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We tested stylers from Ghd, Dyson and Cloud Nine — but which one was our winner?

Want to embrace the new year by switching up your signature hairstyle? A pair of the best hair straighteners will afford you endless options, from smooth and sleek strands to a tousled S-wave, and even a classic red-carpet curl for when those long-awaited special occasions come roaring back.

The latest stylers are also designed with your individual hair texture in mind. From extra-large ceramic plates for sweeping through thick hair, to clever cord-free models that deliver maximum practicality, there are plenty of innovative launches out there to choose from.

The plate material of your straighteners will make a big difference to your styling experience.

If speed is a priority, titanium will heat up quickly. Ceramic plates, on the other hand, work to heat up hair from inside the hair shaft, which takes longer but supposedly limits damage.

Avoiding damage should be more of a priority if you’ve got curly, colour-treated or fine hair, as these strands are generally considered more vulnerable. Meanwhile, those with coarser, thicker hair can handle the heat and will benefit from the efficiency of titanium plates.

All Ghd stylers are set at 185 degrees, and many other brands have followed suit. This temperature is widely considered to be the ideal middle ground: it's hot enough to straighten strands in one pass, yet won't create unnecessary damage.

However, if you have especially thick or fine hair, a straightener with a variable temperature setting is worth considering. This more personalised approach will deliver guaranteed satisfaction; thicker hair tends to need a higher setting for longer-lasting results, while fine hair can benefit from a lower temperature, which decreases the risk of damage to delicate strands.

Regardless of temperature, always ensure your hair is completely dry before styling, and use a heat protection spray.

Wide plates are essential for those with curly, thick hair as they glide through larger sections, cutting down styling time. We’ve included ceramic-coated plates and a steam straightener in our edit, both of which will help to protect afro hair (4A-4C curl type).

Annoying flyaways? Ionic technology is the latest tech to keep hair looking sleek and smooth.

Over 350 women with various hair types signed up to try more than 73 different hair straighteners in our comprehensive test. We asked them how long each took to heat up, their thoughts on the design and – crucially – how happy they were with the end result.

Each pair was also inspected in the Bazaar lab to ensure it lived up to the brand’s claims. Below, see the ones that came out top, for every hair type and style...

Every bit as innovative as Dyson’s Supersonic hair dryer and AirWrap curling tool, the Corrale has patented ‘flexing’ plates, which are designed to grip every strand. This means you won’t need to go over the same section twice, reducing the chance of heat damage.

It comes with a heat-resistant travel pouch and flight-mode option, so you can take them in your carry-on (when we can finally travel again). It can also be used cordless, lasting 30 minutes on a full charge — no more tying yourself in knots to reach the back. They weren't the lightest pair we tested, but a firm favourite with our panel.

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

Ghd is a brand synonymous with hair straightening — although that’s not all this styler can do. The rounded barrel means it excels at creating natural-looking waves and curls too, and leaves hair feeling sleek and healthy. 

It takes just 25 seconds to heat up and automatically turns off after 30 minutes for peace of mind. A lightweight option that lives up to the hype.

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

The rounded edges of these straighteners proved to be excellent at swiftly creating defined curls. Their lightness – as well as the long cord – meant it was easy to reach the back of the head and roots without struggle too, while ionic technology kept hair sleek and minimised flyaways.

Key specifications Type of plates: Metal (titanium) Number of heat settings: 15 (from 90 to 230C) Additional accessories: None

These BaByliss straighteners have a 'protect mode', which helps to limit damage by adjusting the temperature automatically depending on your hair type. It didn’t catch on strands either, but wasn’t the fastest to reach maximum temperature. Overall though, testers were pleased with their final look.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 12 Additional accessories: Heat resistant wrap

These innovative plates contain a ‘moisture sensor’ that automatically measures the dampness of your hair and adjusts the temperature accordingly, meaning you can straighten wet hair without damaging it.

Our testers unanimously agreed that it glided easily without tangling, with 92% impressed by how quickly they achieved their desired style. Happily, the majority enjoyed glossy, silky results that looked and felt healthier.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 10 Accessories: Storage pouch

Ghd’s latest launch is the legendary hair brand’s first cordless offering, and it promises to be just as powerful as its other bestselling models. It scored full marks in our lab test by heating up quickly and accurately, and our panel appreciated its lightweight portability, making it a useful travel staple.

