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STRAIGHTENERS are a must for achieving sleek, straight hairstyles. But you need to choose the right set for your hair.
If your locks are short like mine, read on for my tried-and-tested pick of the best hair straighteners for short hair.
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When looking to upgrade a hair tool, it can be difficult to know where to start when there are so many options on the market for different budgets.
Although it may be quicker to straighten, short hair can also sometimes require more styling, and the shape of straighteners can help with creating volume and shape to frame the face.
Each pair of straighteners has a variety of features and accessories included, and some are best suited to specific hair types and lengths.
A few of the key features to look out for when searching for the perfect pair are temperature range, size and shape, but some also have unique features that help to maintain hair health.
We took all of these factors into consideration when testing, to find the best straighteners for short hair.
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Best hair straighteners for short hair, tried and tested
Revamp Progloss Wide Ultra X Shine Hair Straighteners, £99.99
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Revamp Progloss Wide Ultra X Shine Hair
Straighteners, £99.99 from Boots
Pros: Wide plates speed up styling, infused with keratin, argan and coconut oil to add glossiness and shine, luxe design
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
Revamp’s straighteners are receiving rave reviews on many UK retailers’ websites and I hadn’t used any hair tools from the brand before.
I put the Progloss Wide Ultra X Shine straighteners to the test before heading out for the day, and they worked well on my thick, short hair.
With a naturally curly hair type, I sometimes find straighteners with narrow plates to be time-consuming to use, but this wide design is ideal for straightening large sections of hair quickly.
Sometimes with plates this wide it can be tricky to get to the roots, however the thin border around the plates means this doesn’t seem to be an issue.
The ceramic, oil-infused plates glided easily down my hair, and I was impressed that the temperature range was able to go as high as 235 degrees.
I would recommend these for any hair type, but they’re particularly efficient for thick, stubborn hair and keeping styling time down.
Temperature range: 80-230 degrees; Includes heat mat: Yes; Plates: Ceramic; Accessories included: Heat mat; Alternative: BaByliss Smooth Pro Wide 235 Straightener, £65 from Boots
Dyson Corrale Straighteners, £299.99 (was £399.99)
Dyson Corrale Straighteners, £299.99
(was £399.99) from Dyson
Pros: Cordless, premium design, rounded shape is versatile for straightening or curling, flexing plates reduce heat damage
Cons: The copper plates feel different to ceramic of other straighteners, heavy, expensive
Rating: 4.5/5
I had high hopes for the Corrale straighteners considering the price tag and popularity of Dyson, and I wasn’t disappointed – however they weren’t perfect.
Having heard countless times about Dyson’s innovative technology, this was my first time trying one of the brand’s hair tools, so I was intrigued to compare it with the other options on the market.
The cordless aspect is the most stand-out feature, offering up to 30 minutes of run time when fully charged, and the tool can also be used while plugged in on charge.
I found the straighteners easy to handle and angle, however I did notice they were on the heavier side, which is perhaps expected due to the built-in battery, but could get tiring if being used for the full half hour.
The copper plates also took some getting used to, as the material feels slightly less smooth on the hair compared to the more common ceramic coating seen on many straighteners, however this didn’t affect the results.
After just 10 minutes of use, I was left with sleek, straight hair, plus my preference of a gentle shaping curl at the ends was easy to achieve, which I think makes them perfect for short hair.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with these and could see myself taking them on weekend and camping trips, as the cordless aspect would be ideal for when a plug socket isn’t accessible.
Temperature range: Three settings, 165/185/210 degrees; Includes heat mat: Yes (pouch); Plates: Copper; Accessories included: Heat pouch, magnetic charging cable and travel ‘Dok’; Alternative: ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Styler, £299 from LookFantastic
Remington Pro-Ceramic Extra Slim Hair Straightener, £59.99
Remington Pro-Ceramic Extra Slim Hair Straightener,
£29.99 from Remington
Pros: Lightweight, great for the roots, compact design, unique
Cons: Wouldn’t replace straighteners with bigger plates except maybe for very fine hair
Rating: 4/5
When I first received these, I wondered how useful they’d actually be due to the ‘extra slim’ design, however for those who struggle with frizz or kinking at the roots, these are a lifesaver.
As the plates are so narrow, they’re able to really reach the hair closest to the scalp, which is particularly handy for sleek, straight styles and slicked-back looks.
