The Best Type of Hair Straighteners (and Why)

In a sea of choices, you may find it tough to decide which straightener is right for you.

Well, when you’re craving shiny, straight locks, a little knowledge goes a long way.

Selecting a flat iron can feel a bit like returning to high-school chemistry class.

Is Ceramic a good thing? Tourmaline vs Titanium: what are they, and which one’s better? Uh, I’ll just take the F, thanks.

Seriously though, you don't need a degree in chemistry, physics, or trichology to choose the best type of hair straightener.

You just have to know what you’re working with.

First, take into consideration your hair density, type, and texture.

Then, scroll down for our tips on how to choose the best type of hair straightener for your tresses.

How to keep your hair straight? Choose the right straightener

It seems kinda obvious, right? You want your hair to stay straight, so choosing the straightener that’ll be best buds with your hair is vital.

When you’re scrolling through neverending options, a surefire way to pick a quality straightener is to look for advanced materials like Ceramic or Titanium.

Some straighteners even offer adjustable heat settings so you remain in control. Why does this matter? The right temperature, delivered evenly across your hair, reduces frizz by fully straightening each strand on the first pass.

Have you ever straightened your hair for a night out, only to find all that work has gone to waste two hours later? Cheap flat irons sometimes straighten only the top layer of hair, creating a straight appearance that disappears as your hair moves. Not quite the look you’re going for, right?

How to keep your hair straight? Pass on irons with glass or metal plates. Glass sounds cool but doesn't conduct heat well, so you get uneven, ineffective straightening. We know you’re in demand and don’t want to waste your time.

When a straightener works inefficiently, you end up swiping the straightener more times across your locks. This not only takes longer to create your look but also damages your hair’s cuticle.

Another no-no: straighteners that just list 'metal' as the material. We’re not into anything vague—ingredients or materials (or texts from drongos!). If the exact metal isn’t disclosed, say ‘thank you, next’ and opt for something that’s clearly labelled.

Now let's get into the best type of hair straighteners

1. Reach for reliable Ceramic

Ceramic flat irons are a fave of salons and beauty junkies. The reason is pretty simple: Ceramic conducts heat evenly and effectively smooths the hair shaft.

 The overachiever of the straightener world, the ghd gold professional hair styler utilises not 1 but 2 heat sensors on its Ceramic plates. Dual sensors ensure heat control from root to tip, making this the best type of hair straightener with Ceramic plates.

Are you in a time crunch in the morning, desperate to get yourself out the door and a latte in your hands? Many Ceramic irons can be slow to heat up, but this straightener is ready within 25 seconds. So, you can look cute and caffeinate faster!

How to keep your hair straight? Well, minimising damage and frizz not only looks better but also improves the longevity of your style. Stay in damage-control mode and reduce the amount of heat you apply to your hair. The easiest way to do this is by making as few passes as possible with your styling iron.

And though we risk sounding like your bossy older sister, *always* use a heat protectant beforehand. Once you’ve perfected your style, opt for ghd Final Shine Spray to seal in shine and lock out frizz and static.

*CURLY GIRL HAIR TIP* Are you tossing up between Ceramic or Titanium? If you have very coarse or thick curly hair, Ceramic might not work well on your tresses. Ceramic plates don’t get as hot as Titanium straighteners do. And high heat is needed for hair that doesn’t straighten as easy.

2. Titanium will tame your unruly hair

Do you have coarse, thick, or curly hair? You’re in the right place. Titanium can be the best type of hair straightener for your hair, as it uses heat effectively and evenly across your locks.

The BaBylissPRO Graphite Titanium Straightener is designed to style hair with just one pass, saving the health of your hair and valuable time too (efficient Virgos will love this!). These clever straighteners have 10 heat settings (from 140°C to 232°C) and a memory function, so they always switch on at your preferred temperature—love this for your future self.

If you’re considering the differences between Tourmaline vs Titanium, know that Titanium can produce Queensland-high temperatures. Titanium can be a winning option for thick-hair babes who normally find it hard to keep their hair straight.

Warning, though: to prevent damage, start at the lowest possible heat setting and work your way up as needed. This way, you’re not sizzling your locks unnecessarily.

3. Tourmaline for quick styling

*POP QUIZ* Tourmaline vs Titanium: what’s the difference? Tourmaline is a gemstone (oh, fancy!) that produces negative ions, counteracting the positive ions that cause frizz and waviness. Some Tourmaline straighteners are coated with Ceramic, so they’re safe and effective to use on your locks.

If you want the best type of hair straightener for express styling, the Silver Bullet Keratin 230 Ceramic Straightener is the match for you. Created with an accelerator microchip, the Ceramic Tourmaline plates heat up fast so you can get straightening ASAP. Reach for this straightener if you have thin or wavy hair that’s easy to style without wheeling out the heavy-duty straightening artillery.

Something to keep in mind, as Tourmaline is a gemstone: the plates may wear out faster than other materials do. (But hey, diamonds are forever. Go figure!)

4. Experience the power of copper alloy

If 2020 has left you wondering what's next, well, hair straighteners are certainly changing too (but in a good way).

You're probably used to regular hot irons—the ones that take several passes of your hair to straighten it. But you know what happens when you continually glide over your hair? Dryness and 'damn-age'.

That’s where the Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener come in. It's a gentler way to straighten tresses, as it takes fewer passes to leave hair straight. It also boasts intelligent heat control (adjusting the temperature of the plates 100 times a second) so you experience less damage than a conventional straightener causes.

If your hair is already dry or damaged due to colouring, this could be a great option for you.

But remember, this is still a hot styling tool, so heat protection is a must. How to keep your hair straight? After applying your heat protectant, take small sections of hair and move slowly, with the Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener pointing downwards.

How to make straight hair last longer

So, you’ve picked the best type of hair straightener for your hair type. Now, you want to know how to keep your hair straight. Here’s our no-sweat tip: healthy hair holds a style longer. How do you keep hair healthy? Invest in a good conditioner. And don't overuse heated styling devices. Give your hair a break now and then!

Our picks for when your hair needs a little pick-me-up

Super-nourishing Redken Extreme CAT Protein Reconstructing Hair Treatment Spray uses Ceramide to resurface and recondition damaged hair. If your hair is starting to feel the pain of your hot-tool addiction, use this spray 1 to 3 times per week to strengthen your strands.

Can’t go a day without straightening? Maybe you need a hot-tools intervention. There IS a way to put down your straightener without compromising your 10-out-of-10 hairstyle. Use an intensive hair treatment such as Kérastase Resistance Thérapiste Dual Treatment Serum regularly. Formulated with Wheat Protein to keep frizz and dryness in check, this treatment can help your hair stay straight.

Now you have no more excuses to give your hair a staycation from the straightener.

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