All great hair straighteners should be able to do their job with ease, the best hair straighteners for thick hair will make the styling experience a breeze, creating a lasting effortlessly sleek and smooth finish in even the thickest strands.
The secret to straightening thick hair fast is in the plates and the best hair straighteners for the job tend to be wider or longer than your average straightener. “Using a wider plate straightener can make it easier to style thick hair as it’s faster to straighten large sections,” says Tyler Moore, hairstylist at Live True London. “While it’s possible to style with regular straighteners, beginners may find wider plates easier to use.”
The length of your hair has an impact too. “For long hair, wide plates are super effective as they capture more stands in one go and remove frizz fast,” says Belle Cannan, founder of Salon Sloane. If you’re addicted to your hot tools and, as a result, have a lot of breakage, or you have shorter locks then it's worth opting for narrow straighteners. For the ultimate sleek results, you’ll need to rely on glossy coatings and variable heat temperatures, whether that be the best cordless straighteners, the best straighteners for curly hair or the best ghd straighteners.
The secret to making the task of smoothing hair like mine easier? Having the right tools for the job. We’ve rounded up the best straighteners for curly hair that make for a fuss-free process and yield glossy results…
Jess Beech is an experienced fashion and beauty editor with more than eight years of experience in the publishing industry. She has written for woman&home, GoodtoKnow, Now, Woman, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Own and Chat, and is a former Deputy Fashion & Beauty Editor at Future PLC.
Tyler Moore is an experienced hair stylist working for Live True salons in London.
Belle is a renowned hairstylist with more than 35 years of experience in the industry. She is also the founder of premium London-based salon, Salon Sloane.
The best straighteners for thick hair, reviewed by our beauty team
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The quick list
The ghd Max Straighteners almost need no introduction. The glossy plates glide over strands without snagging, and they'll also shut off after 30 minutes of inactivity, which is ideal if you spend your life worrying about whether or not you switched your straighteners off before leaving the house.
With silicone strips within the plates, the hair is gently gripped by these straighteners, which gives the tool its 'one-pass' name. This actually speeds up the straightening time, as each section will be styled beautifully without having to go over each section again and again.
While not the cheapest option on our list, these straighteners use steam to replace any lost moisture during the straightening process. Our usual frizz was nowhere to be seen and the plates get right up to the roots, meaning we were able to create an all-over sleek and straight look with ease.
These affordable straighteners also look very chic, and while they're the narrowest option we tried, their thinner shape allowed us to tackle shorter curly hairs around our crown. Being very lightweight, these are also great at creating waves and curls, for when you don't want to create heatless curls.
With wiggly plates that creates an "air gap" to reduce unnecessary damage, we found these straighteners worked to minimise the look of split ends. They also allowed us to retain some of the volume that comes with thick hair, which is a plus if you're looking for that bouncy, 90s blowout hair look
The best hair straighteners for long thick hair
The ghd Max Hair Straightener
The ghd Max Hair Straightener was one of, if not the first, pairs of wide-plated irons on the market. However, it has evolved over the years with new features and improved functionality. In terms of the brand's range, the Max is more closely related to the Gold than the newer ghd Chronos and Platinum+ stylers, therefore it does lack some of the higher-tech features seen in other models. The heat settings aren’t adjustable, for example, and this styler will only style at 185ºC.
But there are still plenty of pros here, so if you need a versatile tool with multiple styling options, this is your answer. Thanks to its curved edges, it's an ideal tool for learning how to curl hair with straighteners. You can create a range of styles, from big and bouncy curls on long hair to subtler beachy waves on shorter lengths. I personally like using a wider styler for curls and waves; narrower plates not only make the process more time-consuming, they can end up making my hair look twice as thick in the process.
The plates feel satisfyingly hot when you use them – controversial I know, but I do like feeling like my straighteners are working. What’s more, the styler automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of not being used, which is a huge plus if you're someone who rushes out the door in the mornings. The glossy, ceramic plates also have a floating functionality that allows them to adapt to your hair's thickness and avoid snagging. (Side note: this brand also makes one of the best curling irons for thick hair, should you be in the market for one of those, too.)
