THE modern beauty world may be filled with complex styling tools, but hair straighteners will always hold a place as hair care royalty.
Creating sleek looks, curls and waves, the hot styler is more than a one trick pony – and the best hair straighteners have come a long way since being released in 1906.
Beauty fans now have a choice of everything from ceramic and infrared hair straighteners to keep heat damage to a minimum, and keratin-coated options to add shine.
Thick, thin and damaged hair have all been catered for when it comes to hair straighteners, and we’ve moved past the time where you need to fry your hair to death in order to achieve the pin-straight look.
From flat irons that can be used on wet hair to wide-plated tools that will speed up styling time, there are a long list of options to choose for based on your hair type – and we’ve tried and tested some of the best-loved models.
- Best inexpensive hair straightener: Nicky Clarke Infrared Pro Hair Straightener
- Best hair straightener for thick hair: Bellissima Absolute 4XL Straightener
- Best GHD straightener: GHD Chronos Max
- Best straighteners for curling hair: Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro
- Best wet-to-dry straightener: Shark FlexFusion 5-in-1 Air Styler and Drying System with Ceramic Straightener
- Best for thin hair: GHD Original Hair Straightener
How I tested
As Sun Shopping’s Fashion and Beauty eCommerce Writer, it’s part of my job to test out the leading beauty tech tools to see if they’re worth the money.
I tested every hair tool included across multiple days to determine how effectively it straightened my hair, while others have been in my routine for years.
I considered how easy each styler is to use, how it left my hair feeling, value for money and how long my hair stayed straight for.
I have long hair with extensions that is slightly wavy, but I’ve also considered how well each straightener may work on every hair type.
Best GHD straightener: GHD Chronos Max Wide Plate Hair Straightener, £299
GHD Chronos Max Wide Plate Hair Straightener, £299
Pros: Wide plates for efficient styling, leaves hair looking shiny, automatic shut-off after 10 minutes, smaller design, sleek white colourway
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 9/10
The OG of all hair straighteners, GHD was always always going to score highly in this list.
The Chronos are the brand’s latest addition, which come in original and wide-plated models.
Named ‘Chronos’ to signify its efficient styling time (after Greek god Chronos), GHD’s latest tool promises three times the efficiency of previous models.
I tried out the new Wide-Plated Chronos Straighteners, and they’ve officially taken over my Original GHD’s for everyday use.
First impressions, I was pleasantly surprised by the styler’s sleek appearance.
It has a smaller design than other GHD’s despite the wider plates, and I’m obsessed with the pearly white colourway.
The 43mm plates have hugely improved styling time on my thick hair, giving me a sleek finish that actually lasts all day.
The straighteners use HD motion responsive technology, which minimises heat damage by adjusting based on how you style your hair to only apply the necessary amount of heat.
The tool also automatically switches off after 10 minutes, which is a saviour for me who often forgets to switch them off.
A price tag of £300 is more than I’d like to spend on a pair of straighteners, but if sleek styles are your go-to, it may be worth investing in for efficiency hair styles that don’t budge.
I can’t speak for whether my hair is going to be less damaged by upgrading to the newer GHD’s, but definitely looks smoother whenever I use – and the style holds exceptionally well.
Plate type: Ceramic floating, Plate width: 43mm, Optimal heat: 185°c, Automatic shut-off: 10 minutes
Best wet-to-dry: FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air Styler & Dyer with Ceramic Straightener, £369.99
FlexFusion Straight 5-in-1 Air Styler & Dyer with Ceramic Straightener, £369.99
Pros: Can use on wet hair, significantly speeds up styling time on hair wash days, little to no heat damage, multiple attachments, has a scalp protection mode
Cons: Feels quite heavy to use, difficult to reach the back of my hair
Rating: 9/10
Released in October 2024, the FlexFusion is Shark’s latest beauty tech innovation.
The styler comes with upgraded versions of the Shark FlexStyle’s attachments, including the auto-wrap curling barrels – but the star of the show is the new hair straightener head.
