There is a reason why we spend so much time and money at the hair salon: It can seem nearly impossible to create salon-style beautiful hair home. Styling your own hair can quickly turn into a herculean task leading to a tangled cord, fatigued arms, and sweat-infused frizz. There are tons of top-rated styling tools available in different price ranges, but finding the best one that can help you recreate salon hairstyles yourself at home can be a daunting task.

Here are some of the top picks for the best hair styling tools you can invest in.

The Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000
This French-made dryer costing $300 is certainly no bargain—it even ventures into investment territory. But the blowout it provides at home is the sleekest even on the craziest of curly hair. The dryer does not fatigue your arm at all because of its well-balanced design and super-compact size. It has a long and lengthy cord that is great if your power outlet isn’t just next to the mirror, and the controls are on the back of the dryer’s handle, which prevents you from accidentally changing the settings while styling your hair.

One disadvantage of this dryer is that if you want the diffuser attachment, you can expect to spend another $30.

Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth
The Paul Mitchell Neuro Smooth flat iron is a standout. It has wide plates that are great for long hair as they cover more surface at once. The plates hold the hair firmly and smoothly and never snag, this results in a nice, sleek style and no breakage. The buttons of the iron are tucked inside the clamp, which keeps you from accidentally hitting them as you style your hair. An additional advantage is that their flat design keep them from getting tangled in your hair.

If you frequently use a flat iron, this Paul Mitchell is of great value and investment for what it offers—you will be hard pressed to find a heat tool of this quality and caliber at a lower price.

GHD Curve Creative Curl
The GHD has a unique design that sets this iron apart. At the base, it starts as a round barrel and graduates to at the top to a flat oval. This shape helps in keeping the curls from looking unnatural and not too perfect. Also, this iron has a slightly tapered barrel, so the hair does not frustratingly slip to the skinny end. The curling iron’s finish is just gritty enough to keep the hair in place, instead of making it slid off a super-glossy finish.

The best part about it is that it heats up in a hard-to-believe six seconds. However, there is a downside. Despite a quick preheat, it does not have heat adjustability. Although its 365ºF temperature is enough to hold a lasting curl in pin-straight hair, some level of adjustability for different hair types is always perfect.

The wand has a cool tip to ensure you don’t burn your neck and forehead and a well-placed kickstand that prevents the hot iron from teetering forward onto your vanity. Some heat adjustability and additional sizes could improve this iron, but it is very solid as it is.