It wasn’t that many years ago that you needed one of the best hair dryers to dry your hair, a pair of the best hair straighteners to get sleek and silky locks, and the best hair curlers to give you waves for days.
Thankfully, there’s now a plethora of multipurpose hair tools that can do it all, from the Dyson AirWrap and the Shark FlexStyle to the Nicky Clarke AirStyle PRO and the Silk’n SilkyAir Flex.
And our desire for multitasking devices is backed by new research from grooming and styling experts Remington, who found a whopping 71 per cent of people want a styler that can be used to create different hair styles.
In response, Remington has created the new ONE Straight and Curl Styler: a 2-in-1 straightener and curling wand for those who demand more from the hair tools. But does it do both jobs equally well? I put it through its paces to find out.
REMINGTON ONE STRAIGHT and CURL STYLER REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler is now available to buy in the UK for a recommended retail price of £129.99 from Remington UK and selected retailers including Amazon, Argos, and Boots.
In the States, this device is called the Remington ONE Flat Iron and Curler, and is available for a recommended retail price of $54.99 from Remington US.
REMINGTON ONE STRAIGHT and CURL STYLER REVIEW: UNBOXING AND SET UP
The Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler is nicely presented in plastic-free packaging and comes with a heat protection glove, a heat resistant storage pouch, and an instruction manual.
Since this styler has some unusual elements in the shape of its FlexiCovers, you will need to read the manual first to use it safely and effectively.
REMINGTON ONE STRAIGHT and CURL STYLER REVIEW: DESIGN
The Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler has an interesting design thanks to its black plastic FlexiCovers which slide from the barrel to the handle and back again so you can switch from straightening mode to curling mode.
The outer case is gunmetal grey with muted rose gold accents to match the straightening plates, and the overall look is fairly neutral in keeping with the genderless ethos of Remington’s new ONE collection, which includes the Dry and Style Hair Dryer.
The device has two buttons on the side: one to turn it on and off, and another to adjust the temperature up and down. When you adjust the temperature, or the styling mode from ‘straight’ to ‘curl’, it shows the change via the small digital display, and the temperature flashes for around 20 seconds until it has reached the desired temperature.
Weighing in at 640 grams, the ONE Straight and Curl comes complete with a 2.5m swivel power cord to avoid tangles and automatically shuts off after 60 minutes for safety.
REMINGTON ONE STRAIGHT and CURL STYLER REVIEW: FEATURES
The Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler offers five temperatures to choose from ranging from 150°C to 230°C for optimal temperature control for different hair types, although this range lowers to a maximum of 210°C in the curling mode.
Due to its built-in digital control, the Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler automatically works in ‘straight’ mode when the FlexiCovers are raised around the barrels, and then automatically adjusts to ‘curl’ mode when you slide the FlexiCovers downwards around the handle.
The 110mm straightening plates measure 32mm across and claim to be longer than other standard straighteners for fast one-pass straightening results. The plates also have an anti-static tourmaline-infused ceramic coating that’s three times smoother than standard Remington straighteners to glide through your hair without snagging.
These straightening plates have a rounded outer edge that forms a 32mm curling barrel for soft, beachy waves when you lock them together with the Plate Lock, while the Anti-Slip Ceramic Coating helps to hold your hair in place as your curl for longer-lasting results. The smooth curves of the FlexiCovers are said to be ideal for creating bouncy curls with the straightener plates.
REMINGTON ONE STRAIGHT and CURL STYLER REVIEW: PERFORMANCE
After watching the Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler in action during a masterclass at the ONE collection launch event, I was impressed by its versatility and felt excited to try it out at home.
The wide range of temperatures it offers puts you fully in control of the amount of heat you apply to your hair, and I like that the device heats up and adjusts temperature in just 20 seconds. It also manages to give you three different styling effects for an amazing price. But as with all multipurpose hair tools, I experienced a few niggles.
It certainly delivers on its promise of one-pass straightening. You get super sleek results quickly thanks to the size of the plates, but I did find I was sometimes left with some indentations near to my roots, and I also struggled a little to style my bangs. I attribute this to the plate’s bulkiness with its rounded edges that make it harder to get to the root.
In the curling mode, the 32mm barrel gave me loose, beachy waves, but I noticed I got a few indentations from the gaps in the barrel. While the barrel is long enough for straightening, I would have preferred a little more length so I could easily wrap my just-past-my shoulders hair around it. The styler is also more bulkier to hold in curling mode once the FlexiCovers are positioned around the handle.
I achieved amazing results, however, when I curled my hair in the straightening mode. I loved the gorgeous, bouncy curls it gave from root to tip with the help of the smooth, rounded FlexiCovers, and I felt much more in control of the styling process.
If I had one complaint, though, it would be that the FlexiCovers didn’t always stay in place. Sometimes, in straightening mode, they would slide down from the barrel to the handle – which meant the device automatically switched into curling mode and the plates started to cool while the outer barrel started to warm up – and sometimes, in curling mode, the Flexicovers would slide up, so the device automatically switched into straightening mode and the barrel cooled down while the plates heated up.
With time and practice, you do get more used to handling the FlexiCovers so you can quickly rectify this issue. But if Remington ever revises this hair tool, I’d suggest they improve the FlexiCovers so they better stay in place.
Because, on the flip side, it’s the FlexiCovers that allow you to switch modes and achieve both straight and wavy hair with one hair tool – and get beautiful, bouncy curls. Ultimately, I think when a hair tool tries to be many things at the same time, it’s impossible to excel at all of them. But Remington have given it a bloomin’ good try.
REMINGTON ONE STRAIGHT and CURL STYLER REVIEW: VERDICT
The Remington ONE Straight and Curl Styler is a multipurpose hair tool that lets you straighten hair, get loose, beachy waves, and achieve beautiful, bouncy curls. It might be a jack of all trades and master of none, but it’s a great styler if you’re on a budget and want to achieve several looks with one device.
Travel-friendly and space-saving, it offers a wide range of heat settings from 150°C to 230°C for optimal temperature control for different hair types. Considering its price point and versatility, it’s worthy of consideration.
