The 6 best cordless straighteners for on-the-go smoothing, reviewed by our beauty team
For a travel-friendly tool that makes for easy styling wherever and whenever, these are the very best cordless straighteners
Whether you like the option to style without being plugged in or it's more of a necessity for on-the-go styling touch-ups, the best cordless straighteners marry styling prowess with compact, wire-free design – coming in very handy when you don't have access to mains power.
The best hair straighteners are an essential part of many of our at-home styling kits, thanks to their versatility in creating various hairstyles with a salon-level finish. However, there are times when you're not able to carry straighteners on the go or plug them in for a quick style refresh.
Best cordless straighteners deals
These deals were last checked on 26/01/26 and we will continue to do so to ensure that all of the products below are still in stock, still discounted and, most importantly, are the very best deals around at the moment.
The quick list
The ghd Unplugged is ideal for those who are always on the go and may feel the need for a mid-afternoon styling refresh. It's super portable and lightweight – and can even be charged from some laptops. Though cordless battery time is limited, we deem this the best overall due to its travel-friendly design and smooth results.
Unlike most cordless straighteners, the Revamp compact gives you multiple temperature options instead of being limited to one heat setting. It's also lightweight and super portable. This cordless straightener is a great affordable replacement option if the ghd unplugged is a little out of your hair budget.
Cordless straighteners often cost between £200 and £400, and although this BaByliss straightener is only £20 away from £200, it's one of the more affordable picks without sacrificing quality results. It boasts a super lightweight design, and although it can take a few passes to straighten curly hair, it left us with the straightness and sleekness we expect from this brand.
One of the downsides to cordless straighteners is waiting for them to charge before you can use them. Fortunately, this Cloud Nine straightener charges in 90 minutes, which is pretty good compared to some others that take hours. It also has a "revive" mode which promises "healthier" styling.
With unique styling plates that smooth and straighten your hair to perfection, the Dyson Corrale is nothing short of impressive. With flexible copper plates and multiple heat settings, it's ideal if hair health is your top priority. You can also straighten your hair while it's plugged in and charging.
With 10 minutes more battery life than standard – plus a spare one for back-up power – Revamp's iGEN Progloss also gets a 10 for its battery. The plates are infused with keratin, argan and coconut oils, leaving behind added shine and smoothness. It's the ideal cordless straightener for those with thick and/or curly hair who need a little more styling time than cordless straighteners usually offer.
The best cordless straighteners, reviewed by our beauty experts
Best overall
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
If you seek a compact styler, the Unplugged is the most portable of the best ghd straighteners, measuring just 22cm long and with a slim, coordinating-colour case Its charger is pretty small, too, so you won’t have to sacrifice much space in your hand luggage to take both on your travels. This compactness does, however, mean the plates are smaller, so I couldn't straighten particularly big sections of hair at once. However, it only took me a few passes through a section to get it completely straight.
As well mains power, this model also comes with USB-C connectivity, meaning it can even be charged from some laptops. It's truly been optimised for on-the-go use; you’re never left wondering how much battery is left thanks to the handy display on its handle. However, I found a full charge only lasted around 20 minutes, a definite downside as it's this is even less than average for cordless straighteners. Unless you know you can style all of your hair in that time, perhaps because it isn't particularly long or curly, these straighteners are probably better for quick touch-ups. But for portability, they're the winner, plus they get reliably smooth results. This is why, on balance, the ghd Unplugged is my overall best pick.
Read our ghd Unplugged review for a more detailed guide to this styler
Best affordable
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Revamp doesn’t have just one cordless option in its tool portfolio, so if you don't need the extended battery life, the Liberate Cordless Compact Straightener is smaller than the iGen model – barely over 20cm long, to be more precise. It's also nice and light, weighing less than 250g. Though the charging time is noted as three hours, when I unboxed this styler and plugged it in, I was pleased to see the battery was already half full.
Many straighteners style at one temperature, but this model is equipped with three (160°C, 180°C and 210°C) for a more customisable styling experience – another plus point. Like the ghd Unplugged, its plates are quite small, while the battery issue is also at play; 30 minutes is more time than some other models have and fairly standard, but not enough to style a head of thick, long hair. All this makes the Progloss Liberate better for touch-ups (Revamp's other model is best for those who need theirs to last for a full styling session).
Despite this, my hair was left feeling noticeably soft after using this model, which I put, at least in part, down to the moisturising, oil-infused plates. It's easy to use, and the handy sparkly travel case can be slipped into a bag without adding much extra weight.
Best lightweight
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen, Fiona McKim
This tool immediately got a big tick in my book for its more accessible price tag. Cordless stylers are often quite pricey, as you'll have seen in this guide. However, you can bag BaByliss’ tool for a more reasonable £180, which is worth keeping an eye on as it's often discounted. Transporting them is also very easy, as these wire-free straighteners also come with a pretty case.
