We Tested the "Best" Wet-to-Dry Hair Straighteners, But Only These 3 Wowed Us

Back in the day, I'd need a hairdryer and a hair straightener to transform my thick, naturally wavy hair into a sleek, smooth style.

Not only would I have to spend hundreds of pounds on different tools, but it would also take me hours to get the results I wanted. However, beauty tech has come a long way in recent years, and there are now many hot brushes available that dry your hair from damp whilst styling it simultaneously for a bouncy-blowdry look. As much as I love these tools (the Dyson Airwrap is a particular favourite of mine), I still find it hard to get a super-sleek finish when using a hot brush on my hair. This is where a wet-to-dry hair straightener comes in.

Dyson's wet-to-dry hair straightener launched in the UK last year.

Yep, that's right, there are now tools that dry and straighten your hair in one go. We all know that using a hair straightener on wet hair is a big no-no (hello, fried ends), and although some brands have tried creating wet-to-dry straightening tools in the past that don't cause heat damage, GHD and Dyson really spearheaded the category when they released similar tools in 2023. The only downside? These stylers don't come cheap.

This is why we thought it was only right to put some of the most popular wet-to-dry straighteners to the test to see if they're really worth the money. So, if you're thinking about giving one a go, keep scrolling for everything you need to know.

What Is a Wet-to-Dry Hair Straightener?

So, what is a wet-to-dry hair straightener? As the name suggests, this tool can be used on wet (actually wet, not damp) hair, and works to dry and straighten at the same time. "A wet-to-dry straightener is the only tool you need to style your hair as soon as you step out of the shower," says GHD ambassador and celebrity hairstylist Patrick Wilson. These tools often use a combination of hot air and styling plates to get the desired results whilst minimising heat damage.

Can a Wet-to-Dry Hair Straightener Cause Heat Damage?

I know what you're thinking: using a straightener on wet hair has to be bad for your hair, right? Well, as it turns out, these tools are actually quite kind to strands. Because they use powerful airflow, they all work on pretty low heat settings, meaning that damage is minimal. Most of them claim to cause no heat damage whatsoever, and although they definitely use a lot less heat than your typical hairdryer or straightener, they still use some heat on the hair, so I would always recommend going in with your favourite heat protectant first. "I’d recommend [using] the GHD Sleek Talker (£35) first [on] damp hair; this will help to prevent frizz or humidity throughout the day, and—most importantly—protect the hair from heat," says Wilson.

More brands are now releasing wet-to-dry straightening tools.

Can a Wet-to-Dry Hair Straightener Work on All Hair Types?

Most wet-to-dry hair straighteners have been designed to work on all hair types, however, the results may vary. As you'll see below, we tested these tools on a range of hair types, and whilst those of us with naturally wavy hair achieved super-sleek results, those with curlier hair types found that the tools worked best as more of a low-heat option for stretching hair before styling.

The Best Wet-to-Dry Hair Straighteners, Tried and Tested

1. GHD Duet

First up is the GHD Duet 2-In-1 Hot Air Styler. This tool came out in 2023 and took the beauty world by storm. It was the first two-in-one hot-air styler that combined airflow and heated plates to dry and straighten the hair simultaneously. It uses "Air-fusion technology", which channels concentrated airflow through a drying chamber, combined with low-temperature styling plates. Plus, it has "infinity" sensors to maintain this temperature from root to tip. We asked our social media editor, Megan Storey, to put it to the test.

Before Using the GHD Duet

Using the GHD Duet

After Using the GHD Duet

The Verdict

"I'm a low-maintenance beauty girl," says Megan. "I know I could really embrace my natural curls if I put the work in with the Curly Girl Method, but I just don’t like spending that much time doing my hair. Enter the GHD Duet. As soon as I tried it, I messaged our beauty editor Eleanor telling her I knew it was going to change my life.

"I have very thick, frizzy, curly hair, but prefer wearing it straight. From the get-go, the Duet was so easy to use. My hair went from wet (and already going curly) to super smooth and straight in 20 minutes, and it didn’t feel like I was frying my ends. I’ve honestly never seen my hair this sleek and shiny after my normal wash, blow-dry and straighten routine. I also love the Shine Shot setting, which gives a glossy finish.

