Which straighteners are as good as ghd

If you have thick, curly hair, or a natural hairstyle that you like to smooth out every now and then, the ghd Max is undoubtedly one of the best straighteners for curly hair on the market. With broad plates twice as long as any other ghd model two inches vs. The downside of larger plates is they do take slightly longer to heat up than other ghd hair straighteners, but at just 30 seconds it's a fair trade.

If you wear hair extensions you'll also find the Max makes for easier restyling of extra lengths. The only aspect of these ghd straighteners that was a little lacking is creating waves, as the plates are too wide to bend the hair easily. So while your hair straightener uses may be limited to straightening and smoothing, it does a truly excellent job of both, and you can always grab the best curling iron for anything else.

With a plate width of just half an inch, this pocket rocket allows for precision styling without risking burnt skin or wastefully clamping on air as you go. The slimline, contoured ceramic-coated plates smoothly pass over short strands, bangs, flyaways, and cowlicks. It can be used to style hair into fairly tight curls too, with the swivel cord ensuring you stay tangle-free as you go. Due to its size, the ghd Mini can feel a little fragile in the hand, although we never experienced any issues while using it and the two-year warranty should set your mind at ease.

Doing every section may technically take a little longer, but the seamless results will be worth it. Obvious signs of heat damage include hair dryness, dullness, split and snapped-off ends. Think you've gone overboard in a styling session?

As a rule, give yourself a few air drying days a week and reserve your flat iron for specific days, rather than picking it up every morning out of muscle memory. As a barrier between your hair and flat iron, an exceptional heat protectant features hair-strengthening ingredients, which add a layer of defense against heat damage.

Humectants: Humectants attract moisture and block frizz, which is especially important for healthy hair maintenance. The result? Humectant examples include glycerin, panthenol, and propylene, and these deeply hydrating ingredients without residue particularly suit fine hair.

Amino Acids: Amino Acids work as strengthening and conditioning agents. In the world of haircare, their main function is to supply nourishing antioxidants and repair surface damage.

For example Keratin, as a structural protein, makes hair more damage-resistant and revives dried-out, overheated, and colored hair. Natural Oils: Natural oils seal and protect your hair cuticle, all while locking in moisture. More evidently, they offer sheen and slip to dryer hair types, even as you use a heat styling tool. Read the full Molly Mae x Beauty Works straightener review. 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 blowdrying, 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.

Another step you can take to protect your tresses is to only straighten hair that is completely dry. With so many incredible tools out there, choosing just one is no mean feat but for a great all-rounder that delivers on tech, styling ability and price, the ghd platinum plus is our winner. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage.

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Visit our corporate site. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number Select your region. Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter. Best Black Friday deals View Deal. Reasons to avoid - None. Dyson Corrale. GHD Gold Styler. Reasons to avoid - Small plates. GHD Unplugged. These compact cordless straighteners are perfect for on the go styling. Reasons to avoid - Battery life could be longer - Not ideal for thick, long hair - Expensive.

Cloud Nine The Original Iron. Reasons to avoid - Plates could be wider. Reasons to avoid - They get very hot. Reasons to avoid - Plates can snag a little. T3 Singlepass X Straightening Iron.

Reasons to avoid - Not good for fringes. BaByliss 3Q Hair Straightener. Reasons to avoid - Noisy Ionic Port - Power button needs to be pressed firmly. Reasons to avoid - Tugged on hair occasionally. Lower heat suits fine hair best, while thick or coarse tresses may need more heat to be effective. This technology helps to neutralise the charge, smoothing strands down instead. Ceramic plates: they are slower to warm up than other materials, but they distribute heat more evenly.

They tend to be cheaper too, but are more prone to chipping. Improper usage can cause heat damage, too. We recommend leaving these hair straighteners on your locks for only a few seconds at a time. Ceramic-coated plates: usually have a metal base topped with a ceramic layer, combining the best qualities of both materials. The outer layer can chip and wear away over time, but a good-quality model should last you at least three years if stored properly.

Additional accessories: higher priced straighteners may come with accessories such as a heat mat, gloves and a travel case. Fine hair: Look for ceramic plates that distribute heat evenly and more gently.

Use lower temperature settings to minimise heat damage. Thick hair: Larger plates will save you time and reduce heat damage. Metal plates will give you the best and most long-lasting results. Afro hair 3C-4C curl types : Consider ceramic-coated plates, which offer a good balance of effectiveness and protection.

Steam hair straighteners are a good alternative for powerful styling that does less damage. Wet locks can only withstand temperatures of C, but dry undamaged hair can handle up to C. Always use a heat protection spray, too. Read more top tips from a professional hair stylist. Over testers — with short hair to long, fine to thick, and including straight, wavy, curly, coily and kinky textures — tried 73 hair straighteners to find the best you can buy.

They fed back on how quickly each tool heated up, how easy it was to reach their roots, whether it achieved their desired look, and how shiny and healthy their hair looked after styling. In the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, we used an EV Standard machine to record the temperature of each straightener and assess the accuracy of its temperature settings.

Its lightweight straighteners were the panel's favourite and the highest scorer in this year's line-up. The rounded barrel makes creating curls and waves easier, and our testers had no trouble using it for a variety of styles.

Key specifications Type of plates: Ceramic-coated Number of heat settings: 1 C Ionic technology: No Additional accessories: Heat resistant protective plate guard. It scored highly for temperature accuracy in the lab and heated up rapidly — ideal for pre-party touch-ups.