The 8 best hair straighteners for every hair type and styling preference, tested and reviewed by us
From cordless to steam stylers, our beauty team reviews the best hair straighteners on the market, with options for all hair types and styling needs
You probably already know that the very best hair straighteners are those tools that offer quick, smooth and sleek styling, with an equally smooth user experience. But so many techy tools are now available that, if you've little beauty industry know-how, it seems tough to know which ones tick those boxes and are therefore worth investing in. That's where team woman&home comes in; we've a lot of straightener intelligence between us and have tested everything from the latest cordless launches to longstanding award-winners.
Straighteners have come a long way over the last few decades, and so have our expectations. In the early '00s, a tool that could transform frizzy hair into something sleek was enough. Now, though, we want that and more. We're talking a tool that heats up fast and can curl just as well as it can smooth, or doesn't require close proximity to a plug (hello, the best cordless hair straighteners). But above all that, we really, really don’t want to jeopardise our hair health.
We on the beauty team therefore made it our mission to test a wide range of options, from ghd to Dyson and BaByliss, and find the top options for every hair type and styling preference. Whether you're searching for the best straighteners for thick hair or a versatile model that can replace both your old straightener and curler, these are the tools that outperformed the rest.
Best hair straightener deals
These deals were last checked on 07/07/26 and we will continue to do so to ensure that all of the products below are still in stock, still discounted and, most importantly, the very best deals around at the moment.
The 9 best hair straighteners, reviewed by our beauty team
As mentioned, we want a lot from our straighteners, but with so many tools on the market promising speed, ease and long-lasting results, where do we begin with our search for the perfect pair?
As Zoe Irwin, Creative Director at John Frieda Salons, explains: "Good straighteners are all about technology. They should combine smooth styling plates which glide through the hair with ease, with a heat that’s high enough to create a lasting effect in the hair – but not so high as to cause damage."
"They should have a range of heat settings to cater for different styles or types of hair," adds Tyler Moore, Expert Stylist at Live True Salons. "You should also ensure that any straighteners you use have either titanium or ceramic plates, as these distribute heat more evenly and help you avoid any unnecessary harm to the hair." Below are our beauty team's tried and tested favourites, all of which deliver on all of the above.
The quick list: our top 3 hair straighteners
RRP: £239
Ranked the best overall by our team, ghd's Platinum+ Straighteners style your hair at an optimal 185ºC and feature 'floating' plates that glide along the hair easily. It also has a long, 360º swivel end cord, which allows you to curl, wave and smooth your hair to your heart's content.
RRP: £229
If you have thick hair, Cloud Nine's Wide Iron is the one to invest in. Our team rated it five stars for its ability to seamlessly and quickly straighten, wave and curl their strands. As the name suggests, it features wide plates that smooth over your hair efficiently, and allow you to recreate chic, tousled looks as well as sleek styles.
RRP: £399.99
If you're seeking a techy cordless option, Dyson's famous Corrale™ straighteners are the ones to add to your cart. 70 minutes of charge will reward you with 30 minutes of styling, while the flexible plates glide through your hair easily, without any snagging. The tool also features three temperature settings and integrated sensors that regulate them, meaning no unwanted temperature spikes.
The best hair straightener overall
The ghd Platinum+ Hair Straightener
Ghd is still arguably the biggest name in hair straightening, so it feels right that one of their most advanced tools tops our list. If you’re anything like us – i.e. you've been using straighteners very regularly since the early '00s – you’ll agree that these are the kind of flat irons our singed-haired younger selves could only dream of.
Everything about the Platinum+ is intuitive and easy. As with all ghd straighteners there are no temperature settings, just turn it on and it heats to 185ºC (which the brand recommends to preserve hair's health) in a matter of seconds – with a satisfying ding when it’s good to go. The cord is long, with a 360º swivel end for easier movement (especially handy for curls and waves) without getting tangled in wire. It sounds basic, but it's a game-changer for a fuss-free user experience. The ceramic-coated plates also “float”, meaning there's bit of bounce when they're pressed together, gliding effortlessly and seamlessly through hair. These plates also allow you to style with a good amount of tension.
