It wouldn’t surprise us if you’ve had the same pair of hair straighteners in your beauty arsenal since your school days - but it’s time for an upgrade and we’ve rounded up the best on the market based on some rigorous testing and reviews.
Of course, we’ve included the ever-faithful ghd hair straightener, but things have come a long way since your teen years and there are now more models available on the market than ever before.
There’s the Dyson Corrale for a start, that gives up to 30 minutes of cordless styling. One for you if straighteners are a must-have in your suitcase. Then there’s Cloud Nine’s Original Iron Pro which is beloved by industry insiders and comes with a unique vibrating setting.
Don’t quite have the budget for Dyson but still like the sound of going cordless? Babyliss’ 9000 Cordless Straightener is just as travel-friendly.
Meanwhile, for a more affordable option, there’s Remington’s HYDRAluxe straightener which helps preserve your hair’s all-important moisture thanks to their coated plate technology.
Speaking of hair health, L’Oréal Professionnel’s Steampod 3.0 uses patented steam technology to straighten hair with up to 91 per cent less damage. Yes, it does involve filling a water tank, but don’t be alarmed, it’s nothing like the pre-straightener days of putting a tea towel over your head and using your mum’s iron.
From old faithfuls to new brands and technology discoveries, don’t buy a pair without reading our guide first.
Best hair straighteners at a glance
- Best for curling as well as straightening: Dyson Corrale - £299.99, John Lewis
- Best for speed: GHD Chronos - £269, GHD
- Best for hair straightener fanatics: ghd original styler - £118.15, lookfantastic
- Best for travelling abroad: DryBar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron - £139, lookfantastic
- Best for cordless tech at a more affordable price: Babyliss 9000 Cordless Straightener - £180, Boots
- Best for adjustable heat settings: Beauty Works Hair Straightener - £79, lookfantastic
- Best for casual straightener users: Remington Hydraluxe Hair Straightener - £39.99, Currys
- Best for thick hair: Bio Ionic OnePass - £82.99, Amazon
- Best for minimising heat damage: Cloud Nine The Original Iron Pro - £199, Cloud Nine
- Best for personalised styling: T3 Lucea ID - £139.95, Beauty Bay
- Best for speedy styling: L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod 3.0 - £247.80, Amazon
- Best for straightening on a budget: Flower Beauty Ceramic Styling Iron - £52.99, Amazon
- Best for straightening and drying in one: Duet Style 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler - £319, GHD
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Dyson Corrale
Best for: People who want to curl as well as straighten. As someone who has never been able to curl their hair with straighteners, this was a game-changer.
The tech bit: It’s Dyson, so you know there’s a lot of tech involved. They promise 50 per cent less damage than other straighteners, without compromising on finish. This is thanks to the flexing copper plates, which are shaped to gather the hair, giving you extra control and meaning you don’t have to go over your hair repeatedly.
Just to add: It’s pricey yes, but it really is more than a straightener. For me, it’s the easiest way to achieve those cool girl waves as the cordless technology means you don’t end up in knots.
Buy now £299.99, John Lewis
GHD Chronos
Best for: What if we told you that you could style your hair three times faster – would you believe it? Well, that’s exactly what GHD is claiming with its latest innovation. The Chronos was created with one sole mission: to streamline the styling process without compromising strand health.
The tech bit: The most advanced model in its portfolio, the Chronos has trademarked motion-responsible technology. This very innovative feature allows your tool to monitor and adapt to your hair type and the way that it is being used. For those who are prone to multiple passes or what is known as slap-slap styling, this is a game-changer.
The iron provides consistent heat but, using an intelligent algorithm, adapts power depending on speed, section size and hair type so that it only requires one stroke to create your go-to look, be it poker straight or bouncy curls. This feature also means that it is as effective on fine locks as it is on thick and the same goes for coarse and textured – all of which absorb heat differently.
Just to add: The brand says that the Chronos results in more defined styles, provides 85 per cent more shine (thanks to ultra-gloss floating plates) and has twice the frizz-fighting effects.
