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Hair Straighteners Consumer Guide

We explain the models, shapes and what to watch out for when shopping for hair straighteners, as well as showcasing three trusted models

Updated 25 February 2020
​A hair straightener can turn even the most unruly hair into gorgeous, shiny tresses, but only if you use the right straightener. If you search online, you’ll find thousands of options, but no two tools are created equal, and some are just not right for certain types of hair or aren’t safe to use on your hair. 

How do you know which hair straightener is right for you? Which one will provide the results you desire as well as provide the longevity you want? In this guide, we explain how to choose the right hair styling tool for your hair, and list popular models that are trusted around New Zealand.

In this guide, we outline:
Your Guide to What to Look for in a Straightener, thanks to TheMarket NZ:
  • Our friends at TheMarket NZ sponsor this MoneyHub guide.
  • If you are looking to buy a straightener, our guide helpfully takes you through what’s available and lists the best options available right now online and in stores around New Zealand.
  • TheMarket is a trusted retailer owned by The Warehouse Group, just like Noel Leeming, Torpedo 7 and other well-known New Zealand stores.
  • TheMarket offers several straighteners – you can see their current selection here.

Understand the Different Types of Hair Straighteners

All hair straighteners straighten your hair to some degree. The difference, however, is in the time it takes to straighten it, the heat the straightener reaches and the longevity you want out of your tool. 

Most straighteners are made of one of the three materials below:
  1. Ceramic – This is the ‘classic’ hair straightener material. The material is durable and long-lasting and offers the lowest prices. Ceramic plates typically glide through most hair textures and provide evenly distributed heat, allowing you to have the same results throughout your hair. Ceramic is a good choice for those that only straighten their hair occasionally rather than on an everyday basis. Ceramic straighteners are often budget-friendly too.
  2. Titanium – Titanium offers durability and superior heat. It heats up faster than ceramic, allowing you to straighten your hair with faster results. Because it offers even heat distribution, most women can straighten their hair faster with it because it doesn’t require multiple passes over the same strands. Titanium uses infrared heat and negative ions that help tame frizz and seal your hair’s natural oils.  
  3. Tourmaline – This is the newest hair straightener material and is considered the highest standard in the industry. Tourmaline straighteners are a combination of ceramic and ground-up tourmaline, which provides your hair with 20 times more negative ions, helping to seal your hair’s natural oils. Tourmaline closes up the hair’s follicles, which helps reduce heat damage. This is the most sought after material for those that straighten their hair daily.

Understand ​Hair Straightener Sizes

  • Not only do you need to choose your hair straightener’s materials, but you must also choose the size. 
  • The standard hair straightener has 1-inch plates. Almost anyone can comfortably use a hair straightener with this size plates and effectively straighten their hair.
  • Any plates less than 1 inch wide are best for short hair, quick jobs, or travelling. For example, if you already have straight hair, but just need a quick once-over, a smaller flat iron will do. This is also the ideal size to travel with since it’s smaller and easier to carry.
  • Straighteners with plates wider than 1 inch are best for those with long hair that don’t have time to go over each strand with a smaller plate.
  • Keep in mind that the wider the plates, the less precision you get when straightening your hair. While it manages longer hair better, you lose some of the accuracy, and you may need to go back over the surface to get the truly straight and shiny look you desire.

Understand Hair Straightener Shapes

The shape of hair straighteners make a difference to the effect you're looking for. If you just want to straighten your hair, you should look for flat or sharp edges. If you want to give your hair a little curl, straighteners with curved edges work as both a straightener and a curling iron with limited capabilities.

Choosing the Right Hair Straightener for Your Hair Type
You should also consider your hair type when choosing the right hair straightener. Using the wrong type of straightener could damage your hair, especially if you have fine hair, as we explain below:
  1. Thin/fine hair – Avoid straighteners with one heat setting. Fine hair damages easily, especially if the heat is too high. Ceramic plates typically straighten fine hair the best without causing any damage. They help reduce frizz and straighten fine hair quickly.
  2. Thick hair – If you have thick hair, you’ll need high heat settings, especially if you only want to make one pass over your hair. Titanium is the best material for thick hair as it keeps an even (high) temperature, allowing you to take as few passes as possible over the hair. The more times you have to go over the hair, the more risk there is of damage.   
  3. Curly hair – Curly hair takes the most time and the highest heat to straighten. You can use any type of plate, but if you want to straighten your hair daily, stick with tourmaline. If you have a lot of hair, choosing a wider plate will make the job a little easier, but watch for frizz. If you don’t choose tourmaline plates, make sure the iron has negative ions to fight the frizz.