The best hair straighteners for thick hair that's hard to style
The Bio:Ionic OnePass Straightening Iron 1.5 Inch
Speaking of styling in a hurry, I tend to speedily move my straighteners through my hair, something that probably doesn’t do it any good. That’s where Bio:Ionic's OnePass Straightening Iron 1.5 Inch comes in. Where these stylers would normally slide down my hair like silk, this tool doesn’t. It sort of drags as if there is something holding it back (without pulling) and forces you to slow down. On closer inspection, I realised that this was due to the silicone strips in the centre of the plates that gently grip the hair, instead of clamping it together between the plates, it lets you smooth without snagging.
Leaning into its “one pass” name, if you’re moving slowly and deliberately through the hair, you’re going to smooth much better than you would with one speedy pass – a trick that took a bit of getting used to. The temperature can also be adjusted from 130°C to 230°C, with a little gauge on the screen that goes up Celsius by Celsius so you can see its progress, beeping when it’s finally ready. I used the styler at 180°C, which is plenty hot enough to efficiently straighten my hair. This tool is slightly clunky and chunky, which was the only downside for me as it meant I couldn’t get very close to my roots.
The best hair straighteners for thick, dry hair
L’Oréal’s Steampod almost sits in a category of its own; thanks to patented steam technology, it works completely differently to other straighteners on the market. Moisture can be lost from the hair when using a traditional flat iron (you may notice steam escaping from the tool as you style), leaving it feeling dry and slightly crispy. The Steampod utilises steam to replace that lost moisture; the idea is that hair is less likely to break and snap.
I only need to look at the rain out the window and my hair develops frizz, so as you can imagine my initial scepticism – surely the steam would just make my hair frizzier? But impressively it didn’t, probably as the steam is dry, not wet. I did find that my hair felt a bit tackier after using the Steampod compared with other stylers (although I do tend to use quite a lot of hair products so that could be part of it). However, it was still smooth to the touch and there was no fluffy "halo" to contend with.
Though the Steampod 4.0 is the best version yet, and has been improved upon since the first iteration, it’s still not a seamless user experience and some downsides remain. For example, the tank has to be filled with demineralised water, not regular tap water; it has to be used a certain way up for the comb attachment to pass through the hair; and it makes a loud humming noise during use. That said, it boasts a lighter design than its predecessors, reaches closer to the roots than before, and has curved, heated outer plates to set curls in place.
The best affordable hair straighteners for thick hair
My first pair of ghd straighteners cost £100 and I remember thinking at the time that was a jaw-dropping amount of money to spend on a hair tool. Now, thanks to new technology and inflation, it’s not uncommon for the best hair straighteners for thick hair to cost three times that – and even the more affordable options are nearing the £200 mark. So it’s fair to say I was thrilled to see the mdlondon STRAIT Hair Straightener is a much more democratically priced £109.
The styler set a good first impression from when I got it out of the box. Though it's the narrowest tool on this list, its lengthened design means you can easily style a decent section of hair at a time, cutting the time of the styling process down. I have a halo of shorter hairs around my hairline that love to twist themselves into ringlets, but this styler's thin shape made it easy to tame those without feeling at risk of singeing my forehead. It makes a slightly off-putting crackling sound as it heats up but this is not a deal-breaker. I also like that the screen shows them heating up degree by degree. I’m always keen to use as little heat as possible on my hair, but when tested at 90°C, these straighteners still smoothed really well; hair felt cool as it came out the other side rather than guiltily hot to the touch.
If you prefer a higher heat, you’ll be pleased to know that these straighteners reach 230°C; I only went as high as 210°C but that was more than sufficient for styling my hair. A final positive to note is that this tool is very light, which encouraged me to be gentler with my approach to styling and wave goodbye to tugging down on my hair with the irons. This will also be a pro for anyone who finds straightening their thick hair tiring, or who wants to experiment with creating waves and curls without an upper arm workout.
The best straighteners for thick hair to minimise damage
The KEEO Genius Smart Glide-Straightener
I’m always interested to see brands doing things a little differently, much like the KEEO Genius Smart-Glide Straightener, which boasts wiggly plates instead of flat ones. These slot together like a jigsaw when you clamp them shut. The thinking behind this design choice is that it leaves an "air gap" between the plates, meaning you don’t cause unnecessary damage by pulling the tool too forcefully through to the hair (something that I’m definitely guilty of when I’m in a hurry, which is 99.9% of the time).
