I've Tested Over 50 Different Hair Tools, But There's Only 6 That I'd Genuinely Invest In
One beauty editor shares her roundup of the best hair tools on the market, from Dyson, GHD, Shark and more.
Today I'm here to talk about the best hair tools on the market, but first, a little backstory. My hair and I have been on quite a journey over the past 28 years. Growing up, I had incredibly thick, naturally wavy hair, and I had no idea how to style it. When I turned 16, I started experimenting with bleach and hair straighteners, and it's safe to say I damaged my hair pretty badly. About five years ago, I was sick of my strands breaking all the time, so I decided to quit heat styling altogether. Although I didn't say goodbye to bleach completely, I opted for a subtle blonde balayage twice a year, which made a big difference compared to my usual bright blonde highlights every six weeks. Fast forward to today, and my hair is feeling long, thick and relatively healthy (let's face it, it could always be better), which means I've slowly introduced heat styling back into my routine.
As a beauty editor, I've been lucky enough to get my hands on some of the very best hair tools over the years, from the iconic Dyson hairdryer (yes, it is one of the best hair dryers on the market) to trending hot brushes, hair multi-stylers and more. I've easily tested over 50 (if not more) hair tools during my career, but if I'm being honest, there's only a handful I would actually purchase with my own money. So, I thought it was about time to share them with you.
Below, you'll find my ultimate tried-and-tested edit of the very best hair tools on the market, as well as some very worthy runners-up that I can't get enough of. Whether you want to invest in a hair dryer, straightener or curling wand, I've got the top recommendations.
The Best Hair Tools 2026, Tried & Tested
- Best Hair Dryer: Dyson Supersonic Nural, £400
- Best Hair Straightener: GHD Chronos, £299
- Best Curling Wand: BaByliss Style Secret Air Automatic Rotating Curler And Waver, £120
- Best Diffuser: Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser, £159
- Best Hot Brush: Revlon One-Step™ Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1, £70
- Best Multi-Styler: Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer, £300
Best Hair Dryers
Top Spot: Dyson Supersonic Nural
Key features: Scalp protect mode, adjustable heat and airflow settings, 5 attachments
Pros
- Looks super chic
- Helps create a range of styles
- Powerful and quick drying
- Easy to use
- Protects the scalp
Cons
- More expensive than other hair dryers on the market
Before becoming a beauty editor, I never really gave any thought to the hair dryer I was using. As long as it dried my hair, I was happy. However, now that I've tried this model from Dyson, I'm not sure I will ever be able to use another hair dryer ever again. First of all, the design is unmatched. It comes in the chicest carry case with five different attachments, and the sleek finish makes getting this out of my drawer feel like a luxury experience every single time I wash my hair. I'll be honest, I don't tend to use a lot of the different attachments, but I know other editors who swear by them for a range of styles.
Another thing I love is just how powerful it is. I have a lot of hair, so drying it can sometimes take me over an hour, but this dries every single strand in about 15-20 minutes flat. Lastly, I think the scalp protect mode is the cleverest thing I've come across. The hair dryer essentially monitors how close it is to the scalp and adjusts the settings to minimise damage. Not only will you feel this happening, but you'll see the hair dryer change colour to let you know that it's doing its thing. Yes, this product is an investment, but I view it as an investment into the long-term health of my hair, and who can put a price on that?
Runner Up: Ghd Speed Ionic Hair Dryer
Key features: Ghd halo™ dual-airflow technology, 4 heat settings, 4 speed settings, a cool shot
New from Ghd, this hair dryer has seriously impressed me, and assistant social media editor Annie Wheatland-Clinch also can't get enough. "When I tried the new Ghd Speed Ionic, I was shocked by how easy it was to use and how different my hair felt after giving it a whirl. The heatless settings were particularly impressive, and the power behind the airflow meant my hair dried in minutes, even with the cool setting. I can happily say goodbye to achy arms, as this lightweight styler gives me shiny hair in 15 minutes flat."
Best Hair Straighteners
Top Spot: GHD Chronos
Key features: HD motion-responsive™ technology, ergonomic design, 185ºC temperature for optimum styling, automatic sleep mode
Pros
- HD motion-responsive feature makes it quicker and easier to style hair
- Ultra-gloss floating plates deliver a shiny finish
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- Plates aren't as wide at the Ghd Max, so it may take a little longer on thick or long hair
I've curled and straightened my hair with the Ghd Chronos here.
Speaking of Ghd, if you're looking for a top-of-the-range hair straightener, you need to know about this design. You might be able to tell by now, but I like hair tools that work quickly and efficiently, so I'm spending as little time as possible on my hair in the morning. While I think all Ghd straighteners deserve a place in this roundup, I like this particular design as it features an HD motion-responsive feature that adapts to your movements when styling, to get the best result in just one stroke. Not only does this make things a lot quicker, but it also helps to minimise breakage. I usually have to pass my hair straightener over the same strands quite a few times, but I really notice a difference when using this.
The ultra-gloss floating plates also deliver a shiny finish, and the curved design allows me to create loose waves and curls with the tool, too. It really just ticks all the boxes.
Runner Up: Dyson Corrale™ Straightener
Key features: Flexing plates, up to 30 minutes cord-free use, 3 heat settings
Of course, I had to do a special shoutout to the Dyson hair straightener. The cordless design and flexing copper plates allow the user ultimate control, and the curved edges make them a dream for curling the hair, too.
