Need wire-free styling? These are the 6 best cordless straighteners for smooth results on-the-go
Our expert beauty team have tested every contender on the market to find the best cordless straighteners
Whether you want the option to style without being plugged in, or it's more of a necessity for you during on-the-go styling touch-ups, the best cordless straighteners pair reliable styling with compact, wire-free designs – coming in very handy when you're without access to mains power.
The best hair straighteners are essential for many of us, capable of smoothing and waving with a salon-level finish. But there are times when you're not able to carry irons on the go or plug them in for a quick style refresh. Thankfully, continued technological innovation means that far more tools now come with a wire-free design and even styling power that rivals some of the top mains-powered models on the market. Better still, they're also compact and ergonomic.
So, which is the best one for you? That's the question our beauty team is here to answer, having put nearly every cordless straightener on the market to the test. This guide contains their detailed reviews of the top-performing buys to help you find the perfect one for your hair type, budget and styling needs. Even better news: if you're on a budget, some of our favourite options are currently discounted across some of our go-to beauty retailers...
Best cordless straightener deals
These deals were last checked on 29/06/26 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 best cordless straighteners at a glance
The ghd Unplugged is ideal for those who travel often and may feel the need for a mid-afternoon styling refresh. It's portable and lightweight, and can even be charged from some laptops. Though its battery time is limited, we deem it 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. It's a great affordable option if the ghd Unplugged is a little out of your hair budget.
Cordless straighteners often cost £200 to £400, and while this BaByliss straightener is only £20 off £200, it's one of the more affordable and lightweight picks without sacrificing quality results. 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 having to wait 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's also equipped with a "revive" mode that promises "healthier" styling.
With unique, flexible copper styling plates that smooth and straighten, the Dyson Corrale is nothing short of impressive. With 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 average, plus a spare for back-up power, Revamp's iGEN Progloss scores best for battery life. The plates are infused with keratin, argan and coconut oils, imparting added shine and smoothness. It's the ideal for those with thick and/or curly hair who need 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 device, the Unplugged is the most portable of the best ghd straighteners, just 22cm long 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 any 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, it also has USB-C connectivity, meaning it can even be charged from some laptops. It's been truly optimised for on-the-go use; you're never wondering how much battery is left thanks to the handle display.
I did find a full charge only lasted around 20 minutes, a definite downside as this is even less than average for a cordless tool. Unless you can straighten all of your hair in that time, these straighteners are probably better for quick touch-ups. For portability, though, this is the winner that gets reliably smooth results – which is why it's our 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 tool on offer, so if you don't need a long battery life, the Liberate Cordless Compact Straightener is the smaller, compact one to go for. It's barely over 20cm long, to be more precise, plus weighs less than 250g. Though the charging time is noted as three hours, when I first unboxed this styler I was pleased to see the battery was already half full.
While many straighteners style at one temperature, this model is equipped with three (160°C, 180°C, 210°C) for more customisable styling – another plus point. Like ghd's Unplugged, the plates are quite small and the battery issue is also at play; 30 minutes is 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, later in the guide, has much longer battery life).
Despite this, my hair felt noticeably soft after using this model, which I put down to the moisturising, oil-infused plates, at least in part. It's easy to use, and the handy sparkly travel case, though perhaps not the most chic, can be slipped into a bag without adding much weight.
Best lightweight
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen, Fiona McKim
This tool immediately got a big tick in our book for the price tag. Cordless tools are notoriously expensive, but you can bag BaByliss’ tool for a more reasonable £180 (and it's often discounted to less). Transporting them is also very easy, as these wire-free straighteners also come with a designed case.
As for the actual user experience, BaByliss’ heritage of hair tool know-how was obvious here. 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 smooth, straight finish. Rechargeable batteries in 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 with the colour indicating how much battery life is left, which I found useful – and really stood out against 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 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
Cloud Nine’s Original Cordless Iron definitely 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 we expected of 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 – a pleasant surprise.
A few improvements could make the tool’s styling experience as seamless as its results. It displays a green battery right up until you get the low power warning, so you’re unaware of how much juice is left until you're almost out. 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. Battery quibbles aside, though, this cordless styler gives nice results.
Best for quick styling
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Dyson's hair tools are some of the most expensive styling devices on the market, thanks to their innovative tech. I found the Corrale effect a little unusual, but very clever. Though the straightener is gliding smoothly over your hair, it feels a little like it’s snagging (though it isn’t). This feeling is simply the plates gathering and aligning the hair for the perfect smooth finish. It 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 is that it’s rather heavy and a standard size, so there are no space-saving or weight-saving benefits to take advantage of here. Its cordlessness therefore lends itself better to distance from power rather than travel.
The Corrale is also the most expensive cordless model in this guide by quite some way, with a near-£400 price tag; 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 can be used both with and without its cable.
See our full Dyson Corrale review for a detailed look at this cordless model
Best battery life
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Revamp's newer 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 here. But it also comes with a second, additional battery, so when the first one runs out, you have another full charge ready to go. This can give you as long as 80 minutes of styling time in total, during which you’re much more likely to be able to style a full head of thick, long and/or curly hair. I certainly appreciated this, espeically having tested several tools that offered 30 minutes of power, max.
This bumper battery life does come at a price, however. Much like the Dyson Corrale, this tool is pretty heavy with the battery attached, 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
We tested almost all of the cordless straighteners from leading haircare brands that are currently available on the UK market. To thoroughly review and assess each pair, we fully charged each one and then styled our hair from its natural texture in order to see how well they straightened – and, crucially, how long the battery lasted. While testing, we made our judgments based on all of the following factors.
- Price: 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; a lightweight model avoids the dreaded arm ache, but a heavier, high-tech device may be kinder to your strands.
- Charging time: How long it took for the tool to reach a full battery, and if it matched the brand's claims.
- Weight & portability: Is the tool light and portable enough to carry on-the-go, e.g. in a work bag or luggage?
- How well it styled: Is the tool easy to use and does it glide effortlessly 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 styling tool, there are a few different factors that it's important to consider when choosing and purchasing 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 if 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 simply refreshing previously-styled hair.
- Temperature: If you style your 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."
What are the downsides of cordless straighteners?
If you travel often or are frequently pressed for time when styling your hair, cordless straighteners are great for their portability. However, 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, as the average pair of cordless straighteners only works for 30 minutes.
"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," she says. "Even corded, the battery lasts no more than a few minutes before it conks out and needs restarting. After a couple of attempts, it will die, not to be resuscitated again until topped up to 100."
Despite this, a lot of cordless straighteners still 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."
Are there specific hair types that benefit from cordless straighteners most?
In a way, yes – and this is directly linked to the answer above. If your hair isn't particularly curly, thick or long, you may find that 30 minutes more than covers you when straightening freshly washed and dried hair. But for long, thick and curly hair types, that's just not enough time.
"My hair is medium thickness, falls a couple of inches past my shoulders when straight and is a mix of types 3a and 2c, and there's no way half an hour would be enough to straighten it from curly," says our contributing beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen. "It varies depending on the tool, but at best I'd be able to completely smooth out half of it."
And so for people with these hair types, cordless straighteners are more of a useful "refreshing" tool to re-smooth hair that's already been straightened – for example, the day before.
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.