The downside to this unique type of straightener is the amount of time it takes to style thick hair – and because of the size of the plates they could only really replace regular straighteners for those with fine, short hair.
That being said, I can see myself using these on a regular basis to tame my roots, especially on hair wash days, and would then use straighteners with bigger plates for the rest of my hair to cut down styling time.
Temperature range: 150-230 degrees; Includes heat mat: Yes (pouch); Plates: Ceramic; Accessories included: Heat pouch; Alternative: Ceramic Slim 220 hair straighteners, £19.99 from Remington
GHD Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer brush, £279.99 (was £379.99)
GHD Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer brush,
£279.99 (was £379.99) from GHD
Pros: Big brush size is great for thick hair, cuts styling time down, brush is surprisingly good at getting to the roots, circular design gives blow dry look, relatively quiet
Cons: Takes a while to cool down, heavy to hold, doesn’t replace straightening process for me (but maybe could for some hair types), very expensive
Rating: 4/5
GHD’s newest innovation promises a two-in-one styling experience, using air to take the hair from wet to dry to styled, all in one step.
The biggest benefit here is most definitely the reduced styling time – unfortunately for my thick hair type this didn’t replace the straightening process to achieve a sleek, blow dry effect, however for some hair types I think this could be a lot more effective.
I was surprised at how quiet the machine was considering the heat and power it generated – it created less noise than many hairdryers, which is definitely a pro.
I did however find the GHD tool to be quite heavy which could get tiring after a while, and the price point also makes it an investment.
Temperature range: 120 degrees; Includes heat mat: Yes (pouch); Plates: Heated bristles; Accessories included: Heat resistant pouch and cleaning brush; Alternative: Revamp Progloss Perfect Blow Dry Volumising Hot Air Styler, £59.99 from Superdrug
Cloud Nine The Original Iron Pro, £189 (was £219)
Cloud Nine The Original Iron Pro, £189
(was £219) from Amazon
Pros: Revive Mode can be activated to minimise friction and maintain hair health, smooth plates glide easily along hair
Cons: Expensive, controls are on the inside of the plates, temperature doesn’t go above 200 degrees
Rating: 4/5
These premium hair straighteners are the deluxe pro version of Cloud Nine’s staple model, The Original Iron.
Key features include Revive Mode, which keeps friction at a minimum by vibrating 8000 times a minute for moderated styling to avoid damage to the hair.
The straighteners are described as being best for thin to medium hair types, however they still worked effectively on my thick hair, although the plates are on the smaller side so styling takes longer than with some of the wide-plated options.
The maximum heat is 200 degrees, while some other straighteners reach temperatures as high as 235 degrees, so for more stubborn hair this may not be as effective.
All the controls were on the inside of the plates which could be risky when trying to change the temperature or activate Revive Mode while the straighteners are hot.
I enjoyed using the Cloud Nine straighteners and my hair was left sleek with lasting shape, however the size is definitely best for thin to medium hair.
Temperature range: 100-200 degrees; Includes heat mat: Yes (pouch); Plates: Ceramic; Accessories included: Heat pouch and protective guard; Alternative: T3 SinglePass X Hair Straighteners, £170 from LookFantastic
BaByliss Rose Lustre 230 Hair Straightener, £30 (was £45)
BaByliss Rose Lustre 230 Hair Straightener,
£30 (was £45) from Argos
Pros: Size of plates was good for short hair, reasonable price
Cons: Material felt quite cheap, couldn’t get my hair super straight
Rating: 3.5/5
While not the cheapest out there, these straighteners are on the more affordable end of hair tools, and for the price these seemed like an okay option.
I wasn’t blown away by the design and the plastic on the straighteners definitely made them feel cheaper than some of the higher-end models, but this is understandable when making a price comparison.
In terms of usage, I found these easy to hold, and the size of the plates was good enough for short, fine to medium thickness hair.
Overall these are a decent, affordable option, and would probably do the job for those with loose curls or straight hair types.
Temperature range: 180-230 degrees; Includes heat mat: Yes; Plates: Ceramic; Accessories included: Heat mat; Alternative: Remington Shine Therapy hair straightener, £79 from Boots
How we tested these products
All straighteners have been tested individually and assessed for appearance, ease of use, effectiveness in straightening, versatility and longevity of results.
Ratings also take into consideration how the price points weigh up against the quality of the product.
Where to buy straighteners in the UK
Head to our shopping beauty hub for more news and discounts, and our shopping reviews hub for more tried-and-tested recommendations.