Best Curling Wands
Top Spot: BaByliss Style Secret Air Automatic Rotating Curler And Waver
Key features: Auto-curl technology, 3 curl rotation settings, 3 heat settings and airflow only, 4 timer settings
Pros
- Does all the hard work for you
- Can choose between a range of different curls and heat settings
Cons
- Can take a little while to get used to
- Hard to get into the root of the hair
This is, by far, one of the coolest curling wands I've tried. It uses auto-curl technology, which essentially means it does all the hard work for you, wrapping the hair around the barrel at the touch of a button. You can pick from lots of different settings depending on what curl you want, but I find that it works incredibly well for really voluminous waves. You can also pick between three heat settings and an airflow setting, which is great if you want to minimise damage.
I'll be honest, it took me a little while to get used to this (I recommend giving the instructions a thorough read beforehand), but once I got the hang of it, I couldn't believe how easy it was. You literally take a small section of hair, insert it into the tool, press a button, then wait for it to beep to indicate your curl is ready, and voila! The slightly bulkier design makes it harder to get close to the roots, but it always leaves my ends looking full of bounce and body.
Runner Up: Ghd Chronos Curve Conical Wand
Key features: 28-23mm barrel, optimum 185°C temperature, cool tip, built-in safety stand, universal voltage, automatic sleep mode after 20 minutes
A conical curling wand is my go-to when I want a more relaxed, beachy-looking wave, as the tapered shape gives that slightly imperfect, tousled finish. This one from Ghd is my personal favourite as it features the same Chronos technology as the hair straightener I mentioned above, making it quick and easy to use.
Best Diffusers
Top Spot: Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser
Key features: 20cm diffuser, 2 speed settings, 3 heat settings and a cool shot
Pros
- Bigger size allows you to style larger sections
- Easy to use
- Range of settings to choose from
Cons
- Not everyone will love the larger design
If you have wavy or curly hair, you might be on the hunt for one of the best diffusers. I notice such a difference in my curls when I use a diffuser, and my favourite is this design from Curlsmith. I'll be honest, the main reason I love it is just how big it is. I sound like a broken record at this point, but I have a lot of hair, and this allows me to dry larger sections and cut down on styling time.
It's so easy to attach the diffuser to the hairdryer, and you can choose from a range of speeds and heat settings once you're ready to go, alongside a cool shot button to lock your style in place. All in all, it's a fantastic, reliable hair tool that's quickly become a mainstay in my routine.
Runner Up: Dyson Supersonic Nural™ Hair Dryer
Key features: Scalp protect mode, adjustable heat and airflow settings, 5 attachments
I know I've already mentioned this tool, so I won't bore you with all the same details, but I really rate the diffuser attachment that comes with this hair dryer.
Best Hot Brushes
Top Spot: Revlon One-Step™ Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1
Key features: 5 attachments, 4 heat settings
Pros
- Larger brush makes it quick and easy to use
- Comes with a range of other attachments
Cons
- Will need to brush the hair thoroughly before using to allow it to glide through the ends
It probably comes as no surprise that I rate this tool one of the best hot brushes on the market. I mean, who hasn't heard of it? Similar to the Curlsmith diffuser above, I love it because the brush itself is much larger than other models I've tried, making it quicker and easier to style larger sections of hair. While a hot brush isn't my all-time favourite tool (I prefer using a curling wand), if I do want that bouncy blow-dry look, this is the one I reach for. It glides through the hair, is easy to handle and this particular model features a new ceramic titanium coating for longer-lasting results.
If you're new to the world of hot brushes, it's a great one to start with, and considering how many attachments you get with this model, the price point is pretty impressive, too.
Runner Up: Beauty Works XXL Volume Hot Brush
Key features: 38mm barrel, ion technology, flexible bristles, temperature control, automatic shut off after 30 minutes of no use
If you're looking for a hot brush for dry hair, let me introduce you to this Beauty Works hot brush. Housed in a chic cream carry case, this brush comes with a handy LCD screen so you can see exactly when the tool reaches your desired temperature, but it also makes a beeping sound so you know when it's ready. It has a cool tip at the end, making it easier to hold and glide through the hair, and the extra-long styling barrel means you can get that bouncy blow-dry look in no time. It only takes me about 15 minutes to do my entire head, and I'm always so obsessed with the results.
Best Multi-Stylers
Top Spot: Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer
Key features: 5 attachments, 3 heat and airflow settings
Pros
- Creates a wide range of styles
- Caters to different hair types
- Results really last
Cons
- An investment, but will replace multiple tools in your routine
I cannot rave about this multi-styler from Shark enough. It's one of the best hair tools I own, and I've convinced pretty much all my friends to get one. It's one of those tools that once you have it, you really don't need anything else. It comes with a diffuser, curling attachments, a blow-dry brush and more, catering to a wide range of different hair types. However, the reason I rate it above similar tools on the market is its ability to create styles that actually last.
I've used similar tools before, and while they make my hair look great when freshly styled, a few hours later, my curls have dropped, or my blow-dry no longer looks bouncy. But thanks to the perfectly designed attachments and powerful airflow, I never experience this with the Shark tool.
Runner Up: Hershesons The Multi-Tasker
Key features: 3 attachments, carry case, multiple heat settings
A slightly different one from the Shark tool above, but I find myself always reaching for the Hershesons Multi-Tasker in the summer. It comes with a hot brush, a curling barrel for beautiful waves and also this incredible waver for a beachy finish. It can only be used on dry hair, but it's such a great bit of kit to take away with you when you're not sure what style you want to go for.
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We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
