11 best hair straighteners of all time, ranked
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn how we test.
Having the best hair straighteners by your side, for most hair types, is a must – whether you prefer to use yours to achieve a sleek, poker-straight style, beach waves or bouncy curls. Any hair stylist would confirm that with the right pair of hair straighteners in your hand, even the most novice of hair enthusiasts can master the most versatile hairstyles with ease.
Similar to other hair tools such as hair dryers and curling wands, hair straighteners have come a long way from their damage-inducing and over-heated iterations of the past. Instead, today's selection of models come equipped with advanced technology that will minimise damage, plus cordless styling, shine-boosting coating and even flexible plates that swivel with your hair – Dyson Corrale, we're looking at you.
The good news is that buying a quality hair straightener doesn't have to cost you a fortune, either. Case in point: one of our absolute faves, the Remington Shine Therapy Hair Straightener is currently priced just under £30, yet it's genuinely one of the best models around. Its ceramic plates are infused with Moroccan Argan Oil, which helps enhance the shine and condition your hair in the process of styling. Elsewhere, there's also no arguing that the ghd hair straighteners are simply unbeatable in the hair tool game. From cordless models to wide-plated options, the brand offers a healthy range that is known to work wonders on a variety of hair types.
But as is often the case, with ample choice comes a difficult decision: how exactly do you find out which hair straightener is right for you? To help you make your pick, we've taken the time to put together the ultimate roundup of the best tried-and-true hair straighteners of all time that are known and loved in the GLAMOUR office. Whether you’ve got long hair, thicker hair, afro hair, naturally dry hair or short length, there’s bound to be a straightening tool in this edit for you. Here's everything you need to know.
The best hair straighteners at a glance:
- Best overall: Dyson Corrale Straightener
- Best cordless: ghd Unplugged Cordless Styler
- Best for shine: BaByliss Hydro Fusion Anti Frizz Hair Straightener
- Best affordable: Remington Shine Therapy Hair Straightener
Firework content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
How to choose the best hair straighteners for your hair type
- If you've got fine hair: go for hair stylers with ceramic plates as they'll be more gentle.
- If you've got frizzy hair: ionic technology is key for you, as it'll protect your hair against humidity throughout the day.
- If you've got afro hair: ceramic-coated plates are the ones for you. Steam hair straighteners will also do a good job of styling your hair quickly but without too much damage.
- If you've got thick hair: wide plates like those on the ghd Max Styler will save you time.
What should I keep in mind?
| The plates | Ceramic plates take a longer time to heat up, but they distribute said heat more evenly and are gentler than metal plates, so they're good for fine hair. Metal plates like titanium plates get hot very quickly and tend to be more expensive, but they can cause more heat damage. Ceramic-coated plates are made from a metal base topped with ceramic coating, which means you get the best of both worlds. |
| Temperature settings | Consider hair straighteners with variable temperature settings so you get the optimum experience for your hair type and desired look. |
| Iconic technology | Hair straighteners with ionic technology reduce frizz, snags and fly-aways because they neutralise the positive charge that'd usually cause hairs to repel each other. |
| Additional accessories | If you're planning on taking your hair straighteners away, consider accessories like heat-proof mats, silicone plate guards and travel pouches, that'll make styling on the go much easier. |
After more hair content? Head this way for the best hair dryers, in this direction for travel hair dryers, and over here for curling wands. We've also got the lowdown on the best hot rollers, best hot brushes, as well as the best hair curlers and tongs and the best shampoos and conditioners.
How we tested hair straighteners
Over the years, the GLAMOUR editors have reviewed dozens of hair straighteners from a variety of brands, including Remington, Dyson, BaByliss, Revlon, GHD and more. When testing each model, we paid close attention to how well it performed on different hair types, namely when it comes to the longevity of the style, the long-term damage and more. Find out how we test here.
Scroll for our full edit of the best hair straighteners that will leave your hair in tip-top shape…
Best hair straightener overall
Why we love it: If you're looking for ground-breaking technology – Dyson is your go-to. Dressed in sleek design, the Corrale Straightener features flexible plates that allow it to use far lower temperatures to deliver the best results. Coily, coarse hair can be styled on a medium heat - something traditional straighteners wouldn't normally be able to offer. This hair straightener is also cordless, with a 4-cell lithium-ion battery that gives you up to 30 minutes of cord-free styling time. Hands-down one of the best straighteners around that can also make for a very generous gift for a loved one. “As someone who has thick hair, I'm rarely lucky with hair straighteners. That is, until I got my hands on the Dyson Corrale. I loved the flexible plates and the fact that my hair didn't feel damaged at all,” says Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
- Type of plates: flexing copper plates.
- Maximum temperature: 210 degrees.
- Weight: 0.56kg.
- Cord length: 3.3m swivel cord.
- Heat settings: 3 temperatures.
Tester: Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer.
Best cordless hair straightener
Why we love it: A game-changing model when it comes to on-the-go styling, ghd's lightweight and extremely portable cordless hair straighteners are a great choice for regular travellers. They work on an array of hair types – serving up softer strands even on afro hair – and they help achieve a plethora of styles including straight hair, beachy waves and tight curls. They come with a luxury carry case, and they hit ghd's standard of 185 degrees in temperature. “Having used this straightener for over a month now, I've grown to love the cordless design, which allows me to style my hair effortlessly wherever I go," says Mayola Fernandes, GLAMOUR's Commerce Writer.
- Type of plates: ceramic.
- Maximum temperature: 185 degrees.
- Weight: 0.94kg.
- Cord length: N/A.
- Heat settings: 4 temperatures.
Tester: Mayola Fernandes, GLAMOUR's Commerce Writer.
Save when shopping for hair straighteners using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best shine-boosting hair straightener
Why we love it: Featuring Advanced Plasma technology, the BaByliss Hydro-Fusion model will help you achieve that ultra-glossy look, thanks to the moisture balancing dual ionic system that combines both positive and negative ions to hydrate the hair during styling. When testing this straightener, we noticed that the hair felt noticeably smoother and shinier, despite having spent 20 minutes styling it. It's super lightweight too, meaning it also won't make you feel as though you've just had a full arm workout post-styling.
- Type of plates: ceramic.
- Maximum temperature: up to 235.
- Weight: N/A.
- Cord length: 2.5m.
- Heat settings: 5 temperatures.
Tester: Ali Pantony, GLAMOUR's Website Director.
Best affordable hair straightener
Why we love it: Whoever said that quality hair straighteners have to come with a premium price tag clearly didn't meet this innovative tool from Remington. Despite being one of the most affordable models in this edit, the Shine Therapy hair straightener packs a punch thanks to the heated plates that are infused with argan oil to will keep your hair nice and conditioned while styling. The result? Lasting results with maximum shine and minimal effort.
- Type of plates: ceramic, infused with Moroccan Argan Oil.
- Maximum temperature: 230 degrees
- Weight: N/A.
- Cord length: N/A
- Heat settings: 9 temperatures.
Tester: Robyn Eugene, GLAMOUR's Social Media Manager.
Enjoy savings when using these Boots discount codes.