I’ve had some relatively serious hair disasters over the years. Like the time I bleached it twice in one day and had to visit the hairdresser shamefaced to turn my shoulder-length locks into a pixie cut.

As a result, I’m VERY picky about how I treat my hair now and only use tools and products I know I can trust. Styling tools are no different and I only want to use the best hair straighteners 2020 has to offer.

Here’s all of the research I’ve done to make sure I’m taking the best care of my hair by only purchasing the best hair straightener on the market.

First, take a look at my quick comparison chart, with a handy rating for each straightener. Then I’ll talk in-depth about what features to look for in the best hair straighteners 2020. Finally, once you’ve got all the important information, read my reviews of the top 10 hair straighteners Australia offers.

Comparison Chart – Best Hair Straightener, Australia 2020

How do Hair Straighteners Work?

All hair straighteners work in, pretty much, the same way and straighten the hair similar to how an iron straightens out your clothes. You may also hear them referred to as flat irons.

Heat is dispersed evenly up and around the plates. When the hair is clamped between these two plates the heat disperses through it, flattening the hair as the straighteners are run down its length.

Ultimately even the best straightener Australia offers will work in the same way as the cheapest model out there. The difference is not in how they work but in the temperature, safety and other features offered.

Some hair straighteners can be used on wet and dry hair but you should never straighten hair with a model that isn’t specifically made for wet hair.

Some straighteners can also be used to curl hair or create extra volume at the roots. Here is my favourite tutorial video on how to curl hair with a flat iron.

Considerations When Buying the Best Hair Straightener 2020

Budget

Which type and brand of hair straighteners you purchase will largely depend on the budget you have. As with most things in life, the best quality hair straighteners are going to come with a higher price attached.

Get the best hair flat iron you can afford rather than just looking for the best cheap hair straightener Australia offers. True, there are some fairly good quality budget models out there but it could be a gamble.

If you plan on using your straighteners very regularly you should definitely look at getting the very best hair straighteners on the market and be prepared to spend a little more. After all, the last thing you want is to severely damage your hair by using a low-quality product.

Hair Type

Hair type should also be considered when trying to find the best flat iron for you. Is your hair curly? Thick? Or is it very fine and only slightly wavy?

The best hair straightener for curly hair will not necessarily be a good choice if you have very fine hair. We’ll get into which features are best for which hair type soon but, in a nutshell, curly hair will usually require a bit more work than fine hair for example.

Hair Condition

Finally, be sure to consider your hairs condition when looking for the best hair straightener 2020.

If your hair damages easily with heat styling or is already damaged from excessive styling, you may want to look for a lower temperature model.

There is always going to be a risk of causing hair damage when styling with heat like a hair straightener does. However, there are steps you can take to minimise those risks such as buying a good quality flat iron and making sure to use a heat protection product before styling.

Features of the Best Hair Straighteners, Australia 2020

Plate Material

This is the biggest factor to be aware of when looking at the top hair straighteners on the market. The plate material is going to be in direct contact with your precious locks so choosing the right one is vital if you want to avoid heat damage.

• Glass or Metal – Avoid glass or metal plates completely! They are generally only found on cheaper models and are notoriously bad at distributing the heat evenly. This leads to uneven heat and some areas of the hair being burnt. I learnt this the hard way in my teenage years – don’t be me!

• Ceramic – Ceramic plates have been around for years and are very popular with many of the best hair straightener brands. They heat up quickly and evenly so there is very little chance of hot spots and resulting damage to the hair. The best ceramic hair straightener will glide easily through hair due to the smoothness of the material.

A quick note, when looking at ceramic plates, make sure they are not just “ceramic coated” as these are not as high quality. Ceramic coated plates do not retain heat as efficiently and can create hot spots.

• Tourmaline – This is a hard mineral which is ground down to a powder and used as a coating on ceramic plates making them even smoother. They release more negative than positive ions into the hair which helps to smooth hair, making them the best hair straightener for frizzy hair. Another great advantage is that they can straighten the hair using much less heat, making them a great option for frequent use or already damaged hair.
• Titanium – The best straightening iron for very curly hair will most likely have titanium plates. These plates can achieve the same look as others but at much lower temperatures so they are also great for frequent use. Titanium plates are particularly kind to the ends of hair due to the lower temperatures. They are also more likely to last longer than other straighteners due to being extremely durable so could be more expensive initially but turn out to be a much better investment long term.

