Hair straighteners are the perfect way to give your hair that polished, sleek finish. But with such a wide range of choice on the market it can be hard to know which ones to choose. Here’s our guide to help you pick the hair straighteners that are right for you.

Hair straighteners (also called flat irons) use heated plates to get rid of the curls or kinks in the hair. They flatten the follicle of your hair better than any other tool such as hairdryer and brush.

The key is to ensure that you get the look that you want to achieve whilst minimising the risk of heat damage to the hair.

There are several factors to take into consideration when buying hair straighteners such as plate materials, plate width and heat setting best suited to your hair type.

Hair straighteners – materials

The plate material should easily conduct heat and offer low friction between the plate and hair to decrease the risk of hair breakage. We’ve compiled a list of the most common materials below:

Hair Straightener Plate Material

Ceramic coated

  • Heats up quickly
  • May not retain heat well

Ceramic and Teflon coated

  • Teflon: easy to clean; low friction between hair and the plates
  • Prevents build-up of styling products

Solid ceramic

  • Retains heat at a constant temperature

Tourmaline / Tourmaline and ceramic

  • Semi-precious stone
  • Negative ions are said to lock in moisture and avoid frizz
  • Hair has a high shine finish

Titanium

  • Strong, but lightweight
  • Heats up quickly and evenly
  • Good for thick, course hair
  • Don’t have to go over same section too many times
  • May not be the best for fine hair which can damage easily

Most hair straighteners are ceramic plated. You’ll find some that are glass plates but they can be easily damaged if dropped. If you’re looking for the best results then you might want to opt for tourmaline or titanium plates.

Hair straighteners – features

There are a myriad of options to choose from when it comes to buying hair straighteners. Alongside the plate material other useful features to consider include:

  • Short heat up time is very useful, especially for those with busy schedules. Some also provide a fast heating boost too.
  • Hair straighteners with digital displays are usually the most accurate and the higher the temperature the better result as a rule. However, be careful as high temperatures can damage the hair and are not suitable for all hair types. Variable temperature settings allow you to choose what you want to set it to. If you have fine or damaged hair, opt for lower temperatures to minimise heat damage. Your hairdresser should be able to suggest the right settings for your hair type.
  • Wet (or steam) to straight hair straighteners can be used on hair that’s been towel dried for long-lasting results. Not everyone likes these because of the steam coming off the hair so it’s all down to personal choice.
  • Plate width is important when it comes to choosing hair straightener. It can depend on your hair type and length. If your hair is short then slim plates that are about 3cm wide would be best. This size is also perfect for styling bangs or spiky hair. Good if you travel too.
  • The longer your hair, the wider the plate. Medium plates between 3cms – 4cms wide are good for mid-length hair. If your hair is longer, then plates that are 6cm plus wide are the optimum choice. The same applies if your hair is thick – wide plates straighten the hair faster. For finer hair, the slim or medium plate hair straighteners are going to provide the better option.
  • Auto shut off is a useful feature which switches the hair straighteners off after a set period of time. It is, of course, better practice not to just rely on this feature but make sure that you’ve turned off and unplugged the straighteners for maximum safety. And never leave hot straighteners unguarded.
  • If you’re going on holiday then likely you’ll not want to leave home without your trusted travel hair straighteners. These are often cordless and work on gas cells. Not quite as effective as the mains versions but they do offer the flexibility of fitting into your bag. By the same token, hair straighteners with worldwide voltage mean they can be used anywhere. They also have the added bonus of better performance over their cordless sisters.
  • If you have frizzy hair then ionic hair straighteners have plates that create negative ions which are said to lock in moisture and stop that annoying static.
  • If you’re looking for hair straighteners that are less likely to damage your hair, then those that use infrared heat may be of interest. The heat is distributed more evenly with the hair being heated from the ‘inside’. Results are said to be good.
  • Straight or curly? Sometimes we just want a change. Hair straighteners with curling features could offer you the versatility you’re looking for. Opinion is varied on how good they really are. It has been said that they’re not as effective but then it depends on what’s important to you.

Choosing the best hair straighteners is down to personal choice and budget. Affordable hair straighteners with ceramic plates and variable temperature settings might be just what you’re looking for. However, as mentioned previously, if you’re looking for something that will be gentler on your hair, then infrared heating and ionic straighteners are possibly better, particularly if you have frizzy hair.

For the travellers among us – particularly those that like to go light on the luggage – then travel straighteners which use a gas cell or have worldwide voltage may be the best option. Anyone using their hair straighteners at home, however, would do well to check the swivel cord is long enough to reach the power socket, particularly if it’s a little way from the mirror.

And don’t forget, that when you buy your hair straighteners you might also want to consider heat protection spray for your hair. This helps avoid damage and adds shine for that sleek, beautiful finish. A heat resistant mat may also help, providing you with somewhere to place your straighteners whilst they are in use.

Finally, good quality hair straighteners can help you achieve a glossy, healthy finish to your look. Whilst any form of heat styling can damage the hair, using the right tools could minimise this and give you lasting results that make you feel great.