I was a bit dubious at first as I couldn’t see how I’d get a super straight finish or avoid feeling like my hair was being snagged as I passed it through the ridged plates, but it didn’t take long for me to be proven wrong. The styling process does take slightly longer as you have to straighten more slowly than with other tools, but this is to help reduce damage – a fair trade for fewer split ends. However, my hair did retain some volume rather than looking completely dead straight, a look that won’t be for everyone. Whether or not that puts you off will depend on if (like me) you’re trying to disguise the fact you have very thick hair or not.
Also worth mentioning is that if you clamp these straighteners onto your hair, for example, when adding a wave or curl, then they will imprint. Although it can easily be straightened out, it is something to bear in mind if you like to use the best hair straighteners for thick hair to style yours in a variety of ways.
The best hair straighteners for thick hair for fast styling
The Revamp Progloss Ultra X Shine Wide Ceramic Hair Straightener
Despite Revamp not being as much of a household name in the hair styling world as some of the other brands in this guide, these straighteners are a perfect match for long and thick hair. The plates are extra long – over a quarter longer than your average styler, to be more precise – which means you can straighten your hair quickly and efficiently.
A tool with a good temperature offering is always a plus and this one offers the broadest range of those in our guide, from 80ºC right up to 235ºC. I’m not convinced that those with thick hair would see much of a difference styling at 80ºC, if your hair is super fragile from bleaching (maybe you've used a home highlights kit), this tool is a great option. Whilst we’re on the topic of damage, the Revamp Progloss Wide Ultra X Shine Ceramic Hair Straightener uses ionic technology, neutralising positive ions that can form when hair is overheated, over-coloured or over-processed and replacing them with negative ones that reseal the cuticle. These negative ions are what give your locks a shiny and silky texture – even better, the plates are also infused with hair-loving keratin, argan oil, and coconut oil.
When testing, I did find that the longer plates took a while to get used to but once I mastered it they definitely helped to speed up styling time. Other than that, my only criticism would be that even a temperature of 170ºC left my hair feeling very hot, which makes me distrust the temperature settings somewhat.
The best hair straighteners for thick hair for a sleek finish
The Revlon Double Straight Copper Ceramic Dual Plate Straightener
This Revlon Double Straight Copper Ceramic Dual Plate Straightener is a funny-looking thing. Instead of the standard two plates, it has four narrow ones that are joined together by a bridge at the top of the styler. The idea is that the first plate passes through and straightens the hair, followed by the second to reinforce its results. Initially, I was sceptical of this tool being a gimmick thinking that my thick hair would surely escape through the gap in the middle when styling and lead to snagging, but it actually worked really well.
Despite its narrow plates, the styler seamlessly passes through the hair, covering a large surface area. I managed to straighten chunky sections of hair which, overall, shaved a good five minutes off my normal styling time. Its broad temperature range spanned from 140°C right up to 235°C, though 170°C was enough for me, so I think most people with very thick hair wouldn’t need to climb too much higher. What really stood out to me, though, was how soft and shiny my hair felt after using this tool. It was seriously glossy and stayed that way until my next wash.
The best hair straighteners for thick hair prone to frizz
When it comes to hair styling technology, the Dyson Corrale nails innovation. The first and most impressive thing is its cordless design and, unlike other wire-free stylers, doesn’t need a huge amount of charge beforehand. 70 minutes of charging time results in 30 minutes of cordless use – plus, if you've forgotten to power the battery in advance, you can use it with the wire too, which many cordless straighteners can't be used while charging.
The second thing setting it apart from its competitors is the plates, they’re super flexible which means they move with your hair, holding it tightly where needed and loosening up where it isn’t. They also make a slight crunching noise as you style, but you quickly get used to it. This tool benefits your hair in multiple ways, from a flight-ready feature that’s perfect for travel to allowing heat reduction (and subsequently breakage), all whilst boasting sensors that ensure the optimum temperature across the plates.
For all the above reasons, the Corrale makes a brilliant hair tool and certainly one of the best cordless straighteners on the market. But personally, I didn’t love everything about the results. It smoothed my hair and knocked out curls and kinks, however it didn’t leave it as sleek and straight as I’m used to. It also still had a fair amount of body, with the finish looking more like I’d blow-dried it smooth rather than straightened it. However, while this was a downside for me, I know it will be a plus for many. If you love the “oomph” and volume of your thick locks, you’ll be pleased to know that the Dyson certainly isn’t going to leave your locks looking flat and lifeless.
