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The best hair straighteners provide a combination of efficiency, durability, and affordability. They come with advanced technology, like heat adjustment settings, ceramic plates for even heat distribution, and quick heat-up times.
TL; DR: The Best Hair Straightener for Most Australians 👇
Featuring a universal voltage power system, advanced sensor technology, floating heat plates, and a 60-minute auto sleep timer, the Muk 230-IR Hair Straightener has all the features that you may look for in a hair straightener. And is without a doubt one of the best hair straighteners that you can buy!
However, you need to keep in mind that these appliances are not built equally. They vary in terms of performance, build quality, and features. As such, some hair straighteners deliver better results than others, and that is why we thought it wise to present you with 6 of the best hair straighteners currently available in the Australian market.
The Best Hair Straighteners to Buy Today in Australia
- Best Overall Hair Straightener: Ghd Max Styler
- Best for Most People: Muk 230-IR Straightener
- Best Hair Straightener for All Hair Types: Silver Bullet Supernova 230 Hair Straightener
- Best Hair Straightener for Thick Hair: BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 32mm Hair Straightener
- Best Value Hair Straightener: Remington Pro Ceramic Max Wideplate Hair Straightener
- Best Hair Straightener for Curly Hair: Remington Smooth Finish Ceramic Hair Straightener
1. Best Overall Hair Straightener: Ghd Max Styler
Why we like it:
- Dual-zone heat sensor technology for optimum temperature control
- Auto sleep feature for user safety
- Floating heat plates for uniform styling
- Curved edges for snag-free performance
What customers say:
“Soooo much faster than my old GHD (it’s still going 8yrs later) at least 50% faster and my hair is thick & frizzy so it’s such a win!! LOVE IT!! Thanks.”–Jane
Taking the first spot on our list of best hair straighteners is the Ghd Max Styler. This appliance ticked all the boxes for all the tests that we conducted. However, we noticed that the plates get extremely hot, meaning they can easily singe damage-prone hair.
One of our volunteer testers almost lost a few strands during the first week of testing. That being said, we recommend this hair straightener to those with long thick hair. It has extra-wide heat plates that will allow you to straighten each strand to your liking. You can also use it on coarse, curly hair.
This high-performance hair straightener utilises dual-zone technology for precise heat control. The built-in heat sensors will monitor the strands of hair and adjust the temperature of the plates accordingly. This way, your hair will be less likely to get scorched during the straightening process. But most importantly, you’ll be able to style your hair with precision.
For the safety of your hair, the straightener will maintain heat below 185 degrees Celsius, thus preventing heat damage. With the Ghd Max Styler, your hair will come out straight, shiny, and frizz-free.
And because the edges are curved, you can even create loose curls if you want. Besides, it features a universal voltage system, meaning it can work with AC outlets in different parts of the world. The auto sleep function will automatically turn off the heating element after 30 minutes of idleness. This will prevent the hair straightener from overheating when it is not in use.
The other thing that we liked about this unit is that it is lightweight. Our stylist was able to use it extensively without experiencing fatigue. However, the power cord is rather short.
2. Best for Most People: Muk 230-IR Straightener
Why we like it:
- Has a built-in ion generator for extra shine
- Floating plate design for even styling
- The swivel cord makes it easy to move
- Auto-shutoff for user safety
What customers say:
“I have a lot of hair! Long, frizzy and coarse. This straightener glides through my hair and leaves it feeling so good and it doesn’t take forever!! I love the temp control so I don’t have to completely fry my hair like my old GHD. So happy with the price and product :)”–Ellen S
The Muk 230-IR Hair Straightener features wide floating plates to increase contact between your hair and the straightener. It uses infrared heat and can heat hair strands from the inside out, thus protecting the outermost layer from thermal damage.
Most people prefer the Muk 230-IR over other hair straighteners on the market because it has advanced features, is easy to use, and heats fast-heating ceramic plates that are designed with the safety of your hair in mind. When testing the Muk 230-IR, it did not create static, and neither did it cause split ends on our friends’ hair.
Also, it emits negatively charged ions that will give your hair a natural shine. To make it even more convenient, you can adjust the heat from 90 degrees celsius to 230 degrees celsius for a customised user experience.
The large display will let you know the temperature setting that is currently in use. This will help you avoid unnecessary guesswork when straightening your hair. Attached to the hair straightener is a 3-metre power cord that you can swivel.
