The best hair straighteners in 2026 – tested by a curly-haired journalist

Straighteners are here to stay – but thankfully, heat styling has come a long way since GHD's first ceramic straighteners ushered in an era of poker-straight hair in 2001. Today's models feature adjustable heat settings and protective technology for hairstyling with minimal damage. The looks you can achieve with a straightener have become more versatile as well: one twist of a modern, curved-edge straightener can create styles from ultra-smooth strands to structured ringlets and soft, beachy waves. There's a wide range of styling possibilities with just one tool. I put a selection of 17 hair straighteners to the test – from budget tools to premium models – and here's what I found.

At a glance

Best hair straighteners overall: GHD Chronos Max Best budget hair straighteners: Remington Shine Therapy S8500 Best cordless hair straighteners: Dyson Corrale Best hair straighteners for long or thick hair: GHD Max Best premium hair straighteners: Cloud Nine New Original Best for curly hair: Bellissima Italia Absolute 4XL

Why you should trust me

As a longtime owner of naturally curly hair, my locks bear the scars of living through the poker-straight 2000s. Fortunately, I've been a beauty and lifestyle journalist for more than 10 years, which has allowed me to get my hands (and hair) on much better kit than I used to own as a curly haired student. While I often wear my curls with pride, it's nice to switch things up now and again.

How I tested

I tested 17 straighteners on clean, dry hair that started in its usual curly pattern. In its natural state, my shoulder-length hair has a fairly tight type-3 curl (meaning you definitely wouldn't mistake it for merely wavy). Before testing, I made sure my hair was clean and detangled, and I used the same heat-protection spray with each straightener to help reduce damage and hold the finished style. As my fine hair doesn't get on well with higher temperatures, I used a medium heat setting where there was a choice. For each straightener, I noted the time taken from a curly standing start to a fully straightened head of hair, the overall ease of use, and how comfortable each tool felt in my hand in terms of weight and grip. After straightening, I checked how my hair looked and felt, then wore the style for a typical working day to test how well it lasted with each tool. Final ratings take into account the speed and ease of straightening, how my hair looked and felt afterwards, and overall value for money considering the finished result – and how well this held through the day. Here are the nine best performers from my tests. If not returned to the manufacturer, the hair straighteners sourced for this article are being donated to the homelessness charity Crisis for resale.

The best hair straighteners in 2026

The best of the rest

What you need to know

How do hair straighteners work?

Whatever the price, brand or extra features, all hair straighteners work in the same way: by using heat to temporarily break the hydrogen bonds in the hair. With these bonds momentarily broken, the hair can be set into a new style that stays in place once the hair cools and the hydrogen bonds reform. Most modern straighteners have heating plates coated in a non-metallic material, such as ceramic and tourmaline, to distribute the heat more gently and evenly than a metal plate and reduce the risk of scorching the hair. A ceramic coating also helps the straighteners glide smoothly over the hair, reducing snagging and giving straightened hair a glossy, healthy-looking finish.

Titanium vs ceramic plates

The big innovation of the past 25 years has been the use of non-metallic coatings on styling tools, which turned straightening irons from basic hot chunks of metal into sleek gadgets that protect your hair from dehydration and heat damage. The most typical coating for styling plates is ceramic, though you may also see sericite or the gemstone tourmaline. These materials typically heat more gently and evenly, reducing the risk of hot spots that can scorch the hair. Nonmetallic coatings also reduce friction between the styling plates and the hair, which in turn reduces damage from pulling and snagging and gives straightened hair a glossy, healthy-looking finish. Less common but also excellent for straightening is titanium, a highly conductive metal that heats up quickly for rapid styling to reduce hair's contact with heat, limiting damage. Titanium-coated plates are, therefore, especially good for fast results on thicker or coily hair. However, this type of coating has fallen out of favour somewhat and doesn't feature on a model in our current list – though Revlon and Babyliss feature them in their ranges.

How much should you spend?

If you heat-style only occasionally, a basic straightener will do the job. If you style more frequently, investing in a premium model with smart technology can save you time and reduce the risk of heat damage. A premium tool is likely to include features such as "floating" plates on tiny springs that keep an even grip on the hair; and heat sensors that adjust the temperature of the straighteners as you style. Premium straighteners may also include ionic technology, using a material that, when heated, releases negative ions, reducing frizz and adding shine to the hair.

How to stop your hair from getting damaged

Make sure your hair is completely dry before straightening (unless your straightener is a wet-to-dry straightener). Brush your hair and divide it into even sections, then spray with a heat-protection product to keep heat damage to a minimum and help your finished style last longer. Any heat protector is better than nothing, but my favourite is GHD's Bodyguard spray (and Revlon's Uniq One is a good alternative). It's best to start around the bottom of your head and work your way up to the top, using as few strokes as possible – the best straighteners work in one or two passes over each tress. Finish with a spritz of your favourite hairspray to hold the style in place. If your straightener has adjustable temperature settings, use a lower temperature for fine or damaged hair, 170-190C for most hair types, and up to 200-210C for thick or curly hair. With the right heat settings for your hair type and a protective spray, there's no reason straightening your hair should be bad for it.

What to do with your old hair straighteners

If you want to upgrade, check if your favourite brand offers a trade-in programme, where you can exchange an old tool for a discount on a new model. One person's trade-in can be another person's treasure: if you're shopping for new straighteners, manufacturer programmes such as Dyson Refurbished and third-party sites such as Back Market are more sustainable ways to find guaranteed electrical beauty products at a lower price. On the high street, Cex accepts some straightener brands in exchange for cash or store credit, while Currys recycles electrical products from any retailer. Finally, if you're not able to use any of the above options, Recycle Your Electricals will help you recycle any straighteners that can't go elsewhere. For more, read the best hair masks and the best hair dryers Lise Smith is a writer with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, parenting and the performing arts. She knows her titanium from her tourmaline and is always ready to try the latest hair tools and products This article was originally published on 18 March 2025. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor's discretion. The date of an article's most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This article was amended on 22 April 2026; three new hair straighteners were added after testing, more information was added to the buying guide, and prices were updated throughout.