The new Molly Mae x Beauty Works straighteners have changed my hairstyling game

From Love Island star to YouTube sensation, Molly-Mae Hague is famous for many reasons but it’s the influencer’s shape-shifting hair that really captures the attention of her 5.3m Instagram followers.

Anyone who follows the reality TV star on social media will know how frequently her locks change. One day they will be styled with big, bouncy curls and the next she’ll be sporting luscious mermaid waves, a plaited ponytail or even an off-duty bun.

But, in recent weeks there has been one hairstyle that Molly-Mae has favoured above all others: a super-straight, sleek and enviably glossy long bob. And, we’d be lying if we said it hasn’t tempted us to go for the chop.

While the departure from her signature curls might seem coincidental, Molly-Mae has been sharing more photos of herself with straight locks to promote her latest collaboration with haircare brand Beauty Works.

She has been working with the label since 2019, launching a range of hairstyling tools that have proved a hit with beauty lovers, including two types of curling tong and a hair waver. But, these sell-out gadgets weren’t enough for the star. She just had to go one step beyond, and thank goodness, because now we’re all poised to benefit from Molly-Mae and Beauty Works’s latest release – a hair straightener.

Read more:

• 9 best hair wavers that will give you mermaid locks

• 10 best hair clips to accessorise your locks

• 10 best shampoos that keep greasy and oily hair fresh and balanced

• 10 best hair straighteners for sleek hair with minimal heat damage

Called the hair straightener kit, it is the brand’s first-ever straightener release and hit the shelves at the end of March. Beauty Works claims that the tool, which is designed with infrared ceramic plates, creates sleek, smooth tresses and delivers long-lasting results on both short and long hair.

Sharing the news on her Instagram, Molly-Mae posted a photo of herself with hip-length poker straight platinum blonde hair, writing: “I’m SO excited to finally share with you all something I’ve been working on for MONTHS!

“We’ve designed this so you can style with less heat and more control. It will honestly change the way you straighten your hair and I can’t WAIT for you all to try.”

We couldn’t wait either and, as long-time ghd fans, were intrigued to see if the straightener could really change the way we style our hair, like Molly-Mae suggests.

To find out, we’ve rated the gadget on everything from its design to ease of use, versatility and end result – you can read our review below.

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 acrossThe Independent.

Molly-Mae x Beauty Works hair straightener kit

After spending weeks lusting over Molly-Mae’s sleek bob, we were keen to see if we could achieve similar results with this kit that’s been designed by the Islander herself.

An already saturated market, there were high expectations for Beauty Works’s first foray into the world of poker straight locks but as soon as we opened the packaging, we could see how the brand was trying to set itself apart from the rest.

While most straighteners come with little else than the box they’re delivered in, the clue is in the name with this one, as it comes as a kit with everything you need to style your hair, including a stylish pink faux leather storage case, bristle paddle brush and protective glove to shield your hands from any accidents.

As for the tool itself, the straightener is made with a glossy white finish and looks seriously sleek, with a long, thin design that feels lightweight yet sturdy in your hands. But, are the straighteners as technologically impressive as they are good-looking?

In short: yes. The narrow plates are visibly different from other models we’ve used, with a smooth ceramic coating and three infrared bars, which are said to help you create snag-free styles, eliminate frizz and provide enhanced shine. It also includes a dial at the base, which allows you to adjust the temperature (it ranges from 80C to 220C). This is a key feature that makes this tool a great option for all hair types as, while 185C is the optimal styling temperature for most people, lower heat suits fine hair best and thick or coarse tresses may need more heat to be effective.

Read more: 11 best hair vitamins for stronger, healthier and glossier locks

When we first plugged the straightener in, we were surprised to see a small silver cylinder shape at the base of the tool transform into a display screen which showed the plates were increasing in temperature. The dial is simple and satisfying to use as it clicks with every movement to the right or left until you reach your desired level of heat – we opted for 185C, which was swiftly reached in around 30 seconds. However, it’s worth noting that, unlike ghd’s, there is no sound to let you know when the straightener is ready to go.

Our hair is fairly straight to begin with but we struggle to get it looking sleek and glossy, so we decided to aim for that Jennifer Anniston circa Friends vibe with a smooth finish and curled under ends. We didn’t bother to section our tresses and jumped straight in, gliding it through the narrow plates of the straightener. As the infrared heat moved over our strands, they became immediately pin-straight and noticeably less frizzy, while the curled under ends were a breeze to achieve with just one swipe. We also didn’t have to hold the straightener on our hair for long as we moved it down and experienced zero snagging. In fact, our typically dull looking hair even appeared noticeably shinier.

All together, the whole process took about five minutes – a definite plus if you’re the type of the person that runs late or is looking for fuss-free styling. We also loved that the straightener comes with a handy lock feature, which stops the tool from opening or closing and means the plates can cool down safely, and be stored away in the carry case neatly.

Over the last few years, we’ve got into the habit of waving our hair on a daily basis so, perhaps the most impressive thing about this tool is that its sleek styling job might have converted us to the straight side. We’ve worn our hair straight pretty much every day since the tool arrived in the post and, dare we say it, have all but ditched our much-loved ghd’s.

However, fellow wave lovers shouldn’t tune out entirely, as you too are catered for with this handy gadget. When it came to adding texture to our tresses, the straightener’s smooth plates, glossy exterior and narrow design created really effortless-looking curls with lots of shine and staying power. After brushing ours out, they lasted a full two days before we decided to give our locks a wash but, if you can go longer, we’re sure they’d go the distance.

Buy now £99.98, Beautyworksonline.com

The verdict: Molly-Mae x Beauty Works hair straightener kit

If you’re after versatility and style your hair often, you can’t go wrong with this kit. At just under £100, the straightener is still pricey compared to some budget models but a tool that provides frizz-free, sleek styling that lasts all day without damaging your hair should, in our opinion, be considered an investment. While we can’t promise that we won’t dig our ghd’s out again at some point, this straightener has replaced them as our go-to – for now.

For more hair tools, read our review of the best straighteners