A hair straightener is an extremely popular styling tool that allows people to transform curly or wavy hair into sleek, straight locks. However, like any electronic device, hair straighteners can malfunction or develop issues over time.
When your hair straightener stops working properly, it can be immensely frustrating. But there’s usually an easy fix—you just need to know what to look for.
This in-depth guide will teach you how to troubleshoot the most common hair straightener problems. We’ll also provide simple, DIY solutions to get your styling tool back in working order.
What Causes Hair Straightener Problems?
Before we dive into specific issues and fixes, let’s look at some of the common causes behind hair straightener malfunctions:
- Overuse or age: Hair straighteners endure a lot of wear and tear with daily use over months and years. Eventually, something is bound to break or malfunction.
- Poor maintenance: Failure to properly clean and maintain a hair straightener can lead to a buildup of product, dirt, and debris interfering with the appliance’s functioning.
- Damage: Dropping a hair straightener or allowing it to overheat too often can physically damage internal components and electronics.
- Voltage issues: Using the incorrect voltage setting or ineffective power outlets can cause technical issues.
Knowing the root cause of the problem will help you implement the right troubleshooting steps.
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Hair Straightener Not Heating Up
The most common hair straightener frustration is dealing with a styling tool that’s not heating up at all. There are a few different reasons why this can happen:
Possible Causes:
- Faulty power cord
- Damaged heating plates
- Broken thermostat or temperature control
- Malfunctioning power switch
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Check the power cord – Make sure it’s plugged in fully and examine the entire length for damage. Try connecting to another outlet.
- Test the power switch – Toggle the switch a few times and try resetting to see if it works.
- Inspect the heating plates – Look for cracks or corrosion. If damaged, replacement may be needed.
- Verify temperature settings – Adjust to max heat and wait 10+ minutes to see if plates get hot.
- Consider resetting the safety thermostat – Locate the small red button on the appliance handle or side panel. Press firmly using a paperclip or pin.
Still Not Heating Up? Replace Internal Components
If you’ve checked all potential user-serviceable issues and your hair straightener still fails to heat up, the problem likely lies with internal elements like:
- Heating plates – May need replacement if connections come loose or wires are damaged.
- Thermostat – Vital for regulating temperature. If defective, must be replaced.
- Heating wires – These high-resistance wires generate appliance heat. Damage can prevent heating.
For professional replacement of internal parts, you’ll probably need to visit an authorized service center or replace the hair straightener.
Uneven Heating and Hot Spots
Instead of evenly distributed heat across the plates, you may notice random intense “hot spots” along sections of the hair straightener. You’ll also feel very obvious temperature differences when running your fingers along the length of the plates.
This frustrating issue can have several root causes:
Potential Causes:
- Dirty heating plates
- Mineral deposits from tap water
- Partially damaged heating element
- Worn-out heating plates
Basic Troubleshooting:
- Clean the heating plates thoroughly with a soft cloth to remove built-up debris. Avoid wetting electrical components.
- Examine plates and heating element for signs of damage. Look for cracks, pitting corrosion, discoloration, or scorch marks.
- Power on and feel for hot spots again. Heat exposure can exacerbate existing damage.
Damaged heating systems need professional service for things like:
- Replacing worn heating plates
- Installing new heating wires
- Replacing thermostat or sensors
Preventing Future Uneven Heating Issues
Once you’ve resolved your straightener’s hot spot problem, keep it from coming back by:
- Allowing hair straightener to cool completely before storing
- Storing flat iron with plates separated
- Regularly cleaning plates + crevices using dry cloth
- Avoiding very high constant heat over 370°F (187°C)
Hair Straightener Making Noises
If your hair straightener starts making odd noises, don’t ignore it! Unusual sounds usually mean something is mechanically wrong with the appliance.
Potential Causes of Noises:
- Loose heating plates
- Damaged or defective heating element
- Obstructed rotating components
- Internal motor issues (in rotating irons)
Here are some troubleshooting tips for diagnosing noises:
- Power on the straightener and try to isolate the source of the noise
- Locate specific spots that make noise when pressed
- Eliminate user-error issues like foreign debris stuck in crevices
- Check that heating plates are properly aligned and secured
- Test noise persists at different temperatures
Addressing strange noises right away can prevent more severe long-term damage due to issues like:
- Loose wiring short-circuiting
- Heating element brackets wear down further
- Metal heating plates slowly warping and distorting
If basic troubleshooting doesn’t reveal an obvious cause, you may need professional appliance assessment and repair.
Not Turning On At All
When your hair straightener won’t power on at all, it’s incredibly frustrating. But don’t worry – there are a few easy troubleshooting tricks to try first before declaring the styler officially dead.
