When GHD launched its first hair straighteners in 2001, it transformed the way women do their hair. Today, over a quarter of women own a set of hair straighteners – now made by a wide variety of brands – and men are increasingly getting in on the act too.
But as the many online customer reviews of hair straighteners reveal, not everyone is pleased with the straighteners they have. And as hair straighteners inevitably have a shelf life, chances are that even if you liked your last ones, new technology means that even better ones have since come along.
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So here’s our guide to the best of today’s hair straighteners for frizz-free, super-sleek locks. Whether you want polished curls, cascading waves or poker-straight hair, these are our favourite – and if you want help understanding the different features available before making your purchase, then read on.
How to choose the best hair straighteners for you
Hair straighteners don’t come with lots of buttons to press or multiple attachments to use, and they all aim to do exactly the same thing, create straight, smooth tresses. But while common sense says that should make them all much of a muchness – as well as around the same sort of cost – nothing could be further from the truth.
What size plates should you go for?
Wider plates are always best because they’ll power through your hair more effectively, right? Wrong! If you have long, thick or curly hair, then large plates (anything bigger than an inch thick) are great. But you won’t be able to do as much curling and styling with these. Plates of around one inch are far better for this, as well as for most other types of hair. The exception to this is short hair, which benefits from thin plates of anything under an inch, which provides the precision you’ll need.
What about the heat?
Many women seek out straighteners with the highest temperature setting, then turn them up full whack, assuming it will straighten their hair more quickly and give a more lasting result. But higher heats can frazzle and even break finer hair, and even thick or curly hair types only need slightly higher temperatures. It’s worth noting that your hair’s keratin starts to melt at 233˚C.
The best hair straighteners have technology that identifies your hair’s characteristics and then automatically sets it to the perfect temperature. If you have one that needs adjusting manually, the general rule is that for fine or treated hair, the temperature should be set around 160ºC, otherwise you risk damaging your hair and less frizzy ends. If you have healthy, medium-textured hair, you can use it up to around 185ºC. And for those with thick, coarse hair or tight curls, you may be able to go up to around 210ºC, but only with certain plates (tourmaline plates, for example, get better results with lower temperatures) and always keep it nearer 185ºC if you straighten your hair regularly.
The best hair straighteners to buy
1. GHD Platinum Styler: The best hair straighteners under £150
Price when reviewed:£145
In the ever-expanding world of hair straighteners, you can always rely on hair giant GHD to provide quality and longevity, and these will take good care of your hair too. Billed a "one-stroke-wonder", the plates are designed to deliver the optimum heat for your hair – and maintain that temperature so there’s no unexpected temperature surges or sudden drops. This means you don’t have to run them through the same strands more than once or risk burning your hair. Not only did we find that means you can be ready for a night out in around half your usual time (and that goes for curly and frizzy locks too), but it also results in shinier tresses and less breakage. The GHD Platinum Styler also wins brownie points aesthetically as it’s available in an elegant-looking white as well as the more familiar black. A sleek-looking, guilt-free option, although some devices are prone to showing an error signal every so often.
Buy the GHD Platinum Styler now from ghdhair.com
Key specs– 2.7cm-wide ceramic plates; maximum temperature: 185°C; universal voltage; 2.7m swivel cord; automatic 30-minute shut-off; two-year warranty
2. Cloud Nine Original Iron Hair Straightener: A great alternative to GHD
Price when reviewed: £139
You pretty much know you’re onto a winner when you learn about the history of the company that makes these straighteners. Launched by the same guy who founded GHD because he wanted to create something even better after he’d left, it’s no wonder these beauties glide so easily through the hair, with no pull or drag, leaving silky, shiny – and most importantly – straight tresses in their wake. And while there are six heat variations, the lower temperatures are usually all you need. Ergonomically, they feel nice in the hand and are lightweight, and we found them outstanding for flicking and curling too. On the downside, many customers complain that their straighteners broke after a year or two if used very frequently, and we found the temperature control can be slightly awkward to access.
Key specs – 4cm-wide mineral-infused ceramic plates; Five temperature control options; Maximum temperature: 200°C; Universal voltage; 2.6m cord; Automatic 30-minute shut-off; one-year warranty
3. Toni & Guy Style Fix Straighteners: The best cheap hair straighteners
Price when reviewed: £30
The first thing you’ll notice about these straighteners is the funky blue plates, making them a styling tool you’ll be proud to leave out on your dressing table. That said, they’re handbag-sized and hardly weigh anything, so they travel well too. We know what you’re thinking – the compact size and bargain-basement price are bound to mean they’re substandard, but actually they work surprisingly well on short- to medium-length hair. They heat up really quickly and give hair a nice gloss, but you may need to work with slightly smaller sections of hair due to the smaller plates. They're probably not your best bet if you have very long or thick hair, as this may require going over the same strands a few times (never good for hair health). There are other hair tools in the range, should you want to complete the set.
Buy the Toni & Guy Style Fix Straighteners now from Boots.com
Key specs – 2cm-wide tourmaline plates; maximum temperature: 210°C; universal voltage; 1.8m swivel cord; power on/off indicator; five-year warranty
4. T3 Single Pass Straighteners: The best hair straighteners – if you can afford them
Price when reviewed:£165
"How much?" we hear you gasp. But these multi-award-winning glossy white straighteners, which have extra-wide plates and heat up in just six seconds, have a fan base including A-list celebrities and top hair stylists the world over, all thanks to the fact that they can straighten, flick and curl the thickest, coarsest and longest of hair in one swift pass. Patented digital technology helps with smoothness, and a microchip maintains an even temperature while styling. And because the plates are made from ceramic and tourmaline, they’re outstanding when it comes to banishing frizz and wiry locks; hair looks healthy rather than having that lifeless look that straightened hair so often has. So if you're able to splash the cash, we can vouch for the fact that the eye-watering price tag is most definitely justified.
Key specs– 3.8cm-wide ceramic and tourmaline plates; maximum temperature: 220°C; worldwide voltage; 2.7m swivel cord; automatic one-hour shut-off; two-year warranty
5. Hershesons Titanium Ionic Professional Straighteners: The best for poker-straight hair
Price when reviewed: £98
If you’re a fan of poker-straight hair without a kink in sight, then these are the straighteners for you. The marketing people will tell you it’s all down to titanium build and the results speak for themselves, with glossy, shiny locks having an almost liquid-like appearance that lasts all day (and often until the next morning too). No aching arms needed either, as these straighteners are lightweight and never snag. Plus, they boast a particularly flexible rotating cord. They're ready to use in seconds – great for when you’re in a hurry to dash out of the door – and the temperature panel is easy to see, although we didn’t find the temperature was always entirely accurate, and we wouldn’t advise using the highest temperature, particularly on fine or treated hair.
Buy the Hershesons Titanium Ionic Professional Straighteners now from Hershesons
Key specs – 2.3cm-wide ionic ceramic plates; maximum temperature: 230°C; 2.5cm rotating cord; automatic 60-minute shut-off; 180-day warranty