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Best Hair Straighteners for any Hair Type and Length

Post last updated: 18/06/2026

The right hair straightener is so versatile it can smooth your hair straight, create tousled, beachy waves, or help you to achieve the perfect curl. And with a wide range of brands available such as ghd, Dyson and Babyliss, you’ll be sure to find the perfect straightening iron that will offer you beautiful locks in no time at all.

What to Consider When Choosing a Hair Straightener

When it comes to looking for the perfect hair straightener, there are a few things to consider:

What width is best for short or long hair?

Hair straighteners are available in a variety of widths: slim plates (usually around 2.5 – 3cm) are suitable for short hair, while wider plates (around 6cm) are better for those with longer hair or thick hair.

How quickly do different plates heat up?

  • Ceramic plates distribute heat more evenly but can be slower to warm up.
  • Titanium plates heat up much more quickly than ceramic plates however, hair straighteners with this plate type tend to be more expensive.
  • Ceramic coated plates are made from a metal base topped with a ceramic layer giving you the best of both worlds - a speedy heating time paired with more evenly distributed heat.

Do you need a straightener with a variable temperature?

Depending on your hair density, you’ll want to heat your hair straighteners to different temperatures to ensure the best results. Low heat is better suited to people with fine hair and a higher heat is better suited to people with coarse hair or thick hair.

What is ionic technology?

Nobody wants frizz or flyaways and when there is too much positive charge on your hair, it can cause static. Ionic technology neutralises this unwanted charge and helps to keep your hair smooth, sleek and frizz free.

The Best Hair Straighteners for 2026 and Beyond

The best hair straighteners have been tried and tested by our experts and rated by our customers. If you’re ready to invest in a pair of long lasting hair straighteners that will give you shiny, glossy and gorgeous hair time and time again, then keep on reading...

1. Dyson Airstrait™ dryer and straightener- Ceramic Pink

Best For: Wet-to-Dry Styling

Dyson’s Airstrait is made for anyone who wants a straighter, smoother finish without styling twice. Designed to dry and straighten at the same time, it uses powerful directional airflow instead of hot plates, helping to create a naturally sleek look while keeping hair feeling soft and healthy. Negative ion technology helps reduce flyaways and static, while 2 styling modes let you work from wet or refresh dry hair when your style needs a quick reset. With 3 heat settings, 3 speed settings and a cool mode to finish, it gives you more control over your result, whether you’re smoothing frizz, adding polish or cutting down your morning routine.

Key Features:

  • Wet-to-dry straightening with air
  • No hot plates
  • Hyperdymium™ airflow motor
  • Smoothing ion technology to reduce flyaways and static
  • Wet-to-dry and dry styling modes
  • 3 heat settings and 3 speed settings
  • Cool mode to help set your style
  • 198cm cable

2. BaByliss Titanium Shine Professional Hair Straightener

Best For: Frizz Control

BaByliss’ Titanium Shine Professional Hair Straightener is a strong all-rounder for sleek, smooth styling without overcomplicating your routine. Designed with titanium-ceramic-coated plates, it glides through the lengths with a polished feel, while 5 digital heat settings let you tailor the temperature to your hair type and finish. The Advanced Ceramics™ heating system helps maintain consistent heat across each section, making styling feel quicker and more even, while built-in ionic frizz-control helps soften the look of flyaways and unruly strands. With multi-voltage and a heat mat included, it’s a practical pick for everyday styling and travel.

Key Features:

  • Titanium-ceramic-coated plates
  • 5 digital heat settings from 150°C to 230°C
  • Advanced Ceramics™ heating system
  • Ionic frizz-control for smoother-looking hair
  • Digital display
  • Multi-voltage for worldwide use
  • Auto shut-off
  • Includes heat mat

3. Beauty Works Hair Straightener

£79.00

Best For: Sleek Styles and Soft Waves

Beauty Works’ Hair Straightener is a versatile styling tool for sleek lengths, soft waves and everything in between. Designed with extra-long gold ceramic-coated plates, it glides smoothly through the hair in one stroke, helping to create a polished finish without tugging. Ionic technology works to boost shine and softness while keeping flyaways looking more controlled, and the adjustable temperature range lets you tailor the heat to your hair type. Lightweight, quick to heat up and finished with a curved exterior, it’s a strong pick if you want one tool that can straighten, curl and wave with minimal effort.

