The Light Straight maxes out at 320 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hair styling tools have seen a surge in popularity over the past decade, with various gadgets promising to revolutionize hair routines. L’Oréal showcased its new Light Straight flat iron at CES 2026.
This device builds upon the technology L’Oréal first unveiled at CES 2024 with the AirLight Pro hair dryer. Unlike most traditional hairstyling tools that use heated coils and motors, the AirLight Pro hair dryer incorporated infrared light to accelerate drying and minimize the necessary heat. Long-term testing of the AirLight Pro has confirmed its significantly faster performance compared to standard hair dryers.
The Light Straight applies this same infrared technology to a flat iron. Its primary advantage is the capability to straighten or curl hair in a single pass, utilizing less heat. While many conventional styling tools can reach temperatures over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, the Light Straight is designed not to exceed 320 degrees. L’Oréal claims this results in styling that is three times faster and hair that is two times smoother. This promise of reduced styling time and minimized damage presents an attractive proposition for users.
During a demonstration, the device was handled, and a robot arm was observed curling and straightening a test strand of hair. The flat iron felt lightweight and heated up rapidly. The robot successfully curled and then straightened hair in a single pass, with the styled hair remaining cool to the touch. This was an impressive demonstration, although its performance on various hair types will need further evaluation. L’Oréal indicated that the device is intended for most hair types, acknowledging that flat irons inherently offer varying ease of use depending on hair characteristics.
The Light Straight is expected to launch in 2027, with pricing details yet to be announced. L’Oréal also expressed plans to extend this infrared light technology to other multi-styler tools in the future, such as hair dryer and roller brush combinations.
