Cloud Nine Original hair straightener review: can this latest model handle the heat?

We like:

• Quickly produces glossy, straightened hair
• Adjustable temperature to minimise damage
• Comes with convenient travel pouch

We don’t like:

• Pricey
• Edges of the straightening barrel aren’t rounded so can catch on hair

What is the Cloud Nine Original?

You’ll probably recognise the Cloud Nine brand from the salon – it’s a popular styling tool for professional hairdressers looking for speed and ease at straightening. Most sections of hair only require one pass, and the Original model has an adjustable temperature option from 100 to 200C. It is brilliant for minimising damage, especially for fine hair that doesn’t require the same high temperatures as other hair types in order to achieve a straight look. It’s a contrast to GHD, one of Cloud Nine’s biggest rivals, whose wands all heat up to 185C without any other options.

The Yorkshire-based brand was first set up in 2009 and the company now makes six different straighteners – the latest iteration of the Original that we’ve put to the test came out in 2024. The Cloud Nine Original is undoubtedly an excellent styler but at £179 at full price, it’s also an expensive investment.

Cloud Nine say the straightener is “perfect for all hair types” thanks to 11 different settings that enable users to choose the right heat level, as well as a “revive mode” in which the straightening plates vibrate to minimise friction as the hair goes between them, cutting down direct heat contact to minimise damage and help keep hair follicles healthy and strong.

We’ve taken a look at how the Cloud Nine straightener performs independently and how it measures up to some competitors, including GHD’s Classic hair straightener and its brand-new Chronos model.

Is it worth the investment? That will depend on what type of hair you have, how much you spend on salon blow-dries and your budget. I’ve deep dived into Cloud Nine’s Original hair straightener to answer all your questions before splashing out.

How we test hair straighteners

We put the Cloud Nine hair straightener through its paces on a wide range of hair types. I have fine hair that goes frizzy unless I do some serious styling and asked hairdresser Billy Supple, who uses Cloud Nine on a daily basis as a senior stylist at the ADEM London salon, to report on how well the device works on a wide range of hair types. From thick and textured to wavy and short, he flagged that the Cloud Nine wide straightener may be a more useful option for some people.

I rated the Cloud Nine Original on how straight and shiny the hair was after use and how long the styling lasted before frizz set in. I also considered how simple the product was to use – whether the instructions were clear and the controls simple to manage.

Cloud Nine’s design was also taken into consideration, finding several useful accessories in its box. As a straightener, I also took note of how much effort was needed to style the hair, thinking about the weight of the straightener, safety and workout involved. After all, there’s no point having straight hair if the product damages the hair shaft and ruins your locks in the long run.

Finally, I investigated the device’s overall safety features, such as an automatic turn-off, because who hasn’t felt the sudden fear of leaving their straighteners on at home and potentially causing a fire? Luckily, the Cloud Nine Original turns itself off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

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Results from using Cloud Nine Original straightener: 8/10

Even on first use, I was impressed by how the Cloud Nine Original straightener made my hair look. After washing it, I usually try a rough blow-dry before running my straighteners through my locks but on this first occasion, I was caught up with my kids after my morning hair wash. I didn’t get a chance to look at my hair until it had already dried – into a frizzball.

However, I simply sectioned my hair into two inch pieces, switched on the Cloud Nines, selected my preferred heat (150C with a vibration confirming I had done it correctly) and then waited around 12 seconds until the green flashing light told me they were ready, though the manual says 20.

If you choose to switch to a higher temperature by pressing the temperature control button, the flashing green light will reappear when they reach the desired temperature. Next, I slowly but steadily ran the styler down each section of hair to find it straightened, glossy and smooth.

I was impressed with the overall effect but did find quite a few flyaway hairs initially standing on end but this calmed down after a few minutes. When I used the iron a few days later, having rough dried my hair with a hairdryer first, I found the effect even more smooth.

Overall, the Cloud Nine Original gave a salon-like finish that lasted several days and took under 20 minutes. After some trial and error, I even found that I could have the same effect when using the straightener at a lower temperature of 100C. This pleased me as lower heats mean less damage to the hair being straightened.

The only thing I didn’t love was that the edges of the barrel did sometimes catch on my hair.

Supple says he enjoys using the Cloud Nine model on all hair types, “from wavy to Afro-textured hair”. “The 11 heat settings allow you to customise the temperature to match your hair’s needs. Spring-loaded flex plates minimise pulling or snagging, helping to keep hair healthy and strong,” he explains.

“For the best results, select the temperature that’s appropriate for your hair type – for slightly wavy hair, try around 160C. For curly hair, use about 180°C. For coily hair, opt for around 190C.

“If your hair is already straight, you can use a lower setting, about 100C, for subtle styling. The spring-loaded flex plates make it easy to curl or straighten without applying too much pressure,” he adds.

