Don’t be fooled: hair straighteners are more versatile than the name suggests. They can be used to create tight curls and beachy waves, as well as the classic poker-straight style, so it’s handy to have a trusty pair in your beauty arsenal.
But this is a big market. The best models will fight frizz and make hair shine. They won’t tear or burn your tresses, nor leave you faffing about with complicated settings.
If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. We’ve roped in our reader panel to help us test over 70 hair straighteners – and we’ve narrowed the options down to our 25 winners for 2022…
- Best hair straighteners: ghd Gold Styler Professional Hair Straighteners
- Best hair straighteners for damaged hair: Remington PROluxe Ceramic Hair Straighteners
- Best hair straighteners for afro hair: Revamp Progloss Digital Ceramic Straighteners
- Best hair straighteners for wet hair: Remington Wet 2 Straight Pro Straighteners
- Best keratin-infused hair straighteners: Remington Keratin Protect
- Best hair straighteners for thick hair: ghd Platinum+
- Best hair straighteners for quick heat-up time: BaByliss 9000 Cordless Straighteners
- Best hair straighteners for beginners: TRESemme Smooth 215 Straighteners
- Best hair straighteners for healthier hair: L’Oréal Professionnel New Generation Steampod 3.0
Are titanium straighteners better than ceramic?
Hair straighteners might deceivingly all look the same, but the tech each features will have some key differences.
The big question is: ceramic or titanium plates?
While ceramic plates gradually heat up – making them a safer option for fine hair or those prone to damage – titanium will be your saviour if you’re in a rush, making them not only quick but effective at tackling thicker, more hard-to-style strands.
How do I choose a good hair straightener?
Straighteners are a big investment, so you need to make sure you’ve got all your hair needs covered in one tool, before you make the commitment to buy.
If you’re not sure what all those buzzwords mean on the side of the box, we’ve simplified them below, so you can figure out what to prioritise:
Variable temperature settings: this is useful if you’re planning on sharing your device. Lower heat suits fine hair best, while thick or coarse tresses may need more heat to be effective.
Ionic technology: when there’s too much positive charge on each hair strand, they begin to repel each other, making hair static and flyaway. This technology helps to neutralise the charge, smoothing strands down instead.
Ceramic plates: they are slower to warm up than other materials, but they distribute heat more evenly. They tend to be cheaper too, but are more prone to chipping.
Titanium/metal plates: get very hot quickly but tend to be expensive. Improper usage can cause heat damage, too. We recommend leaving these hair straighteners on your locks for only a few seconds at a time.
Ceramic-coated plates: usually have a metal base topped with a ceramic layer, combining the best qualities of both materials. The outer layer can chip and wear away over time, but a good-quality model should last you at least three years if stored properly.
Additional accessories: higher priced straighteners may come with accessories such as a heat mat, gloves and a travel case.
How to choose the best hair straighteners for your hair type
Fine hair: Look for ceramic plates that distribute heat evenly and more gently. Use lower temperature settings to minimise heat damage.
Frizzy hair: Ionic technology is a must to stop water and humidity “fluffing up” your hair and creating more frizz.
Thick hair: Larger plates will save you time and reduce heat damage. Metal plates will give you the best and most long-lasting results.
Afro hair (3C-4C curl types): Consider ceramic-coated plates, which offer a good balance of effectiveness and protection. Steam hair straighteners are a good alternative for powerful styling that does less damage. There’s a pair (L’Oréal Professionnel New Generation Steampod 3.0) on our list below.
How to prevent damaging your hair
Hair is most fragile when it’s wet, so make sure it’s completely dry before heat styling. Wet locks can only withstand temperatures of 40-60C, but dry (undamaged) hair can handle up to 185C. Always use a heat protection spray, too.
How we test hair straighteners
Over 350 testers – with short hair to long, fine to thick, and including straight, wavy, curly, coily and kinky textures – tried 73 hair straighteners to find the best you can buy.
They fed back on how quickly each tool heated up, how easy it was to reach their roots, whether it achieved their desired look, and how shiny and healthy their hair looked after styling.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, we used an EV Standard machine to record the temperature of each straightener and assess the accuracy of its temperature settings.
1. ghd Gold Styler Professional Hair Straighteners
ghd, a go-to brand for many, lived up to its reputation in our blind tests. Its lightweight straighteners were the panel’s favourite and the highest scorer in this year’s line-up.
The rounded barrel makes creating curls and waves easier, and our testers had no trouble using it for a variety of styles. Testers loved how silky their hair felt after use and thought it looked healthier (that’s shinier, smoother and sleeker), too.
