If you're going for the 'just stepped out of a salon' look, hair straighteners are a must in your beauty kit. They are number one in the world of styling tools when it comes to popularity and versatility – and if you're shopping for a new pair, we're here to help.
Whether you use yours to tackle frizz, achieve sleek styles, eliminate flyaways, or create bouncy curls, you need a trusty pair of straighteners that you can rely on – and they should be suited to your hair type.
From pin-straight locks to beachy waves, some flat iron brands have perfected various styles based on plate designs and temperature settings. So while some hair straighteners work well for any hairstyle, it's worth looking into the finer details before taking the plunge to get the most for your money.
Ready to invest in a new pair of hair straighteners? Scroll on to discover the best tools on the market right now, with honest reviews from the HELLO! team...
- Best for damaged hair: Dyson Corrale Hair Straighteners
- Best for thick hair: ghd Max Styler Hair Straighteners
- Best for versatile styling: Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro Hair Straighteners
- Best for fine hair: ghd Platinum+ Hair Straighteners
- Best for affordability: Remington Shine Therapy Advanced Ceramic Hair Straighteners
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Which hair straightener is the best for my hair type?
Before finding the best hair straighteners for you, you need to identify the style that is best for your hair type. For fine and damaged hair, a straightener with adjustable settings is best. Being able to turn down the heat on your styler will prevent further unnecessary damage, and using ceramic plates too will ensure that heat is evenly distributed across the hair.
For thick or coarse hair, a wide-plate hair straightener is ideal because it will cover a larger surface area, which will cut down styling time and reduce damage. While afro hair works well with ceramic-coated plates, which offer added protection and shine.
The sleek hair trend
The sleek, straight style is a timeless trend, and it has become a favourite amongst celebrities on the red carpet. We've seen everyone from Meghan Markle to Jessica Chastain, Amanda Seyfried, and more rock the trend on countless occasions, while others like Jennifer Aniston have inspired us for decades with their glossy straight locks.
How I chose the best hair straighteners
- Personal reviews: Many of the hair straighteners in the list have been tried and tested by members of the HELLO! Team. Those that haven't been reviewed by us have been chosen based on positive customer reviews.
- Price: I've considered a variety of different price points for every budget, with hair straighteners ranging from £35.99 to £299.99.
- Variety: I've included hair straighteners for all hair types including thick, fine, damaged, and afro hair.
Best budget hair straighteners
Remington Shine Therapy Advanced Ceramic Hair Straighteners
© RemingtonKey Features
- Heat resistant pouch
- Nine temperature settings
- 15-second heat-up time
Remington's Shine Therapy straightener uses advanced ceramic plates infused with Moroccan Argan Oil and Vitamin E to add shine and moisture to the hair while styling. The nine settings allow you to adjust the temperature to suit your hair type, with floating plates that ensure even pressure on the hair.
Best hair straighteners for fine hair
ghd Platinum+ Hair Straighteners
© ghdKey Features
- Automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes
- 2.7m swivel cord for convenient styling
- 185°c Optimum temperature
- Heat-resistant protective plate guard
"I’ve been using the same pair of ghd Platinum+ straighteners for over four years now and they’re still going strong. As someone with fine hair, they’re perfect for styling as the temperature is constantly monitored and adjusted, which means I’m never using more heat than is necessary. I have minimal breakage so I won’t be changing them anytime soon." Hollie Brotherton, Senior Lifestyle & Commerce Writer
Described as ghd's "first smart styler", the Platinum+ hair straightener tracks the temperature for even heat across the plate, eliminating unnecessary damage. The advanced floating plates offer a smooth and shiny finish for the hair, complete with a heat-resistant plate guard to cover the plates immediately after use.
Best hair straighteners for damaged hair
Dyson Corrale Hair Straighteners
© DysonKey Features
- Cordless
- Automatic safety shut-off
- Travel charging dock
- Intelligent heat control
- Storage case
- 3.2m cable
"My Dyson Corrale hair straightener really is quite brilliant and my bleached blonde hair absolutely loves it. I think it's so much kinder to my hair thanks to the flexing plates that shape to gather hair, meaning when I section my hair to straighten (or curl) you don't get hair that tugs on the plates or slips out entirely.
