Cast your mind back to Gemma Ward at the Chanel Fall 2005 ready-to-wear show. Channelling Penelope Tree, the iconic ’60s model, Gemma’s hair was streamlined to a blunt end and sat geometric and strong yet flowed with ease.
This was the work of a great hair stylist with a good hair straightener, but of course it was Gemma and the score of other Chanel models who were photographed—not the hair tool.
It wasn’t until the early 2000s when Good Hair Day (we know them as the brand ghd) introduced easy-to-use, ceramic-plated electrical straightening irons. They became a household necessity.
Since then, hair straighteners, like hair dryers, have taken off to all sorts of technological realms.
GHD Platinum+ White Styler uses ‘infinity sensors’ to monitor heat output 250 times per second. VS Sassoon Intelligent Digital Sensor Straightener is designed with an impressive 12 heat settings. Dyson Airwrap harnesses aerodynamics and smooths hair to a blow-dry finish without using harmful heat.
We no longer burn hair (or our skin) in the pursuit of achieving Jennifer Aniston-esque straight strands.
Below are the best hair straighteners to buy in Australia, right now.
Airwrap Hair Styler Complete by Dyson, $899 at Dyson
A true, high-tech multitasker designed to produce straight strands, curls and waves, Dyson’s famous Airwrap can do it all from damp hair—without using extreme heat. It also reduces drying time significantly. It’s particularly ideal for those who favour straight hair with a bit of body and volume, over pin straight strands.
Intelligent Digital Sensor Straightener by Vidal Sassoon, on sale now for $79.20 (was $99) at Myer
Still considered a relative newcomer on the straightener scene, the Vidal Sassoon Intelligent Digital Sensor Straightener has become a fast favourite in recent years. It uses (as the name suggests) a digital sensor that continually monitors the temperature of the ironing plates and a ‘hair protect sensor mode’ to ensure the safety of your strands. It also boasts 12 digital heat settings, ranging from 180 to 235 degrees, to suit all hair types.
Titanium 230 Supernova Rose Gold 25mm by Silver Bullet, $225.21 at Oz Hair & Beauty
Luxurious rose gold finish aside, this is one high-tech straightener. Crafted with titanium plates for fast and smooth straightening, not only does it offer variable temperature controls from 110 to 230 degrees, it also boasts an intelligent memory feature that remembers your last used temperature setting.
Steampod New Generation 3.0 Hair Styler by L’Oréal, $305 at Oz Hair & Beauty
Not your average hair straightener, the L’Oréal Steampod’s unique design allows steam to pass through the hair during styling to maintain hydration, minimise damage and seal the cuticle for an ultra-silky finish.
The Original Iron by Cloud Nine, on sale now for $279 (was $340) at Cloud Nine
A longtime favourite on the beauty scene, Cloud Nine’s Original Iron utilises state-of-the-art temperature control technology to straighten, smooth, flick and curl without damaging your hair. Its swivel cord design offers complete freedom of moment while styling, and the mineral-infused ceramic plates deliver a salon-worthy shine every time you straighten.
Love a discount? Find a Cloud Nine Discount Code here.
Platinum+ White Styler by GHD, $345 at ghdMECCA
Widely touted as the world’s first ‘smart’ hair styler, the GHD Platium+ boasts plates that predict and constantly adapt to ensure optimum styling temperature at all times. It’s particularly ideal for coloured hair and hair prone to breakage, thanks to it’s ‘ultra-zone predictive technology’ that monitors the hair’s needs while it’s in use.
