Some people view thick hair as a blessing, but those with it know that wash day doubles up as ‘arm day’.
The entire upper body area gets a workout when you’re washing, drying and styling thick hair, especially if your crowning glory happens to be on the longer side too. The higher mass means there’s more surface area to dry, so if you’re getting ready for a big event like a wedding or special date, thicker-haired beauties may need to factor in an additional hour (or two!) to their dressing time.
Even if you prefer to leave your locks to air dry, there are certain hair care products and heated hair tools to accelerate the styling process. Choose the right hair dryer and styling cream, and you’ll quickly start to regain minutes lost to the hair-drying routine.
Introducing a hair straightener can also help get your locks looking like you’ve just stepped out of a salon.
That said, not all hair straighteners are created equally: if you’re styling thick sections of hair, it’s best to find tools with wide plates. These will work more effectively in smoothing away frizz and flyaways while turbo-charging the drying aspect so that you’re finished faster.
And, contrary to their name, straighteners aren’t just for creating glassy panels of poker-straight hair. With a wrap-and-run action at a gentle angle, you can create soft waves without the need to plug in separate hair tongs. Twist at an even tighter angle for Hollywood-style waves worthy of the red carpet. Alongside your hair dryer, they’re one of the most versatile hair electricals out there.
We quizzed CLOUD NINE Ambassador, Marie Nieuwoudt, on how best to care and style thicker locks.
How can you dry thicker hair quickly?
“Let it air dry a bit. If your hair is dripping wet, it’s going to take double the amount of time to dry! This is where most people find that their hairdryer suddenly turns into a 15kg kettlebell. So, towel dry any excess water with a microfibre towel and leave it for 10 minutes before attempting to blow-dry.”
What should you look for in straighteners if you’ve got thick hair?
“Look for an iron that features larger plates (90mm x 38mm) and a choice of temperature settings. You know your hair better than anyone, and you should be able to choose the temperature that works for you. Seek an iron that lets you do just that.
All hair responds to heat differently and it’s important to know which category yours falls into so you can choose the right styling tools for you. If your hair is thick but fine, 120° is the optimum temperature for control and shine, or if your hair is thick and curly, 150° should tame even the frizziest of curls.”
What products are best to use on thicker hair before or after straighteners?
“Shampoo twice – the first washes, the second nourishes. Then deeply condition with a moisturising mask – such as CLOUD NINE’s Magical Remedy (£25)– this will help to protect, strengthen and repair bonds in the hair.
“Investing in a silk pillowcase is a great way of making your style last. It might seem like the most ridiculous expense ever, but what if I told you they reduce frizz and friction and dramatically maintain your hairstyle overnight? They have also been proven to reduce wrinkles due to being anti-friction; that investment went from ludicrous to necessary!”
If you’re looking for a hair straightener that can handle your generous locks, there are plenty to choose from.
We’ve rounded up the best names, from BaByliss and GHD to Cloud Nine, to help make shopping for one easier.
Best hair straighteners for thick hair at a glance
- Best for overall performance: GHD Max Style Straightener - £169, lookfantastic
- Best for quick and easy straightening: CLOUD NINE The Wide Iron - £169, Cloud Nine
- Best for wireless styling: Dyson Corrale™ Cord-Free Hair Straighteners - £399.99, Sephora
- Best for high-shine hair: Remington Shine Therapy Wide Plate Ceramic Hair Straighteners - £46.52, Amazon
- Best for locking in hydration: Bio Ionic OnePass Straightening Iron - £119, Current Body
- Best for wet styling: GHD Duet Style 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler - £322, GHD
- Best for super speed: T3 SinglePass X - £170, lookfantastic
- Best for gleaming, glossy locks: Revamp Progloss™ Ultra X Shine Wide Ceramic Hair Straightener - £99.99, Boots
- Best for great grip: Basuwell Professional Hair Straighteners - £26.09, Amazon
- Best for uber-coarse tresses: Remington Pro-Ceramic Extra Wide Hair Straightener S5525 - £70, Argos
See below
Best travel hair dryers to accompany you on your next holiday
Best mermaid hair wavers for flawless waves in minutes
Best hair vitamins and supplements to support growth and strength
Best silk pillowcases that are smooth on hair and soft on skin
Best hair towels for supremely silky locks
Best hair mousse for bouncy volume and curls
Best hair towels for supremely silky locks
GHD Max Style Straightener
Best for: overall performance
Roundly acknowledged as one of the best styling tools for thick hair, GHD’s Max straighteners boast wide plates (up to 70 per cent larger than competitors) to help trim down your styling time. The contoured ceramic plates can reach temperatures of up to 185°C to iron out unwanted kinks and waves, leaving behind nothing but smooth, gleaming hair.
It comes in sleek midnight black, which we think adds a little extra glamour to the dressing table.
Buy now £169.00, lookfantastic
CLOUD NINE The Wide Iron
Best for: quick and easy straightening
Here to save your arms from hours of aching is CLOUD NINE’s styler, fitted with large floating heating plates to quicken the styling process and make the job easier on hair that’s both thicker and longer.
Plates glide across lengths, cushioning sections rather than clamping them, which should lead to fewer split ends from hot-tool styling. Temperature can also be controlled from 100°C right up to 200°C to suit a range of hair types and drynesses.
Hibernation mode kicks in once the tools have been idle for 30 minutes, so no rushing back home in a panic that you may have left the tools on (although we recommend getting into the habit of unplugging them from the wall socket to be absolutely sure).