Specifications
- Score: 86/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
- Number of heat settings: 1 (185C)
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Heat resistant protective plate guard
2. Remington PROluxe Ceramic Hair Straighteners
Most testers found that one swipe was enough to produce good results here. They liked that the temperature was clearly displayed on the LCD screen, too.
There are nine heat settings, but testers favoured the Pro+ setting, which limits the temperature to 185C for effective styling without overheating hair. The panel agreed that their locks looked healthier afterwards, with more shine and a silky, smooth feel.
Specifications
- Score: 85/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
- Number of heat settings: Nine (150 to 230C)
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Travel pouch
3. Revamp Progloss Digital Ceramic Straightener ST-1000
These straighteners feature oil-infused plates that Revamp says helps to leave hair looking shiny and healthy. It also has a wide temperature range (80-235C), making it adaptable for all hair types and textures, including afro curls.
Our testers were impressed by how silky and smooth it left their hair. The plates glided over tresses with no snagging or tangling, and straightened easily with one swipe.
Specifications
- Score: 85/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic
- Number of heat settings: 32 (from 80 to 235C)
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Heat mat, UK/EU adjustable plug
4. Remington Wet2Straight Pro Hair Straighteners
If you’re after a time-saving device that lets you straighten wet hair (rather than using a hair dryer as a middle man), this is the tool for you. Its unique “moisture sensor” measures the dampness of your mane and adjusts the temperature accordingly, resulting in excess water particles evaporating through the holes in the plates – that’s seriously smart tech.
Our testers liked how easily it glided through their hair, with 92% impressed by how quickly they achieved their desired style. Many thought their hair looked healthier, shinier and smoother after use, making it perfect for anyone in need of speedy, salon-worthy results.
Specifications
- Score: 82/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
- Number of heat settings: 10
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Storage pouch
5. Remington Keratin Protect
Remington claims this styler detects your hair’s moisture levels and adjusts the heat to an optimum styling temperature. The ceramic hot plates are infused with keratin and almond oil too, which should leave hair looking healthy.
Our testers loved that it was quick to heat up and had multiple temperature settings. The majority found that it easily reached the back of their head and left their hair looking well-styled, shiny and less frizzy.
Specifications
- Score: 82/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic
- Number of heat settings: 5 (160 to 230C)
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Heat resistant storage pouch
6. ghd Platinum+
ghd claims that the plates on this styler detect the thickness of your hair and the speed at which you are styling, before auto-adjusting the power accordingly.
Our testers loved it, with nearly 90% saying how pleased they were with their newly silky and soft hair. It was quick to heat up and the large plates styled and gripped hair well. The indicator sound when it turns on and off gives peace of mind, too.
Specifications
- Score: 81/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic coated
- Number of heat settings: 1 (185C)
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: None
7. BaByliss 9000 Cordless Straightener
This cordless option aced our lab test when it came to heating up quickly and accurately. Our panel found it intuitive to use and comfortable to hold, with 71% instantly managing to straighten their strands, mostly without snagging.
They praised its “sleek” design, which delivered great results all-round, including for those with long, thick hair. It didn’t leave their tresses particularly shiny, but 86% of testers thought it effectively created the waves, curls or straightness they were after.
Specifications
- Score: 78/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic
- Number of heat settings: 3
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Silicone plate guard, travel storage case and heat protection mat
8. TRESemme Entry Straightener International
This purse-friendly option will cost you under £20, so bargain hunters, look no further. It claims to heat up in just one minute but our lab test found it took slightly longer to reach its maximum temperature.
Still, our testers appreciated how simple it was to use and were impressed by how lightweight it was to hold and manoeuvre. Overall, 89% agreed that it styled their hair as they wanted, with 78% left praising the mirror-shine it left on their strands.
Specifications
- Score: 77/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
- Number of heat settings: 1
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Heat mat
9. L’Oréal Professionnel New Generation Steampod 3.0
Using innovative heat control and steam tech to straighten hair faster with less damage, this steampod was unique among those on test. It comes with a built-in brush and our testers found that their silky style lasted throughout the day.
The majority agreed that it straightened hair instantly and most thought their hair appeared healthier and shinier after use. Not much water is needed per use and the panel appreciated the sturdy design and innovative steam iron technology. Some even found the steam made their hair feel more hydrated.
Specifications
- Score: 73/100
- Type of plates: Ceramic-coated
- Number of heat settings: 3 (180 to 210C)
- Ionic technology: No
- Additional accessories: Mini water refill bottle
