Hair straightening technology is improving all the time, so if you haven't updated your straighteners for a while, you'll probably find that a newer gadget will give you better results while causing less damage to your hair.
We’ve tested a selection of straighteners from some of the best brands available. Dyson is the latest company to enter the market, and its Corrale was designed to minimise heat damage to hair. But does it work in practice? You can find out in our review.
In any case, as long as you opt for a good product from a reputable brand, you don’t need to spend big: the best straighteners for you will depend on your hair type and which features are important to you.
Do you want variable heat settings? Cordless styling? Ceramic plates? Smoothing ionic technology? You can find all of these features in the products we’ve reviewed below.
If you're considering investing in smart straighteners, read the small print. Companies mean different things when they use the term. GHD describes its Platinum+ straighteners as smart because they intelligently adapt the heating element to your technique. On the other hand, the Glamoriser Blue straighteners are smart in the sense that they come with a connected app to let you control them remotely, which GHDs don't.
You can find out about each straightener in detail in our full reviews, which you'll find linked to below, beneath a summary of each product.
You might also want to check out our guide to the best hair dryers if you're upgrading your home salon at the moment.
1. GHD Platinum+ Professional Styler
- Effective
- Good for minimising damage
Cons
- Pricey
$199.20 (RRP $249)
GHD's gorgeous Platinum+ offers snag-free styling that adapts to your individual technique and lessens the damage that can be caused to hair by excessive heat styling and straightening.
The Platinum+ straightener's 'ultra-zone' predictive tech intelligently adapts to your styling technique, adjusting the power to ensure an optimum temperature at all times for healthier hair and faster, better results. This is single-stroke styling at its best, suitable for all hair types.
You'll find improved styling in a shorter space of time, and results that last much longer. The Platinum+ is expensive, but worth every penny.
Read our full GHD Platinum+ Professional Styler review
2. Dyson Corrale
Pros
- Corded or cordless styling
- 3 heat settings
- Comes with charging stand
Cons
- Heavy
- Chunky
- Short battery life
$499.99
The Dyson Corrale's claim is that its technology reduces heat damage. But the real reason to buy it is its incredible build quality. It's a beautifully made styling tool, with loads of great features.
It can be used corded or cordless (where it has up to half an hour of charge), it has three temperature settings and its flexible plates also have ionic smoothing technology. It works quickly and effectively.
However, the brilliant engineering comes at a cost beyond the actual (and very high) price of this straightener. The Corrale is heavy and chunky and for some people, that will - very literally - outweigh the advantages of cordless straightening. This also makes it slightly less travel-friendly, in spite of the attractive travel pouch it comes with and the flight tag it's equipped with.
Read our full Dyson Corrale review
3. Revamp compact cordless
- Light & compact
- 3 heat settings
- Safety lock & shutoff
- 30 minutes of use
Cons
- Not the most powerful
- Heat escapes when plates are open
- Small plates
Not available in the US
At only 20.5cm long, and around 4cm by 4cm at its widest point, this straightener can virtually fit in the palm of your hand. And, as it's light and comes with a heat-resistant pouch, it's ideal for travelling.
It's a cordless straightener and a great alternative to the Dyson Corrale, if budget and weight are a concern.
It charges in three hours and it'll give you half an hour of use. It has three temperature settings and a lock to keep the plates closed when not in use.
Our only reservation is that it's not the most powerful straightener around, better for smoothing and styling than creating perfectly straight hair.
Read our full Revamp Progloss Liberate cordless compact hair straightener review
4. Glamoriser Blue Smart Straightener
- App-controlled
- Temperature options
- Auto shut-off
Cons
- Pairing issues with app during our test
£129.99
The Glamoriser Blue is a Bluetooth-enabled hair straightener, and the world's first. Yet even without the smart features, the Glamoriser is an impressive tool. It has a salon-quality look and the results to go with it. The tongs don't need to pass over the same section of hair multiple times to be effective and the entire motion is smooth, and won't snag your locks.
The Glamoriser Blue has a wide temperature range: from 80°C to 235°C. You can, however, set the upper and lower limits through the Glamoriser app (free, for iOS and Android) so that the tool never gets hotter than you need it to.