Key Features:

  • Advanced ceramic technology
  • Extra-long gold ceramic-coated plates
  • Ionic technology to enhance shine and softness
  • Adjustable temperature settings from 80°C to 220°C
  • Heats up in under 1 minute
  • Curved exterior for creating waves and curls
  • Lightweight design
  • 360° swivel cord
  • Rotating lockable plate feature

4. ghd Original - Hair Straightener

Best For: Everyday Styling

The ghd Original Hair Straightener is a classic for a reason, giving you sleek, smooth and shiny-looking hair with minimal effort. Set at ghd’s optimum styling temperature of 185°C, it helps create polished results without unnecessary excess heat, while single-zone technology™ distributes warmth evenly across the ceramic plates. The floating plates glide smoothly through the lengths for a clean finish, and the rounded barrel makes it easy to switch between straight styles, soft waves and bouncy curls. With a 30 second heat-up time, universal voltage and automatic sleep mode, it’s a reliable everyday tool that keeps styling simple.

Key Features:

  • 185°C styling temperature
  • Single-zone technology™ for even heat distribution
  • Ceramic floating plates
  • Round barrel for straight styles, waves and curls
  • 30 second heat-up time
  • Updated ghd interface
  • Universal voltage
  • Automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes
  • Professional length 2.7m cable

5. Shark Glam Sleek Straight Waves & Curls Multi-Styler

Recommended Retail Price: £369.99Current price: £299.99

Best For: Multi-Styling

Shark’s Glam Sleek Straight Waves & Curls Multi-Styler is made for anyone who wants one tool that does more than straighten. Designed with 4 styling attachments, it can take hair from wet to dry, smooth out flyaways, create glossy straight styles and form soft curls with less effort. The Silki tool works like a hot brush and air straightener in one, while the Glossi Tool and Air Glosser help refine the surface for a shinier-looking finish. With powerful airflow and intelligent heat control, it’s a strong choice if you want flexible styling with less reliance on extreme heat.

Key Features:

  • 4 attachments to blow-dry, straighten, smooth and curl
  • Wet-to-dry styling
  • Intelligent heat control to help protect against heat damage
  • Powerful airflow for faster drying and styling
  • Gloss Lock Technology for visible shine
  • Silki tool works as a hot brush and air straightener
  • Glossi Tool and Air Glosser help smooth flyaways
  • Auto-Wrap Curlers create softly defined curls
  • Styling Concentrator supports sleekness or root lift

6. BaByliss Platinum Diamond 235 Straightener

Best For: Fast Styling

BaByliss’ Platinum Diamond 235 Straightener is a polished pick for creating sleek styles, soft flicks and easy waves at speed. Designed with longer diamond-infused ceramic plates, it glides through the hair smoothly while helping to deliver a shiny, frizz-controlled finish. The high heat performance reaches up to 235°C, with 3 heat settings so you can adapt it to your hair type and styling preference. Advanced Ceramics™ help maintain consistent heat as you style, while the 15 second heat-up time makes it ideal for busy mornings. With universal voltage, auto shut-off and a heat protection wrap included, it’s practical as well as powerful.

Key Features:

  • Diamond-infused ceramic plates
  • Longer plates for faster styling
  • Up to 235°C high heat performance
  • 3 heat settings
  • Advanced Ceramics™ for quick heat-up and consistent heat
  • Ready to use in 15 seconds
  • Active frizz-control ionic conditioners
  • Auto shut-off safety function
  • Universal voltage
  • 3m swivel cord
  • Includes heat protection wrap

7. ghd Chronos Max Wide Plate Hair Straightener White

Best For: Long, Thick and Curly Hair

The ghd Chronos Max Wide Plate Hair Straightener is made for longer, thicker and curlier hair types that need more coverage with each pass. Designed with 85% wider plates, it helps smooth larger sections at speed while still giving you the precision needed for a sleek, polished finish. HD motion-responsive technology adapts to your styling movements, keeping the heat consistently monitored at ghd’s optimum 185°C temperature to support high-definition results without extreme heat. Expect smoother-looking lengths in fewer strokes, with enhanced shine, reduced flyaways and a finish that lasts beautifully through the day.