As such, it won’t limit your movements when gliding the straightener. You will be happy to know that the Muk 230-IR features an auto shut-off function. It will automatically power down after staying idle for 60 minutes. If you are in search of a feature-rich hair straightener, this unit can help you get started.
3. Best Hair Straightener for All Hair Types: Silver Bullet Supernova 230 Hair Straightener
Why we like it:
- Adjustable heat for customised styling
- 360-degree swivel power cord for easy manoeuvrability
- Easy-to-use touch screen for quick adjustment
- Instant heat element for faster styling
What customers say:
“Very pleased with my purchase. The adjustable heat levels are great as it accommodates different hair types. The price is very resourceful for such a quality product.”–Niz
Silver Bullet is one of Australia’s best manufacturers of hair styling tools. The brand is known for making high-performance hair straighteners like the Silver Bullet Supernova 230 Hair Straightener, which has a long list of features that will help you style your hair according to your preference.
This titanium hair straightener is ideal for all hair types, making it a great choice for anyone who is after versatility. It helped us straighten different hair types without causing heat damage or tagging on the strands.
It is unique compared to most hair straighteners on our list in that it has a touch screen that allows for quick and easy heat adjustment. We were able to switch from one styling mode to another seamlessly without wasting time.
Depending on your hair type and styling needs, you can set the heat from 110˚C up to 230˚C. That way, you can style your hair without worrying about anything. The 25mm titanium plates on this hair straightener generate just enough heat to set in your preferred style.
It will allow you to style each section with just a single pass. However, this may vary depending on your hair type and the heat setting that is currently in use. Additionally, the Supernova 230 is lightweight and also has a 360-degree swivel power cord that will allow you to move the unit with ease.
Best of all, it utilises surround heat technology, allowing you to style your hair like a pro at the comfort of your home.
4. Best Hair Straightener for Thick Hair: BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 32mm Hair Straightener
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If your hair is long and thick, the can be a great pick for you due to its high heat output. The extra-long plates will allow you to straighten and style your hair with the utmost ease.
It has a digital display that provides temperature readouts in real-time and is also one of the hottest hair straighteners that our team tested. With the screen in place, you won’t experience any problems when customising the heat.
The heat level is adjustable up to 210 degrees Celsius, so you are the one to choose the best setting for your hair. We recommend that you keep the heat to a minimum to avoid damaging your hair. Both plates have smooth surfaces that will enable you to move the straightener without pulling on the hair.
Besides, there are no crevices in which your hair can get stuck, so you can use this equipment with no worries. When used properly, this hair straightener will help you eliminate both frizz and static, leaving your hair sleek, smooth, and straight.
The swivel power cord will allow you to move your hands freely as you style your hair. Also, the grip area is studded to prevent your fingers from slipping while manoeuvring the straightener. The control buttons are conveniently recessed to ensure the unit operates at the set temperature throughout the hair straightening process.
In terms of build quality, this Nano Titanium Hair Straightener is made of durable materials that will provide you with long-lasting service. It is equally lightweight, meaning it won’t weigh you down. Best of all, this item is very affordable and can be an excellent choice for those on a tight budget.
5. Best Value Hair Straightener: Remington Pro Ceramic Max Wideplate Hair Straightener
Why we like it:
- Tourmaline ceramic plates for uniform heat distribution
- Turbo boost function for ultra-fast heat up
- Temperature lock prevents accidental switching
- Backlit LCD screen for easy readability
What customers say:
“Great flat iron at a great price. Warms up fast and is wide enough to do the job on my thick coarse hair. Would recommend and buy again.”–SusanM
We consider the Remington Pro Ceramic Max Wideplate Hair Straightener as the best value hair straightener because it combines versatility and efficiency to give you a high-performance device that you can use on all hair types.
With an adjustable temperature range of 150 degrees Celsius to 230 degrees Celsius, you can adjust the heat to match any hair type. It performed well on all six hair types, but the only problem is that the plates are rather short, so it couldn’t grip large chunks of hair.
Once you have selected the most appropriate heat setting for your hair, you can engage the temperature lock to prevent coincidental switching of settings. It also has a turbo boost feature for straightening thick, coarse hair.
But that is not all; the Remington Pro Ceramic Max Hair Straightener has an auto-shutoff function that will disable the heating system if the appliance is left inactive for an hour. As such, the unit won’t overheat in case you forget to turn it off after usage.