Buy now £269.00, GHD
ghd original styler
Best for: Hair straightener fanatics. You know the ones who keep a pair on their office desk and at home.
The tech bit: It’s the OG of hair straighteners for a reason. Ceramic, floating plates glide through your hair creating a sleek, glossy finish. Automatic sleep mode, so you never have to turn back home again for fear of doing a Rachel Green and a rounded barrel so you can straighten and create those cool-girl waves.
Just to add: It’s worth noting how durable the original ghd styler is. It will last you for years, it’s probably the one you still have from school. If it’s over ten years old though, it’s time to invest in this updated model.
Buy now £118.15, lookfantastic
DryBar The Tress Press Digital Styling Iron
Best for: Global travellers thanks to its universal voltage which means you never have to worry about your hair straightener cutting out when travelling abroad.
The tech bit: Inspired by professional hair tools, The Tress Press uses titanium technology to reduce frizz and increase shine. It can heat up to 232°C and promises to style hair with a single stroke.
Just to add: Founded by Alli Webb in 2010, DryBar was originally a salon in California which just offered blow-dries, something Alli was passionate about as a curly-haired person. The idea was a runaway success and a chain of salons soon followed, along with a product line in Sephora. The brand finally launched its range in the UK exclusively to Harrods in 2021.
Buy now £139.00, lookfantastic
Babyliss 9000 Cordless Straightener
Best for: Cordless technology that won’t break the bank. At £140 it’s not cheap admittedly, but compared to Dyson’s £399 price tag, it’s a little easier to swallow.
The tech bit: Just three hours of charging gives you 30 minutes of cordless use at maximum temperature, which is 200°C FYI (there are three heat settings in total: 160°C, 180°C and 200°C).
To ensure you don’t get any kinks and that your hair is consistently sleek throughout, Babyliss use their patented Micro Heating Matrix.
Just to add: While we’re not necessarily crazy about the design, we do love that this straightener comes with a handy travel case and silicone plate guard.
Buy now £180.00, Boots
Beauty Works Hair Straightener
Best for: Those who want to personalise their heat settings. It’s adjustable from 80°C to 220°C, putting you in complete control.
The tech bit: Do not write off these kits as another reality star cash grab. We’ve tried the entire range, from the deep waver to this straightener, and have been consistently impressed with everything from the packaging to the results.
Ceramic plates are used to eliminate frizz and give hair an extra boost of shine and there is also a lock switch to ensure a safe cool down. The slim design also means you can straighten hair from root to tip.
Just to add: The kit is very well thought out and comes with a vegan bristle paddle brush, a faux leather case for storage and a glove which you will undoubtedly never use.
Buy now £79.00, lookfantastic
Remington Hydraluxe Hair Straightener
Best for: More casual straightener users, who don’t want to cause excess damage or dryness from heat styling thanks to its moisture-locking technology.
The tech bit: It’s all in the plates with this one. Remington has used a Moisture Lock Coating which transfers micro-conditioners to your hair when used. This helps preserve the all-important moisture levels in your hair when straightening.
There are 9 temperature settings in total from 150°C to 230°C, all with a speedy 15 second heat up time.
Just to add: In addition to the Moisture Lock technology, Remington also promises expert results at a lower temperature (185°C) so definitely one to reach for if you’ve been scarred by heat styling in the past.
Buy now £49.99, Currys
Bio Ionic OnePass
Best for: Thick hair, thanks to its 1.5-inch plates which promise to straighten in just a single pass.
The tech bit: If you have a lot of hair, you’ll know how frustrating it is when it slips out of a regular-size straightener. These jumbo plates mean that won’t happen and instead. the OnePass glides through medium to thick hair types with ease. Silicone strips have also been added to give a smooth, shiny finish.
Just to add: Those silicone strips on the plate also mean less breakage as they lightly grip your hair without clamping.
Buy now £82.99, Amazon
Cloud Nine The Original Iron Pro
Best for: Minimising heat damage thanks to its ground-breaking vibrating technology (more on that later).
