The 14 Best Hair Straighteners That Justify the Investment
For smooth, sleek hair (approved by beauty editors)
Over the years, as a beauty editor, I have recommended countless new beauty products to people. However, I have found that what most people want to grill me about is which hair tools are worth the money. Just the other day, someone wanted to know whether it was really worth buying an Airwrap considering the price tag. And I completely understand, hair tools have become outrageously expensive, so you want to know that your money is going towards the perfect tool for you. Take the best hair straighteners, for example—if you're spending around £100 (and, let's be honest, more often than not it's more) you don't want that to go to waste. It's important that you get one that works with your hair type, will create your desired look and won't cause excessive damage.
Gone are the days of ironing your hair with a singular heat setting (and seeing the toll it takes on your strands). As technology has come on, so too have the tools (the best hair dryers included). While there's no doubt that the best ghd straighteners are still leading the way when it comes to straightening, there's a huge amount of new technology out there too, including features such as temperature control, specialist plates and flyaway-fighting technology. Don't underestimate how important choosing your next pair of straighteners is.
Luckily, the Marie Claire team has different hair types, lengths and favourite hairstyles, making us great testers. When we test the best hair straighteners, we all have different preferences, but our testing process is based on the five key straightener specs below. Keep scrolling for the key things to look for when finding the best hair straightener for you.
Best hair straighteners 2026 at a glance
- Best all-rounder: ghd Chronos Hair Straightener, £299 | Amazon
- Best for versatility: Cloud Nine The Contouring Wide Iron, £229 | Cloud Nine
- Most affordable: Remington Ceramic Straight 230 Straightener, £23.99 | Amazon
- Speedy styling: Cloud Nine The Touch Iron, £149 | Amazon
- Best for short hair: ghd Mini Hair Straightener, £169 | Lookfantastic
- Best for Afro hair: L'Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 4, £305 | Amazon
- Best for thick hair: ghd Max Hair Straightener, £209 | Amazon
- Best for curly hair: Revamp Progloss Touch Digital Ceramic Straightener, £49.99 | Amazon
- Best for travel: ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Straightener, £254.16 | Amazon
What we look for when testing the best hair straighteners
The best hair straightener for you depends on your hair type, hair length and desired results, which is why we've tested what feels like every straightener out there to give you the best of the best. There are a few important specs to look out for when it comes to finding the right fit for you, though.
Width
Depending on the length of your hair, the width of the straighteners matters. The wider plates (approximately 5cm) suit longer hair better, and the thinner plates (less than 5cm) will work better on shorter hair. Wider plates also suit thicker hair types.
Plates
What the plates are made from is important. The words to look out for are:
- Ceramic: You typically find that the less expensive straighteners have ceramic plates. They take a bit of time to heat up, but it is evenly distributed.
- Metal: Metal plates (usually made from titanium) get hot within seconds and tend to cost a little more money. They can be good for very thick or coarse hair that takes a few goes to straighten.
- Ceramic-coated: These are metal plates, coated in ceramic. The plates heat up really quickly and the heat is more evenly distributed. These tend to be the most expensive.
- Tourmaline: Tourmaline is a mix of super-fine crushed up gemstones and other minerals mixed with the ceramic coating to create a smooth coating. Tourmaline plates can help to reduce static, and are a good option for hair prone to frizz and flyaways.
Heat settings
If you have really fine or thin hair, the idea of adding high temperatures to it may seem mad. This is why the best hair straighteners now have a variable temperature setting.
"A good straightener must have different heat settings, so you can regulate the temperature accordingly," says Bernardo Vasconcelos, celebrity hairdresser and founder of salons BCO London and Blu Kuwait, and TRYO Hair Extensions. "I personally prefer those that go up to 220ºC maximum, and usually I recommend setting the iron between 160ºC and 200ºC."
Ionic technology
So many women use straighteners to help smooth unwanted flyaways and frizz. Flyaways can be caused by too much positive charge on the hair, so much like with the hair dryers, ionic technology aids your tools in smoothing.
"A straightener with ionic technology would also be ideal with those with curly hair," says Vasconcelos.
Cord length
This is an obvious one. You either prefer a really, really long cord which means you can style standing up, wherever. Or you like a shorter cord that packs away neatly.
Which straighteners are best for my hair type?
We spoke to the experts all about which straighteners to get depending on your hair type. Keep on scrolling to see which style is best for you.
- Fine hair: Fine hair won't need as much heat, so it might be worth looking for straighteners with multiple heat settings so that you can select lower options. Michele Antiga from Gielly Green likes the ghd Mini Hair Straightener if your hair is on the shorter or thinner side as it has small plates.
- Thick hair: If you have thicker hair, Antiga recommends looking for straighteners with wider plates, such as the ghd Max or the Cloud Nine Wide Iron Pro.
- Curly hair: Vasconcelos recommends a straightener with ionic technology for those with curly hair. Try the Revamp Progloss Touch Digital.