Key Features:

  • Wide plate design for larger sections
  • 85% wider plates
  • HD motion-responsive technology
  • Optimum styling temperature of 185°C
  • Designed for long, thick and curly hair types
  • Helps create smoother-looking hair in 1 stroke
  • Up to 24-hour style hold
  • Up to 90% more shine
  • 2.5x less flyaways
  • Smart Sleep Mode after 10 minutes of inactivity

8. Shark SilkiPro Straight Hair Straightener + Dryer in One Tool - Rose Petal

Best For: Wet-to-Dry Straightening

Shark’s SilkiPro Straight Hair Straightener + Dryer is designed to streamline styling from the very first step. Made for wet-to-dry use, it combines HeatSense Ceramic Plates with Rapid-Dry Technology and high-velocity airflow, helping to dry and smooth hair at the same time while minimising the need for excess heat. The airflow targets roots and lengths evenly, while interchangeable combs let you tailor the finish depending on your hair type and styling preference. Use it on wet hair for a smoother blow-dry effect, or switch to dry mode when your style needs a quick refresh between washes.

Key Features:

  • Wet-to-dry styling in one tool
  • HeatSense Ceramic Plates
  • Rapid-Dry Technology
  • High-velocity airflow
  • Interchangeable combs for a customisable finish
  • 2 modes to style wet hair or refresh dry hair
  • Designed to smooth roots and lengths evenly
  • Helps minimise excessive heat styling
  • Rose Petal colourway

9. BaByliss Hydro Fusion Anti Frizz Hair Straightener

Recommended Retail Price: £100.00Current price: £50.00

Best For: Frizz Control and Shine

BaByliss’ Hydro-Fusion Anti-Frizz Hair Straightener is made for hair that needs a smoother, glossier finish without losing its softness. Powered by Advanced Plasma Technology, it uses a moisture-balancing dual ionic system to help hydrate the hair as you style, combining positive and negative ions to reduce the look of frizz and enhance shine. The ceramic-coated plates glide through the lengths for a sleek result, while the curved design means you can use it to straighten, curl or add soft movement. With 5 digital heat settings, it’s easy to tailor the temperature to your hair type and preferred finish.

Key Features:

  • Advanced Plasma Technology
  • Moisture-balancing dual ionic system
  • Positive and negative ions to help hydrate hair
  • Designed to control frizz while straightening or curling
  • Ceramic-coated plates
  • Curved design for versatile styling
  • 5 digital heat settings
  • Smooth, shiny-looking finish

10. Bio:Ionic 10X Styling Iron with UK Plug

Recommended Retail Price: £149.00Current price: £119.20

Best For: Shine and Versatile Styling

Bio:Ionic’s 10X Styling Iron is a versatile pick if you want sleek lengths, soft waves and loose curls from one tool. Designed with a snag-free rounded barrel, it helps you move easily between polished straight styles and more relaxed bends through the hair. The vibrating plates are infused with natural volcanic rock and a proprietary mineral complex, working with far infrared heat, sonic vibrations and negative ions to help smooth the cuticle, enhance shine and speed up styling. With adjustable heat up to 232°C, a long swivel cord and automatic shut-off, it feels considered, flexible and easy to use.

Key Features:

  • Ceramic Mineral Complex
  • BioCeramic MCH Heater
  • Far infrared heat
  • Sonic vibrating plates
  • Negative ion technology
  • Adjustable heat up to 232°C
  • Rounded barrel for straight, wavy and loose curly styles
  • 9ft swivel cord
  • Automatic shut-off after 1 hour
  • Universal voltage
  • UK three-pin plug
Team LF
Team LF Writer and expert

Our team of beauty experts cover everything from makeup to skincare, picking out the most effective products from the best brands and latest trends. Stay up to date on everything beauty with the LOOKFANTASTIC blog, and find all your essentials in one place.

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