Best Hair Straightener 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

The hair straightener choice for many celebrity hairstylists and professionals from all over the world, this Cloud Nine model is powerful yet adaptable to suit your styling preferences.

The temperature range is 100 to 200°C, so whether you need to tackle your full head of frizzy hair or just touch up your fringe, you won’t risk causing any unnecessary damage. Super smooth plates and the curved body means it can also create curls, waves and flicks with ease – no need for two separate appliances cluttering the dressing table.

A great pick if you want high end, but are put off with the lack of temperature control which comes with ghds.

Mineral infused plates ensure easy gliding, which leaves your hair smooth and silky and lasts the next day too. Anions (negative ions) lock in moisture, so your hair won’t be left dry and losing structure.

As expected with the brand, these ghd Platinum+ straighteners are incredibly powerful at tackling all hair types. They are also great at preventing heat damage, with Tri-Zone technology in each plate to ensure the temperature is consistent across the entire plate, preventing any breakages or damage. The use of the three sensors also increases shine by 20% compared to other rivals which reach 230°C.

The automatic switch off feature helps to keep you and your surfaces safe. After 30 minutes of being left idle, the straighteners will turn off, so you don’t have to worry about whether you left them on or not.

If you have found that, with previous straighteners, the hinge has either caught in your hair or snapped on your fingers, the innovative wishbone hinge will keep you safe as well as giving more control over your movement.
Universal voltage also makes them a great pick wherever you are in the world, and the heat-resistant protective plate guard lets you pack them away even if they haven’t completely cooled.

The most expensive of our picks, but it gets rave reviews for being one of the few straighteners on the market which really does what it promises, and locks in moisture to hair. Nanoe™ particles generated from air holes at the tip of its ceramic coated iron plates ensure glossy straight hairs, preventing the damage which is caused by heat.

The five temperature controls, ranging from 150 to 200C, mean you don’t have to use a hotter setting than required, further protecting your hair.

So, if you’ve tried a lot of straighteners and heat protection over the years but still feel like your hair is left looking and feeling like straw, these Panasonic’s may be your best bet. The price is steep, but with regular use, over the years it will likely be justified – especially if you’re prone to making regular trips to the salon and spending your money there.

Our choice if you’re on a budget. Fast working to reach the maximum temperature of 230°C, the Remington S3500 is the best budget flat iron money can buy in our opinion. Not only is it fast, but the massive ten heat settings give a great variety for all hair types – crank it up if your hair is very thick and frizzy, or keep it low for fine hair or fringes.

There is also a great auto shut-off feature which will activate if the straightener has been left on for 60 minutes, which could not only save energy but also prevent any accidents if you forget to turn them off.

The plates are also longer than with a lot of its rivals at the lower end of the market, which is great for doing large chunks of hair at the one time if you are in a rush or just need a bit of extra styling.

As an extra, it also comes with a heat proof styling pouch so you can keep them safe in storage, or cover them up if you need to pop them in your suitcase.

With two temperature settings of either 200°C or 230°C, the BaByliss 2069U gives you a decent amount of control depending on how much power you need to straighten your hair. It is also very quick to heat up in just 30 seconds for the highest temperature, so even if you are in a rush, you won’t have to do without.

Featuring a slim, compact design, it doesn’t take up much room if you have to transport them. They’re also really easy to manoeuvre around your head and aren’t heavy to hold at only 0.32 kg.

With the iconic ghd design, this mini hair straightener is perfect for travelling or popping in your bag if you’re going out for the whole day.

The sleek, narrow plates are great for smaller more delicate parts of your hair, such as fringes, cowlicks and any little kinks which need going over. As the temperature reaches 185°C, there is enough power to tackle your hair but not damage it at the same time.

As it is indeed small, it’s best suited for someone with short hair which doesn’t need much attention. Somebody with very thick or frizz-prone hair may find they take a while to get through.

Due to its curved design, it could also handily double up as a curler, so you don’t have to pack two separate products.

The handy protective guard is one thing which makes it a great travel option – you can pack it away straight after use without waiting around for it to cool down. The other stand-out is the massive 2.7m cord length, which is brilliant for those hotel rooms where the plug is nowhere near the mirror.

Only half the size of a regular pair of hair straighteners, but with no loss of power. The BaByliss Nano reaches a maximum temperature of 200°C, which is great for almost all types of hair. The ceramic plates leave hair shiny and smooth, as well as being easy to glide through hair.

Worldwide voltage makes them an ideal option for anyone who is looking to take them abroad. The toiletries bag which comes with the straightener is handy for keeping it safe and unscathed while in your suitcase.

As with all travel and mini straighteners, they may take ages to get through very thick or long hair, but they are one of the best bets for anyone who likes to touch up your fringe or any random kinks at home as well as abroad.

Straightening brushes are great for tackling frizz without flattening your hair, and this particular model is very efficient.

When in operation, there is a slight buzzing sound which is the ions getting to work, so they are ready to give your hair a smooth, shiny finish.

It will reach a maximum temperature of 200°C, so even if you have thick hair and feel like a brush model will not tackle your barnet, you will likely be pleasantly surprised. Likewise, if you have sensitive hair and want to reduce the amount of heat, there are three settings so it can be set just hot enough to work without causing damage.

Much simpler to use than straighteners, it is a great item for anyone who needs to use them daily but wants to cut down on it being a chore. Having said this, you still need to give it a calm and slow approach to see the best results.

Straightening brushes are seen as a pretty revolutionary product as they do 2 jobs in 1 item, but they often get a bad reputation for not being as good as the real thing. The Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo brush is a great product which could test this theory and show how much technology has moved on.

There is a digital display, and the settings are very adjustable to suit your individual hair type.

If you’re wondering where the name comes from – the bristles are infused with the wonder product that is coconut oil. This nourishes your hair and scalp and prevents damage.

The brush shuts off after 60 minutes, so it will never be left on all day if you forget to do it yourself.

It still isn’t as great as plated hair straighteners, but is much better than a lot of the other options on the market, with the right technology to bring it right up to date. Perfect if you like to straighten your hair to get rid of any flyaways as opposed to making your thick hair poker straight.

To make styling easier, this heated brush works well to both tackle frizz and knots while straightening your hair.

The bristles are infused with keratin and almond oil, which will protect your hair from the heat and help to keep it healthy and soft. As there are three temperature settings to choose from, you can pick the one which suits your hair type the best – thicker hair will likely need the highest, but thinner hair or fringes will only need the lowest. This will also keep your hair protected from overheating.

The tip of the bristles stays cool, to lower the risk of accidents and make it easier to glide through your hair. The three settings range from 150°C – 230°C, which still gives you the ordinary treatment of a pair of straighteners.

If they have been left on for 60 minutes with no use, they will automatically turn off, so you don’t have to worry when you get to work. The power lead is a great length for comfortable use, so you aren’t too restricted for where you sit to style your hair.

Some people may find it a little heavy to hold, and in the user manual, it recommends you don’t brush too close to the scalp. Not only is this because of the heat, but the bristles are also quite hard. For some people, this could completely defeat the purpose of straightening your hair and will not tackle the areas which are most important.

For this reason, we would say it is best for anyone who just needs a touch up every so often or anyone with thinner hair as opposed to thick frizzy hair.