Plate Size & Shape

The plate width of the best flat irons varies and your need will depend on hair type as well as personal preference.

The most common plate width is 1 inch and this is suitable for most hair types. Some hair straighteners do come with wider plates though and these are the best straightener for thick hair or long hair as they will make the job much quicker. Wide plates would not be suitable for fine hair or hair that is already damaged due to the higher amount of heat transferred to the hair.

Wider plates are also less versatile and can’t really be used for other things such as creating curls and waves. Plate shape can also have an effect on how well even the best hair straightners curl hair and a slightly rounded plate edge is preferable.

Temperature Adjustability

The best hair iron needs to reach a high enough temperature to be effective but not so high that it damages the hair. This will vary from person to person and the condition and type of their hair.

A lot of hair straighteners on the market do not come with the ability to adjust the temperature and instead operate at a set heat. Temperatures vary across brands though and there is no industry-wide setting.

If you’re looking for the best hair straightener for fine hair Australia offers, you may want to find a straightener with more adjustability, as not as much heat will be required to style the hair.

Safety Features

Hair straighteners get incredibly hot and you may want to consider looking for straighteners with an automatic shut off function.

Extras

Hair straighteners seem to come with all sorts of little extras and accessories nowadays. It’s nice to have these added extras but just make sure you aren’t paying a premium for something a bit useless.

That shiny, bejewelled hard case may look pretty but is it worth adding $50 to the price?

Some things that can genuinely be useful are a heat resistant mat or an upright stand, especially if you’re the kind of person who forgets to turn the straighteners off.

Best Hair Straightener Reviews, Australia

GHD Hair Straightener Reviews

GHD, or “Good Hair Day”, is easily the best straightener brand out there. As you scroll through these ghd straightener reviews,  you’ll see that they’re known for being a market leader for high-end hair straighteners, using advanced technology.

Their products maintain a constant temperature in a manner that is able to minimize damage to hair. They’re featured in thousands of salons worldwide and are truly an investment to many.

GHD Gold Professional Styler

As you read these ghd reviews, you’ll see that one of the best ghd straighteners is the GHD Gold Professional Styler.

This model features new dual-zone technology and has two heat sensors, one across each plate rather than just one for both plates like most hair stylers, to give you optimal styling from root to tip. This helps create an even temperature across the plates, so there’s no need to worry about damage from hot spots. They also include a heat-up time of only 25 seconds – no wonder these are one of the best ghd hair straighteners on the market!

These straighteners come with universal voltage, meaning they are particularly great for frequent travellers. Safety features include an automatic shut off after 30 minutes of no use, handy plate guard and smooth rounded barrels for snag-free styling.

If your primary focus is consistent heat and the ability to create a variety of styles quickly – this would be a great model for you to consider.

GHD Original Styler

As one of the top ghd straightener options, the ghd Original Styler is made with all hair types in mind and considered to be an essential item for your beauty bag.

The floating ceramic plates allow the styler to glide easily through any hair type and allow for an easy styling experience and the rounded barrel shape makes these straighteners perfect for curling hair as well. If you can be a bit forgetful, you’ll love the sleep timer that automatically turns off the straighteners after 30 minutes without use.

The original ghd styler also features a 30 second heat up time, optimal styling temperature of 185 degrees to avoid hair damage and a swivel cord so it’s easy to hold the styler at any angle without becoming tangled.

I would consider this to be one of the best value ghd straighteners available and a great option if you want top quality straighteners without an extortionate price tag.

GHD v gold mini styler

If you’re in the market for the best mini hair straighteners Australia has to offer – get these! They are the perfect hair straightener for people with short hair.

With its compact size and quality features, you’ll be able to style your hair exactly how you want with ease. The narrow ceramic plates on these ghd straighteners allow for precision styling, such as smoothing out cowlicks and taming fringes (something I’m all too familiar with) and also make them great for straightening right from the root. The contoured edges on the plates even allow for you to make smooth curls and waves.

Other features include the protective plate guard, which allows you to pack up quickly and rush out the door as well as a sleep mode that will shut off the unit after 30 minutes without use.

These straighteners are a dream for those with short hair looking for the best hair straightener that works with their hair type.

GHD Max Styler

We love this Max Styler for longer and thicker hair types!

With the contoured edges on these wider gold ceramic plates you’ll be able to create waves, curls, or straighten your thicker hair with ease and without having to spend an eternity in front of the mirror.

