Updated on 23 February 2023
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Remington Wet2Straight Pro
Quick to heat up, it offers a good price/performance ratio. It has a practical wet mode for straightening hair without having to dry it, which makes it effective on all hair types.
This model has large ceramic plates, a long rotary cable and 10 temperature settings (from 150 to 230°C). During our test, we liked the fact that it heats up quickly (from 15 to 48 seconds). An audible and visual signal on the LCD screen tells you when it is hot. Its unique feature is the humidity sensor which adjusts the temperature of the plates at each pass to ensure optimum temperature and prevent damage. Excess water is quickly eliminated thanks to the ventilation holes. In our opinion, it curls just as well as it straightens and it works equally well on wet and dry hair. Thanks to the anti-frizz care, the result is silky and smooth. We also liked the fact that it is light and easy to handle. In addition, it has good functionalities (automatic shutdown, lockable plates and temperatures, etc.) but we regret the lack of heat resistance of its pouch.
When buying a hair straightener, choose one that respects your hair and does not damage it. The plates of the hair straightener can be made of ceramic, tourmaline or titanium. It is recommended to avoid too high temperatures to prevent damage to your hair (maximum 210°C). Most models offer different technologies to protect your hair: steam, keratin, etc. Choose a lightweight model with a long rotary power cable for ease of use. If possible, opt for a model with lockable temperature, glove and rotary cable. Finally, consider your hair type and what you want to do with your device.
Remington Keratin Protect S8540
This model has an excellent price/performance ratio. It straightens well and has a multitude of interesting functionalities for your hair or even for its transport.
With large ceramic plates, this hair straightener has 9 temperature settings on its backlit display, ranging from 150 to 230°C, making it suitable for different hair types. It includes a PRO+ feature for low-temperature straightening to keep your hair healthy. It also has a keratin and almond oil care diffuser that makes hair silky and shiny. During our test, we found that hair was straight in just a few passes and looked great all day long. We also found it effective for curling strands, especially as it is lightweight and easy to handle with its rotary cable. The plates are lockable for transport and a heat-resistant pouch is provided. Despite this, we are disappointed that the manufacturer’s promises have not been kept regarding the speed of heating (about 40 seconds to reach its lowest temperature against 15 seconds advertised by the brand).
GHD Styler Platinum+
This professional quality model is the best for keeping your hair healthy. It heats up very fast, adjusts the power to suit your hair, and its small size is easy to handle and transport.
Easy to use, this professional hair straightener is suitable for everyday use and for fragile, coloured or damaged hair. The temperature is not adjustable, but it is one of the fastest to heat up (just 16 seconds). When it is hot, the indicator light becomes steady and there is a beeping sound. Thanks to the Ultra-ZoneTM technology and unlimited sensors, the ceramic plates detect the hair type and styling speed to automatically adjust the power. And although it was more effective on thin strands and required more passes than its main competitor during our test, hair is less damaged, feels soft and shiny and stays straight longer. Lightweight, compact and handy, it can also curl strands and is well suited for transport thanks to its protective tip. The line protecting your fingers is not very effective, but the long cable allows you to use it without having to be near a socket.
Remington Shine Therapy S8500
With its cares, its technologies, its few functions and its different temperature settings, this device is suitable for anyone who wants to combine efficiency and good handling, without having to break the piggy bank.
With its XL ceramic plates and 9 temperature settings (ranging from 150 to 230°C), it quickly straightens or curls any hair type and offers long-lasting hold. However, it takes 45 seconds to heat up to its lowest temperature (and not 15 seconds as advertised). The Shine-Therapy technology provides more shine and the Moroccan argan oil and vitamin E care diffuser gives the hair a soft and nourished look. Moreover, the hair straightener is lightweight and easy to handle thanks to its rotary cable, but when we tested it, we thought that we had to press a little harder to get the hair between the plates. It has a few functionalities, including Boost and Turbo modes that allow you to change temperatures as needed. Finally, the lockable plates and heat resistant pouch ensure damage-free transport.
Remington Keratin Protect S8598
It respects your hair as much as possible thanks to its humidity sensor and is very effective for its price, straightening your strands quickly while making them look beautiful. In addition, its ergonomics are very well designed.
