What features make the best flat iron? The article below has answers for the important questions you might have in mind.
Flat irons, also known as hair straighteners, are the perfect tools to have if you’re seeking to change hair styles whenever you want or to go from wavy, curly, frizz prone hair to a perfectly smooth mane. In just a matter of minutes and without having to pay a visit to your hair salon, flat irons have finally made it easy for us to let our mood show on our heads! Who doesn’t dream of having that eye-catching, smooth and long lasting style? But first things first, it all starts with choosing the right flat iron to make sure you get what you are looking for rather than ending up with damaged messy hair. The article below will provide with all what you need to know to choose your first or next flat iron.
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Here’s a quick comparison chart
BaByliss PRO Nano
- ultra-smooth nano titanium plates
- Instant heat: up to 400°F
- Good for Frizzy hair / Thick hair / Curly hair / Long hair / Humid conditions
- 1”
- Smooths frizz
- 6ft Swivel power cord
Bio Ionic OnePass
- Nano-ceramic ion-infused plates
- Instant heat: up to 400°F
- Good for Frizzy hair / Thick hair / Curly hair / Long hair / Humid conditions
- 1.5”
- Smooths hair
- 10ft swivel power cord
Remington Pearl Pro
- Ceramic ion, pearl-infused plates
- Heats up to 400°F in 30 seconds
- Good for daily use / thick hair / on-the-go Easy to use / Lightweight
- 1”
- Reduces frizz and damage
- 9ft swivel power cord
Paul Mitchell Protools
- cushioned ceramic plates
- Heats up to 400°F in 60 seconds
- Good for color treated hair / curly hair / dry hair thick or coarse Hair
- 1"
- straight-up silky locks
- 9ft swivel power cord
First important factor: the size of flat irons
It is very important that your flat iron go in harmony with your type of hair, and the size of the flat iron is of similar importance.
♥ For short, thick or fine hair: Use an iron with narrow plates ranging in size from half-an-inch to one-inch thick. This will allow you to iron smaller sections.
♥ For long, thick or fine hair: Use an iron with wider plates ranging in size from one-and-a-half inches to two-inches wide so you’re able to cover more surface area in less time
♥ If you have curly frizzy hair, hard to handle, the solution comes from flat irons featuring floating plates. Thanks to the built-in springs, these flat irons adapt to the thickness of your hair by gently moving them during the straightening. This makes them more efficient.
Second important factor: the coating
This is a decisive factor as it plays an essential role in preserving or causing the degradation of your hair. Coating is the basic building block of flat irons. You can choose between 3 different options:
♥ Ceramic plates
This is the basic coating of a flat iron. It is very important that all the plates be ceramic to ensure the best performance. Ceramic plates guarantee an even distribution of heat, preserve the hair and make straightening, even very dry hair, a piece of cake. Ceramic works greatly on fine and curly hair. There are three categories of ceramic: white ceramic, yellow ceramic and black ceramic. The white and yellow ceramic are almost similar, whereas the black one has the advantage of polishing the scales of your hair, making it possible to add more shine to it. The black ceramic is highly advisable for curly and very frizzy hair.
♥ Tourmaline plates
Beautifully adapted to damaged hair or hair damaged by colorings, tourmaline, known to outrank ceramic, guarantees even smoother and silkier results while respecting your hair’s health.
Moreover, tourmaline, a semi-precious stone, efficiently helps tame static electricity and frizz while guaranteeing very satisfying straightening.
♥ Titanium plates
One notch higher than tourmaline plates, titanium ensures extremely high wear resistance. Heat gets distributed well onto the hair thanks to the titanium’s high quality conductive properties. Almost every type of hair can withstand titanium plates with the exception of weakened and devitalized hair due to chemical treatments.
Third important factor : heat of plates
First of all, we highly recommend you buy a flat iron featuring variable heat settings to make sure you set the heat that most suits your type of hair. Flat irons’ temperature ranges from 149 to 455°F
To find the heat setting that is ideal for your hair, we recommend you always test the heat starting with the lowest one.
Here’s a preview of the recommended heat according to your type of hair.
For damaged, fragile or fine hair, heat from 176 to 302°F is recommended so as not to damage your hair.
♥ For normal or soft hair, the right temperature lies between 302 to 338°F
♥ For wavy and curly hair types you can choose higher heat without going beyond 374°F
♥ For very thick hair, with curly or afro hair, the optimal heat to choose is between 374 to 446°F
♥ Finally, for a Brazilian keratin treatment you will have to choose heat superior to 446°F
Forth factor: details that make the difference
As a first step, think about how long your flat iron takes to heat. Generally speaking, heating time goes from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. With the technologies of today, heating time has been reduced considerably.
Next, do not forget to ask about how long the power supply cord is. In fact, a flat iron with a very short power cord will quickly start creating problems and can become an annoying thing while you’re using your flat iron. If the power socket is far from your mirror and the cord is not sufficiently long, you can imagine how frustrating that would be. We recommend a flat iron with a minimum of 6.56 f. long cord, with a possibility to rotate for more practicality.
An LCD simultaneously displaying temperature is also recommended in order not to exceed the maximum temperature that you hair can withstand.
Last but not least, some best flat irons have “an auto-stop safety feature” that turns them off when not in use (generally after 30 minutes).
Fifth factor: technologies and accessories
The new generation of flat irons are increasingly fitted with the latest technologies and features among which we find:
♥ The integration of removable combs to detangle and straighten each section in a single passage. It’s also possible to choose a heat press comb to warm hair and ensure faster straightening. Please note that you must pay attention to this option because your hair should be completely dry or you risk burning or permanently damaging your hair.
♥ The ionic technology fights frizz, prevents dehydration of your hair and maximizes hair care.
♥ The “Wet & Dry” technology makes it possible to use a flat iron on damp hair contrary to conventional models that are designed to be solely used on dry hair.
Sixth factor : combined straightners
♥ The steam flat iron: though they are a bit more expensive, steam flat irons are less harmful for the hair and ensure long lasting results. Steam moisturizes, hydrates and protects the hair against dehydration. Hair is then softened and becomes full of life and easier to straighten.
♥ The curling iron/wand: They both straighten the hair and create beautiful curls. Perfect if you’re the kind who change their hairstyles whenever they want.
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