Like it or not, hair straighteners have always been the OG versatile hair tools that can help create virtually any hairstyle imaginable. Whether you’re after pin-straight hair, beach waves, bouncy curls and everything in between, a good pair of straighteners can do it all — proving that you don’t need to a fancy hair tool arsenal to nail a salon-worthy ‘do.
According to celebrity hair stylist and Dyson’s Global Ambassador Larry King, “hair straighteners are amazing for beginners – as you progress and your ability grows, and you’re able to create more shapes, bends and curls to the hair.”
Lucky for us, today’s iterations have moved well past those damage-inducing and overheating hair straighteners of the past, which would leave our hair looking fried, dull and lacklustre. Instead, we’re met with models that come equipped with advanced technology that will minimise damage, offer cordless styling and feature shine-boosting coating and flexible plates that swivel with your hair (Dyson Corrale, we’re looking at you).
The best part? Buying a quality hair straightener doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, either. Case in point: the Remington Shine Therapy Hair Straightener featured below will set you back just shy of £80, yet it’s genuinely one of the best models we tested. Its ceramic plates are infused with Moroccan Argan oil, which helps enhance the shine and condition your hair while styling. Elsewhere, there’s also no arguing that ghd hair straighteners are simply unmatched in the hair tool game. From cordless models to wide-plated options, the brand offers a healthy range that’s 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 go about finding 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 models that are known and loved in the GLAMOUR office. Whether you’ve got long hair, a shorter bob, thicker hair, afro hair or naturally dry hair, there’s bound to be a suitable straightening tool in this edit for you. Plus, we’ve also included top styling tips coming straight from a celeb hair stylist. Here’s everything you need to know.
Meet the expert:
- Larry King, celebrity hair stylist and global ambassador at Dyson.
All your hair straightener questions, answered:
How to choose the best hair straightener 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?
What kind of styles are hair straighteners best suited for?
“Hair straighteners are great for creating a boho, effortlessly undone texture to the hair. You can also use them to get a poker straight look, but once you become more confident using them, start to create waves and bends in the hair for a beachy look that you can’t really recreate with curlers or hot brushes, as it needs to be a more flat,” says celebrity hair stylist and Dyson global ambassador Larry King.
Larry also shares that these clever tools “are brilliant to add detail and definition, whereas curlers or hot brushes tend to give you a lot of volume.” According to Larry, using a quality hair straightener will help create a look that looks “more natural and polished.”
“You can also add definition around the hairline with straighteners and add shaping around the face – I like to try bending little areas, as if the hair has been put behind the ears,” he adds.
How to use a hair straightener correctly, according to a celebrity hair stylist
According to Larry, “when using straighteners, you need to make sure you’re holding your hair in position and gliding it through in one pass.” Larry also recommends using tools like the Dyson Corrale if your goal is to “reduce flyaways.”
“The plates also help gather the hair, which gives you a lot more control and means that the hair doesn’t tend to spread.”
Elsewhere, Larry recommends considering the Dyson Airstrait for when you’re in a rush and want to cut down your hair drying routine as this clever tool acts as both hair straightener and a hair dryer. It will help “create a naturally straight style from wet to dry in one go, simplifying your routine from start to finish with no heat damage,” Larry adds.
How we tested hair straighteners
It should come as no surprise that, when it comes to hair tools, team GLAMOUR has a pretty impressive product testing portfolio. So naturally, our expertise in hair straighteners knows no bounds. Having reviewed dozens of models from a variety of brands (be it Remington, Dyson, BaByliss, Revlon or GHD), we’ve put together a carefully curated edit that only includes those that managed to impress us most.
When testing each hair straightener, we used the same styling products to prep our hair every time to ensure a fair verdict – then paid close attention to how well the tools performed on different hair types (including thick, thin, wavy and afro hair), namely when it came to the speed of styling, the longevity of the style and the long-term damage.
We also considered how portable they were, how quickly they heated up and cooled down, and whether they came with any extra technologies or accessories. Think: cordless designs, heat resistant mats, adjustable temperature controls or protective gloves. Find out more about how we test here.
Meet our testers
- Ali Pantony, GLAMOUR’s Website Director: Ali is a highly experienced and award-winning editor and book author, currently serving as GLAMOUR’s Website Director who oversees all of the magazines digital content. Previously Acting Features Director roles at Grazia and ES Magazine, her writing and product testing expertise is a force to be reckoned with – whether it comes down to fashion, beauty or tech. When it comes to hair styling tools in particular, Ali always seeks out innovative technologies and thick-hair-friendly designs that would help cut down her morning routine.
- Denise Primbet, GLAMOUR’s Beauty Contributor: Denise has half a decade’s worth of product testing experience under her belt, especially when it comes to hair tools. Having written for esteemed international publications like Vogue, GQ, Who What Wear, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, she’s particularly passionate about spotlighting models that work on all hair types and democratising information on celeb-hair-stylist-approved styling techniques.
- Robyn Eugene, GLAMOUR’s Social Media Manager: Since joining GLAMOUR UK as the magazine’s Social Media Manager, Robyn has been leading the strategy, direction, and vision for GLAMOUR’s social channels. Elsewhere, she’s also heavily involved in the team’s effort to elevate the site’s shopping content – having reviewed dozens of fashion, interior and beauty products. As far as hair tools go, she’s interested in models that cater to afro hair (particularly straighteners with thinner plates that would help with root-to-tip styling).
- Mayola Fernandes, GLAMOUR’s Commerce Writer: Mayola is a highly experienced interiors and shopping journalist who’s previously written for magazines like Elle, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar. Beauty-wise, her passion lies in hair tools, which is precisely why she’s very particular about what makes a quality hair straightener. She loves models that minimise the damage without sacrificing on performance.
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