The best hair straighteners help you achieve that envious super-sleek, frizz-free look in no time without a trip to the salon, whether you’ve got long locks or a short, blunt cut.
So, which hair straighteners will help you achieve this look? We’ve picked out some of the best straighteners available right now whether you have curly hair, frizzy hair, short hair, or poker-straight hair... here's our full guide to the best hair straighteners on the market today.
If you're looking to fully upgrade your hairstyling arsenal, then you'll also want to check out T3's guides to the best hair dryer, best hair curlers, and best hot hair brush.
Best hair straighteners 2023 ranking
Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
These are the most advanced hair straighteners from GHD, the long-reigning king when it comes to hairstyling. They feature 'ultra-zone with predictive technology', which recognises the thickness of your hair, the section size and the speed at which you are styling, and adjusts the power accordingly. The plates monitor the heat 250 times per second to ensure the optimum styling temperature is maintained, giving you perfect results and stronger, healthier hair.
We found the new Platinum+ stylers heat up in around 20 seconds and only need one stroke to get a great finish on our hair. This comes in very handy if you're in a hurry and running late in the morning. The smooth ceramic plates and innovative wishbone joint means they don't snag stray hairs either, so they're a real joy to use.
The GHD Platinum+ feel so well made, and are so reliable that they come with an impressive 3-year warranty for peace of mind. Okay, they're not cordless like the Dyson Corrale below, but these do just as good, if not better job at straightening hair, and they're much more affordable.
Prepare to be wowed by the new Dyson Corrale. Dyson is really stepping it up in the world of styling and the Corrale is a must-have straightener for 2020! This hybrid device offers up to 30 minutes cordless styling, meaning you can easily pack it in your handbag or suitcase for styling on the go, and quickly recharge it within 70 minutes or simply use it plugged in, too.
You can be sure your hair is in good hands with Dyson’s new technology that offers flexible plates that provide the same quality of style but with less heat, promising up to 50% less breakage. The flexible plates also mean fewer flyaways as they gather the hair and provide extra comfort and control when styling.
While these straighteners are certainly on the pricier side, we’ve been very impressed with Dyson’s hair stylers, including the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, and their new Dyson Airwrap which we’ve also featured in our best curlers. If you want that salon-quality, then you might want to consider investing in the Corrale.
Before you purchase, it's worth checking our Dyson discount codes.
GHD is a classic brand that have never let us down when it comes to styling, especially straightening. We love the fact that these stylers are available in a number of different colourways, including this limited edition neo-mint version. We love this beautiful green colour and how smooth the plates are. The fact that it’s so compact and comes in a handy heat proof travel bag means it’s perfect for styling on the go- holidays and festivals are sorted.
This straightener runs at 185-degrees which is the optimal styling temperature and isn’t as hot as other brands which is good for weaker and dryer hair. These GHDs also automatically switch off after 30 minutes of inactivity so you never have to worry about whether you’ve left them on again. They are on the higher end of the scale but a good price for limited edition. Plus, GHD’s are an investment and tend to last a lot longer than some other inexpensive brands.
Whether you’re on a budget or not, the Hot Tools Black Gold Dual Plate Salon Straightener is a fantastic investment. When it comes to the number of straightener plates on a styling device, I’ve learnt that more is most definitely more, and you will 100 per cent cut down on your styling time with this tool.
Of course, the best bit is that you can control the temperature on the left and right plates to reduce the risk of heat damage to your hair, whatever your hair type. All in all, this highly versatile straightener is incredibly easy to use, provides amazing, long-lasting results, and will leave your hair silky and frizz-free. Highly recommended.
Want a hair dryer and straighteners in one? Then you need to check out the ghd Duet Style Hot Air Styler. The first 2-in-1 hot air styler from ghd, the ghd Duet Style is an impressive 2-in-1 wet-to-dry hair tool that dries and straightens hair simultaneously.
The ghd Duet Style has a Shine Shot button to swap it from drying mode to styling mode, and leaves hair feeling silky and looking shiny. The plates are a bit too big if you're trying to curl or wave your hair, but it delivers sleek straight locks that are dry and styled in no time. It’s also incredibly easy to use and delivers salon-worthy results.
The GHD Unplugged are excellent cordless straighteners for styling while on the move. They bring the style, power and practicality we've come to expect from GHD, and packed it into a more petite body. Yes, they're expensive and we'd appreciate longer battery life, but if you're a frequent traveller or always styling on-the-go, then these are the straighteners for you.
Of course, the GHD Unplugged are pretty expensive, so you really need to question whether you need the added flexibility that going cordless creates. If you do most of your styling at home, then we'd recommend buying one of GHD's corded yet still excellent hair straighteners, but if you do find yourself in need of a compact hair styling tool on the go, then the GHD Unplugged can't be beaten.
These straighteners were not only a joy to use, straightening my hair quickly and efficiently (even my signature kinks required only a single pass) but people commented on how shiny my now sleek and straight hair was. The best bit – the morning after straightening (a full 24 hours) our hair was still straight and sleek and we didn’t have to re-do it! Is there a better accolade that that? These come with a luxury heat protective carry case and a heat guard. We love that the plug can be adapted to use in Europe, really handy if you travel a lot!
These Babyliss straighteners are a game changer for those who want an all-in-one style. The extra-long plates and advanced ceramics make them ideal for all hair types, including thicker hair, and allow you to create that ultra-sleek look as well as a number of other styles.