Usability: 9/10

Before I even opened the box, I discovered the useful “temperature calculator” on the salon specialist’s website. Some 80 per cent of people mistreat their hair by straightening with an incorrect heat setting, according to the brand’s research, so I liked the quiz to inform users of the best temperature for them. It sees users answer a few questions about their hair type and desire results before providing a targeted response.

For me, the quiz encapsulated how easy I found using the Cloud Nine straightener. It uses as little as two buttons to get the straightener switched on and at the lowest temperature, with the vibration setting making it really obvious which you have selected.

The instructions were broken down into super simple steps – seven in total, but that includes suggestions like “start with dry hair”.

Ease of use: 10/10

Since the Cloud Nine Original only needed one pass on my fine hair, I found it super easy to straighten my whole head. In a rush, I could get it done in 10 minutes, which felt super quick and also meant my arms were barely bothered by the effort involved. The styling wand itself weighs under 500g so doesn’t feel like a workout.

The temperature options add a slight element of complexity that other straightening wands – both cheaper options and premium rivals like GHD – don’t offer, but it’s extremely simple to choose the temperature via the button next to the floating plates.

Safety: 9/10

I appreciated the Cloud Nine’s hibernation mode, which kicks in after 30 minutes of inactivity so that if you’ve gone out and then worry that the styling tool was left on, there’s a peace of mind knowing they will automatically switch off.

I actually tested this out accidentally after forgetting to turn the straightener off before I headed downstairs and when I came back after 45 minutes it had switched off and was cooling down. The wand also comes with a protective heat guard that calmed my nerves when leaving the device on around my children as it keeps the hot elements safely tucked away.

Hair-wise, I was impressed with the Original’s design as the floating plates never touch even when you try to squeeze them together. This means they glide over the hair rather than flattening it, which experts say helps to prevent split ends. I can’t scientifically report back on this, but anecdotally I have noticed fewer broken hair strands in the months since I switched to Cloud Nine.

Supple says he finds the iron to “be very gentle on the hair if used properly. Its adjustable heat settings let you apply the minimal amount of heat needed for styling, reducing the risk of damage”. But he warns, “be sure to use a heat protectant, like Cloud Nine’s Magical Quick Dry Potion, to lock in moisture and protect against heat. If you already have damaged hair, switching to this iron may help reduce split ends over time, especially when paired with a leave-in treatment like their magical remedy”.

Design: 9/10

The Cloud Nine Original feels very luxurious from the moment you open the box. The basic model comes with a smart leather-looking carry case, which I found really useful for travel, as well as a heat guard.

Other colour options are available, but I went for the chic black version. It’s a matt black styling wand with a digital display that makes the hair straightener feel really high-end, as you would expect at this price. Still, it’s a similar price to GHD’s Chronos, which does not include a carry pouch in the box.

Technical specifications

GHD remains Cloud Nine’s biggest competitor. Here’s how the Original models from both brands stack up.

Telegraph verdict: 9/10

As a veteran GHD user, I’ve been really impressed after switching to the Cloud Nine Original for the past month. I do feel as though my hair is stronger and healthier thanks to the lower temperatures I’ve been able to use on my hair while enjoying shiny locks. The floating plates seem to successfully spread out the heat rather than clamping down on the strands of hair.

Overall, it’s clear Cloud Nine has put a lot of thought into its latest styling wand. It creates straight but not flat-looking hair on a wide range of styles. I also like the smart bag that’s included in the box, making the product easy to travel with or use to revive hair before a Christmas party. It’s an investment purchase, but one that will pay off for years to come – and the three-year warranty is handy too.

FAQs

How many heat settings does the Cloud Nine straightener have?

Three – 100, 150 and 200C.

What’s the difference between the Cloud Nine New Original Iron and the Touch Iron?

The Touch Iron is £40 cheaper than the Original at £139. But it lacks the “revive” mode and comes in only two colours, not three. The plates are the same size but it has only two temperature options (165-195C), which is far fewer than the Original’s 11 settings that range between 100 and 200C.

How do I know the best straightener for my hair type?

“For long, thick hair, go for a straightener with wide plates, such as the Cloud Nine wide straightener. These kind of plates are ideal for speeding up styling,” explains Supple. “For shorter or finer hair, a standard or slim plate works best for precision. Adjustable heat is also key – coily or thick hair generally requires higher heat, while fine hair benefits from lower settings.

“Options like flex plates and revive modes help reduce stress on your hair, particularly useful for textured or fragile hair types. Cloud Nine offers a variety of options – the wide plates are ideal for long hair, the original for medium-length hair, and the slim iron is perfect for short hair or reaching coily hair at the roots,” he adds.