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Just look how far we've come since those leaky Carmen Girl steam irons.

If Rachel Green circa Friends is forever your icon and you're looking for the best hair straighteners, you've come to the right place.

We're not being dramatic when we say that finding 'the one' will make a huge difference to your daily routine. We're talking no more frazzled lengths, no more static flyaways and, best of all, no more split ends.

There's never been a better excuse to ditch your old – probably super damaging – hair straighteners out for some swishy new ones.

We put the top models in the game to the test in both our Cosmo lab and with our editors to see which ones were really worth the hype, keep scrolling to see our top picks.

To reap the benefits of your new straighteners, Ky Wilson founder of The Social and ambassador for BaByliss suggests blow-drying first (you can find our fave hairdryers here, btw) using a good heat protector.

To keep hair sleek, Ky recommends: “spraying some soft-hold hairspray into a nylon bristle brush and going through the hair, rather than spraying product directly onto the hair. You can repeat this with a shine spray, which makes hair look super sleek and gives you that pro finish.” We’re sold.

And the worst thing you can do? “Don’t clamp your straighteners down at the root,” warns Ky. “Instead, gradually close the plates as you’re pulling down the hair and make sure there’s no angle, as this will give your hair an indent that's hard to get out.”

Oh, and if you need a little inspiration when it comes to using your irons, be sure to check out all the different ways you can use them, and never moan that you're stuck in a hair rut again.

We've reviewed a bunch of the UK's top-rated straighteners (including ghd, BaByliss, L'Oreal Professional, T3 and Dyson) to compile a definitive ranking of the very best hair irons to invest in, whatever your budget.

From travel options, to steam pods, to coconut oil-infused plates, we've covered all bases because if you've had the same irons since your teenage years, tech has come a long way since then. Keep scrolling to find our winners.

We’d love to be able to tell you that hair straighteners are good for your hair, but all that heat does come at a price.

However, there are a few methods to help keep damage to a minimum. We’ve already mentioned above that a heat protection spray is a must to prep fragile strands, but it’s also down to the tool you pick.

With straighteners, ceramic plates are the way to go. They tend to be more affordable (yay!) but they're also prone to chipping. What makes them so good for damaged hair though is that they're slower to warm up and distribute heat more evenly than other plate options (e.g. titanium). You can also get ceramic-coated plates that have a metal base. These will reduce heat-up time while still making sure you’re evenly straightening your locks.

A variety of temperature settings is also a good idea for damaged hair. The lower the temp, the less frying you’ll do to your delicate ends, so you can start on the lowest setting and work your way up.

Products blessed with this logo below have been tested by over 285 members of our panel (all with straight to afro, long to short and fine to thick hair), who tried 19 different hair straighteners to find the tools that are really worth the hype (and your precious cash).

They judged each straightener on how quickly it heated up, how easy it was to use, whether it achieved their desired style and how shiny and healthy their hair looked after styling.

Back in the Cosmo lab, our expert testers used a high-tech machine to record the temperature of each straightener and assess the accuracy of its heat settings.

They couldn't stop at only one lab test, so they recruited yet another high-tech machine (told you they were pros) to time how long each style lasted after straightening and analyse exactly how much frizz came out to play in humid conditions.

Now get out there with your great hair and find the Ross to your Rachel...

Thanks to the wider plates on this one, you can save those precious morning minutes and hit the snooze button. They covered more ground, getting through testers’ hair in a flash – perfect if you've got longer or thicker hair (or just need those extra mins of beauty sleep, obvs).

They gripped hair well, without any tugging or snagging, and all styles stayed intact during our heatwave-esque humidity test. These are also our top rec if you’re indulging in the bleach atm, as our panel reckoned their hair actually looked healthier after styling. Bravo, Cloud Nine.

Key specs Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 11 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: Faux leather case, heat guard

While we don’t agree that we all have the same 24 hours in a day, we're delighted that Love Island alumni Molly-Mae has used some of hers to team up with Beauty Works for this hair tool collab.

Their resulting straightener stood out for its 29 heat options (great if you’ve got finer or more fragile hair) and how smoothly it glided through strands. The frizz-free, shiny finish thrilled our testers – so much so that almost everyone plans to keep this styler in their arsenal.

