Best Cloud Nine Straightener for Thick, Frizzy Hair

Not every straightener in Cloud Nine's lineup is built the same way, and if you've got thick, frizzy, or coarse hair, the model you pick matters a lot more than it would for fine, straight hair. Narrower plates mean more passes, more heat exposure, and more time fighting frizz that creeps back in before you've even finished the back section. We looked at Cloud Nine's full range — plate width, temperature range, and how each model actually performed on thick or frizz-prone hair in independent testing — to find the one worth your money.

Top Pick: Cloud Nine The Wide Iron Pro

The Wide Iron Pro (£259, often found closer to £249 on sale) is Cloud Nine's purpose-built answer to thick and curly hair. Its wide plates section off more hair per pass than the standard models, and the plate edges sit close to the body of the styler so you can get near the roots without leaving an awkward curl line. One reviewer who tested it specifically on very thick, very curly hair described the result bluntly: it makes "taming even very thick, very curly hair a doddle." The mineral-coated plates are designed to lock in moisture rather than cook it out, which is the actual mechanism behind less frizz — hair that stays hydrated through the styling process doesn't puff back up as fast once it cools.

•      Heats to its working temperature in roughly 20 seconds

•      Adjustable 100–200°C range, with a default of 150°C for everyday use

•      Revive Mode uses lower heat plus rapid vibration to refresh style between washes without a full re-straighten

•      Auto shutoff after 30 minutes

Budget-Friendly Alternative: Cloud Nine The Wide Iron

If the Pro's price is more than you want to spend, the standard Wide Iron (£209) uses the same core idea — 90 x 38mm plates, noticeably wider than Cloud Nine's standard 90 x 23mm plates — without the Pro's extra refinements. In independent testing on thick, wavy, frizz-prone hair, it smoothed frizz effectively at 175°C, and stubborn sections responded well at the full 200°C with a couple of extra passes. It reaches 200°C in about 28 seconds, only slightly slower than the Pro, and the reviewer specifically noted it handled textured hair well while keeping some natural body and volume rather than flattening it completely.

Why the Standard Original Iron Falls Short for Thick, Frizzy Hair

Cloud Nine's Original Iron (£209) is marketed as suitable for "all hair types," and for fine-to-medium hair, it's a genuinely capable straightener with the same 100–200°C range and Sericite-infused plates as the rest of the range. The catch is plate width: at roughly 90 x 23mm, it captures noticeably less hair per pass than either Wide Iron option. For thin or medium hair that's not a real issue, but on thick or very frizzy hair it means more sections, more passes, and more total heat exposure to get the same result — which is exactly the opposite of what you want when frizz control is the priority.

What Actually Makes a Straightener Good for Thick, Frizzy Hair

•      Plate width — wider plates (90mm+) section off more hair per pass, cutting down total styling time and heat exposure

•      A genuinely high top temperature — thick, coarse hair often needs the 200°C end of the range to get smooth results in one or two passes

•      Moisture-retentive plate coating — Cloud Nine's Sericite mineral coating is designed to prevent the plates from stripping moisture, which is a major driver of rebound frizz

•      A lower-heat refresh mode — Revive Mode lets you touch up between washes without repeating a full 200°C style, reducing cumulative heat damage that makes hair frizzier over time

Side-by-Side Comparison

How to Get the Best Results on Thick, Frizzy Hair

Even the right straightener performs better with the right technique. Start with hair that's fully dry — any residual dampness causes the plates to effectively boil moisture out of the hair shaft, which is one of the fastest ways to trigger frizz. Work in smaller sections than you think you need, especially through the back and underneath layers where hair tends to be thickest. Use the higher end of the temperature range (180–200°C) for the first full style, then rely on Revive Mode at the lower setting for touch-ups between washes rather than repeating a full high-heat pass every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cloud Nine Wide Iron Pro worth the extra cost over the standard Wide Iron?

If you have very thick or very curly hair and style daily, yes — the faster heat-up, Revive Mode, and refined plate edges add up over regular use. For occasional styling or moderately thick hair, the standard Wide Iron delivers very similar results for £50 less.

Can the Original Iron handle thick hair at all?

It can, but it will take more passes and more total heat exposure than either Wide Iron option, since its plates are narrower. It's a better fit for fine-to-medium hair than for thick or very frizzy hair.

What temperature should I use on thick, frizzy hair?

Most reviewers found 175–200°C necessary for thick or coarse hair to get smooth results without excessive passes. Save the lower settings around 150°C for Revive Mode touch-ups rather than the initial style.

Does a wider plate really reduce frizz, or is it just faster?

Both. A wider plate sections more hair per pass, which means fewer total passes and less cumulative heat exposure — and less heat exposure is one of the most direct ways to reduce frizz, independent of the plate coating itself.

Final Verdict

For thick, frizzy hair, the Cloud Nine Wide Iron Pro is the strongest match in the lineup — wider plates, a genuinely high heat ceiling, and a moisture-retentive coating built specifically to cut down on the heat exposure that causes frizz in the first place. The standard Wide Iron is a very close second if you want to save £50 without giving up the plate width that actually matters most. Save the Original Iron for finer hair, where its narrower plates aren't a real limitation. If your straightener is having a different problem entirely, see our guide to fixing a Cloud Nine straightener that won't heat up, or compare the brand head-to-head in our Cloud Nine vs GHD comparison.