The best hair straighteners are a staple beauty tool for many of us. They're one of the best multi-tasking beauty buys around. Yes, as the name suggests, they were primarily made for straightening hair, but as most will know by now, they make pretty good curlers and wavers too.
All things considered, you get real bang for your buck when you purchase a pair of the best hair straighteners. However, not all straighteners are made equal, which makes choosing the perfect pair of straighteners quite the task. Are you looking for something small and portable? A pair suited for frizzy hair? Or perhaps you're looking for the perfect hair straightener and curler hybrid. Hair straightening brushes are also a popular choice, perfect if you're looking for straight hair with that extra bit of volume.
The Best Hair Straighteners, At A Glance
Best overall straighteners: ghd Platinum+ Straighteners, £239 on LookFantastic
Best budget straightener: Beauty Works X Molly Mae Straightener Kit, £85 on Beauty Works.
Best cordless straightener: Dyson Corrale Hair Straighteners, £399 on Dyson.
Best straightener for frizzy and curly hair: BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Straight + Curl Hair Straightener, £65 on John Lewis.
Best straightener for afro hair: Noma Sana Silk Tress Hair Straightener, £180 on Noma Sana.
Best straightener for damaged hair: Nicky Clarke Supershine Rose Straighteners, £85.58 on Amazon.
Best straightener for thick hair: Cloud 9 The Touch Iron Gift Set, £189 on Very.
Best straighteners for fine hair: Revamp Progloss Touch Digital Straighteners, £99.99 on Boots.
With plenty of hair straighteners to choose from, we're here to make your decision a little easier. The past year has seen many new launches in the world of hair straighteners (one might call it the hair straightener golden age) including ghd's new Chronos an ghd Duet, both of which our beauty team has expertly reviewed.
Whatever your hair straightener requirements are, we've rounded up the best in the business for your perusal. Prepare to meet your match.
What to consider when buying a hair straightener
The secret to buying the perfect straightener lies in weighing up your priorities in conjunction with your hair type. If you have fine or damaged hair, opt for a straightener with adjustable heat settings, so you can avoid excessive heat that could lead to further breakage. If you're always on the go, then you'll likely be in the market for a super light pair of straighteners (perhaps even cordless straighteners) which are ideal for transporting. Or, if you curl your hair with your straighteners more than you actually straighten it, then you'll want straighteners optimised for achieving that perfect beachy wave.
How we test hair straighteners
We took some raving customer reviews, combining with testing products ourselves to get a varied range of opinions. We have tested a range of hair straighteners on various hair types over a six month period, including straight, curly and frizzy hair types to get more rounded and honest reviews on the best hair tool for you. You can find reviews from Grazia's Head of Fashion Commerce, Hannah Banks-Walker testing Dyson's Corrale Hair Straighteners, Beauty Writer Sameeha Shaikh testing ghd's Chronos hair straighteners and Beauty Commerce Writer, Gemma Lavers testing Cloud 9's The Touch Iron straighteners.
Best overall straightener
www.lookfantastic.com
The tech behind this ghd Platinum+ straighteners delivers a consistent temperature of 185°C, the optimum temperature for styling that preserves your hair too. The design is sleek, and the results are exceptional. One reviewer took to the LookFantastic website to rave about the ghd Platinum + Straighteners. They went on to say how the design is sleek, they love how quickly they heat up and how perfectly they feel in the hand. Looking to find which ghd straightener works for you? Check out our round up of the best ghd straighteners to find your perfect pair.
Pros
- Prevents frizz and heat damage
- Ensures less hair breakage
- Uses optimum styling temperature at all times
Cons
- Some reviewers mention tugging of hair
Plates | Rounded barrels |
Heat settings | Consistent 185°C temperature |
Safety features | Universal voltage, protective plate guard, sleep mode after 30 minutes |
- Unique wishbone hinge for styling control
- Rounded barrel compared to others for snag-free styling
- Consistent 185°C temperature
Best budget straightener
Best hair straightener kit
beautyworksonline.com
Following the super-selling success of the curling kit, the Beauty Works X Molly Mae Straightener Kit is complete with a paddle brush and travel case. Infrared ceramic plates create sleek, long-lasting results, and the high heat performance is adjustable to cater to all hair types. One reviewer said how much they love this kit, especially the high-quality zip case.
Pros
- Easy to use for beginners
- Eliminates any frizz
- 220°C maximum temperature to avoid heat damage
- Easy to travel with
Cons
- Some found temperature dial doesn't lock in place
Plates | Infared ceramic plates |
Heat settings | 80C - 220C |
Safety features | Faux leather travel case, adjustable heat settings |
- Temperatures between 80C and 220C
- Suitable for different hair types
- They have narrow plates, which make styling easier from root to tip
Best cordless hair straighteners
www.dyson.co.uk
These are the only hair straighteners with flexible plates. Yup, the plates are flexible! Only by Dyson. That maximises the control you have when styling. You can also charge up the battery for up to 30 minutes of cordless hair styling or plug it in if you're set for a longer session. According to Hannah Banks-Walker, Grazia's Head of Fashion commerce, and her Dyson Corrale review, this tool is not one to miss. She says: 'With clever technological features and options for different hair types, it's a great choice for everyday styling and has the reviews to back it up. A worthwhile investment of a straightener, if you ask me.'
Pros
- 30 minutes cordless styling time
- Flexing plates for comfortable use
- Easy to travel with
- Only 40 minute charging time
Cons
- Heavy to transport
Plates | Flexing copper plates |
Heat settings | Three precise heat settings between 165C and 210C |
Safety features | Cordless, auto shut-off, flight feature |
- Cord-free
- Comes with a heat-resistant pouch and a charging dock
Best straightener for thick hair
Yep, there is such a thing as touch-control technology in the hair-straightening world! This Cloud Nine The Touch Iron Hair Straightener is speedy, it eliminates heat-up time, and the plates are good to go from the first stroke and forget about fiddling around with buttons. Simply touch the plates together three times to switch between temperatures.