As if that is not enough, the 360-degree swivel cord allowed for easy manoeuvrability, enabling our stylist to style hair with ease. The tourmaline ceramic plates not only distribute heat evenly but can also sit at varying angles for uniform pressure.
Consequently, you’ll be able to press your hair without damaging the strands. In addition to this, you won’t have to worry about getting split ends when using this hair straightener. And because the unit has an LCD screen, you will always know the temperature setting that you are using.
6. Best Hair Straightener for Curly Hair: Remington Smooth Finish Ceramic Hair Straightener
Why we like it:
- Wide temperature range for different hair types
- Ceramic plates have moisture-locking capability
- Automatic shut-off for maximum safety
- Worldwide voltage for versatility
What customers say:
“Honestly the best hair straightener I’ve ever used. I have quite thick, bleached, curly hair that’s very dry and this straightener gives it so much shine and life…”–Elise
The Remington Smooth Finish Ceramic Hair Straightener may be the last item on our list, but that does not mean it is not reliable. As a matter of fact, it is one of the best options that we tested.
For one, it is fitted with high-quality ceramic plates that will give your hair the treatment that it needs. It delivered great results when we tested it on light curly hair. The ceramic plates deliver just the right amount of heat and also have ultra-smooth surfaces that allow hair strands to glide effortlessly with each pass
Besides, you can always increase or decrease the heat according to your hair styling needs. With up to 30 heat settings to choose from, you can safely straighten thin and thick hair types with this appliance. Plus, it has an easy-to-use temperature dial that is graduated for user convenience.
If you have curly hair that is prone to damage, you should consider keeping the temperature between 150°C and 180°C. This range is ideal for styling most hair types, so your hair is less likely to get scorched.
This straightener has an indicator light that will let you know whether the appliance is properly connected to the outlet. Even while staying light and compact, it features 110mm plates that will greatly reduce the time you spend styling your hair.
It will make your hair shiny, smooth, and voluminous by improving moisture retention. The worldwide voltage system makes it ideal for travel, so you can carry this hair straightener to wherever the adventure may take you.
Nonetheless, the plates are not as wide, so they may not suit people with thick hair. Our stylist experienced a few challenges straightening one of our friend’s hair due to this limitation. On the plus side, this hair straightener has amazing features that can dramatically change how you straighten your hair.
How We Researched the Best Hair Straighteners
We started by identifying the crucial factors that should be taken into account when choosing a hair straightener. Based on findings, these include; temperature range, plate quality and size, ease of use, length of the power cord, heating time, and durability.
With these factors in mind, we bought 6 hair straighteners from some of the top-rated brands in Australia and tested them for the just mentioned factors. And because no one in our team has long hair, we tested the hair straighteners on our friends’ hair.
The volunteer testers had different hair textures, which was great since it gave us a deeper understanding as to how well each hair straightener performs. Four of our friends had extremely long hair, while the remaining two had shoulder-length strands with one having light curls.
We gave out the hair straighteners for a week in the first phase of the testing process. Each person had a chance to try out the hair straighteners and gave a report based on their experience.
For the second phase, we hired a hairstylist and invited our friends so that their hair could be done by professional hands. We had the subjects sit in front of a mirror and allowed the stylist to do their thing. Each of the six hair straighteners was tested on the hair types that we had.
We then compared the stylist’s notes with the results that our friends had gotten during the first week. This allowed our review team to rank the hair straighteners based on a comprehensive analysis of a range of factors, features, and overall performance.
Hair Straighteners: Buying Guide
Choosing the best hair straightener is not an easy task because there are so many things that you need to consider. For starters, you have to check if the straightener in question is ideal for your hair type. Using the wrong hair straightener can cause severe heat damage, loss of elasticity, and other hair problems.
Plus, you are less likely to get the desired results if you use a hair straightener with low heat output. And the fact that several brands sell these appliances makes it even more difficult to find the ideal straightener for your hair. For this reason, we have created a detailed guide highlighting the essentials that will help you pick the best straightener for your hair.
What to Look For When Buying a Hair Straightener
Below are some of the factors that you should keep in mind when shopping for a hair straightener:
Plate size
Hair straighteners have different sizes of heat plates. Some models feature extra-wide plates while others are narrow. And because the heat plates determine the overall performance of a hair straightener, you should make it your goal to find a unit that matches your hair styling needs.
