There comes a time in everyone's life when your trusty hair straightener finally kicks the bucket. It's a guaranteed sad time. And there's nothing more overwhelming than trying to find a replacement.
The experience of choosing your next hair straightener can feel relatively high stakes. There are thousands of options to sort through, and you really want to make sure you're buying something that's going to last — because heat tools can be a pricey investment.
Watch: Here's hairdresser talk, translated. Post continues below.
So, what's the best hair straightener to buy? Well, a wonderful Youbie by the name of Carla asked the very same question in the You Beauty Facebook group (are you a member yet?).
She shared: "My ghd hair straightener lasted 20 years!!!! RIP… TWENTY YEARS!!! Options???"
And goodness, some very useful recommendations rolled through. So, we thought we'd pull them all together and share them below, in case you find yourself on the hunt for a new hair straightener.
Here are the ones that come highly recommended (along with a couple of my personal suggestions).
The best hair straightener.
ghd Platinum+ Styler, $395.
Look, they're clearly built to last — you can't argue with that. If you're someone who owns or has owned a ghd in the past, chances are you've had that bad boy for at least 10 to 15 years. They're reliable as hell.
While the hair straighteners are generally on the higher end of the price range, you know they're great quality and that you're going to get a solid chunk of years using it.
One commenter on theYou Beauty thread wrote, "I got my ghd in 2004 and it’s still going."
Another person said, "I bought my ghd at 18 and I am 30."
I still have my first and original wide-plate ghd that I got for my 21st birthday ELEVEN YEARS AGO. Still works like a dream.
If you're looking for the best all-rounder option, though, the ghd Platinum+ Styler is one of my all-time favourites. It's lightweight, comfortable and requires minimal passes for sleek, smooth hair.
Cloud Nine The Original Iron, $289.
An *overwhelming* amount of people in the You Beauty Facebook group recommended Cloud Nine as one of the best choices for hair straighteners — and for good reason. They're slightly more affordable (and you can often catch them on sale) and made for a range of hair types.
One person wrote, "It's the only thing that compared to my OG GHD."
Another person said, "Cloud Nine without a doubt."
As someone who has tried Cloud Nine hair straightener before, I can back this. I have really thick hair (and a lot of it), The Wide Iron is my favourite pick — but there are tons of different models to choose from, depending on your hair type.
Silver Bullet Keratin 230 Ceramic Wide-Plate Straightener, $254.95.
Silver Bullet is another brand that popped up on the recommended list on You Beauty. While most devices have a temperature range that goes up to around 180 to 200 degrees, the Silver Bullet goes up to 230°C — which is truly wild.
I've used Silver Bullet devices before and can confirm: It makes straightening your hair light, quick and easy.Just remember, if you're going to go ham on the heat, just make sure you wear a good heat protectant.
Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener, $699.
It's as expensive as straighteners get, I know — but gosh you can't beat the way the Dyson Corrale makes your hair feel. Like, it somehow feels healthier and softer post-straightening, which feels illegal?
The plates don't snag or pull at your precious strands, using fancy technology to gather and style it without all that insane heat damage. It's also great for travel (it includes a flight mode that disconnects the battery — so cool) and I love that it's cordless, and you can literally walk around/sit on the sofa and watch TV while straightening your mop.
The best part? It's on sale right now for $499. Did someone say Christmas pressie?
VS Sassoon Frizz Defense Salon Hair Straightener, $89.95.
Okay, but you can never go wrong with a VS Sassoon tool. It's true. Plus, they're way more affordable than most other options on the market.
My pick would be the VS Sassoon Frizz Defense Salon Hair Straightener in Mahogany. Not only does it look cute, but the plates use frizz technology to eliminate static and condition the hair cuticle, which sounds like my kind of hair tool.
The temperature also goes up to a whopping 235°C (again — don't forget the heat protectant with this one!). Plus, it looks like it's 20 per cent off right now on Myer's website, so you can get it for around $70 bucks. Win.
EVY Professional IQ-OneGlide 1.5" Hair Straightener, $315.
Heard of EVY before? This was another popular straightener brand a few people from our You Beauty Facebook group have tried and loved.
While I haven't used EVY heat tools before, the website said the IQ Hair Straightener features a 24-carat gold-infused plate (fancy) and a digital temperature control from 130 to 210 degrees.
It also sits a little higher up in the price range, but judging from the five-star reviews (and the You Beauty recommendations), it's a great choice if you're on the hunt for a newbie.
GlamPalm Simple Touch Smart Styler, $199.
This is a new brand to me, but someone in the You Beauty Facebook thread said they'd been using a GlamPalm straightener for "nine years and going strong" — and I need to know more.
The Simple Touch Smart Styler looks like a solid all-rounder and sits at a pretty decent price point, too. You can switch between two heat settings (165° and 195°) and it uses motion action/touch technology to turn it on and off or adjust the temperature.
Someone wrote, "Love my Glam Palm. My original ghd lasted 16 years then my hairdresser suggested the GlamPalm. It is amazing."
And look, if it's good enough for hairdressers...
True Me Original Hair Straightener, $179.
Another Youbie recommendation, True Me hair stylers are apparently developed by the team behind GHD and Cloud Nine. Huge flex.
On the website, it said the brand uses keratin-infused ceramic plates and ion-lock technology (read: less frizz, more shine) to make sure their tools achieve a super sleek look, every time. Importantly, most of their tools (including this specific straightener) go into hibernation mode after 20 minutes of inactivity — which means you never have to stress TF out about potentially leaving it on. (All of us).
Just a note: It's good to keep in mind that everyone has different hair types — so what might not work for someone else, might work great for you.
Have you tried any of the above hair straighteners? What's your recommendation? Share with us in the comment section below.
Feature image: Dyson/Myer/DateLine/StraightHairDay/Canva.
Calling all Shopaholics, Retail Therapy Enthusiast & Glamour Gurus ! Take this short survey now to go in the running to win a $50 gift voucher!
Top Comments