If you have problems styling your hair then get GHDS :
The ghd IV styling set - The Official ghd ™ UK and Global Website
They are very expensive, however they do your hair in pretty much whatever way you like, even for very difficult hair, and there are different sizes for different hair types. Also, they come with a CD of tutorials of how to do your hair different styles with the straighteners. Mine lasted 2 years before I had to get new ones, but they are miles better than any other straighteners on the market at the moment.
Good hairspray is Garnier Fructis Style - Hard. It holds up a lot of hair if you use enough, and is not sticky and awful.
My hair is rubbish at the moment, I've dyed it a lot so the condition is poor, so I'm waiting for the permanant dyes to come out and then I'll start colouring it rainbow again ^-^