Best hair straighteners to buy in 2026
1. ghd Chronos Hair Straightener
Ghd's latest model of hair straightener, and its most expensive. The Chronos features ghd's smartest ever heat monitoring technology to keep the plates at the brand's preferred styling temperature of 185°C, plus it claims to give perfect results in one stroke—no going over the same piece of hair over and over.
"I struggle to find the words to describe these other than just 'the best ghds you've ever used'," says Laura. "They straighten quicker than ever, and are great at curling too. Ghd does have cheaper straighteners, but if you've got your heart set on the brand and you can stretch to this price, they're worth it."
2. Cloud Nine The Contouring Wide Iron
The Contouring Wide Iron from Cloud Nine is a masterclass in versatile styling. Designed with wider, curved ceramic plates and 11 adjustable heat settings, it moves effortlessly between sleek, poker-straight lengths and soft, undone waves. The plates are infused with Sericite® to help lock in moisture, boost shine and minimise friction, while the brand’s Revive Mode—vibrating up to 8,000 times per minute—reduces direct heat contact for a gentler finish.
“I love how easily I can switch up my style with these straighteners—they create tousled waves just as seamlessly as they deliver a silky, ultra-smooth finish.” — Lottie Winter, Beauty Director
3. Remington ONE Straight & Curl Styler
Tired of a dressing table filled with various different styling tools? Remington has the answer with this clever idea, a straightener with curved outer plates that can be locked together to form a curling wand.
"As someone who has never mastered the precise arm manoeuvres needed to create curls with a straightener iron, this two-in-one tool greatly appealed to me," says Laura. "It's also useful if you want the option of creating different hairstyles while travelling. When testing I did find it a little clunky to use, and that it was more effective as a straightener than a curling wand, but more accomplished hair stylers than myself will love the versatility of this."
4. Remington Ceramic Straight 230 Straightener
Whether you're not one for straightening that often or you just don't want to spend that much, Remington has plenty of super-affordable—and really decent—options on the market, like this one that's under £30. You still want to be able to rely on your styler, even if you're not dropping the big bucks. Titanium combined with ionic properties helps to smooth and reduces heat damage—it's a win win.
Freelance beauty editor Laura Mulley says, "I often see shoppers comment on how good these are for the price, and the fact that they've got over 2,000 five-star reviews on the Argos website alone should tell you something. If, like me, you've got fairly uncomplicated hair and you don't straighten it enough to want to spend a lot of money on straighteners, these are a great option."
5. Cloud Nine The Touch Iron
The beauty of these straighteners is that they heat up in a moment. And we really do mean a moment—simply click the plates together and off you go. The plates are also infused with minerals, which help to heal the hair by sealing the hair's cuticle and locking in moisture, making these the best hair straighteners for an everyday straightener user.
"I know a lot of top hair stylists who swear by Cloud Nine hair tools, and after trying these out, I can see why," says Laura. "The 'clap together to wake' makes them so easy to use—no fiddling around with buttons or switches—they heat up and turn off super quickly, and they glide smoothly over the hair. If you're looking for a top-end brand that isn't ghd or Dyson, these are a great choice."
6. KEEO Genius Smart-Glide Straightener
One of the root causes of damaged hair is heat (alongside colouring and brushing) so the idea of applying heat to strands with excessive breakage seems mad, but we're super impressed with KEEO's hair straightener offering—so much so, we wrote an entire review on the KEEO Genius Smart-Glide Straightener ,which you can read for yourself.
Grace Lindsay, E-Commerce Writer says, "This hair tool claims to be the 'world's kindest hair straightener', promising less tension, less heat and hairstyles that last all day. The plates almost look like a hair crimper, which alarmed me, however after reading up about them, it turns out they are actually pretty clever.
"These contoured plates have been designed with a patented precision air gap, which means that the straighteners don't clamp your hair as much as other designs, resulting in less tension on the hair and also less heat pressed into your locks."
7. ghd Mini Hair Straightener
The thinner plates on this styler make it ideal for shorter crops and fringes. It utilises the same technology as the ghd Original tool, just on teeny floating plates, which are designed so that shorter strands are easier to get to so that you don't end up with hair sticking out at an odd angle.
8. L'Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 4
If your hair is particularly brittle from over-styling or regular colouring, L'Oréal Professionnel's revolutionary straighteners that use steam to smooth strands are the best hair straighteners for dry hair—and they're also a Marie Claire Hair Awards winner. They cause less damage than your typical heated plate straighteners, making them a great option for those with tightly curled and coiled hair. The SteamPod 4 has wider plates for easier straightening that reaches even closer to the roots, plus a 'curl locking guide' at 100°C.
Laura says, "Admittedly this is a bit bigger and more fiddly than your typical pair of straighteners, but hair feels amazing after going over it with this—really healthy and shiny. Just make sure you hair's been brushed through first to avoid knots getting caught in its comb."
9. ghd Max Hair Straightener
With all of the iconic ghd technology and 70% wider plates, the ghd Max is the ideal styler for thick hair, and it cuts down styling time by half (depending on hair length). The best thing about these is that they're just the same as the beloved Platinum+—they have a rounded design, which means they can be used for sleek and straight looks or loose waves and curls. They're also pretty nifty on long and curly hair.
