Your questions about hair straighteners answered
What are the best hair straighteners?
Despite having long hair, I prefer a thin barrel to reach my roots as well as the back of my head and tame any stray hairs. A slimline design with curved edges is the ideal combination – it means the tool is a multifunctional two-in-one straightener and curler, which saves space in your luggage (and a little money).
With those factors in mind, ghd’s original styler, along with the DryBar, Cloud Nine and Panasonic straighteners ticked many of my boxes. They styled my long hair quickly and easily without the need to repeatedly go over the same segment. Ultimately, ghd’s original styler gets the gold star from me – I have used it for more than 20 years as my go-to for sleek, frizz-free and poker-straight styles in seconds. DryBar is a close second, as it boasts the same slim and lightweight design as ghd’s straighteners, has a similar mid-range price tag, and offers more temperature options.
How I tested hair straighteners
Whenever I test products, I use a clear set of criteria to separate the standouts from the rest. For hair straighteners, that meant focusing on the following:
- Temperature: I timed how long each hair straightener took to reach temperature and checked how stable the heat felt during use.
- Performance: I paid attention to how many passes were needed to fully smooth my hair, especially at the roots.
- Finish: I assessed how sleek, glossy and healthy my hair looked immediately after styling.
- Frizz control: I tracked how well each style held throughout the day, particularly in humid conditions.
- Styling versatility: I tested whether each straightener could create waves, curls and polished straight looks with ease.
- Plate glide: I noted how smoothly the plates moved through my hair and whether they pulled or snagged.
- Usability: Weight, balance, cord length and how intuitive the controls felt during use were also considered.
- Value for money: I gauged whether the performance, features and results of each straightener were in-line with its price.
What should I consider when buying hair straighteners?
Plate size
Straighteners can come fitted with narrow, wide, short or long plates, and which style is right for you depends on your hair length and density.
Short-cropped ’dos and fine hair tend to benefit from slimline straighteners, as they get into those hard-to-reach areas with ease. Those with thick or curly hair, or longer lengths, will find their hair takes longer to straighten, which is why wider plates or dual-purpose straighteners that dry and style simultaneously are often preferred.
Ceramic vs titanium
If you opt for straighteners with a hot plate instead of air flow, you will find ceramic or titanium plates are the popular options to choose from. Ceramic flat irons can take longer to heat up, and work by heating your hair from the inside out. Meanwhile, titanium/airflow straighteners heat up pretty much immediately and heat your hair from the surface.
In a nutshell, a ceramic iron is generally deemed better for finer hair, while a titanium plate is most effective on coarse or thick hair.
Heat settings
Some straighteners feature adjustable temperature settings, but others are set at one fixed temperature. The latter can make the tool easy to use, as it minimises the hassle of trying to find a program best suited to your hair type and needs. A temperature of 185C is considered the optimal styling temperature for most hair types.
Those who opt for hair straighteners with adjustable heat settings should use the lowest setting at around 100-185C if they have dyed, brittle, fragile or fine hair. Thick or coarse hair can work with higher temperatures, but always use heat protection sprays. Some hair straighteners with adjustable heat settings can reach intense temperatures of 230C, which is to be avoided, especially for fine, short and damaged hair, as it can lead to irreversible hair damage.
Size and weight
Hair straighteners have massively improved over the years, as many designs are feather-light, compact, and easy to take travelling. If you are looking for a pair of straighteners to take on the go, a cordless design, such as ghd’s unplugged (which is included in this article), ticks all the right boxes. If you have long or thick hair, you will want a lightweight design, to avoid any arm ache during your styling sessions.
How to prevent damage to your hair when using hair straighteners
Any heated styling tool can damage hair, especially if your tresses are already lacking in moisture and protein. This (combined with external aggressors such as chlorine, chemical treatments and over- or under-washing) can leave your hair looking and feeling lacklustre.
The best preventative measure you can take is to always use a heat-protectant spray before blow-drying, curling or straightening your hair. This is because the spray will add a protective layer that acts as a shield to absorb the heat and leave your locks undamaged.
Can you straighten wet hair?
Another step you can take to protect your tresses is to only straighten hair that is completely dry. Hair is at its most fragile when wet – if you’ve ever attempted to use a heat styler on damp hair, it’s likely you’ve heard your strands sizzle, which should tell you all you need to know. Doing so can increase breakage, frizz and even make your hair’s natural texture coarser.
How to curl hair with a straightener
If you want to curl your hair with your straightener, steer clear of the wide flat irons and opt for a slimmer model instead, as it will be easier to wrap your hair around the tool to create curls. To curl your hair, clamp a section of hair inside the straightener (smaller sections for tighter curls, bigger sections for a wavier look), then wrap the ends of your hair over the straightener while either twisting the iron towards you or away from your, depending on the kind of curls you want. Then, all you have to do is hold it there for a few seconds before gently pulling the straightener down until it reaches the ends of your hair, at which point you can release your hair from the device.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Maisie Bovingdon is a lifestyle journalist with more than a decade of experience across ecommerce, fashion, beauty, health and wellness. For IndyBest, she’s reviewed everything from Dyson airwrap alternatives and foundations to pilates equipment, thoroughly testing each product to bring you her honest opinions and help you track down the options that offer the best value for money.
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