The best hair straighteners for every hair type
The sleek, frizz-free hair of your dreams is closer than you think
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A vital component of any well-rounded haircare arsenal, few tools are as great at multitasking as hair straighteners. Whether you wish to tame flyaways, eliminate frizz, smooth curls or create bouncy waves, a good pair of straighteners can be relied on to get the job done. A far cry from the flat irons of the past, which more often than not resulted in fried hair and burnt necks, today’s best hair straighteners promise results without the damage. Technological advancements over the last decade have resulted in an array of models boasting multiple heat modes and special plates, meaning no matter what your hair type, there’s a straightener for you.
Are there different types of hair straighteners?
Most hair straighteners feature one of the three plate types:
- Ceramic plates: Ceramic or ceramic-coated plates are the most common. They take longer to heat, but as the heat is evenly distributed, they help achieve a sleek look with minimal damage for most hair types, from normal to coloured or dry hair.
- Metal plates: Metal plates are usually made from titanium and heat the fastest, making them great for those on-the-go. These are ideal for thick hair that takes a few passes to straighten otherwise.
- Tourmaline plates: Made with a mix of super-fine crushed gemstones and minerals that form a smooth surface, tourmaline plates produce negative ions, making them a great pick for those prone to frizz and flyaways.
What to look for in a hair straightener
As with most hair tools, the best straightener depends on your hair type and length, as well as the desired finish, but there are a few specs to consider when investing. The first is the width of the straightener. For longer and thicker hair, wider plates are ideal while thinner alternatives work well for short and finer hair. It’s also important to consider the temperature range of your hair straightener – sticking between 160ºC and 200ºC is recommended and many models feature multiple heat modes for various hair types. If you’re dealing with frizzy hair, consider investing in a straightener with ionic technology.
The best hair straighteners to buy now
Ready for salon-quality hair at home? These are the best straighteners to consider now.
GHD Platinum+ hair straightener
Given that GHD was one of the first brands to popularise at-home hair styling, it’s no surprise that it still boasts one of the best options on the market today. Lightweight and easy-to-use, the GHD Platinum+ has a sleek round barrel with the brand’s trademark wishbone hinge, making it easier to clamp hair closer to the roots without worrying about pinching your fingers or getting strands caught in the device. The straightener is equipped with ultra-zone technology, which works at an optimum temperature of 185°C and adjusts the heat flow across the plates for a personalised styling experience based on your hair thickness, making it easy to achieve shiny locks. Plus, the automatic sleep mode switches it off after 30 minutes of non-use so you need never panic about singed carpets again.
Width: 2.54cm
Plate material: Ceramic-coated aluminium
Temperature: One setting (185°C)
Weight: 750g
Dyson Airstrait hair straightener
Impatient hair stylists are well aware of the telltale sizzle that comes with dragging hair straighteners across damp hair. Dyson solves that issue with its high-tech Airstrait. Instead of heated plates, it uses a concentrated airflow to dry and straighten hair at the same time. Pick between wet and dry modes, each with multiple preset temperatures displayed on a handy LCD screen, for a much more efficient hair styling routine. It also automatically pauses when set down to make worrying about leaving your straightener on a thing of the past.
Width: 4.1cm
Plate material: N/A
Temperature: Three settings in wet mode (80°C, 110°C and 140°C) and two settings in dry mode (120°C and 140°C)
Weight: 935g
BaByliss Titanium Brilliance straightener
Whether you want poker-straight hair, bouncy curls or beachy waves, the BaByliss Titanium Brilliance straight and curl hair straightener does it all. Polished titanium plates smooth the hair with ease while a curved stainless steel barrel makes curling easy. Housed in a chic rose gold body, it features five heat settings and has ionic frizz control for a sleek finish.
Width: 2.8cm
Plate material: Titanium
Temperature: Five heat settings up to 235°C
Weight: 600g
GHD Unplugged cordless styler
Perfect for travel, GHD’s Unplugged cordless styler is a great portable styling option. With a small, lightweight frame and a lithium-ion battery, it features dual-zone technology that maintains an optimum styling temperature of 185°C. It comes with a high-speed USB-C charging cable and offers 20 minutes of styling time. Make it your new handbag staple for battling post-gym frizz or switching up your mane for drinks after work. Plus, with a flight-safe mode, you’ll never have to worry about landing with lacklustre locks again.
Width: 2.25cm
Plate material: Ceramic
Temperature: One setting (185°C)
Weight: 966g
Dyson Corrale hair straightener
For a high-end state-of-the-art option, you can’t go wrong with the Dyson Corrale. A portable option that offers 30 minutes of cordless styling, it features flexing copper plates that mould around your strands, rather than clamping shut, to offer a smooth frizz-free finish with less heat damage. The Corrale features three heat settings, a flight-safe mode and auto shut-off after 10 minutes of inactivity. Complete with a charging dock, heat-resistant travel pouch, magnetic charging cable and a stylish case, it’ll look good on your dressing table too.
Width: 2.5cm
Plate material: Manganese-copper alloy
Temperature: Three settings (166°C, 185°C and 210°C)
Weight: 560g
Drybar The Tress Press straightening iron
If it’s perfect straightener curls you’re after, the Drybar Tress Press is a great multipurpose tool. Ideal for all hair types, it features small floating plates and infrared technology that straighten hair in one swipe, while the bright rounded barrel is great for creating waves and curls. The titanium plates also help combat frizz for sleek, shiny hair.
Width: 2.54cm
Plate material: Titanium
Temperature: Up to 232°C
Weight: 990g