These are one of the best-rated hair straightener options for long and thick hair for good reason. They also include an automatic sleep timer, and protective plate guards so you can even pack them away whilst they are still hot.

We cannot recommend this model enough for long and thick hair types.

Best Hair Straightener For Curly Hair

Silver Bullet Keratin 230 Ceramic Straightener

For those looking for the best flat iron for curly hair, you’ll love these Silver Bullet Keratin straighteners. They are well-suited for all hair types and allow full control over the temperature.

The thing about this model is that no matter your hair type, you’ll only need to go over your hair once to get perfectly straight hair results. This model features 25mm tourmaline/ceramic plates as well as variable temperature control of 160 degrees to 230 degrees – making them a great option for frizzy or damaged hair that needs a little less heat or curly hair that needs a little more oomph.

These straighteners are a really great all round option thanks to their ability to change the temperature to suit your hair type.

Best Cheap Hair Straightener

VS Sassoon Intelligent Sensor

We give this model our vote for the best budget hair straightener Australia has to offer. With great features at a low price, you will love the Intelligent Sensor straighteners from VS Sassoon.

The high ionic ceramic plates on these straighteners surround the hair with positive ions to create a smooth finish every single time. These straighteners have an amazing heat protect sensor mode which automatically adjusts the temperature to suit your hair type and avoid heat damage. The intelligent digital monitor is also constantly monitoring plate temperature to minimise fluctuations and avoid hot spots.

Other features of these VS Sassoon straighteners includes 12 digital heat settings and advanced heating up to 235 degrees to get fast results. These straighteners also come with a handy carry bag that folds out to a  heat resistant mat so you can avoid damaging surfaces.

If you’re looking for the best value hair straightener for all hair types with lots of great settings and customization, we highly recommend considering this model.

HAIR STRAIGHTENER REVIEWS 2020

Philips Pro Range Straightener

This Philips Pro Range Straightener is another great option from one of the top hair straightener brands on the market tthat won’t blow your budget out of the water.

The titanium coated floating plates are 110mm long and move when too much pressure is applied in order to protect the hair follicles. The temperature setting wheel and digital display give you full control over the temperature, making them a great option for all hair types and the powerful heater combined with the titanium plates sees these straighteners getting to temperature in just 10 seconds!

What we love most about this model is the even heat distribution and protection from temperatures too high for your hair type. We can definitely see the value behind this top-rated hair straightener and recommend it to those wanting control and protection on a budget.

Philips Moisture Protect Straightener

Those who want a straightener that not only does a good job but also looks really stylish may find this option from Philips the best flat iron Australia has to offer at a great price. The overall design of this model is not only classy but practical.

The floating ceramic plates move to adjust to the pressure applied on the hair, which protects the hair shaft from damage and reduces the possibility of hair breakage. Even further protection is given by the moisture protect technology that diagnoses your hair and changes the temperature to provide optimum hydration.

This model also features three temperature settings, 150 degrees, 175 degrees and 200 degrees, to give you more control and a fast heat up time of just 15 seconds.

The Philips Moisture Protect are a great model for those wanting extra protection and temperature control at a value price.

Hot Tools Titanium Flat Iron

This Titanium Flat Iron from Hot Tools gets our vote for the best straightener for fine hair thanks to their great temperature control.

Micro-Shine technology coupled with friction-free titanium plate surfaces gives a smooth and silky finish every single time. When you have fine hair, the temperature can be a huge concern so you don’t fry your hair and these straighteners from Hot Tools come with an impressive 14 temperature settings, so you can customise the heat to your own needs.

Other features of these great straighteners include an automatic shut off function, pulse technology for fast heat up and instant heat recovery and an extra long 3m swivel cable for easy styling.

Works great for those on the go – with a quick heat up in just seconds.

Straight and Curl Brilliance

If you’re wanting to create lasting curls and waves, these could be the best hair straightener to create curls with.

They feature advanced sol-gel ceramic plates, which give long lasting results with just one pass of the straightener. The advanced dual ceramic heating function provides fast-action heat transfer and constant even heat so no need to worry about those nasty hot spots. The heated and contoured top and bottom of the plates make these straighteners perfect for creating waves with ease

This model also includes five heating settings between 150 degrees and 235 degrees so if you have damaged hair you can easily turn the heat down lower.

This really is the perfect option for you if you want to create a wide range of different styles that really last.