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Oh hey poker straight hair.

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.

If you’re in the market for a new pair, however, now’s the time to shop.

First, you may want to consider a few questions: wide plates or thin plates? Ceramic or keratin-infused?

We've made these easier to answer with our pick of the very best hair straighteners for 2022.

Hair straighteners may all look similar but each model will have different tech hiding beneath their shiny plates. Here’s what you need to know before you buy...

When styling hair using heat, 185 degrees is widely considered the optimum temperature for minimising damage. If you have fine or damaged hair though, you’ll need to use less heat, while thick hair may need more to make an impact. This is where variable temperature control comes in, where you can select the exact degree you want.

Curly, thick hair would also benefit from straighteners with wide plates to cut down 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 it’s completely dry before styling and always use a heat protection spray first.

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 are the opposite – heating up speedily and effectively, to leave you with dead-straight hair in a single swipe. They’re so effective (due to the fact they heat the surface of the hair shaft instead), you can get some seriously professional results, but that comes at a price - heat damage. Thicker, coarser hair can handle this heat though, and will find the speedy straightening times a dream.

Celebrity hairdresser, Adam Reed, gives his top tip on keeping hair sleek and straight:

'The best way to keep hair straight is to gently spray a paddle brush with hairspray and sweep through the hair after using straighteners. This helps to hold the hair into place and keeps it looking polished without looking like there is a lot of product in the hair. If you need a little more control, use a finishing cream to give the hair some weight and keep it in place!'

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 right now.

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.

If it takes you ages to straighten your thicker, longer hair (tiny violin at the ready), consider the size of your plates; the wider they are, the more strands you can style in one swipe.

This tool straightened hair in a flash and successfully kept frizz at bay during our lab test. It helped keep styles intact for longer, with many testers enjoying diamond-like shine. They liked the rose gold detailing, too.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 11 Additional accessories: Faux leather case, heat guard

The OG of straighteners, is it any wonder that ghd was a top performer? Heating up in just 25 seconds, our panel raved about how silky-smooth and healthy their hair looked after using the Gold Styler. The rounded barrel makes it easy to create curls, waves or straight hair, and it’s lightweight so easy to manoeuvre.

To keep things simple in the mornings, there’s just one temperature setting, which is set at 185 degrees (like all ghd straighteners). Oh, and it automatically shuts down after 30 minutes — so no more burning the carpet (we’ve all been there).

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 1 (185C) Accessories: Heat resistant protective plate guard

Launched hot on the heels of the rule-breaking Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, these cordless straighteners are every bit as innovative. A ‘flexing’ plate gathers every last flyaway hair, applying heat evenly so you can straighten sections in one simple stroke. It comes with a charging stand and heat-resistant travel pouch (ideal if you’re a last minute packer like us!).

Flight mode temporarily disables the battery and the variable temperature is clearly visible on the OLED screen. And just in case you were in any doubt, it plays a helpful little sound when it hits the selected temperature. These additional features mean it’s a touch heavier than some others we tried, but with quick heat-up and styling time, our panel still felt it was a worthy investment. Key specifications Type of plates:Manganese copper alloy Number of heat settings: 3 (160 to 210C) Accessories: Heat resistant travel case, charging dock, magnetic charging cable

Cordless no longer means less powerful; nearly all our testers found this compact straightener quick and effective to use, and most even reported healthier-looking hair after styling. That’s got to be wizardry.

It’s small enough to fit into your handbag, making it a top choice for on-the-go touch-ups just before a meeting or date.

Key specifications Type of plates: Titanium Number of heat settings: 3 Additional accessories: Storage bag

Our first pair of ghds will always have a place in our heart, and the brand's original styler is an oldie but a goodie. Nostalgia aside, it made styling a doddle for our panel, with everyone appreciating how straightforward it was to use.

It heated up quickly and achieved most styles perfectly. It might boast neither fancy tech nor a catalogue of heat settings, but it switches off automatically if left untouched for 30 minutes – a godsend for anxious types.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 1 Additional accessories: None

Drew Barrymore has rightfully earned her place in our hair inspo folder, from the 90s blonde bob to the ethereal loose waves she nails to this day, so it’s no surprise she’s come out with her own brand of hair tools. But the beauty world has been inundated with celeb brand launches, so of course we had to put these to the test to see if they really worked. Spoiler: they absolutely did.

