Straight hair is never going out of style, but here’s the thing; investing in a good hair straightener won’t just give you the sleek hair of your dreams, it will help you achieve pretty much all your hair goals.
Yep, you can even achieve the tightest curls or the sleekest strands with a good-quality straighter. It’s the one tool that can play an integral part in your beauty arsenal, which is why it’s key to find one that doesn’t sacrifice the health of your hair.
The key to doing that, according to celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan, is to look for a straighter that is able to hold a consistent temperature. “Some irons don’t have consistent heat temperatures, or they quickly lose heat on the hair, then take time to reheat. This can result in uneven styles that fall and don’t last,” she explains.
Another hot tip? Keep the heat as low as you can—especially if you colour your hair. Long term styling with a straightener can not only cause damage to the hair but it affects its porosity, which means your colour can slip out of your strands easier and therefore will fade faster.
The good news? All of the options selects below use technology that keeps heat even and many also feature multiple heat settings.
Happy shopping.
Our pick of the best hair straighteners for 2024
Best Overall Hair Straightener
ghd Gold Hair Straightener
It’s not surprising that this iconic offering from go-to hair tool brand ghd came out on top. The rounded barrel makes it effortless to create everything from poker-straight ends to loose waves. Not only is it lightweight, but also leaves you with a silkier, healthier-looking head of hair.
Best Tech Hair Straightener
The Dyson Airstrait™
Just landed Down Under, this is one of the most highly-anticipated beauty products of the month. The Dyson Airstrait™ has no hot plates because it uses air in place of excessive temperatures, and it provides sleek natural styling (think a naturally straight style with reduced frizz and flyaways, for a smooth and shiny finish with natural volume). What’s more, it has 2-in-1 convenience, so you can go from from wet to dry in a single glide.
Best Hair Straightener For Thick Hair
Cloud Nine The Wide Iron
Cloud Nine’s The Wide Iron is designed with bigger plates, making styling quicker and easier on hair that’s thicker and longer. Featuring variable temperature control to work at the right heat for you, mineral infused plates to lock in moisture, and floating plates that cushion and don’t clamp, it’s a game changer for thick hair girlies.
Best On-The-Go Straightener
Cloud Nine The Micro Iron
Just because you’re on the move, doesn’t mean your hairstyle should suffer. Enter this Cloud Nine mini styling iron. In addition to being adorable, this lightweight tool takes just 30 seconds to heat up, which means less time fussing with your hair and more time exploring.
Best Straightening Brush
Bondi Boost Infrared Bounce Brush
This brush does it all. Not only can you easily achieve a simple, sleek straight look, but you can score a bouncy hairstyle worthy of the catwalk too, all without the damaging heat. The infrared tech harnesses the power of negative ions to lock in moisture as you style your strands for the glossiest finish. Infrared works to gently heats the hair from within. It’s super gentle and can be used on the daily to touch up hair. What a babe, right?
Best Hair Straightener For Boosting Shine
BaBylissPRO Optima 3000 Straightener
Packed with innovative features which redefine excellence, BaBylissPRO Nano is a stylist’s dream. Made from ultra-advanced materials, this straightener features aircraft-grade nano titanium 32mm plates for instant smoothness and shine. Dual ceramic heaters deliver exceptionally efficient heat up to 230˚C.
Best Hair Straightener For Wet Hair
Remington Wet2Straight Pro Hair Straighteners
These straighteners are a game changer for anyone looking to style wet hair as they dash from gym to date. How does it do it, you ask? Well, it features a ‘moisture sensor’ that detects the dampness of your hair and automatically adjusts the temperature to keep it safe, all while water evaporates through holes in the plates.
Best Cordless Hair Straightener
ghd Unplugged Cordless Styler
I managed to get my hands on this cordless straightener, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved its portability and how lightweight it felt to hold, and was chuffed with the style it managed to create. It me with silky-soft ends, and had spot-on temperature and rapid heat-up time.
Best Keratin-Infused Hair Straightener
Remington Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish Straightener
If you’ve always been tempted to try a keratin treatment, consider giving this straightener a go before splashing your cash. Not only are the plates infused with strengthening keratin, but Remington has added almond oil into the mix for a healthy, shiny finish.
Best Hair Straightener For Beginners
Mermade Hair Straightener
If you’re looking for something more affordable and entry-level, this is for you. The Mermade Hair Straightener will carry you from 5am-9pm: it can do everything from taming those morning flyaways, getting slick and straight work hair, styling those evening curls, and then doing it all over again the next day. Pack it in your handbag, and even take it on international travel with its lightweight design and universal voltage.
