Key specs – Plates: Ceramic-coated, “floating spring” plates; Heat settings: 185ºC; Maximum temperature: 185ºC; Voltage: Universal; Cord length: N/A; Automatic shut-off time: 3 minutes; Warranty: 2 years

You don't need to spend half the national debt to get your paws on a pro-worthy pair of straighteners. Used in the same way as a straightener, the heated plates vaporize excess water through specifically designed vents, cleverly drying and straightening at the same time. Launched by one of the founders of GHD, Cloud Nine’s Original hair straighteners glide easily through the hair without any pull or drag. They leave hair feeling silky, looking shiny, and – most importantly – poker straight. Hair health is a key drive of this product’s design: the ceramic plates are mineral-infused to reduce snagging, leaving hair with extra shine, and there are six heat settings, from 100ºC to 200ºC. The plates perform well at lower temperatures, which means less risk of damage to hair.The straightener is light in weight – just 520g – but feels strong and well built in the hand, while the plates exert a consistent pressure on the hair, meaning even tightly coiled hair straightens well on the first pass of the tool. The results are glossy and long-lasting, with hair still straight at the end of a typical day. While the plates are wide and able to work through larger amounts of hair with ease, the slightly bevelled design means it’s also easy to get close to the roots for a smooth finish. A great alternative to the GHD Max, especially for curly girls. Revamp Progloss Liberate Cordless Ceramic Compact Hair Straightener ST-1700: The best compact straighteners One pass of the tool is usually enough to straighten the hair at 185ºC; the result is silky-smooth hair in half the time it might take to style with a standard 1in plate straightener.

You could also try the Babyliss Straight and Curl Brilliance Rose Gold Straightener - for sleek straight hair or beautiful bold waves and curls.These straighteners offer three heat settings – 160°C, 180°C and 200°C – and heat up in just seconds. The battery charges fully in three hours and lasts for 30 minutes, which will be sufficient to style most types and lengths of hair. The floating ceramic plates heat up evenly, and it’s easy to operate the tool using a single button that controls both power and heat selection. The cordless straighteners are perfect for styling on the go and come with a handy travel bag. Size-wise, it’s just 22cm long and weighs 300g, which is substantially lighter than the Dyson Corrale at 561g. This makes it much easier to toss into a tote bag and carry around with you out and about. As a result of its compact size, the heated plates here are slightly narrower than average, but the “floating” spring mounts adjust to the contours of your hair, allowing the straighteners to effortlessly glide over sections of hair without any tugging or snagging. This will reduce the time it takes to style your hair, and means that the Unplugged’s 20-minute battery life will go further than you think. Banish frizz and boost shine with the Keratin Shine wide hair straighteners from Babyliss. The titanium and ceramic coating on the plates is infused with the protein keratin, which helps give straightened hair a soft and shiny finish. The tool heats up in just 30 seconds with a light indicating when it’s ready, and the 20 temperature settings are controlled using a dial on the side of the tool and range from 140ºC to 235ºC. Design-wise, the wireless Corrale straighteners are heavier in the hand than some other brands, due to the added weight of their rechargeable battery. Their portable nature helps them stand out against rival models. With a 30-minute battery life, these hair straighteners have enough juice in the tank for the majority of people to get their hair straight and sleek.

Key specs – Plate width: 1.8in; Type of plates: Titanium/ceramic; Ionic technology: No; Number of heat settings: 20; Maximum temperature: 235ºC ; Auto shut-off: Yes (72 mins); Heat-up time: 30 secs; Cord length: 3m; Weight: 320g; Accessories included: Heat-proof mat Straight hair will never go out of fashion, so neither will the tools (the best hair straighteners) to achieve it. Research by consumer-trends analyst Mintel suggests that over one-third of women and one-fifth of men own a set of hair straighteners, and that number is growing. GHD and Cloud Nine are the dominant names in this market, but an ever-growing number of brands promise super-sleek, frizz-free straightening and more besides.

Make light work of taming long, thick, frizzy or textured hair with our favourite wide-plate hair straighteners

Key specs – Plates: Floating; Maximum temperature: 200ºC; Voltage: 100-240V; Cord length: 3m; Automatic shut-off time: 30 minutes; Warranty: 3 years The smooth-glide titanium plates produce effortless straightening and variable temperature settings enhance heat protection and helps styles to last longer.

Ten different temperature settings, ranging from 150°C to 235°C allow you to tailor the heat to suit your individual hair type – and heating up in just 15 seconds, you won’t be waiting around.The Contouring Iron also comes equipped with an impressive temperature range, with 11 temperature settings between 100°C and 200°C. There’s also a “Revive” mode, which fixes the temperature at 150°C, but uses micro-vibrations in the plates during styling to help create longer-lasting styles, despite the low heat. This is a step up from the Cloud Nine Original Iron, featured above, and worked remarkably well in our testing. There’s no getting around the fact that this is an expensive curling iron, but it’s the perfect all-in-one styler for those willing to splash out. The floating plates (set on springs) ensure an even pressure and grip on the hair, helping it to pass through the tool smoothly. There are nine heat settings that make it easy to select the correct heat for your hair type and texture. It’s also easy to switch between temperatures, so you can use a recommended 180°C for the bulk of the hair and a cooler setting for the thinner, more fragile front sections. The straighteners heat up in just 15 seconds and feature automatic switch-off after one hour. These straighteners will leave you with shiny, healthy looking hair but for extra protection and to boost glow, incorporate a heat protectant spray or cream.