All of our testers were impressed with how easily these straighteners created their desired style – whether that be poker-straight ends or tight curls – leaving 90% with shinier, silky-smooth tresses. Everyone was happy with the time it took to achieve the final look too, with no one experiencing any snagging or tangling while gliding these through strands. Key specifications Type of plates: Tourmaline ceramic Number of heat settings: 4 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: None

If you’re wondering why your hair needs infrared tech (yes, those light waves we can't see), it’s meant to balance moisture and seal your hair’s cuticles.

Sure enough, this straightener boosted shine and helped banish frizz for most of our panel. Our lab test backed their feedback up, finding flyaways pretty much non-existent after styling and looks staying intact for longer.

Key specifications Type of plates: Titanium Number of heat settings: 10 Additional accessories: None

If you’re not a morning person and always seem to run out of time when it comes to your hair, this tool is going to be your new best friend. It eliminates the need to use a hair dryer, due to a unique “moisture sensor” that automatically measures your hair's water content and adjusts the temperature accordingly, to help prevent damage – nifty right?

From our testers who had bleached or damaged hair, 75% said this tool left them with shinier, healthier-looking locks, while those with afro hair types reported glossy lengths without any frizz in sight. It worked fast too, with 92% happy with the time it took to style their hair, making it a great option for when you’re tight on time.

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

We know these straighteners are pricey but they do come with a whole kit of accessories to help you achieve ultimate hair goals, and they aced our lab tests on temperature accuracy and heat-up speed.

Our testers loved how compact the kit was too – making it a great one to chuck in your case when travelling – and appreciated how comfortable and easy it was to hold and move the straighteners around the whole head, so you don’t miss any patches. They did well at tackling frizz too, with 70% reporting no pesky flyways after use. Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 2 Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: Protective heat resistant guard, faux leather style case, white faux leather roll bag, luxury white faux leather travel pouch, universal voltage charger and plug adaptors, charging pod, luxury travel bag and boar bristle dressing brush

In England, living with frizz is a given (hello constant rain), but this tool is a game-changer. It aims to give you salon-worthy results in just one swipe and features ‘Rapid Heat IQ Technology’, which claims to keep the device at the same temperature throughout your whole styling sesh and provide even results.

How’d it do? An impressive 80% of our panel said these straighteners managed to keep frizz at bay, with 90% agreeing the smoothing results lasted from day till night. They appreciate the “stylish and luxurious” feel to the design too, with testers saying the straighteners were easy to use and manoeuvre.

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

Thinner and lighter than other models here, the Steampod is unique in that it uses an integrated water tank to steam hair straight.

With the help of a built-in comb (which can be removed if you prefer), our panel found the steam left their tresses feeling more hydrated and healthier, with styles lasting throughout the day. A particularly good option for curly and afro hair.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 3 (180 to 210C) Accessories: Mini water refill bottle

This pair claims to leave you selfie-ready in just 10 minutes, with its vibrating plates that have an impressive 11 heat settings. The straighteners also aim to seal any vulnerable cuticles to prevent damage, while also allowing you to get through strands quicker.

Although our panel didn’t give exact timings, 79% were happy with their styling time, which left them with smoother-looking locks. Our testers with afro hair types were also impressed with its speed, leaving them with a healthy, shiny finish.

The plates do have a slight gap in-between them, which made it a struggle to grip hair at times, but 86% did find their style lasted throughout the day, making it worth the hassle.

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

Keeping things fuss-free and only £20, these straighteners also claim to heat up in just one minute - a total bargain if you ask us.

Although our lab tests did find it took longer than a minute to reach the maximum temperature, our testers were pleased with how straightforward and lightweight they were to use. The end result? 89% managed to achieve the exact style they wanted, with 78% impressed with how shiny it left ends.

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

The Platinum+ is ghd’s cleverest hair straightener yet. With some sort of wizardry, it detects the thickness of your hair and the speed you’re styling, adjusting the power to deliver a consistent 185-degree heat.

Basically, it knows what your hair needs better than you do — and our testers loved it. Quick to heat up with large grippy plates, our panel loved the smooth, soft results. Rest assured, it has the same turn-off function as the Gold Styler, too.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 1 (185C) Additional accessories: None