The best hair straighteners
Sleek, shiny hair in minutes, and straighteners that curl too.
A good pair of straighteners heats fast, glides without snagging and doesn’t cook the ends. They’re one of the most wanted presents for teenagers and anyone growing their hair out.
You don’t need to spend a fortune: plenty of owners say the best cheaper pairs rival the famous names. What matters is even heat, a sensible temperature range and plates that float.
What matters
- Floating plates grip evenly without snagging.
- Lower heat for fine or coloured hair.
- Rounded edges let them curl as well as straighten.
- Auto shut-off is worth having.
Best overall
#1 of 5
9.2/10
Remington Shine Therapy Hair Straightener
££ £15–£40
Argan-oil ceramic plates, a clear digital display and nine heat settings, and it’s ready in 15 seconds.
- Ceramic plates with argan oil
- 9 settings, 150–230°C
- Ready in 15 seconds
- Floating plates
- 5-year guarantee
What owners say: Owners say it rivals far pricier straighteners, heats quickly, and leaves hair silky, shiny and straight for days.
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A closer look: The digital display makes it easy to start low on fine or coloured hair and only turn up the heat if needed. It switches itself off after an hour, which takes the worry out of rushing out of the door. The long guarantee (an extra year if registered) is unusual at this price.
Best for: Everyday straightening
- Max temperature
- 230°C
- Heat settings
- 9 (150–230°C)
- Heat-up
- 15 sec
- Plates
- Ceramic, argan oil, floating
- Auto shut-off
- After 60 min
Best premium
#2 of 5
9.1/10
ghd Original Hair Straightener
£149.00 RRP
ghd was founded in Leeds in 2001 around a single hair straightener, and the Original is still the one people ask for: one steady 185°C and a rounded shape that curls as well as it straightens.
- Single-zone 185°C
- Floating ceramic plates
- Rounded barrel for curls and waves
- 30-second heat-up
- Universal voltage
What owners say: Many owners call it the best straightener they’ve ever bought, and love how easy it is to use.
Heads up: Buy from ghd’s own store or Amazon itself: a few owners questioned whether theirs was genuine.
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A closer look: There are no settings to fiddle with, because it holds one temperature that ghd says is the best for styling without extreme heat. The rounded edges mean it can make loose waves with a twist of the wrist. It goes to sleep after 30 minutes unused and works on any voltage abroad.
Best for: A treat that lasts
- Max temperature
- 185°C (fixed)
- Heat settings
- 1
- Heat-up
- 30 sec
- Plates
- Ceramic, floating, gloss coated
- Auto shut-off
- Sleeps after 30 min
Runner-up
#3 of 5
8.9/10
BaByliss Rose Gold Hair Straighteners (Elegance 235)
££ £15–£40
Rose-gold good looks, floating ceramic plates, ready in 15 seconds, and a heat-proof mat in the box.
- 3 settings, 180–235°C
- Floating ceramic plates
- Ready in 15 seconds
- Heat-proof mat
- Multi-voltage for travel
What owners say: Owners say they work as well as far more expensive brands, keep hair straight all day, and love the colour. They think they’re good value.
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A closer look: Three simple settings suit someone who wants straight hair without studying a display. The heat mat means they can be put down safely straight after use. Multi-voltage makes them a good pair to take abroad.
Best for: A pretty present
- Max temperature
- 235°C
- Heat settings
- 3 (180–235°C)
- Heat-up
- 15 sec
- Plates
- Ceramic, floating
- Auto shut-off
- After 1 hour
Best budget
#4 of 5
8.8/10
Revlon Smoothstay Coconut Oil-Infused Hair Straightener
£29.99 RRP
Ten precise heat settings and coconut-oil ceramic plates with rounded edges, so it curls too, plus a travel pouch.
- 10 settings up to 235°C
- 25mm ceramic plates with coconut oil
- Rounded floating plates
- Dual voltage
- Storage pouch
What owners say: Owners call it salon quality, say it heats quickly and leaves hair soft and shiny, and like the travel pouch. It works well on curly hair too.
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A closer look: The narrow 25mm plates are good for fringes and shorter hair, and the rounded edges mean no crease lines. Ten settings let fine hair stay at the gentle end. Dual voltage and the pouch make it an easy holiday straightener.
Best for: Fringes, short hair and travel
- Max temperature
- 235°C
- Heat settings
- 10
- Heat-up
- –
- Plates
- 25mm ceramic, coconut oil
- Auto shut-off
- –
Best compact
#5 of 5
8.7/10
TRESemmé Ceramic Straightener 230
£27.00 RRP
Two heat settings, ready in 30 seconds, and a three-year guarantee: straightforward and small enough for a gym bag.
- Up to 230°C
- 1-inch ceramic plates
- 2 heat settings
- 30-second heat-up
- 3-year guarantee
What owners say: Owners find it heats quickly, works well on wavy hair and is easy to use, and like its compact size for travel.
Heads up: The heat is a two-position switch, which some find fiddly.
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A closer look: Setting one is for fine, thin or coloured hair and setting two for thicker hair, which keeps things simple. It needs a moment longer to reach the higher setting. A sensible first straightener for a teenager.
Best for: A first straightener
- Max temperature
- 230°C
- Heat settings
- 2
- Heat-up
- 30 sec
- Plates
- 1-inch ceramic
- Auto shut-off
- –
How they compare
| Feature | #1Remington Shine TherapyBest overall | #2ghd OriginalBest premium | #3BaByliss Rose GoldRunner-up | #4Revlon SmoothstayBest budget | #5TRESemmé 230Best compact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 |
| Price | ££ £15–£40 | £149.00 RRP | ££ £15–£40 | £29.99 RRP | £27.00 RRP |
| Max temperature | 230°C | 185°C (fixed) | 235°C | 235°C | 230°C |
| Heat settings | 9 (150–230°C) | 1 | 3 (180–235°C) | 10 | 2 |
| Heat-up | 15 sec | 30 sec | 15 sec | – | 30 sec |
| Plates | Ceramic, argan oil, floating | Ceramic, floating, gloss coated | Ceramic, floating | 25mm ceramic, coconut oil | 1-inch ceramic |
| Auto shut-off | After 60 min | Sleeps after 30 min | After 1 hour | – | – |
| Best for | Everyday straightening | A treat that lasts | A pretty present | Fringes, short hair and travel | A first straightener |
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