Smiling young woman with long, blond hair.

Are Expensive Straighteners Really Better Than Cheap Straighteners?

In Hair & Makeup Tips by Melanie Shaw

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

When it comes to styling your hair, you really don’t want to take chances, but is it worth spending huge amounts of cash on an expensive straightener, or will a cheaper one suffice? Look, all heating tools can cause damage, but it’s about finding the one that will help you achieve the perfect hairstyle without causing irreparable damage. Going cheap could cost you your hair’s health and extra cash in the long run.

So, if you’re on the hunt for a straightener and wondering whether you should pay out for an expensive one or save a few dollars and go for a cheaper one, we’ve compiled a list of important features to consider about cheap and expensive straighteners to help you make a more informed decision when making your purchase. 

Features to consider in cheap and expensive straighteners

While a lot of them may look the same, the materials used, temperature controls, and other features will all affect the price of a hair straightener. Here are some of the features to consider: 

  • Materials

The materials used for the plates will play the biggest role in determining the price of your hair straightener. You want quality, or else you could use a tool that overheats, damages your hair, or even breaks. A pricier hair straightener will use more premium materials like pure ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline. 

Cheaper hair straighteners generally use plastic, glass, a coated metal or aluminium – these are poor conductors of heat, which can make the heat inconsistent, which can lead to poor styling or a longer time using the straightener, more heat exposure and, therefore, a potential for more damage to your hair. There are some cheaper hair straighteners that may claim to use ceramic plating, but this generally means that they use a very thin ceramic coating, which will wear off over time. 

  • Temperature control

It takes a lot of heat (approximately 120°C to 230°C) to be able to effectively style hair and eliminate frizz. While most hair straighteners are able to reach the necessary temperatures, inexpensive ones tend to take a longer time to accumulate enough heat necessary to style hair. This, paired with the inconsistent heat distribution of the plates, could lead to cold spots, and while it can straighten the hair, it won’t look as smooth as when using an expensive one, like a GHD hair straightener. 

As you can already assume, the ability to control temperature will greatly affect the result of your hairstyle. One thing you want to look for in a hair straightener is temperature control, and this usually only comes with your more expensive hair styling tools. This will allow you to monitor and modify the temperature of the device and prevent you from burning your hair. This is also a fantastic feature that you want, as different types of hair require different temperatures to be styled. 

  • Lifespan 

One thing about buying a cheap hair straightener is that it can cost you more later due to its lifespan being shorter than your more expensive ones. When you consider the longevity of the more inexpensive straighteners compared to your cheap ones, it could be more cost-effective to pay for an expensive one that will last longer than to buy a cheaper one that you may have to replace every few months or years. 

  • Automatic shut-off

When you’re working with heat, you’ve got to keep safety a priority, and one of the best and most convenient features a hair straightener can have is an auto-shut-off. This means that if your styling tool is inactive for a certain length of time, it will automatically turn off to reduce the risk of a fire or damage. Generally, cheap hair straighteners do not have this function. 

Is it better to buy an expensive hair straightener?

No, going for the most expensive isn’t necessarily the best option. This is because, in most cases, you’re just going to be paying for the brand and not the best quality. However, this doesn’t mean that you should buy just any cheap straightener – the key is to look for ones made with quality materials and features, or else you may be causing a lot of damage to your hair. 

How much should you pay for a hair straightener?

When it comes to how much you should be paying for hair, it will differ from person to person, depending on their budget and the quality they’re looking for. For a good, basic-level hair straightener, you should expect to pay between $20 to $50. A mid-range model should be approximately $50 to $130. Then, your top-of-the-range hair straighteners can be priced at $130 and above. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s best to avoid going the cheap route when it comes to buying hair straighteners, but if you find a decently-priced hair straightener made with quality materials and has temperature control, then it might be the better option than some of the most expensive straighteners on the market. So, choose not just according to your budget, but also according to quality. 

About Melanie Shaw

Melanie Shaw is a fashion and lifestyle writer who has worked in the fashion industry in PR and communications, helping brands launch their latest products and collections.

View All Articles
Melanie Shaw

Melanie Shaw is a fashion and lifestyle writer who has worked in the fashion industry in PR and communications, helping brands launch their latest products and collections.