Choosing a Flat Iron

Flat Irons Explained

There are so many labels. What is the difference between Ceramic, Ionic, Tourmaline and Infrared? Ceramic or tourmaline is the coating material for the hot plates. Both ceramic and tourmaline produce negative ions when heated. There are benefits of ions. Your hair carries positive electrical charges caused by dry friction and natural movement of the hair. These positive charges cause the hair to fluff out, become difficult to style, and cause hair cuticles to open , resulting in dull, unhealthy hair. The negative ions cancel the positive electrical charges making your hair smoother and healthier. All heated items produce infrared rays which do not make a difference in the results.

What size flat iron should I choose? It depends on your hair texture and hair length. Unless your hair is very long, a 1 to 1-1/2 inch flat iron will do fine in most cases. If you have natural straight hair and you just want to smooth or de-frizz, choose small ones (1 to 1-1/2 inch). Small sizes are also recommended for hair that's short or already chemically straightened. Small sizes are lighter, easier to use and more versatile while bigger ones (2+ inch) work faster and save time with long coarse hair, but they are not as user-friendly and generally on the heavy side. Most popular sizes are 1-1/4" and 1-1/2 inch.

What temperature should I use? Different hair texture requires different temperature. It is very important to buy a flat iron with adjustable temperature.

• Normal Hair 360-380 degrees
• Very coarse, thick, curly or ethnic hair 380-410 degrees (450 is the truth, but you have to know what you're doing)
• Bleached, fragile, damaged or fine hair - below 360 degrees

How can I reduce damage from flat iron? First of all, it is extremely important that you set the right temperature for your hair. Try a few settings starting from low to high until you find a setting that will straighten your hair fast and efficiently while not scorching your hair. That perfect temperature is usually right before scorching, so take your time to find the perfect setting and use a heat protection spray or silicone before styling.

Is a professional flat iron really worth the money as opposed to a drugstore brand? Flat irons available from drugstores are generally made with cheap materials and are poorly designed. They may even claim to be "ceramic" or "tourmaline". In actuality, most of them are made with aluminum plates coated with paint. The coating usually comes off plates after a few uses and hair gets caught and broken between the plates. Some have complained that their hair becomes thinner and thinner after using inexpensive flat irons over an extended period of time. Maintaining constant temperature is vital to the performance of a flat iron. Consumer grade flat irons use cheap PTC heater that can not sustain a constant temperature, so you end up going through your hair many times to get it straight causing more damage. Also, with a consumer flat iron, curly or frizzy hair reverts back quickly. The hair has a burnt smell and is severely damaged after using it a while. For one hundred dollars or more, a good professional iron will pay for itself over and over again. To make your iron last longer be sure to unplug it right after use. Do not wrap power cords around the iron and keep your plates clean.