Can you Use a Hair Straightener on Damaged Hair?

Typically, you shouldn’t straighten damaged hair because it’s already damaged. Hair straighteners often cause more damage because of the high heat levels and constant pulling on the hair. If you do have damaged hair, try investing in a straighter that does all of the following:
  • Has round edges to avoid snagging your hair
  • Has multiple heat settings to avoid excessive temperatures on your already damaged hair
  • Has a wide enough plate that you can go over your hair in one or two swipes

Know the Dos and Don'ts When Straightening Your Hair

​The most important thing you can do no matter your hair type or type of hair straightener is to protect your hair with a heat protectant. If you don’t protect it, you run the risk of causing more damage. Even if you do protect your hair, there are still some top ‘don’ts’ you should know:
  • Don’t straighten wet hair; you’ll fry your hair
  • Don’t use hairspray before straightening your hair; it can cause your hair to stick to the straightener and burn
  • Don’t put your hair in large sections; you’ll have to go over your hair too many times, which puts you at risk for burning it
  • Don’t use the highest heat setting unless you have to, experiment with lower temperatures
Your Guide to What to Look for in a Straightener, thanks to TheMarket NZ:
  • Our friends at TheMarket NZ sponsor this MoneyHub guide.
  • If you are looking to buy a straightener, our guide helpfully takes you through what’s available and lists the best options available right now online and in stores around New Zealand.
  • TheMarket is a trusted retailer owned by The Warehouse Group, just like Noel Leeming, Torpedo 7 and other well-known New Zealand stores.
  • TheMarket offers several straighteners – you can see their current selection here.

Top Choices for Quality Hair Straighteners Available in New Zealand

​Cloud 9 C9 Micro Iron

The Cloud 9 C9 Micro Iron is great for travelling or women with very short hair. The plates measure less than an inch wide, and the entire iron is only 6 inches long, which makes it great for easy travelling. It packs compactly and has an included heat guard making it safe to pack the iron after use. 

The Cloud 9 C9 Micro Iron features include:
  • Black ceramic plates for shiny hair
  • Hibernation mode, shutting the iron off after 30 minutes of no use
  • Lightweight iron for ease of use and packing​

Pricing: Around $180 ​- shop around as prices vary

Silver Bullet Keratin 230 Ceramic Straightener

The Silver Bullet Keratin 230 Ceramic Straightener has heat acceleration, giving you high temperatures fast. The ceramic/tourmaline plates distribute heat evenly throughout your hair, making it easy to straighten even the curliest hair. Its one-inch plates give you just enough room to straighten even the longest hair without putting your hair under too much stress. 

The Silver Bullet Keratin 230 Ceramic Straightener features include:
  • Floating plate design that reduces the risk of snagging or pulling hair
  • Heats up to 230 degrees, which helps straighten even stubborn hair
  • Rounded edges allow you to straighten and/or curl your hair

​Pricing: Around $200 ​- shop around as prices vary

Hot Tools Gold Titanium Flat Iron

If you want a straightener with variable temperatures, check out the Hot Tools Gold Titanium Flat Iron. With 14 temperatures ranging from 100°C to 230° C, there’s a temperature that’s perfect for every hair type. The 24K gold titanium surface ensures smooth hair and even heat and the titanium helps reduce the risk of frizz or damaged hair.

The Hot Tools Gold Titanium Flat Iron features include:
  • 1-inch 24K gold titanium plates
  • Floating plates that reduce the risk of snags or hair pulling
  • Digital temperature display

Pricing: Around $160 - shop around as prices vary

Tips to Help Choose the Right Hair Straightener

  1. Before you buy a hair straightener, think about how you’ll use it. While it’s not ideal to straighten your hair every day, you can with the right tools and protectants.
  2. Think about what you want out of your straightener, whether it’s to occasionally straighten fine hair, to straighten curly or thick hair daily, or to have a versatile tool that will straighten or curl your hair. 
  3. Don’t focus on the price tag alone – do your research and see what others say about the straighteners.
  4. Make sure you buy one with coated plates that will protect your hair from the high heat levels required to properly straighten your hair. 
Your Guide to What to Look for in a Straightener, thanks to TheMarket NZ:
  • Our friends at TheMarket NZ sponsor this MoneyHub guide.
  • If you are looking to buy a straightener, our guide helpfully takes you through what’s available and lists the best options available right now online and in stores around New Zealand.
  • TheMarket is a trusted retailer owned by The Warehouse Group, just like Noel Leeming, Torpedo 7 and other well-known New Zealand stores.
  • TheMarket offers several straighteners – you can see their current selection here.