It’s astounding to think that just a few years ago, straightening your hair meant taking a clothes iron to it (Bridget Jones springs to mind here) or spending the best part of an hour meticulously blow drying it, only for it frizz up again as soon you went outside.
When hair straighteners were first introduced, it was often a toss up between having perfect looking locks and maintaining its health - nowadays, thanks to the advancement of technology, you no longer have to choose.
Most straighteners use advanced heating systems and specially treated plates that help protect and add shine to your hair (just remember to apply a touch of heat protection spray first) and there are plenty of options to suit different lengths and thickness.
Does size really matter?
Those with shorter or fine hair should opt for slim plates, whilst those with thicker or longer hair should stick with the standard size. It’s also worth looking out for adjustable temperature settings and automatic switch off, which will give peace of mind to those prone to spending half their day worrying if they might have left their straighteners on and accidentally set the house on fire.
From travel sizes to steaming options, we’ve picked the best hair straighteners to buy in 2019.
T3 Single Pass X Straighteners
If you have got thick hair and had previously given up on straighteners, these are for you. The T3s have particularly wide plates, allowing you to straighten large sections at a time. The claim that they can straighten hair with one single pass proved to be true - glide them over once and you’ll have gleaming locks. Hair is less likely to fry, thanks to the inclusion of a Digital SinglePass, which finds the optimum heat setting for your hair.
These are a favourite of celebrities, and in this case they really do deliver the goods.
£132 | Amazon | Buy it now
Price compare: £165 at Space NK
L’Oreal Professionnel Steampod 2.0 Hair Straightener
We all know it isn’t really about looks when it comes to tech products, but if they do happen to be designed well it certainly adds something to the experience.
This L’Oreal tool features a streamlined, white design but is more than just a pretty face. It has a water capsule attached (otherwise known as a ‘steampod’) that, when filled, will steam as you straighten to ensure a salon-style, super sleek finish.
It’s a bit like using the steamer function on an iron, in that it helps get rid of even the most stubborn kinks without totally drying out your hair. Even better, it has an integrated comb, so you can free a hand from the usual brush-then-straighten dance to better control your styling. These get a big thumbs up from us.
£199 | Look Fantastic | Buy it now
Price compare: £185 at Sally Beauty UK
Phillips Moisture Protect Hair Straightener
One of the biggest worries with hair tools is the heat damage it causes our hair. Phillips has come up with a solution to this in the form of its Moisture Protect straightener.
Using ionic conditioning, it smooths the cuticles in the hair to add shine and glossiness. You might be sceptical of how it does this but it’s all in the plates, which use negatively charged irons to get rid of static and thus make hair smoother.
The plates are floating, too, so they move intuitively as you move the styler, adjusting the pressure. There are three settings here - 200, 175 and 150 degrees (though we wouldn’t recommend going over the 175) as well as the trusty automatic timer.
£68 | Amazon | Buy it now
Babyliss Nano Travel Hair Straightener
If you’re away a lot for work or feel like carting your full blown straighteners on holiday whiffs of high maintenance, this mini pair provides a great solution.
Around half the size of a normal set, these will easily fit into a carry on and even come with their own little bag. Whilst they might be a little small to tackle full blown hairstyle changes, they can certainly maintain styles or help smooth out the kinks after you’ve blowdried your hair straight. They can also reach an impressive 200 degree temperature and come with a 1.8m length swivel cord, so you won’t be restricted by ill-placed hotel room plugs.
£14.99 | Argos | Buy it now
Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth Straighteners
Paul Mitchell is a well-respected hairdresser and uses these straighteners on his own clients, so you can trust that they’ll be up to the task of taming your tresses.
Reaching temperatures of 230 degrees in just 30 seconds, this is the for those who don’t have much time to style or are dealing with particularly thick or frizzy hair. Including a SmartSense microchip, the temperature is regulated and evenly distributed. The wide plates on these make them useful for creating loose waves as well and the LCD display allows you to keep an eye on the temperature easily.
£109 | Look Fantastic | Buy it now
Cloud Nine Original Iron
The founder of Cloud Nine also started up ghd, so you know you’re getting a top quality product with these. Bevelled edges make them really versatile, so you can flip between straightening and curling with ease. There’s a temperature display that allows you to adjust it between 100 and 200 degrees, so you can go easy on areas where you have damage or fine hair.
The plates are mineral infused and help deliver a high shine and the included pouch allows you to stash them away safely after use.
£127.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Price compare: £149 at John Lewis and £149 at Cloud Nine
ghd White Platinum Styler Hair Straightener
ghd has earned its reputation as the boss of hair straightening and rightly so - these White Platinum straighteners work wonders - even on the most unruly of manes. Heat sensors within the ceramic plates adapt to your hair, choosing the optimum temperature for style, shine and health. Best of all, the chord swivels and is extra long, so if you’re wrestling with extra long hair, you’ll be able to move around easily. The bevelled edges on these are a god send - you won’t get any stray hairs snagging in the corners and can easily use them for creating curls, too.
£175 | ghd | Buy it now
Price compare at Amazon here
Verdict:
Your hair type and frequency of use will determine which hair straightener is best for you. The T3s take the top spot for their quick work and high shine finish. The L’Oreal Professionnel Steampod 2.0 helped protect hair with its forward thinking technology.
