – Panasonic EH-HS0E enrich + advanced care hair straightener: £129.99, Amazon.co.uk

Ghd duet 2-in-1 hot air styler

Ghd duet 2-in-1 hot air styler.png
  • Best: Hair straightener overall
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: No
  • Cable length: 2.7m
  • Weight: 671.9g
  • Why we love it
    • Replaces your hair dryer and straightener in one
    • Less heat damage
  • Take note
    • Can’t curl hair using the tool

Always at the forefront of styling innovation, ghd has impressed us once again with the new duet: a wet-to-dry hair straightener that replaces your hair dryer and straightener in one. The idea might not be new, but the tech certainly is. So, forget the frazzling failures you may have tried in the past – this new tool is a game-changer.

Using the brand’s new airflow tech, air grilles work together with four low-temperature plates at the head of the styler to simultaneously dry and straighten strands. You finish with the shine shot mode that turns the styler into a standard ghd straightener (working at the brand’s optimum 185C) to boost sleekness and shine further.

The brand promises 48 hours of unprecedented softness, with no damage to strands, which we can vouch for, as it made our strands smooth and super silky for two days. It’s such a shame it’s only for straightening and we couldn’t curl with it too.

The big question we hear you ask is, does it save time? It doesn’t if you’ve mastered professional straightening with a round brush and blow-dryer, but for those of us who struggle and have to meticulously go over our hair with irons, it certainly makes straightening not only faster, but easier too.

Read our full review of the ghd duet 2-in-1 hot air styler

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Flower ceramic styling iron

Flower
  • Best: Budget hair straighteners
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 3m
  • Weight: 786g
  • Why we love it
    • Generous swivel cord
    • Rounded edges make easy work of creating soft, beachy curls

These colourful irons from Drew Barrymore’s haircare range may be one of the cheapest in our review but they do far from lack in performance. The rounded edges are designed to make easy work of creating soft, beachy curls, while the 25mm tourmaline ceramic plates banish frizz and create a smooth and super-shiny finish when straightening.

There are four heat settings, ranging from 150C to 225C, so they’ll glide through both thicker manes and unmanageable strands easily. Another bonus is the brand has been generous with the swivel cord (budget brands are often a bit stingy in this area), which makes the straighteners easy to manoeuvre around the bedroom.

In fact, nothing screams budget apart from the price – there’s even that all-important automatic shut-off after an hour, for peace of mind.

  1. £49 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Ghd platinum+ hair straighteners

Ghd platinum+  hair straighteners
  • Best: For everyday styling
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: No
  • Cable length: 2.7m
  • Weight: 400g
  • Why we love it
    • Faultless performance
    • Speedy heat-up time
    • Great for everyday styling

Ghd popularised the use of hair straightening with its innovative irons in the Noughties – the brand even became a verb as we all “ghded” our hair. It’s no surprise it’s still at the top of its game with every styler in the collection a top choice but, if you really had to twist our arm, this high-tech model is at the top of the pile when it comes to easy everyday styling.

The ‘smart’ technology gives you a personalised touch, as the plates recognise the thickness of your hair and the styling speed, adjusting the heat accordingly – the heat is monitored constantly, so your hair is never compromised.

This model offers faultless performance, with a speedy heat-up time and a one-stroke straighten that will leave you with a sleek and shiny result. It’s equally as easy to curl with, thanks to the floating plates and well-thought-out design.

It’s available in black, white and now this limited-edition sunkissed taupe shade – our favourite yet.

Read our full review of the ghd platinum+ hair straighteners

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Dyson corrale hair straighteners

Dyson corrale hair straightener.png
  • Best: Cordless hair straighteners
  • Plate material: Copper
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 4.33m
  • Weight: 561g
  • Why we love it
    • Cordless design
    • Can wave, curl and straighten hair
  • Take note
    • You get 30 minutes run time, which might not be long enough for some

The age-old question beauty editors now get asked is whether the Dyson hair tools are worth their hefty price tags. The answer is a big, fat yes when it comes to the corrale (seen here in the copper/nickel shade). The state-of-the-art design you expect from the brand makes waving, curling and straightening super quick and easy, thanks to the flexible copper plates that grip and gather every strand.