"If I were to have any hesitations, it’d be the price (but honestly, I think it's worth it for the time it’ll save me!), and I don’t think it could fully replace my straighteners, which I still used in the days since testing to tame any kinks."

Shop the GHD Duet:

2. Dyson Airstrait

Next up is the Dyson Airstrait. Now, I've tested this tool myself and I'm completely obsessed. It has cut the time I spend styling my thick, naturally wavy hair in half. However, I was keen to know how it would perform on someone with curly hair, so I asked contributing beauty writer Ata-Owaji Victor to try it out.

Similarly to the GHD Duet, this tool uses powerful airflow to dry and straighten the hair with minimal heat damage. It features high-velocity air blades and an LCD screen where you can select your airflow and temperature settings before styling (there are three temperature settings: 80°C, 110°C and 140°C). It also comes with a few extra functions. For example, if you clamp the plates together, it works as a hairdryer to rough-dry your roots. You can also select a cool mode to lock your style in place or a dry mode to go over the hair once dry. Oh, and the tool automatically turns off when you set it down.

Before Using the Dyson Airstrait

Using the Dyson Airstrait

After Using the Dyson Airstrait

The Verdict

"As a long-time user (and lover) of the Dyson Supersonic, thanks to its wide-tooth comb and concentrated attachment, I was interested to see how the Airstrait would fare on a few fronts. My hair—Type 4B and fine—tends to dry quite quickly, so I often use heat tools for styling and stretching out my roots rather than just as an out-and-out answer to post-shower hair.

"Despite appearances, the tool is light in feel and boasts an easy-to-navigate menu of heat, airflow and wet or dry styling options. I used the tool at 110 degrees on damp, detangled hair. I sectioned it off, placing it at the root of my coils before bringing it down the mid-lengths and ends of my hair. I used the Airstrait first as directed—air channel facing down—before switching to a combination of up and downwind with the channel to dry my roots thoroughly and stretch out my coils.

"Although I did experiment with a few techniques to attempt to re-create the type of finish I’m used to achieving with a more conventional straightening tool, I found that the Airstrait worked best as a wet-to-dry tool. The flexible temperature controls make it a brilliant option for sensitive scalps and anyone with afro hair who wants to reintroduce heat styling to their routine gently. It's also a great low-heat option for stretching hair before styling in braids. However, it's not great for sleek, silk-press styles on unprocessed Type 4 hair."

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3. Shark FlexFusion

Last but by no means least, say hello to the Shark FlexFusion. This is one of the newest wet-to-dry hair straightening tools out there, so we were keen to give it a go. Now, this tool is slightly different to the ones above as it features multiple attachments, including a hairdryer, straightener, curler, styling concentrator and a curl-defining diffuser. However, the attachment we were most interested in was the straightener. This attachment combines heat-controlled ceramic and powerful airflow for a long-lasting style, and can be used on both wet and dry hair. Again, it's designed to minimise heat damage whilst giving that sleek, smooth finish. So, how did our beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden, get on?

Before Using the Shark FlexFusion

Using the Shark FlexFusion

After Using the Shark FlexFusion

The Verdict

"Featuring ceramic plates, this air-straightener uses heat and air in tandem to dry and straighten, and it's easily my favourite attachment of the FlexFusion," says Eleanor. "After rough-drying my hair to about 80% dry with the hairdryer nozzle, this straightened and dried my hair in just one or two passes in wet-to-dry mode. It left my hair silky-smooth, shiny and almost poker-straight. For top-ups in between wash days, I used the dry mode to smooth over any kinks that had settled in.

"So, how does it work on different hair textures? When I attended the FlexFusion launch event earlier this year, I saw first-hand how well it works on curly hair, where it smoothed and straightened in just two strokes through the lengths on wet-to-dry mode. However, if you have a very curly or coily hair texture and want an ultra-sleek result, you may wish to switch to the 'dry' mode afterwards and pass over your lengths once more for a really smooth finish. But ultimately, this hair tool really streamlines drying and styling time without having to reach for separate hair tools."

Shop the Shark FlexFusion: