Last Updated On May 25th, 2022
It’s no secret that beauty routines take time, but one source of annoyance for many women in the UK is their hair. It’s a problem most of us are familiar with. You wake up in the morning and look in the mirror – only to be confronted by an unruly mess of frizzy hair staring back at you. The clock is ticking and you need to get ready for work so you begin attacking your hair with all manner of products and combs in an attempt to make yourself look presentable to the outside world. Frustrating, isn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be this way. Once you’ve got your hands on the best hair straighteners, you can look forward to stress-free mornings and beautifully sleek and shiny hair that you’ll want to show off to everyone you meet.
Hair straighteners offer a quick and easy way to tame wild locks by superheating the hair to seal frizzy cuticles and smooth those unruly strands. Unfortunately, picking the perfect model for you from the hundreds of hair straighteners available is no easy task.
We’ve listed the top 8 hair straighteners to help you on your mission to get perfect hair every day of the week. Read our list of hair straighteners to find the right match for you and your hair.
Our Favourite Hair Straighteners Compared
Best Hair Straighteners Reviews – Top 8 Picks
1. Ghd Original IV (Editor’s Choice)
If you’re looking for excellent ceramic hair straighteners, then the Ghd IV Professional Styler is one of the best hair straighteners on the market. Not only is this styler our Editor’s choice, but the round barrel is also perfect for creating waves, flicks, curls and poker-straight hair – making it more than just your ordinary hair styler.
Features
It is equipped with ceramic heater technology that helps you create that sleek finish you’re after. Its 30-second heat time is ideal for when you have a busy morning, while the generous 2.7m cable length means you’ll have plenty of room to work with. If you’re prone to forgetfulness, this styler has an automatic safety function that turns the device off if left unattended for 30 minutes – so you’ll never need to worry you left your straighteners on. It also includes universal voltage, making it great for trips away.
The Original IV styler is certainly a wonderful device, but it doesn’t come without room for improvement. Firstly, the plates don’t fully meet except at the tip, which makes it difficult to use. It might not be one of the best hair straighteners for fine hair. Also, it is set to 185 degrees and cannot be adjusted which may be an issue if you have hair damage. Finally, some women have complained that this model doesn’t glide through thick hair smoothly which makes straightening challenging you have very thick or curly hair.
- Ceramic technology and round barrel plates
- 30-second heat time
- Generous 2.7m cable
- Universal voltage great for travel
- 2-year warranty
- Plates don’t fully meet except at the top
- The pre-set temperature is 185 degrees
- Doesn’t glide smoothly on thick, curly hair
2. Remington Pro Ceramic Extra Wide (Best with Wide Plate)
The Remington Pro Ceramic Extra Wide is an excellent mid-range hair styler, which is perfect for longer, thicker hair.
Features
It has an extra-wide plate width so it is easy to straighten large sections of hair in one go. Hence, you can achieve your style quicker. Since it is coated with high-quality ceramic, it glides over your hair, delivering sleek results. Although, you may still find that if you have very curly hair, it may snag where the plates meet the body.
Offering a maximum temperature of 230°C, this model makes a great choice if you have less-than-manageable hair. The clear-view LCD display and a 15-second heat time further contributes to its ease of use, while the 3-year guarantee ensures peace of mind should any faults occur.
On the downside, some women have complained that the heat travels down the handle section, making it a little uncomfortable to use. It should also be noted that the wide plate width makes it very difficult to create curls, so you will likely need an additional styling tool if you also wish to curl your hair.
- Wide plate width is great for thick hair
- Ceramic ultra-coating
- Has a high heat level of 230°C
- Fast 15-second heat time
- 3-year guarantee
- Heat travels down the handle
- May snag very curly hair
- Plate width makes creating curls very difficult
3. BaByliss Pro 235 Elegance (Best for Thick Hair)
Have you ever wondered what are the best hair straighteners for thick hair? If so, the BaByliss Pro 235 Elegance is an excellent buy that will leave you feeling beautiful and confident.
Features
This styler has an attractive ionic technology that will leave your thick hair frizz-free. It offers 3 settings, an auto shut-off function and reaches an impressive top temperature of 235C – classified as the optimum temperature performance for difficult hair. With a rapid 15-second heat time and ultra-long nano-ceramic plates, this model is one of the best straighteners for thick hair because you can style your hair quickly and efficiently.
There are some things about these straighteners though, that could use some improvement. Firstly, the outer barrels tend to get very hot which can make it difficult to hold the straighteners during use. Also, depending on your hair type, the intense heat level on this product can give your hair a slight static effect, but this can be avoided by using additional anti-frizz styling sprays first. Furthermore, some women complained that it snagged when straightening large sections of hair.
- Up to 235C salon temperature performance
- 15-second heat time
- Long nano-ceramic plates
- Ionic smoothing technology
- Choice of three settings
- Outer barrels get very hot
- May make hair static
- Can snag on large sections of hair
4. Ghd Platinum+ Styler (Best for Frizzy Hair)
The first smart styler by Ghd, the Platinum+ uses Ultra-zone Predictive Technology to adjust to your hair thickness and styling speed for personalised results and stronger, healthier hair.
Features
This also monitors heat level 250 times a second to maintain its optimal styling temperature of 185ºC. Hence, you can be sure that however you want to style your hair, this tool will perform equally well from start to finish.
Thanks to its round barrel, you won’t risk snagging your hair with this model. Its unique wishbone hinge means you can use it to create flicks, curls and waves with even greater precision than previous models. Just be aware that the rounder barrel makes this version slightly wider, so you will have looser curls than with narrower stylers. The ultra-gloss plates provide an extra shiny finish for hair that really gleams.
On the downside, there are no extras, such as a storage case. However, there is a silicon cover to put over the styler when hot, that you could use when travelling. The automatic 30-minute shut-off means you won’t have to worry about forgetting to switch it off before leaving the house.
On the whole, this is an excellent product that produces great results. We think it’s well worth the price if you regularly straighten your hair.
- Ultra-zone Predictive Technology
- Ultra-gloss coated plates
- Rounder, snag-free barrel
- Wishbone hinge for greater control
- Automatic sleep mode
- Larger barrel produces looser curls
- No storage case provided
5. Cloud Nine Original (Best Gift Set)
If you want hair straighteners that are able to adjust to your hair type and style then consider the Cloud Nine Original Iron. It is one of the best ceramic hair straighteners in the market.
Features
The Original Iron has 7 different settings between 100°C to 200°C for you to choose from, so you’re sure to find the perfect heat level for your hair. It is great if you’re in a hurry. Once switched on, it reaches maximum temperature in just 20 seconds and offers smooth ceramic plates infused with minerals for beautiful results, fast. Damage to your hair is also reduced, thanks to the use of “anions” which are molecules that seal the cuticle and retain moisture levels in each strand. This is ideal if you like to style your hair every day.
Although it is excellent in more ways than one, its 4cm plate width makes it time-consuming to use for those with very thick hair. Also, if you’re not familiar with the right heat level for your hair type, you may risk getting hair damage by using the highest temperature setting on this styler. It should also be noted that this model comes with a two-pin plug, which will require an adaptor for use in the UK.
- 7 settings
- Maintains even temperature across ceramic plates
- Rapid 20-second heat time
- Mineral infused for smooth results
- Anions help defend hair against damage
- Comes with a two-pin plug
- The highest setting may damage your hair
- Takes longer to straighten very curly and thick hair
6. Remington Shine Therapy (Best with Infusions)
The Remington Shine Therapy Advanced Ceramic is our choice of best budget straighter.
Features
It adds 86% more shine to your hair due to the use of advanced ceramic coated plates infused with Vitamin E and Morrocan Argan Oil. Adjusting to the needs of your hair type and style is effortless, too. The choice of 9 different settings between 150 and 230 degrees allow versatility, while the floating plates maintain even pressure on your hair during use. This makes it excellent for styling different hair types, whether your hair is fine or thick.
Although there are many perks with Remington Shine Therapy, there are a few downsides. Its design may trap or pinch very frizzy hair during use and you may find the lowest setting is a bit too hot for the weakest of hair types. Furthermore, the provided plug is European style, so you’ll need to buy an adaptor if you live in the UK.
- Infused with Vitamin E and Morrocan Argan Oil
- Choice of 9 settings
- 15-second heat time
- Floating plates maintain pressure on the hair
- 5-year guarantee
- Its design may trap strands of frizzy hair
- The lowest setting may be too high for very weak hair
- European plug
7. Remington S3500 Ceramic (Best Anti-Static)
The Remington S3500 Ceramic 230 has great features. Perhaps one of the most attractive things about these straighteners is their 110mm plate length. These allow you to straighten more hair at once, thus saving you minutes when getting ready.
Features
It has antistatic plates by design. Therefore, if you find that static is a common frustration while styling your hair, then this is a good choice. With 30 variable settings, a maximum temperature of 230°C, a generous 1.8m swivel cord and a fast heat time of only 15 seconds – this versatile model is also fantastic if you’re often in a hurry.
Unfortunately, the Remington s3500 does have its flaws. Depending on your hair type, the highest temperature offered by these straighteners may leave your hair feeling dry. Also, the plates are not rounded at the edges, which limits the styles you can achieve with it. Lastly, it lacks an LCD screen and a wheeled temperature gauge so you may find it difficult to accurately read the heat level.