All in all, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a straightener that’s more of a crowd-pleaser. It scored highly among our team for adding bends, waves and curls to flater and fine hairer and got extra points for cutting down styling time in hair that’s thick and/or naturally curly, too. The results also genuinely last; it isn’t the kind of straightener that'll render your styling time redundant within hours, rather one that’ll have you marvelling at your hair's smoothness the next day.
See our full ghd Platinum + review
The best hair straightener for thick hair
Personal recommendations are always the best and we first discovered the Cloud Nine Wide Iron Hair Straightener not through a flashy marketing campaign, but via a rave review from our Beauty Editor’s local hairdresser. Cloud Nine may not be as instantly recognisable a name compared to ghd or Dyson, but trust us when we say they more than compete in the performance department.
For thicker and curly hair types, the straightening process is rarely a quick one. Including drying time (either naturally or with one of the best hair dryers), it easily take hours. Wide plates, like those seen here, are therefore incredibly useful, as you can work on much larger sections of hair at a time. And although the plates are wide, there's little trim around the edges, so you can still get close enough to your hairline to style baby hairs, too. Combined with the extra width, the curved edges also make this an ideal tool for creating looser, more "undone" waves and curls comapred to smaller tools.
Those who straighten their hair regularly enough that flat irons would be top of their list of desert island supplies will know that heat damage is the inevitable sharp edge of the styling sword. And annoyingly, the more frazzled your hair is through straightening, the harder it is to retain a frizz-free finish. But we can genuinely say, hand on heart, that this styler left our hair in the best condition of any straighteners we’ve used. We’re not sure if that's down to the smooth plates, the lower heat setting options or because the results are so long-lasting that we barely need to refresh them the next day – or a combination of the three. Either way, if you’re serious about owning the best hair straighteners for thick hair, try these.
The best hair straightener for smoothing
The Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener
At first glance, the Corrale is undoubtedly two things: beautifully presented and very expensive. (In fact, it’s one of the priciest options in our guide.) But it’s also, as you’d expect, brimming with impressive tech, and much like the Dyson Supersonic Dryer and the Dyson Airwrap puts the focus on hair health.
Although nothing here would completely confuse a flat iron first-timer, it’s fair to say the Corrale looks a little different to your average straightener. Most have a gap between the "arms", but Dyson filled this space with an OLED display panel that shows the temperature and battery life during use. It's heavier and bulkier than your average iron but also features a detachable wire; 70 minutes of charge gets you 30 minutes of styling (pretty efficient for a cordless straightener). The flexible plates do have a slightly unsettling crackling sound and feel as they glide across hair, but this is down to the spot-on level of tension that aims to reduce damage, rather than any actual snagging.
The three heat settings – 165°C, 185°C and 210°C – are central to the Corrale experience, with integrated sensors regulating the temperature of the smart plates 100 times per second. This means no hot spots or unwanted temperature spikes. We also found our hair felt physically cooler after passing through this iron compared with other straighteners on the same heat setting.
As a team, we’re a little divided on overall verdicts of the Corrale. Those with fine, naturally straighter hair consider it an all-round success, but those with thicker and/or naturally curlier hair found it takes too long to achieve smooth, sleek results with the Corrale than other stylers. We’d also note the end results are closer to a sleek blow-dry with more volume than poker straight hair. Depending on your hair type and preferred look, this may be appealing or unappealing.
See our full Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener review
The best hair straightener and dryer
The Remington Wet 2 Straight Pro Straightener
Although this category has grown a lot over the past five years, to many a hair straightener that also dries your hair still sounds like it could be a time-saving great or hair-frazzling nightmare. Fortunately, the Remington Wet 2 Straight Pro Straightener is the former. Run the plates over towel-dried (not soaking) hair and it'll gently remove the water and release steam through its unique venting system, leaving strands dry and silky smooth in a lot less time than drying and styling separately. In practice, this all works pretty well, though you do have to dry section by section. This will take longer for those with very thick or curly hair types – though so does straightening anyway – but it noticeably saved our mid-length-fine-haired tester precious time, with none of the concerning "sizzle" or toasted hair smell we half expected.
