If you caught last week’s blog on hairdryers, you might question where its sister blog is at. Don’t worry, we heard your cries and we proudly introduce our 2019 hair straightener guide. So whether you’re looking to treat yourself in the sales, or you’re hunting for a last-minute Christmas showstopper, this is the guide for you.

Hair straightener essentials

While buying hair straighteners might sound relatively simple, there’s a lot more to consider than you first think. By taking the time to find the perfect pair of straighteners now, you (or the love of your life) can enjoy years of straight (or even curly) hair. But before you buy, there are a few essentials to straighten out first:

Plate width

Straighteners come in three main plate widths, all suitable for different hair types. These are:

– Slim plates – between 2.5 cm – 3 cm thick, slim plate straighteners are ideal for short hairstyles.
– Medium plates – between 3 cm – 4 cm thick, medium plate straighteners are suitable for short to medium hairstyles and thin to medium thickness hair.
– Wide plates – around 6 cm thick, wide plate straighteners are necessary for long hairstyles and thick hair.

In addition, if you’re buying for someone who might use their straighteners for waves and curls, opt for a plate with a round edge and snag-free barrel.

Plate type

Plates also come in a variety of different materials too, which can affect the speed and results of straightening. The three most common types of plates are:

– Ceramic-coated plates – ceramic coated plates heat up quickly and create less friction to deliver fast results with minimal damage.
– Solid ceramic plates – solid ceramic plates come with all the benefits of ceramic-coated plates, plus the ability to retain heat at a constant temperature. This prevents the need to go over areas more than ones.
– Tourmaline ceramic plates – Tourmaline brings the benefits of ionic and infrared technology to help lock in moisture and reduce frizz.

Temperature

It’s easy to assume hotter is better for styling tools, but that isn’t always the case. While low heat straighteners can make it difficult to achieve sleek and smooth styles, excessively high heat can immediately and irreparable damage hair.

Ideally, you want to opt for a ceramic-based plate that retains and evenly distributes a consistent 185° heat. If you’re looking to really treat someone this winter, then look for a plate that quickly reaches optimum temperature.

Hair straightener advanced features

With the basics of hair straightener terminology out of the way, let’s take a quick look at the advanced features some models now come with.

Smart technology

The latest GHD platinum+ model uses smart technology that automatically recognises hair thickness and styling speed while monitoring the temperature 250 times per second. This helps keep the straighteners at optimum heat, protecting anyone with dry, delicate or damage-prone hair.

Shut off technology

No one will ever be the first or last person to question: “Did I turn off my straighteners?” Shut off technology automatically puts the straighteners into sleep mode (and users into relaxed mode) after 30 minutes. Essential for anyone forgetful.

Cable length

While a shorter cable length can make a hair straightener feel more compact, it can also be a problem if it doesn’t reach from the plug socket to the mirror. Opt for a “salon length” cable to be on the safe side.

Travel

Straighteners are pretty compact as they are, meaning that most people prefer taking their trusted styler with them on holiday. However, by opting for a pair of straighteners with universal voltage, you can ensure that they’ll be able to use them anywhere in the world.

Straightener accessories

Finally, to really delight someone this Christmas, pop a couple of these straightener accessories in their stocking.

Heat mat

The all-essential carry case and heat mat make transporting straighteners easy and burnt carpets a thing of the past.

Protection spray

Protect and perfect hair with a heat protection spray. By creating a barrier around the hair shaft, cuticles are protected from high heats, while shine-boosting ingredients help to deliver a polished look.

Still stuck? If you need help deciding on a new hair straightener, then pop into the salon where we can talk you through the different features, benefits and models available.

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About Mack Hair and Beauty

With the products to sell and the knowledge to match, you can pick up a huge selection of Christmas products from our hair salon in Rugby.

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