The Shark straightener takes hair from wet to dry (which feels unnatural at first), while hugely speeds up styling time, particularly on my thick hair.
I split my wet hair into sections before using Wet Hair setting, which uses a powerful airflow to dry and straighten simultaneously.
While the tool left my hair bone dry after just one stroke, it was using the Dry Hair that refined the look.
Going over the hair with the hot setting is where I got the sleek, shiny results, and I honestly don’t think my hair has stayed pin straight for as long as when I use the FlexFusion.
As someone who has spent years frying their hair with hot tools, it’s hard to believe that Shark straightener causes zero heat damage – making it the perfect choice for those on a hair health journey that don’t want to give up styling.
The air styler also has Scalp Shield Mode, which works to protect new hairs from becoming damaged.
It is heavier than a regular straightener so I did struggle to reach smaller sections of my hair at the back.
So, while I won’t be throwing out my everyday straightener any time soon – the FlexFusion is going to be a regular in my routine for creating straight styles with minimal effort.
Plate type: Ceramic floating, Plate width: 24mm, Optimal heat: 110°c, Automatic shut-off: Switches off if overheating
Best for thin hair: GHD Original Hair Straightener, £139
GHD Original Hair Straightener, £139
Pros: Small plates for reaching every hair, long-lasting, the most affordable GHD styler, low optimal styling temperature for less heat damage
Cons: Newer models are less damaging to the hair
Rating: 8.5/10
I’ve owned my trusty GHD Original straighteners for over 15 years, and my same pair is still going strong.
The classic styler has had technology upgrade since I first bought mine, but the basics still remain the same (because why fix something that isn’t broken?)
Suitable for all hair types, the straightener has 24mm plates that are ideal for reaching even the smallest sections of hair, which is why I can see them being particularly beneficial for fine hair types.
Simple, yet effective, the reason I love my GHD’s so much is they do exactly what they promise, leaving my hair looking sleek with minimal effort.
The OG GHD’s are also a great choice for those skilled enough to curl their hair with straighteners, as the rounded barrels are designed to avoid snagging.
A new addition to the tool is the on/off button that lights up to avoid leaving it switched on, but it also has an automatic shut-off feature after 30 minutes.
Plate type: Ceramic floating, Plate width: 24mm, Optimal heat: 185°c, Automatic shut-off: 30 minutes
Best for thick hair: Bellissima Absolute 4XL Hair Straighteners, £79.99 (was £149)
Bellissima Absolute 4XL Hair Straighteners, £79.99 (was £149)
Pros: Large plates for quick styling, great for curly and afro hair, good value for money, four heat settings
Cons: Doesn’t glide through hair as nicely as others, takes an hour to automatically shut off, clunky design
Rating: 8.5/10
Bellissima’s Absolute 4XL straightener has the largest plates in this list at 45mm, designed for styling thick, curly and afro hair.
The styler uses infrared technology to heat the hair from the inside out for minimising damage, with four temperature settings that reach 230°c.
My hair takes a while to straighten, and I was genuinely blown away by how efficiently I was able to go from wavy to straight locks.
Most straighteners take a few strokes to achieve the pin-straight look, but I only needed to put the straightener through each section once for it to be completely straight.
While it doesn’t feel as soft gliding through the hair as other alternatives, the powerful tool gets the job done, and the range of temperature settings make it suitable for all thick hair types.
Coated with keratin, the ceramic plates work to reduce frizz and give a glossy finish, so it would be a good choice for those that struggle to tame their hair.
Currently retailing for £80, Bellissima’s straightener is one of the cheaper options for those looking to save.
Plate type: Ceramic and keratin-coated, Plate width: 45mm, Optimal heat: Four heat settings at 170°c-230°c, Automatic shut-off: 60 minutes
Best for curling hair: Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro Hair Straighteners, £299
Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro Hair Straighteners, £299
Pros: Thin plates ideal for short and thin hair, good for curling hair, comes with hair accessories, 11 heat settings
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 7.5/10
A popular choice among hair stylists, Cloud Nine’s straighteners seem to be continuously growing in popularity.