- Anti-static ceramic plates
- Reaches maximum heat in 15 seconds
- 110mm plate length
- 30 variable settings
- 1.8m swivel cord
- Straight-edged plates limit styles
- May leaves hair feeling dry
- Difficult to read temperature gauge
8. BaByliss Ceramic Pro 230 (Best Value)
If you want a simple-to-use design when it comes to straightening and styling your hair, then the BaByliss Ceramic Pro 230 makes an excellent choice.
Features
It is one of the best budget straighteners that feature ceramic plates which glide through your hair. It controls frizz and creates sleek results you could be proud of. Also, it comes complete with a choice of 2 settings and a peak temperature of 230C. This means it is ready to use after just 30 seconds – so you can get on with styling your hair moments after switching it on. Thanks to the rounded edge barrel, curls and waves are easy to achieve, while the 2m swivel cord gives you plenty of freedom to move around.
Although it has many great functions, its narrow plates may not be suitable for thicker hair types. Furthermore, the buttons and switches are made out of plastic and feel a little flimsy – which could compromise its durability in the long run.
- Ceramic floating plates
- 2 settings
- Max heat level of 230°C
- 30-second heat time
- Easily creates curls and waves
- Not suitable for thicker hair types
- Narrow plate width
- Switches and buttons feel flimsy
Things to Consider When Choosing Hair Straighteners
Choosing from a variety of hair straighteners is no different than when you buy other personal care products like water flossers, electric toothbrushes, hot air brushes, electric shavers or laser hair removal kits. With so many different hair straighteners on offer, picking the ideal one for you can quickly become confusing. In this section, we take a look at the most important aspects to consider before deciding which hair straighteners to buy.
1. Check the Weight
When you want to buy new personal care products like hair straighteners, weight is a factor that is often overlooked. Heavy hair straighteners are likely to give you fatigue during use, especially if you have thick, long, hair that takes forever to style. To avoid this, before you buy, you should exert some effort to check if the hair straighteners in your shortlist are of a comfortable weight for you. If you travel a lot, you would be better off looking for the best mini hair straighteners on the market.
2. Know Your Hair Type & Your Hair Texture
The length of your mane is not the only determining factor when choosing the best hair straighteners and curlers; texture also plays a part in determining which iron will work for you.
Hair straighteners come with many different temperature ranges and levels of adjustability. If you have very thick, coarse, or curly hair, one that reaches high temperatures of around 230C will work well for you. However, if your hair is thin or fine, this temperature may damage your hair. For more fragile hair types, temperatures of between 80 and 130C are usually sufficient.
If you’re not sure which hair type you have, we would recommend looking at hair straighteners which offers a wide range of settings.
3. Determine the Size of Plates
Compare hair straighteners and look at its plates. The best straighteners for short hair or fine hair are those that have narrow heated plates. On the other hand, if you have longer or thicker hair, one with long and wide ones will provide better results. This is because you can cover a wider surface area with each pass, thus cutting down the hours spent creating your ideal style.
4. Choose the Kind of Plates
There are two major kinds of plates to consider when buying hair straighteners.
a. When to Choose Ceramic Plates
Hair straighteners with ceramic plates are the most common type available. This material is used because of its high heat tolerance and even heating characteristics. Ceramic irons work well for most hair types and provide a smooth surface with which to style your hair.
However, not all straighteners are created equally. Some new hair straighteners are made entirely of ceramic while other straighteners are simply ceramic coated. The latter may chip, exposing the hair to uneven heating and possible damage. If you are looking at hair straighteners that are ceramic-coated, be sure to look out for any damage prior to each use and dispose of them immediately should any occur.
b. When to Choose Titanium Plates
Titanium straighteners are commonly used by professional stylists. They provide the most consistent heating and feature the widest range of temperature settings to accommodate multiple hair types. This is because titanium can reach very high temperatures without weakening or cracking.
Unfortunately, since most new titanium straighteners are geared towards salon professionals, they are often more expensive than ceramic options.
Straight To The Point
Any of the hair straighteners in our reviews would be great choices, but we feel the best hair straighteners for your money has to be the Ghd Original IV Professional Styler. It heats up to 185C in only 30 seconds and the high-quality ceramic technology and plates create a sleek salon finish every time.
The Original IV Professional Styler is also incredibly versatile. Should you wish to switch up your look by adding curls, waves and flicked ends – this is easy to achieve thanks to the rounded barrel. Simply twist your wrist to create beautiful results which will hold all day.
On top of all this, the 2.7m swivel cord gives you plenty of room to work with, while the auto shut-off function prevents the risk of fire if you’re prone to forgetfulness. Featuring universal voltage, the Original IV Professional Styler is also perfect for travel, so you can flaunt perfect hair wherever you may roam.
Do you use straighteners? Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comment section.
2 Responses
Best I have ever used is the Karmin.
Hi Erika. That’s nice to hear! Karmin does offer a lot of hair tools and product. I’m glad you found a hair straightener that you like.