This $205 straightener transformed my hair — Here are the before and after results

Looking for more beauty tips, trends and editor-approved tricks and recommendations? Sign up for Yahoo Lifestyle Canada’s newsletter!

Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

When it comes to hot tools, there are many choices you can make to give your hair a new look. But, what I personally love about straighteners is the versatility of producing different looks—straight, curled, or wavy all in one.

I have curly hair that can be a real pain to style, especially if I want to straighten it to get salon-like, sleek hair which has always been a challenge for me.

When I got my hands on Amika's germanium flat iron, I was excited to try it knowing it promises ultra-smooth, frizz-free hair using their high-end plates.

Amika The Conductor 1 Inch Precision Germanium Flat Iron

SHOP IT: Sephora, $205

What is it?

This 1" straightener combines both a flat iron and a curling wand into one with its versatile curved body. It uses germanium and ceramic plates that generate negative ions to give smooth, frizz-free results. It also has a motion-sensitive auto sleep mode that shuts off the straightener after 5 minutes of non-use and turns back on when you use it, rather than an on-off button.

You can adjust the temperature up to 450°F yet the infrared heat is still gentle on hair.

My impressions

I was impressed by how lightweight the straightener was, weighing just a little over one pound — it felt like I was holding a hairbrush in my hand. Since straightening my hair takes time, I'm glad my arm didn't get tired by the end of it.

The other great thing is the "stay cool" tip so you don't have to worry about burning your fingers while pressing down on the straightener. It also has a surprisingly long, sturdy cord that you can easily move around with, so overall functioning is great.

Of course I do wish the straightener was cheaper, but for someone with curly hair that takes a while to straighten, I really liked the results it gave me. The ceramic and shiny tourmaline plates were so fast to heat up and do the job in one go, leaving my hair moist and shiny.

I also wish it was bigger than one inch so I could've gotten through more strands faster, but if you want to curl your hair using the straightener, the one inch barrel is perfect.

ALSO SEE: I made a custom lipstick at this virtual lab — here's what it was like

What shoppers are saying

So far this hair straightener has earned more than 3,000 "loves" from Sephora shoppers, though it has only received a handful of customer reviews.

"Love this flat iron," reads one five-star review. "Leaves my hair straight, shiny and sleek. Wish it was bigger than an inch as my hair is quite thick and I have to pass on strands a couple times. Love that it turns off by its self when it is un-used for a while and how it heats up really quick (and that you can set the desired heat precisely)."

"I’ve been using it and it’s been just great! Heats up fast, turns off when it’s not being used but starts right up again when I pick it up," adds another shopper. "Also for the price you can’t really beat it. Glad I didn’t listen to the reviews and went with this!"

One shopper did like the straightener, but found the functions "annoying." They said "the flat iron works well, no complaints there. However there is a constant low buzzing sound that I find really annoying. Also, there is no off button. Emailed Amika support and apparently you need to wait 5 minutes for it to auto-shut off, after which it can be 'safely' unplugged."

The verdict

The straightener gave me incredibly sleek straight hair that's often hard for me to achieve fast at home. The design is also impressive—lightweight, sleek, and sturdy that you can easily carry around while travelling.

Although you can find cheaper straighteners out there and at bigger sizes too, nailing the results can be hard. While other reviewers may have had issues with this flat iron's size and on-off features, for now I am going to keep using it considering I absolutely loved the results it gave me.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.