Plus, there’s no cord to get in the way (unless you want there to be, as you can also style it with the 360-degree charging cable that comes with it). Cord-free you get 30 minutes of run time on a 70-minute charge, but we found if you place the styler on the charging dock in-between glides it prolongs the battery life. It’s plenty of time even if you have a more difficult to style curly or coarse mane, and with three temperatures to choose from (165C, 185C and 210C) you’ll get smooth, flawless results no matter your hair type.

Read our full review of the Dyson corrale hair straighteners

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L’Oréal professional steampod 4

L’Oréal professional steampod 4.png
  • Best: For thick, coarse or curly hair
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 2.5m
  • Weight: 1.4kg
  • Why we love it
    • Can be used to create waves and more defined curls
    • Effective on more unmanageable manes
  • Take note
    • On the bulky side

If you struggle using conventional hair straighteners on more difficult to straighten strands, this will be the tool for you. It works differently, styling strands with high-pressure dry steam that comes out of tiny vents when you press the plates together. It’s particularly effective on more unmanageable manes, but it is suitable for all hair types.

The steam comes from an integrated mini water tank that the brand promises can be used to style 192m of hair. We gave up counting this, but can certainly verify that it lasts a long time, so don’t worry, you don’t have to keep filling it up to get results

This is the latest edition of the stream straightener, which sees improvements such as a new rounder design that makes it easier to create waves and more defined curls. However, it’s still on the bulky side.

The wider floating plates coated in aluminium make it easier to get to the roots and glide through strands speedily for a super sleek look. Whichever look you opt for, you can expect the finish to stay smooth and in place all day long.

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Revamp progloss wide x ultra shine hair straighteners

Revamp progloss wide x ultra shine hair straightener.png
  • Best: Wide plate hair straighteners
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 3m
  • Weight: 470g
  • Why we love it
    • Wider and longer plates are great for long, thick hair
    • Reasonably priced
    • Leaves hair with glossy finish

Those with long, thick and curlier hair types will cut their styling time down with wider and longer plates, such as those featured on this model (38mm x 125mm). If you need it, the variable temperature control means you can turn up the heat to 235C, too. Equally, if you have hair that’s fine or fragile you can dial it down to 80C.

What we really like about this model is that, for such a reasonably priced tool, it performs up there with the premium brands going the extra beauty mile. It’s effortless at creating super smooth styles, as well as carefree curls, thanks to the contoured edges. It also features ionic technology, a real frizz buster – keeping it at bay even in April showers.

Another highlight is the amazing glossy finish you’re left with after use – the plates are infused with keratin, coconut and argan oil for shine. Quick to use, great value and a finish that oozes health – what’s not to love?

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Panasonic EH-HS0E enrich + advanced care hair straighteners

Panasonic EH-HS0E enrich + advanced care hair straightener.png
  • Best: Lightweight hair straighteners
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 2.7m
  • Weight: 250g
  • Why we love it
    • Light and easy-to-manoeuvre
    • Great if you have shorter or mid-length styles

Turn to this Panasonic iron if a light and easy-to-manoeuvre hair straightener is what you’re looking for. A smooth snag-free pass that adds shine to strands awaits, thanks to its nanoe tech, and with five temperature settings (150C to 230C) you can personalise your heat preferences to always get the best finish for your hair type.

Its compact design makes it a great option for those with shorter or mid-length styles. Another stand-out for us is its slim-headed design that makes getting to the roots easy. And don’t think its price compromises on performances. It heats up in 20 seconds and is as speedy to use as its premium-priced competitors.

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Remington proluxe you adaptive straighteners

Remington
  • Best: For personalised styling
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 3m
  • Weight: 448g
  • Why we love it
    • Plates adapt to your hair type to find optimum temperature
    • Produced long-lasting curls and poker-straight strands

Reliable and reasonably priced, Remington is another favourite brand when it comes to at-home hair styling. This latest tool is a little pricier than its usual purse-friendly irons, but we found the price tag is well justified, as the Remington proluxe you is a little more on the luxe side and much techier than its predecessors.