As well the combined functions, the Wet 2 Straight aims to preserve hair's condition with auto sensors that adjust plate temperature with each pass. This allowed us to style at a lower heat while drying before gently ramping things up as we finished our style. There’s also the option of using it in dry mode – essentially your usual hair straightening experience on dry hair. Of the 10 temperature settings available, it can reach the hottest, 230°C, in 15 seconds, and automatically shuts off after 60 minutes, which is always reassuring to have in the back of your mind to counter the fear you've forgotten to switch it off. Titanium and ceramic plates offer even heat, seamless smoothing without snags and reduced heat damage over time.
The best hair straightener for damaged hair
The Panasonic EH-HS0E Enrich Advanced Care Hair Straightener
Panasonic's straightener looks the part with matte black casing and champagne accents, but its real beauty lies in how it cares for your hair. The key thing you'll notice is the way the 3D flexible plates deliver an ultra-glossy finish, which lasts incredibly well between washes. The plates gently adjust as you straighten to swiftly smooth hair in one shot without too much direct heat, which is great for the overall condition of our hair. We found that the lowest heat setting (150°C) was still effective enough to passably straighten a sizeable section of coarse hair in one go, which will be music to the ears of anyone who usually uses higher temperatures to achieve a smooth finish. This styler also heats up fairly quickly, taking about 20 seconds to reach the lowest of the five heat settings and another 10 or so for the highest.
Much like the Panasonic Nanoe & Double Mineral hair dryer, this straightener utilises Panasonic's unique Nanoe technology. This takes microdroplets of water from the air, splits them into tinier particles and feeds them back into your hair to hydrate it. This is great news for those with dry or dehydrated hair and anyone who would prefer their hair straightener didn't frazzle their ends (which is everyone, right?). Even better, there's also an intelligent thermal sensor within the plates that ensures the heat is completely even, which does away with damaging hot spots and leaves hair uniformly silky and shiny after use.
The best cordless hair straightener
The BaByliss 9000 Cordless Hair Straightener
It’s not strictly true to say there were no cordless straighteners before the BaByliss 9000 was invented, but there really weren’t many on offer – and certainly not that we rated particularly highly. So it's no wonder it had a glowing reception from us. Our only gripe is that the required charging time is still quite a long one: 3 hours plugged in for 30 minutes of cordless useage.
Still, this tool rivals wired stylers in terms of power and results. It runs on a lithium-ion, high-performance battery and is equipped with three heat settings. Because the plates are of the floating ceramic variety, we were pleased that they didn't snag but did heat up nice and quickly, maintaining the temperature throughout and styling speedily, too. One pass on the lowest setting (160°C) was enough for fine hair to be styled perfectly straight, while thicker hair needed one of the higher settings (180°C to 200°C). The results were impressive and comparable to corded tools, with long-lasting shine and smoothness. We’d especially recommend it if you need the best straighteners for curly hair. The only distraction was the occasional clicking noise, which we assumed to be the floating plates adjusting to the thickness of our hair.
The cordless capabilities are clearly the biggest draw here and will appeal to anyone who carries straighteners with them during the day. Being able to smooth out post-commute frizz or add in a few waves before a night out, with no need for a plug, is a huge plus. Sure, the 9000 is a bit heavier than your average iron (common with cordless, battery-powered straighteners), and the charging time could be quicker, but we think these are fair trades for its performance.
See our full BaByliss 9000 Cordless Hair Straightener review
The best hair straightener for dry hair
The L’Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 4
Those familiar with previous iterations of the SteamPod will know that this is not L’Oréal’s first foray into steam styling. It is, however, its sleekest and best version of this tool yet – earlier versions had a larger, connected water tank, which has been refined over the years.
The concept is this: Regular straighteners often pull moisture from the hair, which is why it appears to "steam" as you style. L’Oréal wanted to change this by purposefully adding steam to the hair to re-infuse moisture and leave it soft and silky. The newest features here are wider plates, so you can straighten more hair at once; the choice of three different combs for different hair types; and curved outer plates that heat to 100°C to help you style curls and waves. The latter definitely signals a shift towards consumers wanting their flat iron to do more than simply straighten.