Key specs Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 29 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: Faux leather case, vegan bristle paddle brush, heat glove

The gold standard of hair straighteners, this techy device has flexing plates that help grip as much hair as poss – including pesky flyaways – for a fuss-free styling sesh. Our testers couldn’t fault its efficiency, reporting that it straightened their strands in a single swipe.

Everybody loved its swanky, premium feel and appreciated its jazzy features – especially the charging stand, heat-resistant mat and ‘flight mode’ function that temporarily pauses the battery to save juice. Some found it a bit bulky and heavy, but it did pick up a near perfect score in our lab test.

Key specifications Type of plates: Metal (flexing manganese copper alloy) Number of heat settings: 3 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: Heat resistant travel case, charging dock, magnetic charging cable

So, here’s a cool tool to consider, especially if you’re into your tech. Its plates emit infrared light, which claims to balance moisture and seal hair cuticles for healthier, glossier tresses.

Though sceptical, most of our panel reported a boost in the shine stakes and there was barely any frizzing in our humidity lab test – flyaways were smoothed and styles stayed intact.

Key specs Type of plates: Titanium Number of heat settings: 10 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: None

The three-step process of washing, then drying, then straightening hair can be a time-consuming bore, but this clever tool takes you from damp to styled strands in just a few mins, without frazzling your mane.

How does it do it? Its ‘moisture sensor’ picks up on how wet your hair is and automatically adjusts the temp, all while water particles evaporate through holes in the plates – smart, huh? Our testers found it glided breezily through their tresses, leaving 92% impressed by how speedily it styled, and many said their hair looked shinier, smoother and altogether healthier. Result!

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 10 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: Storage pouch

This styler’s 30 different heat settings might be too overwhelming for indecisive Libras, but if you've got curly, fine or damaged ends, it's great to have the option of using a lower, less damaging temp.

Its extra-long 125mm plates aim to heat up in just 10 seconds before getting through strands speedily. Many testers appreciated how quickly they cooled down after use, allowing for safer storage, and one raved about how well her style lasted throughout the day.

Key specs Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 30 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: None

It's no surprise that ghd's OG ranked so highly in our test. It might boast neither space-age tech nor a million different heat settings, but it's guaranteed to deliver fool-proof results if you’re new to hair straightening.

Quick to heat up, it left unruly strands poker-straight in only a few glides and kept hair frizz-free in humid weather. Oh and it shuts off automatically if left untouched for 30 mins, making it pretty hard for you to burn the house down, which is always a good thing.

Key specs Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 1 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: None

Summer showers leaving you looking more frazzled than flawless? Fear not – this flat iron will keep frizz in check and save you from looking like Monica Geller in that iconic Barbados Friends episode.

Of our testers who are usually plagued with flyaways, 80% found it gave them a sleek, polished finish and 90% said their style looked enviable all day. Its “stylish and luxurious” design didn’t hurt either, with our panel loving it’s aesthetic and appreciating how comfortable it felt to manoeuvre.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 9 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: None

Celebrity beauty brands have been popping up left, right and centre, but when Drew Barrymore swerved into the hair tool field, our beauty team had high hopes (she’s been on our hair mood board since the 90s, after all).

Did it live up to the hype? Oh yes. It didn’t cause any uncomfortable snagging or tangling and 80% of our testers experienced flawlessly sleek results. It massively boosted shine – 90% noted mirror-like results – and heated up in a flash in the lab. Nice one, Drew.

Key specifications Type of plates: Tourmaline ceramic Number of heat settings: 4 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: None

Heated hair tools give aesthetically pleasing results, but we’ll pass on the heat damage, ta. Happily, the Steampod works like a steamer to straighten strands without frying them, and you don’t need much water to get it going.

The removable comb helped to smooth 81% of our panel’s tresses in an instant, leaving them with a silkier, shinier head of hair. Everybody appreciated the sturdiness of the design and it left most testers with healthier-looking ends – what more could you ask for?

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 3 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: Mini water refill bottle

If you’re looking to splurge on a new travel buddy, this chic yet practical kit needs to be added to your basket ASAP. Once our testers got over its compact cuteness (and it is seriously cute), they found it worked pretty darn well too.