Our Beauty and Fashion Writer, Gemma Lavers has had the Touch Iron straighteners for 13 years and only recently decided to upgrade them to the latest edition. Over her decade-plus time as a dedicated Cloud Nine user the straighteners have never failed, and Gemma points out they didn't decline in performance despite their age. She recommends them for all hair types gushing, 'Honestly, I recommend these straighteners to anyone and everyone - thick hair, thin hair, straight hair, curly hair - they're actually the best.'
'I first bought these Cloud Nine straighteners almost thirteen years ago; when I was in year seven, Adele released 'Rolling In The Deep' and the same year Kim Kardashian had a 72-day marriage - that's how long ago this was. I still have this exact pair of straighteners, and they still work just as great as they did when I first got them. It's worth mentioning I have recently upgraded them to a newer version of the same model (The Original Iron) and they have all the features I know and love. The variable temperature control, mineral-infused plates and they automatically switch off after 30 minutes (a life-saver you didn't know you needed).'
Pros
- Ideal for all hair types, curly, thick and fine
- Mineral infused plates to glide through hair
- Instant heat so there's no waiting if you're in a rush
- Strong competition for ghd in terms of performance and affordability
Cons
- Some reviewers are more loyal to hair brands such as Dyson or ghd
Plates | Mineral-infused ceramic plates |
Heat settings | 165-195°C |
Safety features | Temperature control |
- Touch technology, and seal cuticles for shinier hair
- Mineral-infused plates that lock in moisture
- Floating ceramic plates which glide over the hair to reduce pulling
Best straightener for frizzy and curly hair
www.johnlewis.com
If you curl your hair with straighteners as much as you straighten it, these BaByliss Titanium Brilliance Straight + Curl Hair Straightener beauties could be the buy for you. The stainless steel outside of the straighteners aids their curling function no end. Don't just take our word for it, one reviewer said they love the option for either straight or curly hair with this tool. They also like how this tool switches themselves off in case they ever forget. Here are all our favourite straighteners for curly hair.
Pros
- Great value straightener
- Works to both straighten and curl
- Can be easily used on frizzy hair types
Cons
- May need replacing sooner
Plates | Extra-long styling plates |
Heat settings | Up to 235C |
Safety features | 3m swivel cord, cool tips for easy styling, heat protection wrap |
- Extra-long styling plates, covering more hair in one swipe
- Ionic system that releases frizz-controlling ions to boost the shine
- Up to 235C high heat
Best straightener for afro hair
nomasana.com
If you've got afro, coily or curly hair and are fed up with regular straighteners not pulling their weight, the Noma Sana has been specially designed by Lily Odogwu to cater to type three and four hair and get you super-smooth straight locks. With a attachable comb and precise temperature control, the Silk Tress Hair Straightener shines in its little details - such as storing memory of your ideal temperature and saving it for your next go-around.
Pros
- Created specifically for afro, coily or curly hair
- Removable comb attachments so there are no tangles whilst straightening
- Negative Ion Technology seal the cuticle layer and retains moisture
Cons
- None!
Plates | Nano Titanium |
Heat settings | 120 - 230C |
Safety features | 360° Rotatable Power Cord, LCD to monitor temperature |
- Heater: Metal Ceramic Heater (MCH)
- Plate Type: Nano Titanium
- Power: 45W
- Voltage: 100V-240V Dual Voltage
- Temperature Range: 120-230C
Best straightener for damaged hair
The newest edition to the ghd hair straightener range, the Chronos is designed for super fast styling to avoid any further heat damage to the hair. The Chronos is made with breakthrough technology to benefit the hair by adding 85% more shine to leave you with an extra glossy finish. Made to prevent further breakage, the heat monitoring technology maintains an optimum temperature at 185˚C.
Grazia's Beauty Writer, Sameeha Shaikh tried and tested the new ghd Chronos and said, 'I was recently invited to the launch of the tool in the heart of Soho, London at the ghd London Studio, where I was able to put the Chronos through its paces. Having my hair styled by a ghd pro quickly proved the potential of the product as she took my hair from unkept and lifeless to glossy and full bodied with the help of perfectly formed bouncy waves. And they sure did last, well into the next day in fact.' Looking to find out more? Discover our full ghd Chronos review here.
Pros
- Offers 24-hour lasting style in the hair
- Ergonomic barrel allows you to create straight to curly looks
- Glossed coating on plates for shinier hair
Cons
- On the heavy side which makes them less suitable for travel
Best straighteners for fine hair
Featuring ceramic plates infused with keratin, argan and coconut oils - these sleek plates from Revamp Progloss Touch Digital Straighteners bolster shine whilst smoothing strands. It's the perfect straightener for beginners who aren't looking to break the bank. One reviewer said they were very happy with their purchase as these straighteners heat up quickly and lock at the right temperature. They went onto say they feel they straighten well and leaves the hair looking glossy.
Pros
- Straightening plates infused with oil for a more seamless application
- Very user friendly
- Automatic shut off mode after 60 minutes
- 360º swivel cable to avoid getting tangled up
Cons
- Not as many control settings as some other competitors
Plates | Ceramic plates |
Heat settings | 80C - 235C |
Safety features | Auto-off |
- Three hair type settings - fine, medium and thick
- Heat settings from 80C - 235C
- Fast heat touch digital control
Chloe Burcham is a freelance health and beauty editor and contributes regularly to publications including Grazia, STYLIST, Women's Health, Refinery29.