The set-up is still slightly more laborious than your average styler, as you need to add water to the tank before you begin. Normal tap water isn’t recommended here (the brand takes no responsibility for damage caused to the tool from scaling), instead, they suggest you use lime-free, demineralised water. Although it's not too expensive, it's still an added cost and a bit of a faff, so try and stock up in bulk. You've a choice of three temperatures spanning 180–210ºC and it heats up quickly.
There’s no denying that the SteamPod is clunkier and noisier than a traditional straightener, but you can really feel the difference. Instead of feeling very dry, our hair felt almost tacky with moisture. This initially made our naturally curly-haired beauty editor recoil – excess water almost always equals frizz – but it didn’t cause her hair to poof or become fluffy, it simply felt smooth and sleek.
See our full L’Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 3.0 review
Best hair straightener for travel
Cloud Nine's The Cordless Iron Pro
There are quite a few great cordless straightener models on the market, a couple of which feature in this guide, but the Cloud Nine Cordless Pro is the one we would opt for regular travel – all thanks to its light and agile design.
At only 290g, this is probably one of the lightest stylers we have ever encountered across the board, making it a great option for both travel and throwing in your handbag if you like a midday refresh. The long-lasting battery also means it'll see you through a few hair straightening sessions, while the chic charging pod tops up the battery in no time.
Like other Cloud Nine models, this also incorporates the brand's unique vibrating Revive mode, which reduces the plates' contact time with hair to help limit the resulting heat damage. Variable temperature control also helps here. Our one niggle is the temperature range only goes up to 170°C; while that'll keep your strands healthy, it's not quite hot enough to create a completely smooth and sleek finish on very thick and/or curly hair. However, it does a great job of ironing out any kinks on the go, including baby hairs and frizz, so still has its uses here. The rounded barrels also mean you can use this styler to add volume or a few loose curls or waves to your hair once you've perfected your twisting action.
The best hair straightener for adding shine
The Revlon Double Straight Copper Ceramic Dual Plate Straightener
Every now and again, a beauty product comes along that really surprises you. The first thing you’ve probably noticed about the Revlon Double Straight Copper Ceramic Dual Plate Straightener is that it looks more like a fork than a straightener. Instead of the usual two plates, it has four, with each pair joined together at the top. Forgive our cynicism, but our initial thoughts were that this unique design is purely a marketing gimmick. Surely if this was the optimum shape then other brands would have caught on sooner? Luckily, we don’t mind being proven wrong, because we were – and quickly.
In a way, we didn’t give this tool a totally fair trial; we used it on naturally curly hair that had been left to air-dry for a while before blow-drying, without adequate styling products. But it rose to the challenge, leaving hair silky smooth and just-stepped-out of the salon shiny with minimum effort. We'd compare the effects to those of a wide-plate styler, but the gap in the middle of the tool means less heat comes into contact with your hair – which surely reduces damage, comparatively speaking. Revlon designed it so that the first plate straightens the hair, then the second reinforces its work, like some kind of smoothing tag team. (For clarity, the plates are the same, so it doesn’t matter which way around you hold or use the styler.)
Another pro point in hair damage control is 10-temperature range – the broadest we’ve seen – spanning 140–235°C. We’d recommend using as low a temperature as you can bear; our tester actually found 170°C to be the sweet spot. The final tick here is that the styler automatically heating to the most recent temperature you used when you turn it on, which will save you a few precious seconds in the morning.
How we tested the best straighteners
A selection of the best hair straighteners our beauty team tested for this feature
Hair straighteners are an expensive purchase, so you want to know that any reviews you read are reliable. To help you make an informed decision before adding a hair tool to your basket, our beauty team has tried every single straightener on this list – plus extras that didn’t make the final edit.
Each hair straightener was used on multiple occasions and, where possible, on several different hair types and textures. Some are even long-standing favourites of our team, and have been part of their hair routines for years. When comparing the straighteners, we also all used the same shampoo, conditioner and styling products to make sure that nothing else swayed the results. And while testing each tool, we assessed the following factors to determine their efficiency and ease of use:
- How well they styled our hair and the condition they left it in
- Number of heat settings
- Any interesting or unique tech
- Price and value for money
- Design
- Ease of use
How to choose the best hair straighteners
There are a few different uses for hair straighteners, so it's key to consider how (and how regularly) you’ll be using them before purchasing.
