At a glanceExpert’s Rating
ProsPowerful one pass styling Easy to read temperature displayChoice of temperaturesConsNo lockHigh heatNo travel caseOur Verdict
If you want to achieve perfectly straight, silky smooth hair, this is one of the most effective straighteners around. But its high top temperature could prove damaging to hair.
The NuMe Megastar is a powerful, award-winning hair straightener with features that set it apart from rivals: most notably, that you can choose the styling temperature – and not from a limited number of pre-sets. It can also be used to curl hair.
Although it has a US plug, it has dual voltage (110-240V), so it can be used internationally with an ordinary adaptor.
NuMe Megastar design
Long cord in swivel settingDigital temperature displayFloating ceramic tourmaline plates
The NUME Megastar is a lightweight, traditionally shaped straightener. It comes in three colour options: black and silver; black and rose gold; and blush and rose gold. The silver or rose gold accents are shiny and detract from the overall look – understated accents would have given it a more premium feel.
The tongs are coated in a matt, suede-effect finish; it looks good and is non-slip.
It has a long cord (228cm/ 7ft 6in) and 360° swivel setting, making it easy to manoeuvre while styling.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
On the outer side of one of the tongs is a large red LED temperature display. On the inner side of the other are the controls (an on/off button and up and down temperature keys) and a raised, oversized light that glows green when it’s switched on. This is in fact an ion booster, not an indicator light. Negative ions help to smooth the hair, giving better styling results at lower temperatures.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
The tourmaline ceramic plates are floating, to improve contact with hair. If you press them, you can feel them give and tilt from side to side. The idea is that better contact with hair means fewer passes and less heat damage. Their flexibility also makes them gentler on your hair.
In the centre of the plates on one side, there’s an infrared strip. It should help to heat hair strands evenly, instead of just drying out the exterior. However, it does mean that there’s a ridge in the plate. During my time testing it, I didn’t have any issues with it but it’s possible that it could catch or snag hair.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
And, while the dual voltage means you can take it away with you when you travel, the tongs don’t lock and it doesn’t come with a heatproof case, mat or glove.
NuMe Megastar performance
Temperature from 190°F to 450°F (88-232°C)Heats up in secondsSafety shutdown
The straightener heats up quickly, taking 45 seconds to reach 450°F.
While other straighteners may either have a single optimised temperature setting, or a choice of perhaps three pre-sets, the Megastar is unusual in that you can choose the best temperature for your hair from 190°F to 450°F (88-232°C), in increments of 20 degrees.
This is good in that in you can experiment to find the lowest possible temperature to style your hair but it’s tempting to whack it on the highest setting, especially if you’re in a hurry. Unless you use this kind of heat sparingly, you could risk damaging your hair – even if you use a heat protection spray.
For comparison, GHD straighteners have a single, optimised setting: 365°F/ 185°C. The Dyson Corrale has three settings: 329°F/ 165°C; 365°F/185°C; and 410°F/ 210°C. So, the Megastar gets considerably hotter than either.
Since Dyson and GHD had a midpoint consensus of 365°F/185°C, that’s the temperature I picked to style my hair, which is wavy and can be resistant to straightening.
The results were impressive. If you follow the instructions and work on a 1-2 inch segment of hair at a time, it is genuinely a one-pass deal.
This is a straightener to buy if you want perfectly straight, shiny hair. We honestly can’t tell which of the features – its floating setting, the ionic booster, the tourmaline ceramic plates, the infrared strip – are effective but we couldn’t argue with the end result, which was notably more effective than competitors including the Dyson Corrale, which is still a very good product, albeit at a higher price point.
The Megastar can also be used to curl hair but, having spent a good portion of my life trying to eradicate the waves in mine, this is not my forte. All I can say if you’re skilled enough to use a straightener to curl your hair, you’ll be able to do it with this one. And for people who want to experiment, there are curling instructions included.
There’s also an automatic shutdown feature: it’ll switch itself off after an hour if left alone. This is a good safety feature but the delay seems far too long. I’d prefer to see a shutdown after 20 minutes or less, especially as it doesn’t come with a heatproof mat.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Price and availability
The NuMe Megastar is available in the US from Amazon, where it’s currently priced at $151.20. You can also buy direct from NuMe Hair, where it’s currently $149, down from an RRP of $189.
NuMe will also ship internationally, so if you’re in the UK you can still buy, although you’ll have to pay duty on your purchase which will bring the cost up. There’s also a listing for it on the Amazon UK site but it’s unavailable at the time of writing.
Verdict
The NuMe Megastar has some great features. Its choice of temperature settings and easy to read digital display are excellent. But if you buy, we’d caution that the highest temperature is too hot for everyday styling. But in the end, it’s all about the results and the Megastar delivers straight, shiny hair, very quickly.
For more hair styling options, have a look at our round-ups of the best hair straighteners and the best hair dryers we’ve tested.