Available in black and evergreen shades.
Buy now £169.00, Cloud Nine
Dyson Corrale™ Cord-Free Hair Straighteners, Copper/Nickel
Best for: wireless styling
Forget tying yourself up in knots thanks to the straighteners cord. Dyson’s Corrale design does away with wires altogether, offering a less stressful styling experience that’s portable too.
More suited to finessing thick hair rather than styling from scratch, the flexing copper plate gadget works both as a straightener and a curler for both smooth and sleek dos, as well as curly and textured. There are precise heat settings to choose from - 165°C, 185°C, and 210°C - offering a temperature for all hair types. Choose the lowest if you’ve got damaged or dyed strands.
Buy now £399.99, Sephora
Remington Shine Therapy Wide Plate Ceramic Hair Straighteners
For high-shine hair you can practically see your face in, Remington’s Shine Therapy straighteners are up to the task. The device has been fitted with 110mm wide plates to slip through sections of hair, taming kinks and curls, while the Moroccan argan oil infusion leaves behind a mirror-like sheen.
The temperature ranges from 150 - 235°C through nine settings, and it’s good news if you’re in a hurry as heat-up time takes just 15 seconds.
From a safety aspect, the automatic shut-off time kicks in after 60 minutes. If you’re taking these on the go with you, stash the straighteners in the included heat-resistant pouch to make it safe for travel.
Buy now £46.52, Amazon
Bio Ionic OnePass Straightening Iron
Best for: locking in hydration
When time is tight but you want to look polished and put-together, reach for Bio Ionic's OnePass hair straighteners.
The hot hair tool is perfect for thick hair, with 1.5-inch plates made to straighten sections from root to tip in one go. The XL plates have been given silicone strips to ensure a finish so glossy it could rival the coats at Crufts.
Straightening is notorious for drying out hair, but Bio Ionic addresses this too by infusing strands with minerals and small water particles to keep hydration locked in. This works so well that the brand claims you can use this as a daily straightener for shiny locks every day. The digital temperature control goes up to 230°C and there's a temperature memory element too, so you don't have to reset the heat every time you switch it on.
Buy now £119.00, CurrentBody
GHD Duet Style 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler
Best for: wet styling
Forget everything you’ve ever been told about wet haircare styling; ghd’s device can be used directly on wet strands. The Duet is a straightening innovation that combines the drying and styling process in one handy device.
Simply run it over towel-dried locks in a downward motion, and watch it dry and straighten at the same time. Then hold down the button to initiate the smoothing effect. Poker straight styles have never been easier to create.
Buy now £322.00, GHD
T3 SinglePass X
Best for: super speed
Weekday mornings are stressful enough without having to wake up earlier than usual to style your mane. Hair tool specialist T3 fast-tracks routines thanks to its wide flat iron, the SinglePass X. The corded gadget is ideal for thick or coarse hair, using 38mm ceramic plates to powerfully iron sections and seal cuticles for a smooth finish that will last for days.
It’s perfect for jet-setters with an auto world voltage that will adjust to foreign sockets and there’s an internal microchip to maintain an even temperature while it’s in use. Choose from five heat settings to suit your style, ranging from 127 - 210 °C. Auto shut-off after 60min of inactivity.
Buy now £170.00, lookfantastic
Revamp Progloss™ Ultra X Shine Wide Ceramic Hair Straightener
Whether your hair is naturally straight or curly, Revamp’s straighteners are the secret to getting glossy lengths you’ll want to flip over your shoulder all day. In fact, gloss is all but guaranteed thanks to the Progloss infusion, designed to leave a mirror-like finish.
The device boasts wide ceramic floating plates with ionic technology to glide through hair sections like silk for smooth, snag-free results. Turn the temperature up or down through adjustable settings that range from 80ºC to 235ºC. This straightener comes with a heat-resistant mat to protect surfaces while you’re coiffing your do.
Buy now £99.99, Boots
Basuwell Professional Hair Straighteners
Best for: great grip
Using carbon steel plates, this straighter has five temperature settings which can be locked - 140°C, 160°C, 180°C, 200°C and 220°C - to help you achieve perfect results every time. It’s perfect for thick hair with a swivel cord that means you no longer need to wrestle with the gadget around your head (and also means it’s easy for lefties to use too). The anti-slip handle offers excellent grip while a 30-second heat-up time means it’s ready to go pretty much straight away.
Buy now £26.09, Amazon
Remington Pro-Ceramic Extra Wide Hair Straightener S5525
Best for: uber-coarse tresses
The extra wide plates of this straightener from Remington mean that smooth and silky strands are effortless to create, even when you have thick and coarse locks. In fact, this heated tool was designed specifically for these hair types in mind, allowing you to tame your mane in record timing – something that comes welcomed to those who like to maximise sleep and minimise get-ready time in the morning.
The ceramic plates are fitted with the brand’s more advanced coating that is said to promote smoother styles with an increase of 75 per cent. The straightener is fitted with an LCD screen too which displays the temperature to give you ultimate control over its adjustment. The heat levels range from 150°C and 230°C, and get there in just 15 seconds of powering up.
Buy now £70.00, Argos
Verdict
With a generous plate size and high heat, GHD's Max Style Straightener mean you'll spend less time styling your tresses but still end up with a flawless result. A winner all around.