If you have coily, curly or frizzy hair that you tend to straighten daily, floating plates and customisable heat that helps protect your hair’s health should be a priority.
Meanwhile if you have fine hair and are as adept at how to curl hair with straighteners as you are smoothing, then long, narrow plates and curved outer edges will make the process a lot easier.
What to consider when buying hair straighteners
- Price: The best hair straightener can be pricey, but if you're on a budget or have hair that's already closer to straight, you can get away with a more straightforward (and therefore cheaper) model.
- Heat settings: Thicker hair generally needs a high temperature for effective smoothing. If you have fine or damaged hair, look for options that go lower in temperature.
- Accessories: A heatproof mat is a handy addition, as is a case if you regularly carry your straighteners around with you.
- Plate size/width: Your straightener should accommodate your hair type – larger plates for thick, long hair and narrower irons for shorter hair.
- Material: Flat iron plates can be made of many materials, with ceramic, titanium and tourmaline generally considered best for preserving hair health.
Which temperature should I use for my hair?
Usually, the right temperature will depend on your hair type and thickness. Very thin or fine strands can usually be styled on a lower temperature setting, particularly if they are patterns that are closer to straight, while very curly thicker or coarser hair requires a bit more heat to effectively straighten. To limit heat damage to your hair, we recommend the following as a general guide.
- For finer strands: Set your iron to between 150–185°C.
- For thicker strands: Set your iron to between 180–200°C.
How can I tell if my straightener is set too high?
Tell-tale indications that your hair is heat damaged include dryness, dullness and split and snapped-off ends. The most drastic signs won't appear overnight, but within a couple of weeks you’ll start to see a change in your hair. One thing you'll notice quickly is limpness, which can affect your hair’s ability to hold a style through the day.
If you can help it, save using your flat iron for special and specific occasions that are fewer and further between than daily use. Sparing your hair from heat or turning the temperature down when you feel you can limit styling will make a difference, too. Alternatively you could consider investing in and using one of the best hair straightener brushes, which are often designed to reduce heat damage.
Which hair straightener plates are best?
There are a few plate materials used in the world of straightening irons with slightly differing benefits. Here's a quick overview of the key ones you need to know about when shopping for a pair of the best straighteners.
- Ceramic plates evenly distribute heat, eliminating cold and/or overheated spots and thereby reducing hair damage. Ceramic-coatings still help with consistent heat across the plates, but can chip and wear out, exposing the metal beneath.
- Titanium irons heat up quickly and stay hot consistently, allowing you to create a straight finish in less time. Some titanium also carries an ionic charge, which smooths hair and prevents frizz.
- Meanwhile tourmaline requires less heat than ceramic and titanium to smooth, while delivering similar results. And using less heat means less damage inflicted on your hair, which also builds up over time.
How often should I clean my flat iron?
If you use your hair straighteners regularly (between a few times a week to daily), we recommend cleaning your flat iron once a month. This may seem excessive but, trust us, it is important. Natural oils from your hair along with any styling products slowly but surely build up over time.
Learning how to clean straighteners properly not only removes that build-up, but proper care will help your tool to last longer. This residue can also inhibit the effectiveness of your flat iron; the cleaner your iron, the better the straightening results. It’s that simple.
What type of heat protectant should I use?
Providing a vital barrier between your hair and your flat irons, the best heat protection options for hair are products that don’t simply shield, but work to condition and strengthen your hair, too. Here’s what to look out for when shopping for one.
- Humectants: Not just for skincare, these attract moisture, which is especially important for hair's overall health. The result? Less frizz and hair that's hydrated and shine. Key examples include glycerin, panthenol and propylene.
- Amino acids: Work as strengthening and conditioning agents. In haircare, their main function is to supply antioxidants and repair surface damage. For example, keratin, which is made up of amino acids, makes hair more damage-resistant and helps to revive overprocessed and styled hair.
- Natural oils: Deliver moisture as well as sealing the hair cuticle while. These oils add sheen and slip, too, which is especially welcome when you want to style with a smooth finish. Particular superheroes include coconut oil, which is both protective and helps to seal the look of split ends. It's also good value as a little goes a long way.