Its large ceramic plates are suitable for thick hair. They automatically adjust the temperature thanks to a high protection sensor that detects the humidity level of the hair to prevent damage. With the keratin and almond oil care diffuser, the hair stays straightened for a long time and looks great. We were also able to curl our hair easily and, during our test, it did not create static electricity compared to other models. It has 5 temperature settings (ranging from 160 to 230°C), but it does not heat up as quickly as advertised (about 35 seconds to reach its lowest temperature). Audible and visual signals tell you when it is ready. Lightweight and handy, it has a long rotary cable that allows you to use it without having to be near a socket. In addition, the backlit display is elegantly located on the back of the plates, and the nice heat resistant pouch and lockable plates are perfect for travel.
L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod 4.0
Despite its high price, this device allows for an infinite number of styles and offers professional results. Its new design is more thoughtful and versatile, and it comes with multiple practical accessories.
This steam straightener/curler has ceramic plates to suit all hair types. During our test, it took the longest time to heat up, but it was also the one that performed best with temperatures ranging from 180 to 210°C. Indeed, thanks to its 3 types of removable combs, it styles as well as straightens and requires very few passes before the final result. In addition, its new design allows it to go closer to the roots. As a result, our hair looks great, feels incredibly soft and is long-lasting. The new feature is the curling function, which heats the external plates up to 100°C for more defined curls than with the previous version. However, the design is still bulky, which makes it slightly less manageable and transportable than others. The water tank built into the handle is easily filled with the supplied bottle and is generally easy to use. In addition, it includes several accessories such as 2 heat-protective casings and a heat-resistant pouch.
Our selection
Our choice, Best mid-range Best budget Best high-end Budget alternative Mid-range alternative High-end alternative Remington Wet2Straight Pro Remington Keratin Protect S8540 GHD Styler Platinum+ Remington Shine Therapy S8500 Remington Keratin Protect S8598 L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod 4.0 Quick to heat up, it offers a good price/performance ratio. It has a practical wet mode for straightening hair without having to dry it, which makes it effective on all hair types. This model has an excellent price/performance ratio. It straightens well and has a multitude of interesting functionalities for your hair or even for its transport. This professional quality model is the best for keeping your hair healthy. It heats up very fast, adjusts the power to suit your hair, and its small size is easy to handle and transport. With its cares, its technologies, its few functions and its different temperature settings, this device is suitable for anyone who wants to combine efficiency and good handling, without having to break the piggy bank. It respects your hair as much as possible thanks to its humidity sensor and is very effective for its price, straightening your strands quickly while making them look beautiful. In addition, its ergonomics are very well designed. Despite its high price, this device allows for an infinite number of styles and offers professional results. Its new design is more thoughtful and versatile, and it comes with multiple practical accessories. £ 97.83 on Amazon £ 52.00 on Amazon See the price on Amazon £ 29.00 on Amazon £ 57.46 on Amazon £ 299.00 on Amazon
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How did we do the testing?
To begin with, we tried each of the hair straighteners on different hair types (straight, curly, thick, thin, wavy, dry, wet, etc.). This allowed us to judge performance and versatility by trying to straighten, but also curl the hair, and by counting the number of passes. We then evaluated the results. In addition, we timed their heating time by turning them on at various temperatures and we checked that each temperature was reached using a special thermometer.
We also took into account their size and lightness to determine their handling and whether they are easy to transport. Finally, we looked at their general ergonomics (buttons, display, an audible signal, removable comb, automatic shutdown, etc.) as well as any possible additional functionalities.
How to choose your hair straightener?
If you like the freedom of being able to change your hairstyle easily to suit your mood, a hair straightener – just as a curling iron – is a valuable addition to your beauty routine. But you still need to find the perfect tool to style your mane without damaging it (too much).
First of all, it is important to know that there are different types of hair straighteners, differing first of all by their materials:
- Ceramic hair straighteners: these models were the first hair straighteners to appear on the market. With quick and stable heating, they are an ideal choice because they ensure a homogenous heat diffusion. This is the kind of model we have chosen for this article.