When it comes down to the actual user experience, BaByliss’ heritage of hair tool know-how was obvious in its sleek results. It did require a few passes over my curly hair to completely straighten it, but it did this well and left my hair with a straight finish. Rechargeable batteries in cordless straighteners are usually heavy, but that isn’t the case here; the 9000 doesn’t feel awkward or difficult to use. A ring at the base of the styler glows continuously in one of four colours, indicating how much battery life is left, which I found useful – and was very noticeable when comparing it to competitor tools. Again, you only get up to 30 minutes of power in a full charge here, but you can at least enjoy wire-free styling for a bit less money than other models.
See our full BaByliss 9000 Cordless Hair Straightener review for an in-depth guide
Best for fast charging
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Like its wired counterparts, Cloud Nine’s Original Cordless Iron impressed me. It's got a fairly lightweight design, three heat settings (160ºC, 180ºC and 200ºC) and the brand’s signature “Revive Mode” for reduced friction and gentler styling. As I'd expect from the makers of some of the best straighteners for curly hair, the sleek and shiny results were excellent, even if it required a few passes through curly hair.
Setting it apart from some of its competitors in our guide, this styler promises a fast charging time of just 90 minutes, so I didn't have to wait anywhere near as long as some other models to be powered up and ready to go. This pleasantly surprised me when I was waiting to test them.
In my opinion, a few improvements would make the tool’s styling experience as seamless as its results. The tool displays a green battery right up until you get the low power warning, so you’re left unaware of how much juice is left until you're near its end. The styler does alert you to the low battery with a short sound, which happened around 20 minutes into my styling on both the middle and highest temperatures, but a continuous guide would be helpful. But battery quibbles aside, this cordless styler gives nice results.
Best for quick styling
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
With innovative technology, Dyson's hair tools are some of the most expensive styling devices on the market. While testing, I found the Corrale effect – which gives this particular styler its name – a little unusual, but very clever. Though the straightener is gliding smoothly over your hair, the process feels a little like it’s snagging (but don’t panic, it isn’t). This feeling is simply the plates gathering and aligning the hair for the perfect smooth finish. Its innovative technology straightened my hair in just one or two passes, making for a fast styling experience with lasting results.
Fully charged, the Corrale’s battery lasted us 30 minutes, which – as is a theme of this guide – isn’t enough time to take very curly, thick, long (or all of the above) hair to poker straight. On the other hand, unlike many other cordless tools, this one can be used while plugged in. Another drawback to the Corrale is that it’s rather heavy and no smaller than standard, so there aren’t any space-saving or weight-saving benefits to take advantage of in your luggage. This cordlessness, therefore, lends itself better to distance from power rather than travel.
The Dyson Corrale is also the most expensive cordless model in this guide by quite some way, with an almost £400 price tag. It goes without saying that this is more than most other straighteners cost generally, let alone cordless ones. If you have the budget, only you can decide if you're prepared to spend that much. But for its unique technology, this is a good pair of straighteners that works both with and without a cable.
See our full Dyson Corrale review for a detailed look at this cordless model
Best battery life
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Revamp's more recent cordless model, the iGen Progloss Cordless Ceramic Straightener, actually straightened my curly hair with battery life to spare after straightening. This tool's up to 40-minute battery life already puts it ahead of the others in our guide. But it also comes with a second, additional battery – so when the first one runs out, you have another full charge ready to go while you’re on the move. In total, this can give you as long as 80 minutes of styling time, during which you’re much more likely to be able to style a full head of thick, long and/or curly hair. I really appreciated this, espeically after having tested several tools that offered no more than 30 minutes of power, maximum.
However, this bumper battery life does come with a small price. Much like the Dyson Corrale, these straighteners are pretty heavy with the battery attached, and all the more so if you’re carrying a second one around. This is something to consider if you plan on travelling with your new tool. But if you want to fully style your hair with your cordless straighteners, rather than simply giving it a quick refresh on the go, these will offer the most wire-free styling time by quite some way.
How we tested the best cordless straighteners
A selection of cordless straighteners one tester tried for this feature from (L-R) Revamp, Dyson, ghd, BaByliss, and Cloud Nine
When it came to researching the tools for this feature, we tested almost all of the cordless straighteners from leading haircare brands that are currently available on the UK market. In order to thoroughly review and assess each pair, we fully charged them and then styled our hair from its natural texture in order to see how well they straightened – and, crucially, for how long. While testing each tool, we made our judgments based on all of the following factors.
- Price: Taking into consideration how much each tool will set you back and whether its results live up to its price tag.
