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14 Of The Best Hair Straighteners For Sleek, Smooth And Shiny Lengths
We answer the age old question: ghd vs Dyson
Article updated December 2023 to reflect the latest deals and get you the very best price for your investment piece.
Whether you want to smooth out frizz, create curls or simply iron out the odd kink, finding the perfect pair of hair straighteners is no mean feat.
There are quite a few questions to consider: wide or thin plates? Ceramic or keratin-infused? But, don't panic – we've made your choice a lot easier with our pick of the very best hair straighteners for 2023, plus our handy guide to finding the right tool for you.
Best hair straighteners
How to choose the right hair straighteners
Hair straighteners may all look similar but each model will have different tech hiding beneath its shiny plates. Here are a few things to consider before you buy.
When styling hair with heat, 185 degrees is widely considered the optimum temperature for minimising damage. If you have fine or damaged hair, however, you’ll need to use less heat, while thick hair may need slightly more to make an impact. This is where variable temperature control comes in, allowing you to select the right level for you.
Thick, curly hair benefits from straighteners with wide plates to cut down on styling time, and ceramic-coated plates or steam straighteners will cause less damage to afro or textured hair (4A-4C curl type). Ionic technology is a buzzword anyone with flyaways should look out for, as this tech keeps your hair looking sleek and smooth.
Whatever your hair type, it’s important to ensure your strands are completely dry before styling and always use a heat protection spray first.
Which is better for your hair: titanium or ceramic?
Most hair straighteners have either titanium or ceramic plates. Ceramic plates focus on heating hair from the inside, which we’ll admit does take a bit longer, but it also helps limit heat damage. They’re a good choice for thinner, damaged hair types.
Titanium plates, meanwhile, heat up quickly and evenly, to leave you with poker-straight hair in a single swipe. They work by heating the surface of the hair shaft and are so effective, you can get some seriously professional results, but that comes at a price — heat damage. Thicker, coarser hair can handle this heat though; if that's your hair type, you'll find the speedy straightening times a dream.
How do I style my hair with straighteners?
For super-straight glass-like hair, start at the back of the head and tackle two-inch sections of clean, dry hair at a time. Spray with heat protector and slowly run over each section with the straightener, working your way around your head.
'After using straighteners, the best way to keep hair straight is to gently spray a paddle brush with hairspray and sweep through the hair,’ says celebrity hair stylist Adam Reed.
‘This helps to hold the hair in place and keeps it polished without looking like you've used a lot of product. If you need a little more control, use a finishing cream to give the hair some weight and keep it in place.'
How we test
Over 285 testers — with straight to afro, long to short, and fine to thick hair — tried 19 hair straighteners to find the best on the market.
They noted how quickly each tool heated up, how easily it reached their roots and achieved their desired look, and how shiny and healthy their hair looked after styling.
In the ELLE beauty lab, our experts used an EV Standard machine to record the temperature of each straightener and assess the accuracy of its heat settings. They also used a Bossa Nova Shuffle machine to test how long their style lasted and how frizzy it got in humid conditions.
Denny is our Beauty and Grooming Tester and has an in-depth knowledge and background in beauty and PR. She has spoken on panels with Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) and has worked with many beauty brands as a commercial model. Since joining in October 2022, she has worked on numerous testing categories including over 18 different brands for vitamin C serums, scalp scrubs, shampoos for dry hair and many more. She has over 20k followers on TikTok where she shares beauty and fashion tips otherwise better known as Denny Daily.
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