Potential Reasons for Failing to Turn On:
- Tripped safety power switch
- Damaged power cord
- Faulty outlet
- Bad power button
- Malfunctioning thermocouple
Basic Troubleshooting Steps:
- Verify outlet is working by plugging in another appliance
- Check for damage along the entire power cord length
- Wiggle the cord at the base and try different outlets
- Check power button isn’t stuck with debris
- Attempt a hard reset by leaving unplugged for 60+ minutes
Still not turning on? You’ll need to move on to assessing (and likely replacing) internal parts like:
- Power switch assembly
- Thermocouple safety sensor
- Circuit board or electrical control module
- The wiring connecting the above parts
Getting internal electronics fixed or replaced often requires professional service center assistance.
Smelly Residue or Smoke
If you ever notice smoke or a weird plastic-like smell from your hair straightener, don’t ignore it! This likely means internal parts are malfunctioning.
Potential Causes:
- Built-up debris burning inside
- Melting plastic casings or handles
- Short-circuiting wires and currents
- Damaged power cord insulation
This is a serious fire hazard if left unchecked. Follow the safety protocol below:
- Unplug immediately if you see smoke – Do not touch metal parts due to electrocution risk from exposed wires.
- Allow the appliance to fully cool and air out for 24 hours
- Do not turn it back on until inspected by a technician
- Closely check for external damage before considering repair
While DIY repair is not advised for smoking appliances, common fixes include:
- Replacing damaged power cord
- Rewiring shorted connections
- Swapping burnt circuit boards
- Installing new casing pieces
Random Shut-Offs Mid-Use
It is very frustrating to have your hair straightener randomly shut itself off while styling your hair. This often signals:
Possible Causes:
- Failing safety auto-off mechanism
- Loose wiring shorting out
- Heat sensor issues
- Malfunctioning thermostat
Basic Troubleshooting:
- Allow to fully cool then restart
- Try low vs high heat settings
- Note specific times it shuts off
- Check for hot spots on the exterior
If basic steps don’t reveal the underlying cause, professional service may be needed to replace:
- Faulty auto-off timer switch
- Damaged internal wiring
- Thermostat or sensor malfunctions
Addressing random power offs quickly is important to avoid damaging connected components from abrupt power loss while hot.
Fixing Physical Damage
Dropping your hair straightener or having the plates clamp down on materials can also cause physical damage like:
- Dent and warping
- Plate misalignment
- Cracked plastic bodies
- Scrapes and scratches
Quick Fixes:
- Bent metal plates – Use pliers to gently bend back into shape
- Light scratches – Buff away using baking soda paste
- Warped plastic – Run under hot water to reshape
- Scrapes – Apply touch-up appliance paint
More severe physical damage can prevent the appliance from working properly, meaning professional repairs or replacement may be needed.
When To Replace Your Hair Straightener?
If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps for your hair straightener issue but problems persist, it may be time to replace the styling tool altogether.
Signs It’s Time For A New Hair Straightener:
- Unable to fix the issue after multiple repair attempts
- Over 5 years old
- Visibly damaged or corroded
- No longer heats up effectively
- Internal parts cannot be sourced
Replacing old and unreliable hair straighteners is advisable for your own safety too. Malfunctioning electronics pose risks like fires, sparks, electrical shorts, and more.
Invest in a new high-quality hair straightener so you can stop dealing with frustrating performance issues!
Professional Hair Straightener Repairs
For some more serious hair straightener problems, DIY troubleshooting may not be possible or advisable. Instead, you’ll need to utilize professional appliance repair services.
Here are the top signs you should seek professional repairs:
Severe Symptoms Requiring Professional Help:
- Sparks or exposed wires
- Smoking, burning smells
- Significant physical damage
- Complex disassembly required
Hair Straightener Components Often Requiring Professional Service:
- Circuit board or heating element replacement
- Complicated interior wire or button issues
- Major physical damage repairs
- For less common hair tool models
To find professionals experienced with hair straightener repairs, visit appliance repair shops or manufacturers’ service locator sites. Ensure they have expertise with the specific appliance make and model.
Preventing Future Hair Straightener Damage
Preventing damage and wear in the first place will save you headaches down the road! Implement these hair tool care best practices:
Regular Maintenance
- Frequently clean plates and crevices
- Don’t yank the cord from outlets
- Keep styling tool exterior clean
- Check for fraying cords
Proper Use & Storage
- Set to no higher than 370°F heat
- Allow plates to fully cool before storing
- Store with protective plate guard on
- Don’t clamp on materials besides hair
- Keep styler away from water
Following these simple guidelines will help your hair straightener last for years while remaining in optimal working order!
Conclusion
By now you should have a thorough understanding of what causes common hair straightener problems plus the troubleshooting fundamentals to get your styling tool back up and running.
The most frequent issues stem from overuse, poor maintenance, physical damage, or technical electrical faults. But implementing simple fixes like cleaning the unit, replacing frayed cords, or having damaged parts swapped out can often solve pesky hair tool problems.
For more complex internal repairs, seeking professional appliance servicing assistance is advised. But you’ll be equipped to tackle many basic hair straightener fixes yourself!
Regularly caring for your hot tool and avoiding excessive wear will help minimize annoying breakdowns and malfunctions over its lifetime as well. Keep these hair straightener troubleshooting and maintenance tips handy!