- Tourmaline hair straighteners: the gemstone chips scattered on the ceramic plates allow the heat to be distributed evenly over the plates, making them more able to hold the hydration needed by the hair. These devices are effective even at low temperatures but are less common on the market.
- Titanium hair straighteners: they have arrived on the market more recently and have the safest metal plates. They distribute the heat very well without burning your hair. However, some hair types cannot tolerate metal, so make sure that yours does.
Then, the models are characterised by various features:
- Temperature: the most important thing is not to reach records, but that the temperature is adjustable to suit the nature of your hair: a high temperature is suitable for frizzy hair, while thin hair should be straightened at a lower temperature. A hair straightener ranging from 140°C to 210°C is often sufficient. The very well-known brand GHD offers devices limited to 185°C, because they believe that beyond this your hair risks of being damaged. Finally, a fast heating time also saves valuable time!
- Technologies: most models are enriched in keratin or have ionic properties and offer different technologies to protect your hair. The steam hair straightener, for example, protects your hair by humidifying it as it passes through the plates. This keeps your hair hydrated.
- Ergonomics: for ease of use and handling, devices should be sufficiently lightweight and handy. Featherweight models with a long rotary power cable are recommended, as they offer more flexibility. There are some cableless hair straighteners on the market, but these are usually low-quality add-ons. Finally, some rounded hair straighteners can also be used to make beautiful curls!
- The little bonuses: if possible, choose a hair straightener with lockable temperature, so that you cannot change it by mistake while styling. Most models now have an automatic shutdown functionality after 30 to 60 minutes, which is very practical for those who are forgetful! Accessories such as a storage pouch, a glove or a protective tip are always a pleasant surprise in your package.
Finally, you should not (necessarily) choose your hair straightener based on the price. Instead, ask yourself how you want to use it and bear in mind your hair type.
If you are really addicted to heat styling accessories, do not forget to protect your hait with a heat protection spray.
Note: If you are looking for the perfect device for straightened hair while keeping volume, then our article on the best hair straightening brushes could also interest you.
Other hair straighteners we recommend
GHD Styler Max (£268.90 when published): Good for curly or thick hair. With a non-adjustable temperature of 185°C, a heating time of fewer than 30 seconds and large ceramic plates, it performed very well during our tests. Indeed, the dual-zone technology provides fast styling and a smooth, shiny and silky result, just like leaving the hairdresser. The curls are just as beautiful, and you can use thicker strands. When it is hot, you can hear a beep sound. We also like the compact and light design which makes it easy to handle, and the large cable and protective tip which make it easy to transport.
GHD Styler Gold (£169.00 when published): A controlled temperature and practical small size. This hair straightener has ceramic plates that heated up very quickly (only 18 seconds during our tests) to reach the non-adjustable temperature of 185°C. Each plate has a sensor to better control the temperature without damaging the hair. In our opinion, it tends to make the hair electric, but it looks shiny and silky for both straightening and curling. However, as the plates are thin, you need more passes and use small strands for perfect straightening. Its small, light and compact format are perfectly handy and transportable, thanks in particular to its protective silicone tip.
L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod 3.0 (£209.97 when published) : A cheaper alternative to the Steampod 4. This 3rd generation has 3 temperature settings, ranging from 180°C to 210°C. While it has the same shortcomings as its little brother (a slower heating time), it still delivers good performance with its various technologies and removable comb. It styles quickly and offers a smooth and soft result. During our test, we even found it to be effective with large strands and it constantly controls the temperature to avoid damaging them. Its small water tank directly in the handle is easy to remove, making it more manageable than previous versions, but it is still heavier, bulkier, less manageable and less easy to transport. Moreover, its successor has a more efficient and versatile design.
Other hair straighteners we tested
GHD Styler Original New Generation (£129.00 when published) : This compact, lightweight and manageable straightener heats up quickly and allows you to straighten/curl your hair without damaging it with a shiny finish. However, because the plates are small, it requires more passes to achieve the final result.
BaByliss Lisseur I-Pro 230 Steam (£68.00 when published): This steam hair straightener is suitable for thick hair with its retractable comb and small water tank with hydrating power. However, we found the straightening to be a little less effective and it makes the hair quite electric.
Translated by Laura Wautier
