Investing in a good hair straightener can save you a lot of money in the long-term. The right hair straightening appliance will deliver everything you love about visiting your hairdresser, without the ongoing costs or inconvenience. Get your perfect look at any time in the comfort of your own home. The best performing hair straighteners will heat up quickly, protect your hair from unnecessary damage, be easy to use, and give you that frizz-free, straight hair look you’re after. For a multifunctional approach, some devices even offer a selection of features of professional stylers, combining the best of both worlds into one model.
Types of hair straighteners:
Plate types
Ceramic Plates - great all-rounders, ceramic straighteners offer value and effectiveness and are suited for almost all hair textures.
Titanium Plates - heat up rapidly, and are effective for coarse, curly hair.
Tourmaline Plates - also called ionic plates, are good if you have damaged hair and they produce more negative ions than positive ions, designed to reduce static and result in less frizz.
Form
Most hair straighteners available on the market are ‘tong’ style, also known as 'flat irons' which are highly effective and simple to use. Less common are straightening brushes, such as the Remington Straightening Brush, which also work well. The Remington Straightening Brush, for example, makes use of anti-static technology to keep frizzy hair under control while the bristles leave your hair with a silky-smooth finish and heightened volume.
Styling
Many hair straighteners offer styler functions beyond just hair straightening, even acting as a curling iron to create curls, waves, crimped waves, and bobs. The Philips StraightCare Sublime Ends Straightener is a straightener designed with a special tip to create curls, waves, and bouncy styles. Especially great when travelling, you may be freed from carrying an assortment of different hair styling tools.
Width of plates
Hair straighteners’ plates can vary in width from narrow to wide plates, so you may want to consider your hair type when selecting which straightener to buy. The following are useful guidelines, but not necessarily rules.
Short hair - 2.5cm - 3cm width plates
Short and medium hair - 3cm - 4cm width plates
Long, thick hair - 6cm wide plates
Features to look out for:
Adjustable Heat Settings
Being able to adjust the heat level to precise temperatures can be helpful as not all temperatures will suit your hair type, hair care regime, or the effect your trying to achieve. High temperatures will result in rapid, effective straightening of hair, but may cause heat damage over time if you’re a regular user. Likewise, lower temperatures are more suitable for thin, delicate, or damaged hair, but will still be able to straighten your hair.
Floating Plates
Floating plates move to adjust pressure on your hair. This provides protection against the hair shaft being damaged and reduces the chance of split ends, like the floating plates of the Remington Infinite Protect Straightener, for constant contact and fast styling.
Infused Plates
Some hair straighteners’ plates are infused with essential ingredients such as keratin or argan oil. These ingredients promote hair health and repair for better looking hair.
Sensor Technology
Like the technology found in the Philips MoistureProtect Hair Straightener, this feature constantly diagnoses your hair and regulates the heat of the straightening plates automatically.
Automatic Shut-off
Automatically turns off the straightener after a certain amount of time to prevent any scorching or overheating.
Worldwide Voltage
Great if you’re planning to take your straightener with you travelling overseas.