The app also lets you set up a profile for your hair type. You indicate your hair thickness and the types of treatments you've had (for example, if your hair is coloured, highlighted or relaxed) and it'll suggest a straightening temperature.
Best of all, the smart functionality means you need never again worry about whether or not you've switched off your straighteners.
Read our full Glamoriser Bluetooth Smart Straightener review
5. Revamp Progloss Steamcare
Pros
- Steam function
- Long lead
- Temperature options
Cons
- Auto shutdown takes an hour
$0.0
Revamp's Progloss Steamcare straighteners have an understated design with a matt silicone coating, a 3m lead and swivel setting.
They have a host of features to protect damaged or delicate hair, including a range of temperature options from 150°C-230°C, floating plates, ionising technology and, of course, steam jets.
The straighteners produce only a small amount of steam but it makes a real difference to results, allowing for one-pass styling at a lower temperature.
Read our full Revamp Progloss Steamcare ST-1600 straightener review
6. GHD Gold Professional Styler
- Fast to heat up
- Simple to use
Cons
- Only one temperature setting
- Slow on thicker hair
$199
The GHD Gold Professional Styler is a simple but powerful hair straightener that not only styles your hair quickly, but minimises styling damage.
It has a sensor in each of its plates, part of its "dual-zone technology", to ensure the temperature is always at a constant 185°C or 365°F – which is why you won't see any dials or displays on this device. The preset temperature takes out the guesswork involved in identifying the ideal heat setting for your hair.
The GHD Gold only takes 25 seconds to heat up and styles hair quickly and efficiently, making it perfect for the morning routine pre-work or school, for nights out or while travelling (it offers universal voltage).
The price point for the GHD Gold is rather high, but it’s justifiable given that it produces sleek, shiny and lasting results while helping to minimise hair damage. The GHD Gold is an investment in comparison to budget straighteners that may damage your hair in the long run.
Read our full GHD Gold Professional Styler review
7. Revamp Progloss Brush
- Gentle on hair
- Lightweight
- Better for wavy than curly hair
- Hard to clean
£0
If you're looking for a gentler alternative to straighteners, Revamp's ceramic straightening brush could be the answer.
Rather than clamping and flattening hair, a straightening brush will help you to smooth and style. Revamp's brush has five heat settings, from 130-210°C, so you can find the lowest effective temperature.
It has ceramic bristles and an ionic jet to help to smooth your hair. It's relatively light (not as light as an ordinary hairbrush but it won't weigh down your arm like a hairdryer), easy to use and its design means you're much less likely to get a surprise burn than when using tongs. It has a 3m long cable and swivel setting.
We found it very effective in our tests - although bear in mind that it won't be the best option for every hair type.
8. BaByliss Elegance 235
- Budget-friendly
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- Not great at curling hair
£80
The Elegance 235 from BaByliss is an affordable straightener that produces a great sleek finish that should last throughout the day. It comes in a striking colour, and is compact enough to be a great styling tool for travelling.
The price saving does come with a few sacrifices. There aren't as many heat settings as on more expensive straighteners, or a locking mechanism, and if you want to use the device to curl your hair, it isn't the easiest thing to master.
However, for the price you're still getting a good straightener that does what it claims. It should last reasonably well over time, and best of all it doesn't look or feel cheap, despite heavily undercutting rivals.
Read our full BaByliss Elegance 235 review
9. BaByliss Straight and Curl Brilliance
- Versatile
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Easy to burn fingers
- Not ideal for thicker hair
£60 (around $77)
The BaByliss Straight and Curl Brilliance is designed to produce both straight and curly styles. Use the tongs as usual for traditional straightening, or wrap hair around the rounded exterior for a more defined curl. For the price, it does quite a reasonable job, most notably on the curling side.
Unfortunately, the steel exterior, which heats up to provide a better curl, does make the device slightly hazardous to use. In addition, the removable rubber grips on the ends of the plates, which are designed for safety while curling, can come away during use. We would advise users to be careful to avoid burning their fingertips. This device isn't suitable for novice hair stylists!
The Straight and Curl Brilliance doesn't quite compare to the likes of GHD in terms of lasting style. However, it won’t break the bank, and with the right products it can create a great style. If you can't afford a pricey set of straighteners and are looking for a multifunctional device, this is a good buy.
Read our full BaByliss Straight and Curl Brilliance review
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