"It's not really one of curls or waves but if it's smooth sheets of hair you're after—and quickly— this is ideal," says Laura. "I was able to straighten my entire head of hair in mere minutes using this, without needing to go over the same section more than once."
10. Revamp Progloss Touch Digital Ceramic Straightener
Those with curly hair know that your hair is constantly calling out for moisture; happy curl is a hydrated curl. This is what makes these straighteners so perfect. The plates are infused with keratin, argan and coconut oils for the smoothest look possible. There are also 32 heat settings, so you're able to move between 80°C and 235°C in increments of 5° to find the best heat to straighten your coils.
Laura says, "This is great for totally bespoke straightening or curling, as you can set your desired temperature to within 5°—you need to wait a few seconds for the temperature to 'lock in', so avoid your fingers brushing the touchscreen until then (and there are also three preset temperature settings). This left my hair feeling silky but not frazzled, although I did find that the occasional hair did get snagged in the gaps between the plates."
11. ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Straightener
The thing that sets this styler apart from other cordless straighteners is its size. It's really small and nimble, which makes it perfect for travel. It can be charged up in a car, on your laptop or in the mains. And it's been approved safe for travelling with you in the cabin on a plane. With full power, you have 20 minutes of styling time. It really is like taking your favourite pair of ghd stylers wherever you go.
Laura says, "I always struggle to pack light so these are a godsend, slipping into even the most tightly packed bag or suitcase. Due to their smaller size, they don't style quite as quickly as corded ghds, and thick hair will need a few extra passes, but for simple styling and touch-ups when you don't want to pack a big hair tool, these are perfect."
12. MDLondon Strait Hair Straighteners
One of three hot tools from celebrity hair stylist Michael Douglas, who has thought of what's really needed from a good pair of straighteners in this simple but effective design: long plates, a slim casing, an extra-long cord and an adjustable temperature that reaches up to 230°C (hotter than a lot of these listed here, should you so wish).
"This straightener has everything you need, and for a good price," says Laura. "I especially like how slim the device is, which allows you to get it close to the roots without crating unwanted kinks, or to just pick up small sections of hair if you want. It's great on my fine strands, although those with thicker hair might find they need to straighten in smaller sections, or go over them a couple of times. Love this blush pink colour, too."
13. BaByliss Super Styler
One of the new generation of straighteners that aims to keep the heat consistent across the whole plate at all times, meaning no missed patches or extra hot spots. This hero BaByliss model does this through an impressive 2,500 'micro-heaters' across the plates and technology that monitors their temperature 50 times a second.
Laura says, "First up, I love the cheery little ring it makes when it's switched on—it sounds (and looks) very sleek and high-tech. The slightly rounded design makes it great for creating curls and waves without kinks, even for a hair styling novice like me, and it keeps my hair frizz-free all day. It's just a great all-rounder."
14. Silk'n Silky Straight Infrared Hair Straightener
Another that uses infrared to heat the hair from the inside, while the floating titanium plates to the smoothing on the outside. This device also emits ions, making it ideal for hair prone to static or flyaways. There's a digital display to show you clearly what temperature you're working at, and a lock function when it's not in use.
Laura says, "This grips the hair really well—no splaying it out to the sides meaning repeat strokes—and heats in in literal seconds. I like that I'm getting three technologies in one with this model: heated plates, infrared and ions."
How to straighten your hair like a pro
In the past—OK, in the 90s—when all we wanted was poker-straight hair, we used to grab our straighteners, clamp them over our strands as firmly as possible, and drag them from root to tip without much care or thought. Thankfully those days are over, but there are still ways of improving our technique.
"A common mistake with straightening is going over the same piece of hair multiple times," warns Larry King, hair stylist and founder of Larry King Haircare. The trouble with this, he says, is "one side of the hair straightens better and easier than the other. This causes irreversible heat damage and breakage, usually on one side more than the other. Invest in good tools that maintain the condition of your hair too."
King also explains that to achieve the best results it's all about identifying your hair type and the look you're trying to achieve, and finding the appropriate tool to suit. Once you know that you'll know to get the most from the settings on your straighteners.
"There are multiple different ways to straighten thick vs thin, and long vs short hair," he says. He recommends a high-intensity heat for thicker hair "With thick hair, you want to aim to take the density out, but with finer hair you just need to gently take the curl out, so lower the temperature for thinner hair."
"If you want a straight, sleek look while maintaining some volume, use a lower temperature. This will take out the curl but maintain the volume. If you wanted it sleeker and flatter, taking out the density, then use a medium temperature, around 165°C-185°C. If you go too hot with a straightener, you find you then can’t change the look, so you'll struggle to add volume or curls later on."
If you like ironed-out styles, the best hair straighteners are absolutely essential to your beauty arsenal. Along with one of the best hair serums, the perfect pair of irons will make your hair super sleek in a matter of minutes.
