Dyson corrale V ghd platinum+: Which are the best hair straighteners?

We put the two pairs of irons head to head to see which gives the most sleek, smooth and shiny locks

Can a new wireless model knock the good hair day queens off the top spot? (iStock/The Independent)

As Dyson branches out to hair straighteners with the release of its new corrale device, we put the styler to the test against the cult classic that is the ghd platinum plus styler.

The perfect straighteners are about more than just sleek hair. ghd has set a standard for smart technology that puts as much emphasis on the health of your hair as it does on reducing frizz and maintaining your style all day long.

With so many gadgets available right now, the best of the best has to go above and beyond the competition to make the styling process as easy as possible.

We’ve looked at the temperature settings, functionality and quality to see which device comes out on top of the market right now.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Dyson corrale straightener: £399.99, John Lewis & Partners

Temperature settings: 165C, 185C and 210C Available colours: Grey, purple Weight: 0.56kg Cord length: 2.92m Cord-free? Yes

Following Dyson’s groundbreaking supersonic hairdryer and airwrap styler, there were high expectations for the corrale straightener when it launched at the beginning of March. With seven years and £25m worth of research behind it, the results are patented “flexing plate technology” that promises to cause 50 per cent less damage to your hair than the average heat styling tool.

Unlike Dyson’s last two offerings, there’s no air technology here – these straighteners look and work (for the most part) like any other pair. Thanks to the flexibility of both copper alloy plates, heat is distributed evenly along your hair, while pulling in every strand to prevent flyaways and rogue waves.

Three different heat settings – 165C, 185C and 210C – also give you more control over your styling. While any temperature is suitable for use on most hair types, finer, straighter hair only needs the lowest setting, with the higher temperatures best reserved for those with thicker, coarser or curlier hair. They take a similar time to heat to each temperature, making a noise to let you know when they are ready to use.

The most hyped element of the corrale straightener is of course the fact it’s cord-free. With a separate wireless charging stand, the device takes 70 minutes to fully charge and, at full capacity, provides 30 minutes of cord-free styling. Both of these times are a lot more impressive than other cordless straighteners out there right now. The lack of wire makes it much easier to style the back of your head (and reduces the risk of any accidental burns).

In case you forget to charge them, you can also go down the traditional route and use them plugged in. With a cord almost three metres long, it still gives your styling plenty of flexibility. There’s also a handy aeroplane mode – detaching the internal battery and making them safe to pack in your cabin luggage – and they have universal voltage, making them just as effective on the other side of the world as they are at home.

Like most straighteners, you can also switch things up a bit and use them to create waves and curls. The flexi-plate technology works in your favour here, as it reduces the risk of leaving an unwanted kink in your hair.

Despite only weighing 560g, these straighteners do look and feel quite hefty when you first get them out of the box. However, you soon get used to it, and the ability to twist and turn them whichever way you please without having to duck a wire more than makes up for it. The added bulk also means that you don’t feel as much heat emanating from the plates.

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ghd platinum+ styler: £169, John Lewis & Partners

Temperature settings: 185C Available colours: Black, red, white, rose gold Weight: 0.4kg Cord length: 2.7m Cord-free? No

ghd straighteners were already a beauty staple before the brand upped its game with the launch of the platinum+ styler in 2018. The device took five years to develop, namely because of its innovative predictive technology.

Taking note of the thickness of your hair and the way you usually section it for styling, it adjusts the power accordingly so as to not unleash any unnecessary damage. That means it will exert more power on thicker, stubborn sections while going easy on fragile, thinner strands.

As a result, these straighteners promise 70 per cent less damage and never leave the ends of your hair feeling fried. However, there is no flexibility with the temperature settings – it’s set to a standard of 185C, which is hot enough to tackle most hair types.

The plates are ceramic and rounded in a barrel style at the edges, which helps give your hair a smooth, just blow-dried finish. Part of ghd’s promise is to leave your hair 20 per cent shinier than if you had left it to air dry, and there’s definitely a noticeable difference in shine. The plates are also one inch wide, which is a bit narrower than the Dyson corrale.

Coming up 160g lighter than the Dyson straighteners, these look and feel less weighty and are easy to slip into your bag. While they do also have universal voltage, the internal battery is non-removable, so avoid putting them in your cabin luggage.

While they don’t offer the same level of freedom as a cordless device, they attach to the wire with a rotating barrel that keeps disruption to a minimum.

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The verdict: Which should you buy?

For ease of use, the Dyson corrale is the clear winner. Styling is significantly easier without navigating around a wire – especially if you prefer a device that can serve as both a straightener and curler.

While a lot of cordless devices sacrifice some of their effectiveness in a bid for practicality, Dyson also manages to get the job done quicker. Thanks to the wider plates, a lot more hair is taken in at once, and most sections of our tester’s hair required just one quick sweep for poker straight results. It also took about half the amount of time as the ghd platinum plus styler.

However, that’s not to say that ghd’s offering is without its merits. Not only do you not have to worry about charging the different components, but it’s lighter, sleeker and works more like a traditional styling device. The smart technology is also very impressive, particularly if you’re already suffering from heat damage.

We also can’t not mention the price difference. While the ghd platinum styler is a respectable £169, the Dyson corrale will set you back £399.99, so is definitely not a purchase to be made on an impulse. If you’re regularly heat styling your hair – especially on the go – then this might be an investment worth making.

Our top choice is the corrale, which is the latest in a string of top tier beauty gadgets from Dyson. However, the ghd platinum styler is a worthy competitor, even if it doesn’t offer the same versatility.