If your hair is long and thick, you should consider buying hair straighteners with long wide plates for maximum heat distribution. Hair straighteners with small heat plates are better suited for short, thin hair
Ease of use
You should buy a hair straightener with well-placed controls as this will give you quick access to the function that you want to use. Additionally, you should pick an appliance with an ergonomic handle to minimise fatigue. This will allow you to make multiple passes without straining your wrist.
Heat-up time
Hair straighteners are fitted with different types of heating elements. As such, some units may take a longer time to reach the optimum temperature for straightening hair.
To avoid unnecessary time wastage, ensure that you buy a hair straightener with a quick heat-up time. All the options that we have reviewed above can heat up in less than 30 seconds.
Plate type
Apart from plate size, you also need to consider the type of material from which the heat plates are made. The most commonly used materials are; titanium, ceramic, and tourmaline.
Titanium hair straighteners can heat up quickly and are also good at retaining heat. This makes them ideal for straightening thick, coarse hair. On the other hand, ceramic hair straighteners are suited for virtually all hair types. They dissipate heat evenly and are less likely to cause hair damage.
Tourmaline hair straighteners can be a great choice for those with frizzy hair. Hair straighteners with tourmaline plates emit negative ions which can restore and strengthen damage-prone hair.
Design
When we talk of design, we are referring to how well the hair straightener is built. This entails the materials used in the construction, shape of the casing, size, etc.
You should purchase a hair straightener with rounded edges for snag-free performance. This will enable you to style your hair without tugging the strands.
Features to Look for When Buying a Hair Straightener
Familiarising yourself with the above-listed factors is just the first step. There are key features that you should look for when choosing a hair straightener:
Variable heat settings
This is probably the first feature that you should consider when buying a hair straightener or any other type of heat styling tool. Each hair type requires a certain level of heat during the straightening process.
As earlier stated, using the wrong straightener can result in serious hair damage. This particularly applies to people with thin damage-prone hair. To avoid this, you should go for a hair straightener with adjustable temperature settings. This will allow you to customise the heat based on your hair type.
Auto shutoff function
Hair straighteners with the auto-shutoff feature will power down on their own when left inactive for a certain period of time. This not only prevents the unit from overheating but can also help you prevent fires.
However, the shutoff timer on these appliances varies from one model to another. As such, equipment A may automatically power down after 30 minutes, while appliance B will do so after an hour.
Dual voltage system
If you intend to take your hair straightener with you when travelling, you should pick a model with a dual-voltage power system. This way, you will be able to plug the appliance into AC outlets found in different parts of the world. You need to check if the voltage value on the power adaptor is listed as 100V-240V or 110V–220V.
Floating plates
Most hair straighteners feature spring-assisted heat plates for maximum flexibility. As a result, the plates will be able to move freely, allowing you to apply an equal amount of pressure on the hair.
This will, in turn, prevent the tips of your hair from splitting. A good number of hair straighteners that we have reviewed have this feature, so you can select any that suit your hair type and budget.
Sensor technology
Some hair straighteners feature built-in heat sensors that regulate heat automatically based on the condition that your hair is in. As such, the circuitry system will prompt the heating element to produce more or less heat, thereby lowering the chances of damaging your hair.
The Ghd Original IV Styler and Philips Hair Straightener are good examples of such, so you can pick either of the two if you looking for a hair straightener with this feature.
Digital display
Hair straighteners with digital displays are very easy to use because they provide you with accurate temperature readouts in real time. This means you will always know the temperature level that is currently in use.
In addition to this, you’ll be able to avoid guesswork when adjusting the heat settings. To get the best results, you should select a hair straightener with a backlit display since they allow you to read the values in different lighting conditions.
Swivel cord
We recommend that you buy hair straighteners with a swivel power cord because they are easy to manoeuvre. Also, you’ll be able to style your hair without twisting the cord. Most hair straighteners on our review list have power cords that can swivel up to 360 degrees, thus allowing you to move the appliance according to your hair styling needs.
You may also be interested in:
- The Best Curling Tongs for Salon-style Curls
- The Best Hairdryers for Healthier & Quicker Hair Drying
- The Best Cordless Hair Dryers for Healthier Hair & Quick Drying
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