I love that I can do curls, waves and go for smooth, sleek hair. Another plus - it's so incredibly chic and I love the little Dyson-esque features; the magnetic 360 charging cable (that magnetic pull - so satisfying!), the snazzy presentation box (the ultimate luxury addition) and the travel charging dock (which I actually use every day - meaning my Corale sits like an ornament on my dressing table).
I like that you have three precise heat settings (165°C, 185°C and 210°C), and the big draw is obviously that it's cordless. There are other cordless straighteners on the market nowadays, but it seemed like a real game changer when the Corrale first launched. I wish you got a little longer charge - you get about 30 minutes. It can be a bit frustrating if you accidentally left it off the charging station the day before and then you find it has little charge - charging anxiety must be a thing? It does recharge in around 70 minutes though.
For this reason, I don't tend to travel with it. It's also quite heavy, too! The Corrale is very much my home straightener, but there is a flight-ready feature that lets you travel abroad with your straightener. I just prefer to leave it at home and pack another pair I'm less precious over - could you imagine losing your case with your Corrale inside? Heaven forbid." Leanne Bayely, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce
Dyson launched its first hair straightener back in 2020, and the Corrale styler is the only straightener with flexing plates that shape to gather hair, so the added control ensures less heat is being applied. The Dyson styler is cordless for effortless curling and straightening, and the tool can be charged between styling on its charging dock.
Best hair straighteners for thick hair
ghd Max Styler Hair Straighteners
© ghdKey Features
- 70% wider plates than the original ghd styler
- Sleep mode after 30 minutes
- 2.7m cable
- Control temperature of 185°c
"I have hair extensions, so straightening my hair can take a lot of time. Having a wider plate definitely cuts down my styling time, so I can split my hair into a few sections and the styler glides right through. These may not be the straighteners for you if you want a tool that curls and straightens, as I find that the plates are too wide for multi-use. They straighten my hair so seamlessly though, and my hair always feels super soft after use." Sophie Bates, Commerce Writer
The ghd Max Styler features wide plates for straightening more hair at once, with a high gloss coating that works to tackle frizz and maximise shine. The dual zone technology maintains consistent heat across the hair for efficient styling.
Best hair straighteners for afro hair
BaByliss PRO Keratin Lustre Hair Straighteners
© BaBylissKey Features
- 10 temperature settings
- 3m swivel cord
- Auto shut off after 60 minutes
The BaByliss Pro Keratin Lustre Hair Straightener features advanced ceramic plates for regulated temperature control. Suitable for all hair types, the styler features 10 heat settings for versatility, ranging from 140°c-230°c.
Best hair straighteners for versatile styling
Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro Hair Straighteners
© Cloud NineKey Features
- Controlled temperature of 150°c
- Curved plates
- Revive mode
- Velvet-style case for travel
- Protective heat guard to cover heated plates
"I've always struggled to curl my hair with straighteners, but the Contouring Iron made achieving soft waves so much easier. The curved plates glide through the hair so well whilst curling and straightening. I love that I can adjust the temperature settings, which is great for bleached hair and for when you just need to touch up your already styled hair." Sophie Bates, Commerce Writer
Cloud Nine's latest hair tool has been designed to make curling hair as effortless as straightening with its innovative curved plate technology. The variable temperature control ranges from 100-200°c to ensure the correct temperature for different hair types and to minimise unnecessary damage.
The straightener uses Cloud Nine's signature healing minerals that lock in the hair's moisture to give the hair added shine. The tool's Revive Mode is gentle on the hair, combined with Axial Vibration technology to prevent any dragging.
Best cordless hair straighteners
Revamp Progloss Touch Digital Ceramic Styler
© RevampKey Features
- Cordless
- Heat-resistant pouch for travel
- Three temperature settings
Revamp's cordless hair straightener allows you to style your hair wherever you are with 30 minutes of use and a three-hour charging time. The compact tool is smaller than other straighteners so it's great for travelling, with three adjustable temperatures for use depending on your hair type. The ionic floating plates are infused with a combination of Progloss super smooth oils, including Keratin, Argan Oil and Coconut Oil.