It performed brilliantly on all hair types, leaving afro hair softer, and its slim plates made it easier to create curls. Everybody found it comfortable to hold and 83% said it effectively banished frizz. However, it only has one temperature setting. 

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated  Number of heat settings: 1 Accessories: Travel storage case, charging wire and plug

If flyaways are your bugbear, you’ll welcome this smart tool’s ‘heat ID’ tech – it automatically senses your hair’s texture and length before setting the temperature accordingly, resulting in a durably smooth style.

Our testers admired its “luxurious” design and found it an all-round pleasure to use. Impressively, 80% of those who normally struggle with frizz noted a sleeker finish and 90% said their look lasted all day.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 9 Accessories: None

This high-performance straightener – another cordless model –  excelled in our lab test by reaching its promised temperature quickly. It straightened 71% of our panel’s hair instantly and they liked its “sleek” black and rose gold casing. 

It tackled even the thickest of hair effortlessly, creating bouncy curls and waves for 86% of our testers. It didn’t add much shine, but it comes with a storage case for on-the-go styling. 

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated  Number of heat settings: 3 Accessories: Silicone plate guard, travel storage case and heat protection mat

This compact kit is the ultimate travel companion. The chic cordless straightener comes with everything you need for a glamorous weekend away, from a travel pouch to its own charging pod.

It left 70% of our testers with soft, smooth results and they appreciated the low temperature option of 160°C – ideal for minimising heat damage on fine hair. Everybody was pleased by how quickly it heated up, should you be dashing off to a meeting or a party.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 2 Accessories: Protective heat resistant guard, faux leather case, faux leather roll bag, faux leather travel pouch, universal voltage charger and plug adaptors, charging pod, travel bag and boar bristle dressing brush

If you’re busy, this pair will get you red-carpet ready in a flash. It features sonic vibrating plates that cut down your styling time and ionic technology that seals the hair cuticle to prevent damage. 

Our panel didn’t note exactly how long it took to achieve their intended look, but 79% found it fast and effective to use and 86% said their style stayed intact all day. It gripped and glided well, including through afro hair, and it comes with a generous five-year warranty. 

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated sonic vibrating Number of heat settings: 11 Accessories: Protective glove

Daily straightening can sometimes leave hair feeling frazzled — not so with the Steampod, which features an integrated water tank with a removable comb. Our testers found the steam technology left their hair feeling healthier, shinier and more hydrated than ever. A great option for curly or afro hair.

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

Cloud Nine was started by one of the original founders of GHD, which makes sense as these irons are every bit as effective as their competitor. Our testers appreciated the wide plates that allowed them to style long hair quickly, creating a natural, glossy shine. Our testers were also won over by the time it took them to heat up (just 20 seconds).

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 5 (100-200C) Accessories: Carry pouch, protective heat guard, safety heat mat

Ghd’s Platinum+ detects your hair thickness and the speed at which you’re styling to ensure it’s always delivering 185-degree heat. The large plates gripped hair well, and our testers loved how soft and smooth theirs felt once finished. 

For peace of mind there’s also an indicator noise when they power up and down (so you’re less likely to leave them on). Gripping each strand efficiently, hair was left looking shiny, frizz-free and silky.  

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

With a wide range of temperatures to choose from, those with fine hair will appreciate the gentler settings available here. Our panel found the ceramic plates were effective at gripping every strand and reducing flyaways, leaving hair perfectly straight. These were better at creating more defined styles over softer waves.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 32 (80 to 235C) Accessories: Heat resistant mat

Boost shine and reduce flyaways with these keratin- and almond oil-infused ceramic plates. They automatically adjust the temperature according to your hair’s moisture content, and our panel reported well-styled, shiny and less frizzy locks.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 5 (160 to 230C) Accessories: Heat resistant storage pouch

Our home is awash with smart appliances – smart bulbs, security cameras, speakers – and we’ll be adding these hair straighteners to the list.

You can turn them off from via the app, and it saves your personalised heat settings for next time. Our panel couldn’t fault how shiny hair was after use, too.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic Number of heat settings: 32 (80-235C) Accessories: Silicon heat-proof mat