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Your questions about hair straighteners answered
What is the best hair straightener?
Even though my hair is long, I prefer using thin barrels to reach my roots and back of my head and tame any stray hairs. The slim design with curved edges is an ideal combination – meaning this tool is a versatile 2-in-1 hair straightener and curling iron that saves luggage space (and a little money).
Taking these factors into account, ghd original stylertogether with do it, cloud nine and Matsushita The hair straightener ticks a lot of boxes for me. They styled my long hair quickly and easily without having to comb through the same section over and over again. Ultimately, ghd’s original styler gets my gold star – I’ve been using it for over 20 years and it’s my go-to for stylish, frizz-free and poker-straight looks in seconds. The DryBar is a close second, as it has the same slim and lightweight design as the ghd hair straightener, has a similar mid-range price tag, and offers more temperature options.
How do I test a hair straightener
Whenever I test a product, I use a clear set of criteria to distinguish great products from the rest. For hair straighteners, this means focusing on the following:
- temperature: I calculated how long each straightener took to reach temperature and checked the stability of the heat during use.
- Performance: I paid attention to how many passes it took to fully smooth my hair, especially at the roots.
- Finish: I assessed how smooth, shiny and healthy my hair was immediately after styling.
- Frizz control: I tracked how each style held up throughout the day, especially in wet conditions.
- Style diversity: I tested each hair straightener to see if it could easily style waves, curls, and polished straight hair.
- Board skating: I noticed how smoothly the metal pieces moved through my hair and whether they pulled or got stuck.
- Availability: Weight, balance, cord length and how intuitive the controls are during use are also taken into consideration.
- Value for money: I evaluated each hair straightener to see if its performance, features, and results matched its price.
What should you consider when buying a hair straightener?
Board size
Hair straighteners can be equipped with narrow, wide, short or long plates, and which style is right for you depends on the length and density of your hair.
Short and fine hair tend to benefit from slim straighteners because they can easily access those hard-to-reach areas. Those with thick, curly or longer hair will find that their hair takes longer to straighten, which is why wider plates or dual-purpose straighteners that dry and style at the same time are often preferred.
Ceramics and Titanium
If you choose a hair straightener with a hot plate rather than airflow, you’ll find that ceramic or titanium plates are popular choices. Ceramic hair straighteners take longer to heat and work by heating the hair from the inside out. Meanwhile, titanium/airflow hair straighteners heat up and heat your hair from the surface almost instantly.
In short, ceramic irons are generally considered better for fine hair, while titanium plates are most effective for coarse or thick hair.
Heat settings
Some hair straighteners have adjustable temperature settings, but others are set to a fixed temperature. The latter makes the tool easy to use, as it minimizes the hassle of trying to find the procedure that works best for your hair type and needs. A temperature of 185°C is considered the optimal styling temperature for most hair types.
Those who choose a hair straightener with adjustable heat settings should use the lowest setting of around 100-185C if their hair is coloured, fragile, brittle or fine. Thick or coarse hair can handle higher temperatures, but be sure to use a heat protection spray. Some hair straighteners with adjustable heat settings can reach temperatures as high as 230 degrees Celsius, which should be avoided, especially for fine, short and damaged hair, as it can cause irreversible hair damage.
Dimensions and weight
Hair straighteners have improved tremendously over the years, with many designs being feather-light, compact, and easy to carry. If you’re looking for a hair straightener that you can take with you, a cordless design, like ghd’s unplugged (included in this article), can suit all your needs. If you have long or thick hair, you’ll want a lightweight style to avoid sore arms during the styling process.
How to prevent hair damage when using a hair straightener
Any heated styling tool can damage your hair, especially if your hair is already lacking in moisture and protein. This (plus external aggressors like chlorine, chemical treatments, and over- or under-washing) can leave your hair looking and feeling lackluster.
The best precaution you can take is to always use a heat-protecting spray before blow-drying, curling, or straightening your hair. This is because the spray adds a protective layer that acts as a barrier to absorb heat and keep your hair from being damaged.
Can wet hair be straightened?
Another step to protect your hair is to only straighten hair that is completely dry. Hair is most vulnerable when it’s wet – if you’ve ever tried to use a heat styler on damp hair, you may have heard a hissing sound from your strands, which should tell you everything you need to know. Doing so can increase breakage, frizz and even make your hair’s natural texture coarser.
How to Curl Hair with a Hair Straightener
If you want to use a straightener to curl your hair, avoid wide straightening irons and opt for a thinner model instead, as this will make it easier to wrap your hair around the straightener to create curls. To curl your hair, place a section of hair inside a straightener (smaller sections for tighter curls, larger sections for a wavier look) and wrap the ends of your hair around the straightener while turning the iron toward you or away from you, depending on the type of curls you want. Then, all you have to do is hold it on for a few seconds and gently pull the straightener down until it reaches the ends of your hair, at which point you can release your hair from the device.
Why You Can Trust IndyBest Reviews
Maisie Bovingdon is a lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience in e-commerce, fashion, beauty, health and wellness. For IndyBest, she reviewed all of the following Dyson air pack alternatives and Base arrive Pilates equipmentthoroughly tests every product to bring you her honest opinion and help you find the best value for your money.
Looking for more recommendations? Check out IndyBest’s reviews best hair dryer