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6 budget-friendly hair straighteners that'll help you master any style

Guilt-free glamour.

By Tiarne Blackwell

Content Producer / October 31 2024

Ask any hair stylist and they'll tell you that hair straighteners are one of the most versatile tools on the market.

From sleek, poker-straight locks to effortlessly chic curls and even at-home blowouts, a straightener can help you master any look, as long as you choose the right one.

But if you're not a celebrity or an A-lister (hard to believe, we know), finding a good hair straightener that doesn't break the bank can be quite the feat. Yes, the high price is sometimes worth the investment, but there are plenty of straighteners out there that work just as well for a fraction of the cost.

Below, we round up some of the best affordable hair straighteners to shop in Australia, right now.

2024's Top 3 Affordable Hair Straightener

Mermade Hair Straightener, $109 at Mermade Hair
Philips Hair Straightener 7000, $199, Myer
Hot Tools Gold Titanium Flat Iron, $169, Adore Beauty

Mermade Hair Straightener

From $109 at Mermade Hair

We never thought we'd be able to achieve hair that...well...resembles that of an actual mermaid, but this straightener tames even the most stubborn strands, leaving you with a shimmering, salon-worthy finish. Not only that, but it's great for creating bouncy, gorgeous curls as well. Oh, and did we mention it's pink? We probably should have led with that...

Key features:

28mm floating plates
Soft round edges
Ultra-lightweight design

Available at:

$76.30 (usually $109) from Mermade Hair
$81.75 (usually $109) from The Iconic
$87.20 (usually $109) from SSS Hair

Philips Hair Straightener 7000

From $199 at Myer

This innovative tool maintains a consistent temperature to shield your locks from excessive heat exposure. With every glide, it effortlessly transforms hair into a shiny, sleek masterpiece, leaving you feeling like you just stepped out of a high-end salon. The plates also boast floating technology for gentle gliding with every stroke, while they move to adjust pressure on the hair.

Key features:

105mm long plates
Argan oil infused ceramic plates
Heat protective ThermoShield technology

Available at:

$159.20 (usually $199) from Myer
$122.99 from Amazon Australia

Hot Tools Gold Titanium Flat Iron

From $169 at Adore Beauty

Hot Tools' Gold Titanium Flat Iron is the ultimate pick for creating sleek, straight and frizz-free hair. The gold titanium plates glide smoothly, leaving behind a lustrous shine that's runway-worthy. Whether you're going for poker-straight strands or bouncy waves, this baby will bid good riddance to bad hair days for good.

Key features:

24k gold titanium plates
14 variable settings
Pulse technology helps to heat up quickly

Available at:

$169 from Adore Beauty
$143.10 (usually $169) from Oz Hair and Beauty
$152.10 (usually $169) from SSS Hair

VS Sassoon Radiance Shine Hair Straightener

From $69.95 at Shaver Shop

This styler is all about making your locks shine like never before, thanks to advanced ceramic plates that, you guessed it, glide effortlessly through the hair. With a multi-voltage system that automatically adapts to the correct voltage, you can also have great hair anywhere in the world - all for under $40!

Key features:

205 degree optimal heat
Radiance infused technology
Swivel power cord

Available at:

$34.95 (usually $69.95) from Shaver Shop

Remington Pro Ceramic Max

From $59 at The Good Guys

Unleash your inner stylist and conquer any style with Remington's Pro Ceramic Max. This powerful tool features advanced ceramic technology that creates a flawless, frizz-free finish. It also has extra-wide plates for super fast results, saving you precious time during that hectic morning rush (and giving you some well-deserved beauty sleep back!).

Key features:

9 temperature settings
15 second heat up
Extra wide 45 x 110mm plates

Available at:

$59 from The Good Guys
$56.95 (usually $59) from SSS Hair
$59 from Amazon Australia

Muk 230-IR Straightener

From $239.95 at Adore Beauty

This cutting-edge straightener is a true masterpiece when it comes to styling innovation. Its unique infrared light technology ensures gentle yet effective heat penetration, reducing damage and leaving tresses looking sleek, smooth and oh-so-glamorous. You'll have flawless, salon-worthy results (and not to mention, more cash to splash on other beauty essentials).

Key features:

Temperature from 90-230ºC
Made with shine boosting Ion field technology
Universal voltage

Available at:

$239.95 from Adore Beauty
$189.95 (usually $239.95) from Oz Hair and Beauty
$160 (usually $239.95) from Catwalk

What material should you look for in a hair straightener?

First up, we’ve got to realise the difference between the main two types of hair straightening plates: ceramic vs titanium. The main difference is the way the plates heat your hair shaft, with ceramic heating your strands from the inside out while titanium plates heat the surface of your hair. But what does that mean? Well, even though titanium plates provide super sleek strands, if not used correctly they can end up causing heat damage to your strands. So, for everyday use, we’d suggest looking for ceramic plates.

Main image credit: @haileesteinfeld

Still searching for the perfect hair straightener? Whether you're looking to invest or save, these seven hair straighteners are great for any brief, hair type and budget.

Tiarne Blackwell

Tiarne is BEAUTYcrew's Content Producer. Between crafting narratives about all things beauty, you might catch her indulging in an endless stream of TikTok videos and obsessing over her dog. Her words have also appeared across other mastheads such as Better Homes & Gardens, New Idea, Now To Love, Bounty Parents and more.