The product’s black and rose gold accents are beautiful with a stainless steel curved outer coating which makes them easy to hold. These straighteners have an auto shut off after 72 minutes, perfect for those who can be a little forgetful when getting ready to go out.
Straightening was effortless with the Toni & Guy Illusion Styler Straightener – they glided through our hair and straightened it quickly. The titanium plates are longer than standard at 25mm and this certainly seems to help with speedy straightening. We liked the beep to tell us when they were on/off and when they’d reached the desired temperature. There are five temperature settings, accessed via a digital touch panel, concealed in the inner housing, which worked seamlessly. Comes with a funky heatproof storage pouch and heat proof mat – great if you travel with your straighteners. These straighteners are a genuine bargain at the discounted price.
The T3 Singlepass X Straightening Iron is a godsend for anyone with thick or coarse hair (it will also delight those who don’t). These straighteners maintain consistent heat while styling so you can straighten your hair in a single glide – they really do make fast and light work of the most unruly of dos. Our hair was straight and shiny all day long. This straightener even remembers your heat setting for next time (there are five to choose from) – a true friend! Watch out if you have a fringe though - the extra width of the iron (1.5-inch plates) that makes them so great for difficult hair makes styling fringes a little tricky.
These have 12 heat settings and a ‘protect’ mode, which adjusts temperature according to your hair. Hair was straight and super shiny in no time using the BaByliss 3Q Hair Straightener. The shine is thanks to their ionic conditioning technology but unfortunately this is what also makes a noise. They come with a sticker on the straighteners to tell you any noise from the ionic port is normal but we just couldn’t relax with it. You also have to press the button very firmly to turn them off but the auto shut off function eased our paranoia there.
These straighteners, with five different heat settings, make your hair look and feel glossy. They feature air holes at the tip which have been designed to nourish your hair while styling and it works – no heat damage here, thanks. During use the straighteners occasionally pulled our hair– we are assuming this happened because the plate doesn’t go all the way to the edge of the straighteners – not a big deal but something the others didn’t do and disappointing as all the other features are brilliant. What's interesting about these straighteners, and what sets them apart, is that moisture-packed 'nanoe' are emitted from air holes in the plates to moisturise your hair while styling.
Currently half price at Amazon, the Remington Proluxe Ceramic Hair Straighteners are ideal for looking after damaged hair. They have nine heat settings ranging from 150 to 230 degrees centigrade, including the unique Pro+ mode that works at 185 degrees.
Thanks to a 'ultimate glide ceramic' coating, Remington claims these are five times smoother to use than standard ceramic straighteners, and produce hair that is up to 50% straighter in one pass, compared to other Remington straighteners. The Proluxe Ceramic come with a heat-resistant travel pouch.
Providing instant heat, the Touch Iron by Cloud Nine has two heat settings of 165 and 195 degrees. A buttonless design with no on/off switch means all you have to do is click the straighteners together three times to turn them on and set the temperature to 165 degrees. Click them together twice more and the temperature is instantly increased to 195 degrees. As with all Cloud Nine straighteners, the Touch Iron features mineral-infused plates that glide smoothly through your hair.
The Progloss Digital Ceramic straighteners by Revamp have a wide temperature range of 80 to 235 degrees, to suit every hair type and style. There are three heat settings for Fine, Medium, and Thick hair, but you can also manually select any temperature throughout the range. The floating ceramic plates are coated in keratin, argan and coconut oil to help make our hair silky-smooth and shiny. These straighteners feature a 3m, 360-degree swivel cable to prevent you from getting tangled up while styling, and they automatically shut off after 60 minutes of inactivity.
How to choose the best hair straighteners for you
Hair straighteners are the ultimate hair tools. A good set of hair straighteners should provide frizz-free, polka-straight styling that lasts all day without damaging your hair. They should be thought of as an investment – you get what you pay for – and cheap models end up doing more damage to your hair than good.
However, whether you want the most expensive product on the market or you’re looking for something more affordable, we’ve got you covered with these top recommendations. Of course, before you decide which set to buy, you should consider the specific requirements of your locks – if you have particularly thick hair or a fringe for example.
If you have thin or damaged hair then look for straighteners that have a low temperature or temperature control, so you’re not putting too much strain on your hair. The GHD and Dyson Corrales are great examples of this.
If you have long, thick hair, wider plates might make styling a bit more manageable for you. They're faster and can take on larger chunks of hair at a time. Conversely, if you're looking for some precise styling, then you'll want stylers with a narrow barrel.
One final consideration is whether you travel often. You might want to opt for a lightweight, compact wireless set of straighteners. These are super convenient but often less powerful than their wired counterparts.
How we test the best hair straighteners
We spend a lot of time reviewing the best hair straighteners, so when it comes to recommending what styler to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we'll recommend the best options for you.
We'll usually spend a week or longer testing new hair straighteners, and the review process is fairly straightforward – we use them to straighten and style our hair. This helps us test how easy they are to use and achieve our desired hairstyle.
It also lets us test whether the hair straighteners damage our hair (yes, we're really putting our bodies on the line here) or whether they leave hair feeling smooth, glossy and healthy.
If the hair straighteners have any advanced features, such as cordless battery life or quick-heat settings, then we'll try these out to test if they work and if they're worth you spending extra money on.
Where possible we'll test the straighteners on different types of hair, including thick long hair, and thinner curly hair. Although, it's worth noting that this isn't always possible.
Once the initial review period is complete we'll publish a full review, give the hair straighteners a star rating, and add an abridged review to this guide.
