Style and beauty / Black Friday 2026 Beauty and skincare in the UK: The Department Guide
Black Friday 2026 Hair Tools UK: What to Check Before You Buy
Shopping for hair tools this Black Friday in the UK? Check dryers, straighteners, heat settings and plugs first, with live UK listings to compare.
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Before buying hair tools, decide whether you need a dryer, a straightener or a multi-styler, then check the weight, heat settings, attachments and cable length. Buy from a seller you trust and inspect the UK plug, because counterfeit plugs and cables have led to a UK recall of hair straighteners. Read the returns terms before you pay.
Hair dryer wattage and weight
Hair dryer wattage is a poor guide to heat. Which? calls the idea that higher wattage means greater heat a misconception, and notes that some of the lowest-wattage dryers it assessed performed best.
Weight deserves more attention, since a heavy dryer tires your arm during a long blow-dry. The dryers Which? weighed ran from 340 g to 810 g, so the difference is easy to feel. Check the listed weight, and whether that figure includes any attachment.
Settings are simpler to compare. Each dryer on the Which? list showed three temperature settings and two or three speeds, and most listed a cool-shot button, so treat these as a normal starting point.
Hair dryer attachments and cable length
A diffuser is the attachment to look for with curly hair, and a wide-tooth or pik comb attachment helps with very tight curls or afro hair. Concentrator nozzles are common and direct the airflow for smoothing.
Cable length matters if your socket is far from the mirror. Which? found cables from 175 cm to 3 m on the models it checked, so measure the distance before you choose.
Hair tools to compare
Check the heat settings and the voltage, especially for travel. Listings by tool type are below.
Live listings, shown by eBay
Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.
Comparing straighteners, curling tools and multi-stylers
Each style of hair tool has one or two details worth checking first. Heat control comes up on almost all of them, so check the listing says the heat can be adjusted.
| Tool | Check first |
|---|---|
| Hair dryer | Weight, speed and heat settings, attachments in the box |
| Straightener | Adjustable heat, plate width for your hair length, automatic shut-off |
| Curling iron or wand | Barrel size for the curl you want, heat control, cool tip |
| Hot air brush | Brush head size, heat settings, weight in the hand |
| Multi-styler | Which attachments are included, and which are sold separately |
UK plugs and counterfeit risk on hair tools
Plug and cable safety is worth checking on any heated hair tool. In March 2025 a UK product recall covered two hair straighteners sold by TK Maxx and HomeSense between 2019 and 2022, because the plug, fuse and cables were counterfeit, with a risk of fire. The notice rated the risk as low, and said the products were not of sufficient quality to protect against overheating, fire or electric shock.
Look for a proper UK three-pin plug on every listing, and be wary of tools that arrive with a travel adaptor instead. Ask a seller for a clear photo of the plug and rating label if the listing does not show them. If something looks wrong when it arrives, stop using it and check the gov.uk recall list.
Returns and used hair tools
Returns on hair tools can be more limited than you expect. Citizens Advice says online purchases from a business usually carry a 14-day cooling-off period, but a broken hygiene seal can remove that right. Items from private individuals are not covered at all, so read the terms first. Used tools should also come with photos of the plates or barrel and the cable, since wear there is hard to judge otherwise.
More in the beauty and skincare department.
Frequently asked questions
Does a higher wattage hair dryer get hotter?
Not necessarily. Which? describes the link between higher wattage and greater heat as a misconception, and says some of the lowest-wattage dryers it assessed performed best.
How can I tell if a hair straightener plug is safe?
Buy from a seller you trust and look closely at the plug, fuse and cable. A UK recall in March 2025 covered two straighteners sold between 2019 and 2022, rated low risk, whose plug, fuse and cables were counterfeit, with a risk of fire. Check the gov.uk product recall list if you are unsure about a model.
Can I return a hair tool I bought online?
Items bought online from a business usually come with a 14-day cooling-off period, but a broken hygiene seal can remove that right and items bought from private individuals are not covered. Read the seller's returns terms before you pay.
Sources
Found in the Black Friday 2026 Beauty and skincare in the UK: The Department Guide department.