Your straighteners are working a lot harder than you think. Or at least, they could be. Most of us reach for them on autopilot – same technique, same result, every time. But straightening irons – and particularly The Great Iron – are genuinely one of the most versatile tools you own, and these three tricks are proof

1. Create effortless waves and curls

It might come as a surprise, but your straighteners can actually curl better than a wand for certain looks. Clamp The Great Iron halfway down a section of hair, twist it away from your face, then slowly glide it downward. The result? A soft, undone wave with that coveted piece-y texture that looks like you just walked off the beach.

The trick is temperature and tension. Go lower than you think (around 180°C is plenty for most hair types) and let The Great Iron do the work rather than rushing. Finish with some Almost Everything Cream to add definition and shine.

2. Tame frizz and flyaways

Used strategically, straighteners are one of the best tools for smoothing the frizzy halo that can appear on all hair textures. The key is to work on small sections at a lower heat setting. Rather than running the iron all the way down, gently clamp just the surface layers – the bits that are puffing out – and release. You're not straightening, you're smoothing. It's also great for sorting out the hair around your face between wash days.

3. Touch up clothes and collars

Hear us out: A flat iron is a genuinely brilliant travel hack for getting creases out of a collar, smoothing a shirt cuff, or pressing a hem when you've already packed the iron away. The narrow plates are actually better than a traditional iron for detail work. Just make sure the temperature is appropriate for the fabric (cool for delicates, hotter for cotton), and always do a quick check that there's no product residue on the plates before you go near your clothes. You are welcome.

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