Best hair straighteners for every budget and hair type

ghd is a world-trusted brand, and it's no surprise that the ghd Platinum+ Professional Hair Straightener tops the list of the best hair straighteners on the market. This premium tool features ground-breaking ultrazone predictive technology, which monitors heat 250 times per second and responds to the thickness of your hair and your styling speed - delivering the optimal styling temperature consistently across the plates.

Rated and reviewed by Yours writer Sam Hendley, this straightener was put to the test on both full, curly hair and fine, frizzy hair. “The effect on the curly hair was instant - perfectly straight and smooth with no static or frizz in a matter of seconds,” she noted. Remarkably, her daughter didn’t need any extra styling sprays beyond a basic heat protection product to get salon-quality results.

On Sam’s own finer hair, which usually struggles with limpness when heat-styled, the Platinum+ excelled. “I wasn’t expecting miracles,” she wrote, “but the sensors truly adjust to the kind of hair you have. I was able to achieve a smooth, glossy look without worsening frizz.” However, you can't turn the heat up or down as it's set to 185ºC for "optimum style".

Read our full ghd Platinum+ review.

The Dyson Corrale™ straightener is a versatile styling tool designed to create a range of looks - from sleek and smooth to waves and curls - while promising up to half the damage thanks to its flexible copper plates that shape around your hair. One of its standout features is the cordless option, giving you the freedom to roam while styling for up to 30 minutes, which is ideal for professional settings or plug-limited spaces.

Yours writer Lorna White reviewed the Dyson straightener and was impressed with its ability to work at lower temperatures without compromising on results. “I have naturally curly, frizzy, quite thick hair, so I always believed I needed the highest temperature straighteners to achieve a silky smooth style,” she said. “However, this straightener allowed me to get the same effect at a much lower temperature - great if you’re keen to reduce heat exposure.”

Lorna also highlighted the benefits of the wireless function, especially in salons or areas with limited sockets. However, she cautioned that the Corrale™ is heavy and for standard at-home use, it comes at a high price, especially when other, more affordable straighteners offer comparable performance.

Ultimately, the Dyson Corrale™ stands out for its technology and flexibility, but whether it’s worth the investment depends on how and where you plan to use it.

Read our full Dyson Corrale™ hair straightener review.

Specifically designed with big plates for thick, frizzy and afro hair, the Bellissima Italia Absolute Professional 4XL Hair Straightener glides through different hair textures. It covers large surface areas with ease, meaning you don't have to spend hours perfecting your look or going over the same sections, which can cause damage and breakage.

Our tester, Senior Digital Writer Hannah Caroll said, "As someone with afro hair, I’ve spent years battling dryness, heat damage and the endless trial-and-error of finding the right styling tools. So, discovering the Bellissima Absolute Straighteners really has been a breath of fresh air."

It reaches high temperatures (from 170°C to 230°C), so you can effectively straighten a whole head of curly hair in less than one hour. If that wasn't enough, it also comes with accessories such as a cable clip to prevent tangles, a storage bag to keep them in and a cloth to clean the plates with. However, one user did say that it "it pulled a hair or two out on every pass of the straighteners", so you may want to try a different pair if you've got thin locks.

Read our full Bellissima Absolute Straighteners review.

When my old pair broke, I was looking for some cheap straighteners to replace them with when I stumbled upon the Phil Smith Salon Collection Hair Straightener. After reading that many people use their heat tools on too hot a setting, I tried them at one of the lowest temperatures, 140°C, but my is very thick and still had kinks in it, so I had to turn the heat up.

I appreciate the hinge lock button, as it keeps the straighteners in one piece during transit. They work effectively and smooth my hair and they have a decent range of settings that are adjustable via the buttons, but I did find that some of my hair had got stuck on the side of the plates.

Celebrity hairstylist Michael Douglas (who's worked with the likes of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and his partner, Davina McCall) has created his own MD London PHAT Hair Straighteners. Thanks to their ultra-mobile, extra-wide plates, they flatten even the thickest of locks twice as fast as other options. "I would highly recommend them. I particularly appreciate the wide plates, as they make straightening my long hair much faster and more efficient", says our tester

She has "naturally long, wavy, and slightly frizzy hair" and was excited to try these straighteners. They have buttons on the sides so you can quickly adjust the settings, and a digital display gives you temperature accuracy. Our tester appreciates that "these straighteners heat up very quickly - within approximately 30 seconds" and offer adjustable temperature settings with a maximum temperature of 230°C.

We absolutely love the Casal Blue colour - it looks super sleek, just like your hair will be after using it, with the help of the ceramic tourmaline plates that prevent frizz! "They left my hair looking shiny, sleek, and noticeably less frizzy, which is exactly what I expect from a high-quality straightener". Yes, they aren't the cheapest, but they're certainly not the priciest either, and they're designed by a professional stylist.

The Silk’n SilkyStraight is more than just a hair straightener – it’s your new go-to for quick, effortless styling that’s kind to your hair. "As someone who rarely styles their hair", our tester Keya Modessa, a Senior Digital Writer at Bauer Media's Mother&Baby, found the SilkyStraight easy to use. "From the start, I was impressed with how light and stylish they are – the rose gold finish is gorgeous and far more modern than my outdated pair. When I first used them, I noticed how quickly they heated up (around 10–15 seconds) and how easy they were to handle, even with my stiff shoulder".