Taking a more personalised approach to styling, these plates adapt to your hair type with clever built-in sensors that “read” your hair while you style to find the optimum temperature for the best results. And they do this very well – we were very impressed with how long-lasting our curls were, as well as how poker-straight our strands stayed. If you prefer to stay in control, simply switch to one of the nine temperatures available, from 150C to 230C.

  1. £79 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Babyliss 9000 cordless straighteners

Babyliss
  • Best: Hair straighteners for travel
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: N/A (cordless)
  • Weight: 600g
  • Why we love it
    • Compact size
    • Takes just seconds to heat up

With its black glossy finish and rose-gold touches, you’ll find these have a sleeker design from the popular hair tool brand, compared with its predecessors. But its real selling point is it takes just seconds to heat up, with three settings to choose from (160C, 180C and 200C). You’ll then have 30 minutes of styling time on a three-hour charge, which for us was enough to straighten our hair three times before having to recharge.

Straightforward to use, this is a one-button operation. Press to turn on and click to adjust the temperature, which is guided by three LED lights – it couldn’t be simpler. The floating ceramic plates with even heat-distribution tech make snag-free curling as easy as straightening.

It’s also ideal for holiday packing, as it already comes with a two-pin interchangeable charging adaptor for Europe, as well as a compact travel case.

  1. £180 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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Ghd unplugged cordless hair straighteners

ghd
  • Best: For styling on the go
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: No
  • Cable length: N/A (cordless)
  • Weight: 300g
  • Why we love it
    • Cable-free design
    • Lightweight and compact design
  • Take note
    • Only have 20 minutes of styling time

With such a successful back catalogue of high-performing hair stylers, we couldn’t help but have lofty expectations before we even got our hands on ghd’s first cordless tool, but it did far from disappoint. Tech-wise, it uses the same dual-zone technology that keeps the plates at 185C, which the brand says is the optimum styling temperature without compromising the health of the hair. You can, therefore, expect the same snag-free, sleek results you get from the rest of the line-up, even though the plates are slightly smaller in size.

It’s the convenience of the cable-free design you’re paying extra for, but for those constantly on the go trying to fit in a gym session, meeting and night-out all in one day, these will be a godsend. A two-hour charge will give you 20 minutes of styling time, which was enough for us to straighten our strands twice. What we really appreciated, though, is that you can charge them in your car or laptop with a USB-C socket. Lightweight and compact, they’re our new handbag hero.

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Beauty Works x Molly-Mae hair straighteners

Beauty Works
  • Best: For fine and fragile hair
  • Plate material: Ceramic
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 2.7m
  • Weight: 445g
  • Why we love it
    • Great for fine or fragile locks
    • Easy to style from root to tip

Turn to this collaboration with the ex-Love Islander-turned-social-media-star if you’re looking for a wide range of adjustable heat settings. This tool is perfect for those with fine or fragile locks, for which turning down the heat is a must, as the straighteners go as low as 80C. They also go as high as 220C if you’re at the other end of the hair scale, with thicker strands.

The slim ceramic plates with infrared make it easier to get from root to tip for that super-straight, sleek and shiny look often spotted on Molly-Mae. We were impressed with how our locks stayed looking so fresh throughout the day, too.

This product is currently out of stock, but you can sign up with your email to be the first to know when it’s back.

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Drybar the tress press digital styling iron

Drybar
  • Best: For thick, coarse or curly hair
  • Plate material: Titanium
  • Variable temperature control: Yes
  • Cable length: 2.74m
  • Weight: 440g
  • Why we love it
    • Quick results
    • Locks stayed straight frizz-free even in humidity
    • Rounded edge means its easy to create soft waves

From the hot brush to the curling wand, this isn’t the first sunshine-yellow hair tool we’ve been super impressed with from the cult US brand Drybar, which is now available in the UK. Master of the blow-dry stateside, the brand also has this speedy-to-use iron in its electrical collection.

Made with 1in titanium plates that go up to 232C, which typically make straightening much easier for thicker or harder to straighten strands, we were really impressed with its quick results and its smooth and shiny zero-frizz finish. And our locks stayed that way, even in humidity. Plus, the rounded edges on the tress press design make it an easy-to-use tool for creating soft waves, too.

