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This clever tool automatically detects not only the thickness of your hair, but also the speed at which you’re gliding through strands, before adjusting the power accordingly.
In short, it delivers silky-soft manes in just one swipe. It only has one heat setting, but it reached its max temp quickly, and its thick plates grips ends well – a perfect match for those with enviably thick locks.
Key Specifications
Type of plates | High-gloss plates |
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Automatic shut off? | Yes |
Special features | It monitors temperature 250 times per second to ensure the optimal temperature of 185ºC is maintained. |
It’s no surprise that ghd’s OG pair of straighteners are still so popular. It might boast neither space-age tech nor a million different heat settings, but it’s guaranteed to deliver fool-proof results if you’re new to hair straightening.
Quick to heat up, it left unruly strands poker-straight in only a few glides and kept hair frizz-free in humid weather. Oh and it shuts off automatically if left untouched for 30 mins, making it pretty hard for you to burn the house down, which is always a good thing.
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Ceramic |
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Automatic shut off? | Yes |
Special features | The rounded shape of the plates allows for smooth and easy styling |
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The three-step process of washing, then drying, then straightening can be a little long, right. But ghd’s clever wet-to-dry Duet takes your strands from damp to styled in just a few moments – oh, and did we say without singeing your hair.
How does it do it? It’s all about the Air Fusion Technology. Come again? Essentially, it uses four low-temp ceramic plates with low-temp air flow to simultaneously dry and straighten without burning your ends like a BBQ. As a result, hair looks shinier, smoother and altogether healthier.
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Ceramic plates combined with gentle air flow |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes |
Special features | Zero heat damage detected after four passes through the hair |
4
Best hair straighteners for damaged hair
LOréal Professionnel Steampod Steam Straightening Tool 3.0
Heated hair tools give aesthetically pleasing results, but we’ll pass on the heat damage, ta. Happily, the Steampod works like a steamer to straighten strands without frying them, and you don’t need much water to get it going.
The removable comb helped to smooth tresses in an instant, leaving silkier, shinier heads of hair. Overall, leaving healthier-looking ends behind– what more could you ask for?
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Aluminium coating to ensure even pressure |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes |
Special features | It uses steam to gently straighten hair with little heat damage |
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This rather snazzy-looking option from Panasonic is as high tech as it looks.
The unique 3D floating plate moves left, right, up and down to straighten strands evenly, while air holes on the sides of the plates generate nanoe atomised water particles (containing about 1,000 times more water than regular ions) to hydrate your hair.
They claim to prevent moisture loss and heat damage, while also tightening the cuticle and moisturising hair, resulting in swishy, silky, hydrated hair. Sounds good to me.
Key Specifications
Types of plates | Ceramic |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes |
Special features | The clever air-flow design maintains your hair’s moisture levels |
These straighteners are perfect for creating pro styles without any added heat damage*. The Hydraluxe Pro straighteners have in-built Hydracare Mist Technology that lets out a cool moisture mist to protect against heat, while the Moisture Lock Ceramic coating helps preserve your hairs’ perfect moisture balance.
*no added damage vs. un-styled hair when straightening at 170°C with the Hydracare Mist switched on
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Ceramic |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes |
Special features | Moisture Lock Coated Plates preserve your hair’s moisture levels |
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One of the more affordable options, these straighteners offer 10 heat settings, giving those with damaged or fragile hair a lot of heat control.
The plates are also infused with coconut oil – yep, that’s a thing but no, it’s not going to work as hard as your fave hair elixir. This will boost the overall shine and sleek appearance of your lengths giving that salon-like quality we’re all after.
If you’re looking to splurge on a new travel buddy, this chic yet practical kit needs to be added to your basket ASAP. Once you get over its compact cuteness (and it is seriously cute), we found it worked pretty darn well too.
Not only is its cordless design ideal for whisking away on vacay, but it also allows for a 360° styling experience that won’t twist your neck. It delivers a smooth finish and its low temp option of 160°C means you needn’t compromise your hair’s health to look lush.
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Ceramic |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes (after three minutes!!) |
Special features | It has a cordless design so you can style whenever, wherever |
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The gold standard of hair straighteners, this techy device has flexing plates that help grip as much hair as poss – including pesky flyaways – for a fuss-free styling sesh. We couldn’t fault its efficiency, straightening strands in a single swipe.
Its swanky, premium feel is a massive bonus, as well as its jazzy features – especially the charging stand, heat-resistant mat and ‘flight mode’ function that temporarily pauses the battery to save juice.
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Copper |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes (after five mins!!) |
Special features | Copper plates |
Perhaps not one for the indecisive (Libras, we’re looking at you), this straightener comes with a mega 16 heat settings ranging from 80ºC to 235ºC, giving you ultimate control.
It’s a smooth glider, superbly avoiding any annoying tangling or tugging. Its wide plates made it easy to achieve quick results, even on fuller manes, to leave them frizz-free after use.
Key Specifications
Type of plates | Ceramic |
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Automatic switch off? | Yes |
Special features | It comes with 16 heat settings, giving you complete styling control |
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Which hair straighteners are best for damaged hair?
We’d love to be able to tell you that hair straighteners are good for your hair, but all that heat does come at a price.
However, there are a few methods to help keep damage to a minimum. We’ve already mentioned above that a heat protection spray is a must to prep fragile strands, but it’s also down to the tool you pick.With straighteners, ceramic plates are the way to go. They tend to be more affordable (yay!) but they’re also prone to chipping.
What makes them so good for damaged hair though is that they’re slower to warm up and distribute heat more evenly than other plate options (e.g. titanium). You can also get ceramic-coated plates that have a metal base. These will reduce heat-up time while still making sure you’re evenly straightening your locks.
A variety of temperature settings is also a good idea for damaged hair. The lower the temp, the less frying you’ll do to your delicate ends, so you can start on the lowest setting and work your way up.
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