The best hair straighteners for thick hair prone to breakage
The Panasonic Nanoe EH-HS0E Enrich + Advanced Care Hair Straightener
I always feel a sense of guilt when grabbing my straighteners, although its high risk of damage, it is the only way to get my hair under control - trust me, I’ve tried everything. So, of course, I’m intrigued by any tool that claims to minimise this.
Panasonic has taken a number of different routes to help support hair health in the Nanoe EH-HS0E Enrich + Advanced Care Hair Straightener. Firstly, it is designed to balance your hair’s moisture, which it does pretty effectively as my hair didn’t feel stripped or crispy to the touch after using it. Whilst there’s also the option to adjust the temperature from 150ºC to 230ºC, I stuck to 170ºC and large sections of hair still had a sleek and smooth finish. Whatever the choice of temperature, this straightener is working hard behind the scenes, with intelligent thermal sensors continuously measuring and maintaining the plates' temperature, so there’s no risk of damaging hot spots.
I was fiddling with the floating plates before heating up the tool and found they have much more bounce and move side-to-side more than others I’ve tried. This is useful when using the iron, as it firmly grips onto the hair even strands that are darting off in all directions. As the grip is increased, the styler does a better job of styling hair without resorting to scorching temperatures.
The best hair straighteners for short thick hair
If you’re not keen on wide-plated tools, or you have short yet thick hair, the ghd Platinum+ works wonders on styling short hairstyles for thick hair. Quickly heating up to 185ºC, the standard ghd temperature recommended for optimum hair health, and is good to go in a matter of seconds.
This tool effortlessly smooths hair, which I found turned my coarse and frizzy hair into silky-to-touch tresses without much thought or precision on my part when trialling the product. It works fast and the results last (a big tick from us) so I don’t have to repeatedly trace over the same section again and again. This is thanks to the ultra-zone predictive technology, which recognises the thickness of the hair and section being styled, as well as the speed you are doing so, adjusting accordingly for personalised results. If you’re keen on styling straight hair, the straightener’s rounded sides and 360º swivel end on the cord make it easy for even complete styling novices to create curls and waves without tying themselves in knots in the process.
The Platinum+ automatically switches off if not used for 30 minutes, which is a major plus if you’re anything like me and constantly spend the day worrying whether you’ve turned your straighteners off.
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How we tested the best straighteners for thick hair
When testing straighteners to find the best on the market, each tool in this guide was trialled on my incredibly thick, curly hair. Not only do I have a lot of hair but each individual strand is thick, too, making it dense in both senses.
Straightening it can be as strenuous as a 45-minute gym class; both processes leave me feeling like a sweaty, melted mess – and only one of them is doing something for my cardio fitness. In addition to my thick locks, my hair is also naturally very curly, which makes the process even more difficult. Suffice to say, a straightener needs to be well equipped so as not to lengthen this process.
During the testing process, I used the same shampoo and conditioner for my hair type throughout the testing process and blow-dried my hair in the same way, with my best hairdryer, to ensure each one underwent a fair test. When assessing each pair of best hair straighteners for thick hair, I took the following factors into account.
- Price
- Design
- Number of heat settings
- Size of the plates
- What the plates were made from
- Cable length
- Any cordless functionality
- How well they glided across the hair
- Additional technology e.g. floating plates
How to choose the best hair straighteners for thick hair
Though we've covered a lot of it off for you, some research is required before choosing the best hair straighteners for thick hair that will suit your needs. Here are a few things to consider before choosing a pair.
- Plate size and width: The best hair straighteners for thick hair often boast wider plates and a longer design than your average straighteners -especially if you have longer hair. However, if you have a shorter style you'll need to opt for narrower plates, as wide plates won't be able to reach your roots.
- Accessories: If you travel regularly with your straighteners, then extras like a heat mat, travel case or wire-free tools could come in useful.
- Price: Consider how often you use your straighteners before investing in an expensive pair. Most of the best straighteners for thick hair are admittedly a little more expensive than their narrow-plated counterparts, but if you're on a budget, we recommend the Revlon Double Straight Copper Ceramic Dual Plate straighteners.
- Temperature and heat-up time: When styling thick hair, you need a pair of straighteners that can heat up to a good temperature – and fast. Depending on the styling temperature you usually find works best for your hair, you might also be best going for a model that allows you to adjust this.
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