Featuring advanced infrared heat and ionic technology, this tool reduces frizz and damage while sealing in shine. "Thanks to the infrared and ionic technology, my hair looked smoother and healthier, and I noticed less fallout both during and after styling." It also has an LED screen that gives you the exact temperature of the plates (there are 12 temperatures in total). This is positioned on the side, which may be unfamiliar at first if you're used to top-facing displays.

They have floating titanium plates that glide smoothly without pulling or snagging, even on fine or thinning hair. "My hair is mid-length, and I hate to admit it, but with age and after having kids, not as thick as it once was (boohoo!). They slid smoothly through my hair without tugging or causing breakage. I loved how I could achieve soft, shiny results without needing high heat".

Read our full Silk'n SilkyStraight Infrared Hair Straightener review.

If you're looking for a cordless hair straightener that offers real control, the Cloud Nine Original Cordless Iron is a strong contender. With three adjustable heat settings, it’s easy to tailor the temperature to your hair type, whether you’re managing fine strands or, like our tester Senior Commercial Content Writer Rosie Floyd, "smoothing out thicker, curlier hair". "I found the plate length ideal for my medium-to-long hair, making it easy to straighten a generous section in one go".

One standout feature of these straighteners is the optional plate vibration. "At first, I wasn’t sure what the button did, but it’s actually a clever way to confirm the device is on and working - no more second-guessing or accidentally touching hot plates to check", says Rosie.

For travellers, the Cloud Nine comes with international plug adaptors, making it simple to charge wherever you are. The only drawback is the carry case - "it’s only big enough for the straightener itself, so the cable and plug need to be stored separately, which is a bit inconvenient".

Overall, these straighteners are brilliant at flattening hair. "For my first time using a Cloud Nine straightener, I was really impressed. The heat control, smooth results, and thoughtful touches like the vibrating plates and travel adaptors make it a great choice for styling on the go".

The Remington Shine Therapy Hair Straighteners are a standout option if you're after affordable and effective hair straighteners. Featuring ceramic-coated plates infused with Moroccan Argan Oil - a natural ingredient known for boosting shine - Vitamin E, conditioners, and moisturisers, this tool is designed to leave your hair looking sleek and healthy.

With nine temperature settings and a speedy 15-second heat-up time, tailoring the straighteners to your hair type is easy. Yours Commercial Content Writer Arabella Horspool has owned a pair for several years and says they “work brilliantly.” “I have long, thick hair that can go frizzy if a lot of heat is applied to it,” she explains, “but these straighteners glide through my strands and leave me with super-soft, straight locks.” A standout feature is the digital display, which she says is "easy to read"; it tells you the temperature and lets you know if the lock function is on (which maintains the chosen heat level).

However, they may take a bit longer than other pairs to heat up. Sometimes it can take nearly a minute to reach high temperatures, which isn't super long, but it can feel like a drag if you're in a rush."

If you have thick hair, you'll already know that straightening it can take a while. The ghd Max Styler Straightener makes light work of styling thick hair, as it is fitted with wide plates and heat sensors powered by dual-zone technology that maintain consistent heat distribution from root to tip. If you have long, thick, or curly hair, these straighteners are your ideal solution for smooth, sleek, and glossy hair.

Customers say that "they work brilliantly" and smooth hair "so fast", even when it's long and frizzy.

Many traditional straighteners are bulky and difficult to use on shorter hairstyles, but the Wahl Pencil Straighteners are designed specifically with precision in mind. Featuring slim, thin plates, they’re perfect for styling short hair, tidying up fringes, or smoothing flyaways with ease.

These budget-friendly straighteners heat up in just 60 seconds and use ceramic-coated plates that help retain your hair's natural moisture, leaving it smooth and shiny. They also have a three-metre cable, offering flexibility when styling. Customers say that they work well on pixie cuts, but "only goes to 200" which is okay but "should go higher for coarse hair".

Finally answering the high demand for a styling tool that both straightens and curls with ease, the Cloud Nine 2-in-1 Contouring Iron Pro is designed to deliver professional-level results while prioritising hair health. Engineered with advanced technology, this innovative hair tool features mineral-infused plates and Cloud Nine’s signature kinder-to-hair features - including healing minerals and protective temperature controls -for glossy, smooth results without damage.

One enthusiastic customer put it simply: “Curling hair with straighteners just got easier - revolutionary!" Earlier versions of the Cloud Nine iron could be personalised, which made a great gift idea, but there's no option to do so with these.

Going away on holiday? Forgotten your UK plug adapter? Or are you off camping? Cordless hair straighteners will make your lives so much easier. This genius Cordless Straightener by BaByliss is completely cordless and powered by a lithium-ion for sustained power performance. They are still jam-packed of everything corded tools offer, including Micro Heating Matrix Technology and three adjustable temperature settings.

Customers rave that they are "as good as any high end straightener", but "definitely a bit heavier than plug-ins".

We all know now that heat can damage our hair over time, especially if we use straighteners every day and don't use some sort of heat protection. Remington's Hydraluxe Pro Hair Straightener has moisture lock-coated plates to help to preserve the hair’s perfect balance of moisture with every glide and the Hydracare temperature setting lets you style at a lower temperature, so you won’t have to worry about excessive heat damage.

Reviewers are impressed with the series of controls because they "give you the exact temperature for your hair". To top it all off, it adds steam to the hair so it doesn't overheat, although some say that this function isn't always reliable.