Hair straighteners FAQs
How to prevent damage to your hair when using hair straighteners
Any heated styling tool can damage hair, especially if your tresses are already lacking in moisture and protein. This – combined with external aggressors such as chlorine, chemical treatments and over or under-washing – can leave your hair looking and feeling lacklustre.
The best preventative measure you can take is to always use a heat-protectant spray before blow-drying, curling or straightening your hair. This is because they work by adding a protective layer that acts as a shield to absorb the heat and leave your locks undamaged.
How to choose the best hair straighteners for your hair type
Those with fine, very dry or fragile strands should look for straighteners with variable temperature controls, so you can dial down the heat to prevent damage. In contrast, if you have thick or coarse strands you may need to turn up the temperature to get the best results.
People with harder to style tresses may also want to think about the material of the plate. While most straighteners are made with ceramic plates for even heat distribution, which is ideal for most hair types, more stubborn to straighten strands may benefit from titanium plates or steam plates.
Lastly, plate size can be important too. Longer and thicker styles will love the ease of a wider iron, but if you want to use your straighteners for curling too, you have to remember the wider the plate, the looser the curl.
Can you straighten wet hair?
Another step you can take to protect your tresses is to only straighten hair that is completely dry. Hair is at its most fragile state when wet, and if you’ve ever attempted to use a heat styler on damp hair, it’s likely you’ve heard your strands sizzle, which should tell you all you need to know. Doing so can increase breakage, frizz and even make your hair’s natural texture more coarse.
How to curl hair with a straightener
If you want to curl your hair with your straightener, steer clear of the wide flat irons and opt for a slimmer model instead, which will be easier to wrap your hair around and give you round curls. To curl your hair, clamp a strand of hair inside the straigthener (smaller strands for tighter curls and bigger strands for a more wavy look), then wrap the ends of your hair over the straightener while either twisting the iron towards you or away from your, depending on the kind of curls you want. Then, all you have to do is hold it there for a few seconds before gently pulling the straightener down until reaching the ends of your hair, at which point you can let go your grip.
Are titanium straighteners better than ceramic?
While titanium straighteners are best for quick styling – they heat up fast and can straighten tough hair in a few brushes – ceramic plates take more time to heat up, meaning they can be less damaging, but work better on hair that is easy to straighten. Titanium plates, however, are a better choice for thicker, stubborn hair.
What features to look for in hair straighteners
With so many straighteners on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right tool for you but one way to narrow things down is by looking at the different features and specifications each model has.
Variable temperature controls
Straighteners with variable temperature controls are ideal for getting the optimum experience for your hair type and also come in handy if you’re planning on sharing your tool with others.
Type of plates
Similarly, the type of plates a tool has can make all the difference to your overall finish. Most straighteners have either ceramic or titanium plates and, although the former can take a little longer to heat up, they distribute heat evenly, meaning you don’t need to use such a high temperature. Another positive is that ceramic straighteners make light work of frizziness, as they create negative ions, leaving you with a glossy finish. Alternatively, titanium is a tougher and more durable material, meaning it should last you a long time. These irons also tend to be more heavy-duty, so are perhaps a good choice for thicker, more stubborn hair
Heat-up time
If you’re the kind of person who seems to always be in a rush, the time it takes for a tool to reach its desired temperature could make all the difference. Thanks to innovations in modern hair tech, most tools are pretty speedy, reaching their peak temperatures in around 30-60 seconds.
Corded vs cordless
Following in the footsteps of headphones, you can now get your hands on hair tools that come free from cables, so, if you often need to style your locks on the go, be it in the changing room after a gym session or at a festival, it could be time to go cordless. These types of tools can be easier to manoeuvre and are compact and rechargeable, making them much more travel-friendly than standard models.
The verdict: Hair straighteners
The innovative new ghd duet 2-in-1 hot air styler is top of our list. Unlike any other hot tools we’ve tried before, it transforms towel-dried strands into dry, super-soft tresses oozing shine.
It may not necessarily cut down styling time, but we love the ease of using one tool (eliminating the need for a hair dryer) and it produces superior results. However, you can’t use it for curling, so, if it’s versatility you’re after, you can’t beat the cordless Dyson corrale.
Want to make sure your locks are in tip-top condition? We tried Olaplex’s haircare range, and here’s what we thought