The tech bit: As well as heat causing damage when styling, friction is also a cause of breakage. That’s why Cloud Nine invented its Revive Mode which minimises that friction by vibrating at 8,000 times a minute at a controlled temperature of 150°C. You can still use regular non-vibrating settings with this model and there is a variable temperate control ranging from 100°C -200°C.
Just to add: Cloud Nine is a bit of an industry secret and was actually founded by one of the co-founders of ghd. All Cloud Nine products are created in South Korea as it’s the only place in the world that has the mineral Sericite. This ingredient is known for its hair-healing properties and is infused in all the straightener plates.
Oh, and if you are upgrading your hair straightener, they will recycle your old one, no matter the brand.
Buy now £199.00, Cloud Nine
T3 Lucea ID
Best for: Every single hair type thanks to it’s unique styling personalisation which factors in everything from texture, length and colour treatment. Clever, right?
The tech bit: T3 has made its straighteners completely personalised to you by designing unique custom settings. All you have to do is input your texture, length and colour treatment on the digital touch screen and T3 will automatically adjust. Forget flying cars, this is the kind of technology we have longed to experience.
It also has another unique feature, ‘The Refresh Mode’, which reduces heat levels and allows you to retouch previously styled hair with less heat.
Just to add: Like Cloud Nine, T3 is another brand adored by industry professionals - and who can blame them when it comes to this technology?
Buy now £139.95, Beauty Bay
L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod 3.0
Best for: Speedy styling. The Steampod promises to straighten your hair twice as fast as regular straighteners and gives a twice as smooth result.
The tech bit: As the name suggests, the Steampod uses continuous steam flow to style hair with 91 per cent less damage. It heats from 180°C to 210°C and has an integrated, removal comb to prevent any knotting when styling. It does involve filling up the water tank before use, but that tiny bit of effort is surely worth it for a quicker, smoother, less damaged hairstyle, no?
Just to add: Not fully sold on the Barbie connection here, but we just really love this hot pink colour. Also available in white.
Buy now £247.80, Amazon
Flower Beauty Ceramic Styling Iron
Best for: Straightening and creating waves on a budget.
The tech bit: There are four heat settings on this straighter and the maximum temperature is 225°C. It has a round barrel shape specifically designed to curl, as well as straighten and it has an impressive 3m swivel cord, so you never have to curse your hotel plug outlet again. Oh, and even this more affordable straightener comes with an automatic shut-off.
Just to add: Flower Beauty is actually Drew Barrymore’s beauty brand, and the colourful design is down to Drew’s personal mission of wanting to create tools you want to display.
Buy now £52.99, Amazon
GHD Duet Style 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler
Best for: Straightening and drying in one
The tech bit: At the base of the Duet is an air filter mechanism that’s the heart of the drying power. Using internal aerodynamics, the brushless digital motor operates at a precise speed to style with low noise and no turbulence so there’s no falling out with your housemates first thing in the morning. The air grille at the wider end of the tool is made up of four smart plates that style at a low temperature, while sensors ensure drying happens to the right level so as to maintain your hair’s natural moisture.
Just to add: It goes against everything we’ve ever been told about heated drying tools but this new innovation from GHD allows you to dry and style with just one tool.
Buy now £319.00, GHD
BaByliss Air Wand
BaByliss’ latest launch is on hand to streamline your collection of heated tools. Instead of three different devices to dry, straighten and style, the Air Wand does it all with just two attachments. The all-in-one gadget is designed for the time-poor and crucially, does not require skill or extensive know-how to use it.
The speedy wand has your drying needs covered but switch it up and it smooths or leaves your locks poker straight, depending on which of the brush duos that you select. There is the added bonus of a built-in Ultra Care Mode to protect the health of your tresses and the space-saving solution can be slotted into your luggage and used abroad.
Buy now £120.00, BaByliss
Verdict
Genuinely a tough one, but the Dyson Corrale really has stolen our hearts. Once you go cordless, it’s hard to go back and the fact that it’s replaced our curlers as well as our straighteners means we can justify the price.