- Design: Each cordless straightener boasts different technological features, so consider whether you want a lightweight model to avoid the dreaded arm ache, or a high-tech device that is kinder to your strands.
- Time to full charge: We timed exactly how long it took for the tool to reach a full battery.
- Battery life claims: We observed the longevity of battery life each tool claimed.
- Weight & portability: Is the tool light and portable enough to carry with you on-the-go, whether that's in your work handbag or your cabin luggage.
- Ease of use: With different features and designs, some tools will be easier than others to use. If you tend to struggle with tech or want to opt for the tool that is specifically suited towards your hair type, weigh up what device would be best for you.
- How well it styled: Does the tool effortlessly glide through the hair, how many passes does it take to straighten strands, did it help minimise frizz and boost shine?
- How well results lasted: We analysed whether the tool offer salon-worthy results and if they actually stand the test of time throughout a full day's wear.
- How long the battery actually lasted: We made note of whether the tool's battery life actually lived up to its promises, comparing each device to find the one that offers the longest performance time.
- Carry case: With cordless straighteners, carry cases are a necessity to store and protect your tool on the go. We took into account whether or not the tools arrived with a case – also adding value for money – and if so, how travel-friendly they are.
How to choose the best cordless straighteners for your hair
As with any hair tool purchase, there are a few different factors that it's important to consider when choosing a pair of the best cordless straighteners. Below are the key things we recommend bearing in mind before you check out with your new gadget.
- Battery life: If you have thick hair or a lot of it (or both!) consider whether you need the longest battery possible for your styling needs. 30 minutes tends to be the standard, which won't give you enough to straighten a whole head of naturally coily or curly hair from scratch – however, this can work for refreshing previously-styled hair.
- Temperature: If you are somebody who styles their hair on a higher temperature setting, compare the styling temperature of a potential purchase to any current tools before you buy. Some cordless stylers have multiple settings to allow for customised styling of different hair thicknesses and textures.
- Weight: With their rechargeable batteries, cordless straighteners can be heavy, which is something to bear in mind if you'll be carrying them around all day (or if you're prone to the infamous hair styling arm ache).
What are the benefits of cordless straighteners?
As for the benefits of cordless straighteners, we sought the opinion of a leading hairdresser. "Straighteners always have been and always will be such a versatile tool – they can be used in many ways and not just for sleek hair," session hair stylist and BaByliss ambassador Syd Hayes tells us. "I am using [the BaByliss 9000 straightener] all the time backstage when we have no electrical sockets; a complete game-changer to the backstage world.
He continues: "The cordless tech gives me the freedom to provide amazing hair anywhere; on any beach, backstage at Fashion Week for final hair touch-ups, or in the back of a van on the way to a shoot location. It can be so versatile and, for me, provides such freedom with my styling."
Are cordless straighteners right for you?
If you travel often or are frequently pressed for time and still need to style your hair, cordless straighteners are a great investment, due to their portability. But woman&home's Beauty eCommerce Editor Aleesha Badkar, who owns the Dyson straighteners, there are a couple of downsides you should factor into the decision before buying the Dyson Corrale or another portable styler. The main one is the shorter battery life.
"I have no choice but to use the Corrale plugged in – but with a magnetic attachment, this can be annoying, as it easily falls out. Then comes the actual battery power," Badkar says. "Even corded, the battery lasts no more than a few minutes before it conks out, and I have to restart it and try again. And after a couple of attempts, it will die, not to be resuscitated again until topped up to 100."
On the other hand, a lot of cordless straighteners perform just as well as corded ones, minus the fuss of the tangled wire. "The results from the Corrale are second to none," Badkar continues. "High heat settings and wide but intelligent plates mean my long, thick and frizzy hair is easily tamed in just 10 minutes and left with a glossy shine."
Our expert panel
Lucy Abbersteen is a freelance beauty editor and copywriter who has written for titles including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and OK!, as well as regularly contributing to woman&home. She has many years of experience testing hair tools, from straighteners and curlers to hair dryers, and has tested almost every cordless straightener on the market.
As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona McKim has tried more beauty products than she’s had hot dinners. Fiona joined the team as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013, working under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her everything she needed to know. She has since covered every corner of the industry, from interviewing dermatologists and celebrities to reporting backstage at Fashion Week and judging the woman&home Beauty Awards.
Aleesha Badkar is woman&home's Beauty Commerce Editor, covering all things beauty shopping on the site, from the best techniques and sharpest tools to the newest products. Previously, she was Deputy Editor and Beauty & Fashion Editor for My Imperfect Life, where she headed up the beauty, fashion and eCommerce pages.
Syd Hayes is a renowned session hair stylist and the owner of the Q Cut salon in Kew Gardens, London. He is also an ambassador for BaByliss and has worked on countless photo shoots and fashion week shows during his career.