The brand’s 2-in-1 Contouring Iron is designed to both straighten and curl the hair at a high speed, with curved plates to avoid snagging.
The touch screen panel makes it easy to see what temperature the tool is set at, with 11 options ranging from 100°c to 200°c.
Featuring a Revive Mode that vibrates at the optimum frequency, it’s clear that the straighteners have a focus on maintaining the hair’s health, which is always a priority for me.
While the straightener did leave my hair looking super sleek, my only criticism is with the £300 price tag.
Those that only rarely use straighteners could get the same effect with a cheaper styler, but it could be worth the investment for those who regularly curl and straighten their hair.
The contouring iron also comes with a wet brush, comb and a heat protection matt on the Boots website, so shoppers can get slightly more for their money.
Plate type: Ceramic and keratin-coated, Plate width: 45mm, Optimal heat: 11 settings 100°c-200°c, Automatic shut-off: 30 minutes
Best on a budget: Nicky Clarke Infrared Pro Hair Straightener, £69.96 (was £129.99)
Nicky Clarke Infrared Pro Hair Straightener, £69.96 (was £129.99)
Pros: Glides through the hair, long lead, 10 heat settings
Cons: Took a few strokes for hair to straighten, takes an hour to automatically shut off
Rating: 7/10
Nicky Clarke’s hair straighteners distribute heat evenly through the hair using infrared technology, with microsensors that regulate the temperature.
Unlike most straighteners that stick to an optimal temperature, the styler features 10 settings between 120°c and 230°c, so beauty fans can customise their own routine.
While I love how the titanium plates glide through the hair without any friction, it did take several strokes for my hair to appear straight at my usual styling temperature.
This meant that I needed to choose a higher temperature to get the same results as other alternatives, which in the long run is likely to lead to heat damage.
The sleek plates are ideal for reaching smaller sections of hair, so combined with the temperature, I can see the tool working best on thin and fine hair types.
Having the extra long 2.5-metre cord will make life easier for anyone that doesn’t have a plug close to their mirror, and I like that the temperature settings have a lock to prevent accidentally switching the heat.
Plate type: Titanium, Plate width: 35mm, Optimal heat: 10 settings 120°c-230°c, Automatic shut-off: 60 minutes
Where to buy
Beauty fans can either buy hair straighteners directly from the brand, or through a retailer.
Amazon and Boots stock a range of hair straightener brands, along with online beauty stores including Sephora, Look Fantastic and Cult Beauty.
Full list of stockists:
How to clean a hair straightener
All you really need to do to clean a hair straightener is use a damp cloth to wipe the plates (of course when it’s switched off and cooled down).
A small amount of nail varnish remover or can also be used, but getting the plates too wet can damage the straighteners.
Keeping on top of cleaning your straighteners is the best way to keep them in the best condition.
Does a hair straightener damage hair?
Hair straighteners can be very damaging to the hair, especially when used regularly, on a high heat.
The best way to protect your hair is to always use a heat protectant, and to minimise heat as much as possible.
Stylers with ceramic plates are considered to be safer on the hair, as the heat is designed to spread evenly to cause less damage.
Infrared straighteners (which can also be ceramic) cause less damage, as they heat the hair from the inside to style without being too harsh.
Can you straighten wet hair?
No, straightening wet hair is highly damaging.
Not only will doing this leave the hair looking frizzy, but the strands are weaker when they’re wet, so it’s going to lead to breakage.
However, there are now tools that can be used on wet hair, including the Shark FlexFusion which has a setting for taking hair from wet to dry.
Can you curl hair with a straightener?
Straighteners can create bouncy curls and waves, but nailing the technique can take some practice.
Stylers with smaller plates are usually best for curling the hair, and straighteners with a rounded design (like Cloud Nine’s Contouring Iron Pro) make it easier for the styler to glide through the hair.
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