How the hair straightener has gone HI-TECH
AS SOMEONE who spends far too much time, money and effort taming unruly wavy hair, i consider straighteners a must-have. Sometimes, they simply add a sleek finish to a blowdry. On bad hair days, however, when the frizz is threatening a full- on takeover, they’re the only thing that can restore some order to my disobedient locks.
Yet gone are the days when you simply waited for the plates to heat up and then set to work.
Recently, straighteners have gone all hi-tech, with an almost baffling range of styling tools promising to harness the latest technology to turn smooth hair into a science.
is there any difference in the result? ANGELA EpStEiN finds out . . . The Cloud Nine Original Iron (£129.95, cloudninehair.com) AN iNNOVAtiVE heat control means you can style at a temperature of your choice — from 100c to 200c.
the super smooth plates and curved body promise to straighten, curl, flick and wave without dragging or catching. they come with a fetching heat-resistant case.
VERDICT: these are touted as the straighteners of choice for celebrity stylists, but i wasn’t that impressed.
the temperature gauge was fiddly to access, though a plastic cap to place over the end of the straighteners after use was a thoughtful addition.
they gave a reasonably straight finish, but my hair still felt a little rough, especially at the ends. 3/5 Glamoriser (£44.99, argos.co.uk) BLACK diamond oil is infused in the plates to offer intense shine and luminescence. the ceramic floating plates promise to glide without snagging. Choose from six heat settings up to 235c. they come in a lovely purple shade along with a heatproof mat and pouch.
VERDICT: i admit i have no idea what black diamond oil is. According to the manufacturer, this means the oilbased ceramic hot plates have been infused with crushed diamonds.
i can’t say i’m not sceptical. But, frankly, they could be made of mulch for all i care — because they’re brilliant, gliding smoothly through my hair and leaving it straight as an arrow after just two strokes. 5/5 Braun SensoCare (£89.99, amazon.co.uk) thE irons use ‘intelligent styling technology’ to take readings of your hair 20 times a second, detecting the moisture of each strand and adapting the heat to suit. A digital screen with smiley face icons tells you if hair is too damp to style.
VERDICT: Before use, i first have to create an individual profile. So i’m asked (by hair straighteners!) to answer questions, which flash up on a little screen, about my hair length, thickness and colour.
this is supposed to achieve perfect styling in terms of temperature and number of strokes. But, despite all the preamble, i’m still unsure when the irons have heated up — there’s no light or sound to let me know. While they flattened most of my hair quite well, these couldn’t tame the unruly wavy ends. 3/5
ROUGH DEAL
STRAIGHT WINNER
FAILS INTELLIGENCE TEST
SMOOTH BUT PRICEY
T3 SinglePass X (£165, t3haircare.co.uk) A MiCROChip in the irons constantly measures and adjusts the plates’ temperature for accurate and consistent heat while styling.
the idea is that they smooth and style in one quick pass, without causing frazzle. the extrawide plates are designed for long, thick or coarse hair.
VERDICT: i like the fact there is a clear temperature guide — a beep to let you know the irons have heated up, so there’s no danger of burning. My hair is pretty straight after a single pass: impressive if you’re in a rush.
But i’m taking a point off for the ridiculously high price tag. 4/5
FRIGHTFULLY FLYAWAY
Toni & Guy Fluid Metal Styler (£44.99, superdrug.com) DESiGNED with iridescent titanium technology (ie ultra shiny) plates for ultimate heat transfer, to enhance shine and smooth the hair follicles.
they come with a helpful heat-proof pouch and separate heat-proof quilted mat.
VERDICT: i’m a big fan of toni & Guy hair products and salons, so i was expecting great things from these irons. And they do heat up fast, with a range of temperature settings.
But, otherwise, i was disappointed. After a couple of strokes, my hair felt terribly flyaway and full of static. Definitely not a winner. 2/5