The hairstylist’s little-known tip for seeing if your straighteners are past their sell-by date

Unfortunately, it’s not as clear-cut as an expiration date — but there are several things you can do to check if your straightener might need replacing.

A telltale sign that it’s time to retire your current hair straighteners is when the plates become worn or scratched on parts.

Veteran hairstylist Fabio Scalia previously explained to Marie Claire that damaged plates can expose your hair to extreme heat.

This can burn your hair, break it, and strip away the natural oils it needs — definitely not what you want when you’re trying to look your best.

Some retailers actually offer plate replacements that are cheaper than replacing the entire straightener if you can’t say goodbye to your trusty model.

Once you’ve checked and your plates are fine, it’s worth checking the heat indicator light, as that’s another telltale sign that your straightener is past its sell-by date.

He said: “The indicator will also tell you when it’s time to start looking for a new one.

“If the light blinks a lot during use, your iron has stopped retaining heat and is on its way out.”

Another way of saying it might be time to part with your money for a new flat iron is when you find yourself going over the same strand of hair over and over again and it’s not really doing anything.

If you find yourself repeatedly going through the same strands, it’s sad to say your flat irons are probably not going to last much longer and it might well be time for retail therapy.

Speak with MRS Jackie Dove, Pierre Haddad’s stylist, claimed that straighteners need to be replaced every two to three years.

She also said, “To get the most out of it, keep yours in a heat-resistant zip-top bag.”

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