Not only is its cordless design ideal for whisking away on vacay, but it also allows for a 360° styling experience that won’t twist your neck. It delivered a smooth finish for 70% of our panel and its low temp option of 160°C means you needn’t compromise your hair’s health to look lush.

​​Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 2 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: Protective heat resistant guard, faux leather style case, faux leather roll bag, faux leather travel pouch, universal voltage charger and plug adaptors, charging pod, luxury travel bag, boar bristle dressing brush

Perhaps not one for the indecisive (Libras, we’re looking at you), this straightener comes with a mega 16 heat settings ranging from 80ºC to 235ºC, giving you ultimate control.

Our panel described it as a smooth glider, with 79% not experiencing any annoying tangling or tugging. Its wide plates made it easy to achieve quick results, even on fuller manes, and 71% said their hair was left frizz-free after use. Their style didn’t quite last all day, but it looked great while it did.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 16 Ionic technology: Yes Included accessories: Heat proof silicone mat

Heat styling first timers, listen up. This straightener gets the job done pronto and won’t leave your bank balance sobbing. It claims to heat up in one minute flat, but our lab test found it took a teeny bit longer.

Still, its simplicity and manoeuvrability wowed our testers, and it left 79% with the exact style they were after. It didn’t snag or tangle their hair and 78% noticed a boost in shininess. Pretty sweet for £20, no?

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 1 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: Heat mat

Yet another entry from ghd, this clever tool automatically detects not only the thickness of your hair, but also the speed at which you're gliding through strands, before adjusting the power accordingly.

In short, our testers loved it, with a massive 90% enjoying silky-soft manes. It only has one heat setting, but it reached its max temp quickly, and its thick plates gripped ends well – a perfect match for those with enviably thick locks.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 1 Ionic technology: No Included accessories: None

Insta-worthy hair in just 10 mins? Gimme. Tbh, our testers didn’t set a timer, but 79% were thrilled with how long this tool took to freshen up their style and 86% enjoyed long-lasting results. Those with afro hair found it equally speedy to use and raved about their shiny finish.

Its ionic tech helped prevent heat damage by sealing the hair cuticle, which in turn left our panel’s hair as smooth as marble. There’s a slight gap between the plates, which made gripping ends a tad tricky for some, but that was a minor niggle.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated sonic vibrating Number of heat settings: 11 Ionic technology: Yes Included accessories: Protective glove

For short hair and fringes, this styler is the perfect size. The ceramic-coated plates keep hair smooth and frizz to the absolute minimum.

They can be used on all hair types as the temperature setting is adjustable, heating up to 230 degrees.

Also, if you have afro-textured hair and find that when you sweat your roots puff up, these plates are great for smoothing them back out.

Does straightening your hair take ages, because of how long or thick it is? The ghd Max will basically cut your styling time in half thanks to their wider plates. Natch, like all ghd straighteners they heat up to 185 degrees and take just 30 seconds to do so.

And of course the tech for these are top tier, the dual-zone technology keeps the heat consistent for root to tip so there’s no frizzing at the ends.

These clever straighteners have plates infused with coconut oil (yes, really), which is supposed to give your hair a shinier finish. We love them because they have a variable heat control, which means you can adjust the temperature and prevent the irons from frazzling your locks.

The floating plates and soft touch outer casing make straightening your hair a dream, plus (without sounding like too much of a cliché) they're lilac and kinda cute <3

These have a setting called Revive mode which vibrate 8,000 times minute to reduce the friction as you pass the plates over your hair. This, alongside the controlled setting of 150 degrees, help to keep your hair healthy.

Outside of revive mode you can switch the temperature setting between 100-200°c degrees for your perfect heat.

These straighteners are perfect for creating pro styles without any added heat damage*. The Hydraluxe Pro straighteners have in-built Hydracare Mist Technology that lets out a cool moisture mist to protect against heat, while the Moisture Lock Ceramic coating helps preserve your hairs’ perfect moisture balance.

*no added damage vs. un-styled hair when straightening at 170°C with the Hydracare Mist switched on