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Hair straighteners FAQs

How to prevent damage to your hair when using hair straighteners

Any heated styling tool can damage hair, especially if your tresses are already lacking in moisture and protein. This – combined with external aggressors such as chlorine, chemical treatments and over or under-washing – can leave your hair looking and feeling lacklustre.

The best preventative measure you can take is to always use a heat-protectant spray before blow-drying, curling or straightening your hair. This is because they work by adding a protective layer that acts as a shield to absorb the heat and leave your locks undamaged.

How to choose the best hair straighteners for your hair type

Those with fine, very dry or fragile strands should look for straighteners with variable temperature controls, so you can dial down the heat to prevent damage. In contrast, if you have thick or coarse strands you may need to turn up the temperature to get the best results.

People with harder to style tresses may also want to think about the material of the plate. While most straighteners are made with ceramic plates for even heat distribution, which is ideal for most hair types, more stubborn to straighten strands may benefit from titanium plates or steam plates.

Lastly, plate size can be important too. Longer and thicker styles will love the ease of a wider iron, but if you want to use your straighteners for curling too, you have to remember the wider the plate, the looser the curl.

Can you straighten wet hair?

Another step you can take to protect your tresses is to only straighten hair that is completely dry. Hair is at its most fragile state when wet, and if you’ve ever attempted to use a heat styler on damp hair, it’s likely you’ve heard your strands sizzle, which should tell you all you need to know. Doing so can increase breakage, frizz and even make your hair’s natural texture more coarse.

How to curl hair with a straightener

If you want to curl your hair with your straightener, steer clear of the wide flat irons and opt for a slimmer model instead, which will be easier to wrap your hair around and give you round curls. To curl your hair, clamp a strand of hair inside the straigthener (smaller strands for tighter curls and bigger strands for a more wavy look), then wrap the ends of your hair over the straightener while either twisting the iron towards you or away from your, depending on the kind of curls you want. Then, all you have to do is hold it there for a few seconds before gently pulling the straightener down until reaching the ends of your hair, at which point you can let go your grip.

Are titanium straighteners better than ceramic?

While titanium straighteners are best for quick styling – they heat up fast and can straighten tough hair in a few brushes – ceramic plates take more time to heat up, meaning they can be less damaging, but work better on hair that is easy to straighten. Titanium plates, however, are a better choice for thicker, stubborn hair.

What features to look for in hair straighteners

With so many straighteners on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right tool for you but one way to narrow things down is by looking at the different features and specifications each model has.

Variable temperature controls

Straighteners with variable temperature controls are ideal for getting the optimum experience for your hair type and also come in handy if you’re planning on sharing your tool with others.

Type of plates

Similarly, the type of plates a tool has can make all the difference to your overall finish. Most straighteners have either ceramic or titanium plates and, although the former can take a little longer to heat up, they distribute heat evenly, meaning you don’t need to use such a high temperature. Another positive is that ceramic straighteners make light work of frizziness, as they create negative ions, leaving you with a glossy finish. Alternatively, titanium is a tougher and more durable material, meaning it should last you a long time. These irons also tend to be more heavy-duty, so are perhaps a good choice for thicker, more stubborn hair

Heat-up time

If you’re the kind of person who seems to always be in a rush, the time it takes for a tool to reach its desired temperature could make all the difference. Thanks to innovations in modern hair tech, most tools are pretty speedy, reaching their peak temperatures in around 30-60 seconds.

Corded vs cordless

Following in the footsteps of headphones, you can now get your hands on hair tools that come free from cables, so, if you often need to style your locks on the go, be it in the changing room after a gym session or at a festival, it could be time to go cordless. These types of tools can be easier to manoeuvre and are compact and rechargeable, making them much more travel-friendly than standard models.

The verdict: Hair straighteners

The innovative new ghd duet 2-in-1 hot air styler is top of our list. Unlike any other hot tools we’ve tried before, it transforms towel-dried strands into dry, super-soft tresses oozing shine.

It may not necessarily cut down styling time, but we love the ease of using one tool (eliminating the need for a hair dryer) and it produces superior results. However, you can’t use it for curling, so, if it’s versatility you’re after, you can’t beat the cordless Dyson corrale.

Want to make sure your locks are in tip-top condition? We tried Olaplex’s haircare range, and here’s what we thought

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