Our writer, Rachel McAlley has been trialling the KEEO Genius Straightener for a few weeks to see how it has worked on her curly hair.
The KEEO Genius is a straightener like no other as it is designed to shape around each strand of hair. It doesn’t press the strands flat like a traditional hair straightener does, but did it work on Rachel’s hair?
KEEO Genius
My hair is quite curly and can be difficult to straighten due to having coily curls and occasional knots. My traditional straightener can get too hot, and can leave my hair feeling and looking dry sometimes. So, I was keen to see if the KEEO Genius could create smooth hair with a glossy sheen that didn’t knot easily after straightening.
The Genius boasts contoured plates with a protective air gap which reduces heat on the hair, thus prioritising hair health. There is less damage on the hair due to no clamping or excessive heat.
It glides smoothly across the hair and doesn’t pull, which is brilliant for keeping shape. Plus, with an optimal temperature of 195°C the hair keeps its natural shine and long-lasting hold.
My takeaway from trialling the KEEO Genius Hair Straightener is that my hair appears to have fewer split ends now, which makes me very happy. Equally, it keeps my hair looking sleek and in shape for longer. Furthermore, there is definitely a noticeable change in my hair feeling softer.
Another plus note is that the Genius automatically turns itself off after 35 minutes of not being used, which is a brilliant safety feature.
The key features are the curved plates and that is cushions the hair. Also, it protects with every glide and minimises heat damage.
Priced at £169 from KEEO
KEEO Genius Pro+
The latest hair straightener from KEEO is just about to launch at the end of August. The Genius Pro+ looks just as fabulous as the Genius, however it has had an innovative upgrade.
Born from 40+ years of experience across salon and product innovation, KEEO’s Genius Pro+ is co-created by award-winning haircare experts Alfredo, Jan, and Mark.
“We’ve seen how damaging traditional tools can be, and we knew there had to be a better way. With Genius Pro+, we’re giving users real control, not just over temperature, but over tension too. It’s a breakthrough in hair health.”
Alfredo De Benedictis, Co-Founder & Hairdresser
Traditional hair styling tools utilise flat plates and harsh mechanical force. This outdated design squashes the hair’s delicate cuticle, working against its natural shape and ultimately causes damage, frizz, and loss of volume.
Heat damage is widely understood, but a truth rarely talked about is that tension is the silent villain in hair health. Videos across social media have seen users experiencing breakage, thinning, and hair fall from excessive clamping, tugging, and pulling, even with “heatless” hair tools.
While the damage that mechanical tension can cause to hair has been well documented, this is not accounted for in modern tools.
“Any tool or styling method that doesn’t account for mechanical force puts the hair at risk – regardless of heat settings. As a hair health expert, I can tell that the Genius Pro+ wasn’t just made to style hair – it was made to protect it too.”
Kate Holden, Trichologist
Genius Pro+ Features
The Genius Pro+ protects hair health with KEEO’s patented smart glide technology with contoured plates and a protective air gap that reduces tension by up to 70%* and allows users to customise both tension and temperature. Hair glides through the KEEO hair tools to achieve smooth, glossy styles, without tugging or pulling.
Smart-Glide™ Plates glide smoothly through your hair instead of clamping (also available in the KEEO Genius). They work with the shape of your hair, not against it.
- Two Tension Settings:
Setting II (lighter tension) – wider plate gap for 70% less tension (for fragile, damaged or extension-wearing hair)
Setting I (firmer tension) – closer plate for 40% less tension (for thicker, more resistant hair types) - Three Heat Settings:
190°C — gentle yet effective, ideal for fine or damaged strands
200°C — balanced and versatile for most hair types
210°C — powerful but still kinder, for thick, healthy or hard-to-style hair
Hair Health Quiz
To support the launch, KEEO is releasing a 2-minute Hair Health Quiz, developed in partnership with trichologist Kate Holden. To help users discover their ideal heat and tension settings.
Upon completion, users unlock a downloadable Expert Hair Health Guide, plus exclusive perks from brands. They include: Hair Syrup, Hair Gain Now, Love Noughty, Evolve Organic Beauty, Shop Silkie and Michael Van Clarke.
Priced at £259, pre-order your Genius Pro+ now at KEEO
Thrilling New Launch From KEEO, The Genius Pro+ Straightener – Words by Rachel McAlley @LadyRach
