Straight Talk About Flat Irons

With how many different kinds of flat irons there are, chosing the right one can be overwhelming! Should you buy one at your local drug store? The beauty supply store? Once deciding where you are going to buy your flat iron, which kind? Ceramic? Metal? Tourmaline? The options can spin you around in a whirlwind, so hopefully I can help ease your mind and answer some of the most common questions when it comes to buying your next straightener.

First off, when we are talking about ceramic or tourmaline flat irons we are talking about the plates that are directly in contact with your hair.  Ceramic is one of the most common that is out on the market, and has been around for years.  Ceramic plates have replaced metal, and are safer for your hair and distribute the heat evenly to produce a uniformly smooth section with less frizz.  Within the ceramic family, there are mini flat irons which are used for shorter hair and bangs the traditional flat irons all with different settings and features, which really is a personal preference.  Personally I feel that your flat iron should have a heat setting so you can personalize it to your specific hair type.  If you have damage and breakage already from coloring, heat damage etc, you would want to use a lower heat setting to prevent any more damage.  If you have thick, coarse hair, a higher heat setting may be appropriate.  (See Pinned Up: How To Flat Iron Properly)

Tourmaline flat irons are another type of flat iron available to consumers.  Tourmaline flat irons are actually a variety of ceramic flat irons, and is a mineral that is finely ground up and added to the ceramic before creating the plates of the straightener.  The benefit of tourmaline flat irons is that it can cause less damage to you hair, but there really isn't a great difference between ceramic and tourmaline flat irons, so don't concern yourself with it too much.  The difference really comes from the old metal flat irons versus ceramic, in which case ceramic will produce the best result and maintain the health of your hair. And never buy the Wet-To-Dry flat irons! Hair is not meant to have such direct heat on it while it is soaking wet. Your hair will sizzle and pop and that is in no way healthy!

To determine which flat iron you should purchase, generally the more expensive the device the better it will be.  If you rarely flat iron your hair, then I wouldn't recommend spending your money on an overly expensive flat iron.  Really you can purchase a great flat iron for under $50, but I would recommend doing so at a beauty supply store, not the drugstore (which is where you will find most the of the metal flat irons). 


Here are some flat irons that I have had great results with.  The Hai Ceramic Flat Iron is what I use on myself.  The price is reasonable and I have never had a problem with it.  It has a temperature setting and heats very quickly.
Hai Classic Ceramic Flat Iron, 1-1/4 Inch


BabylissPro Nano Titanium 1 1/4" Straightening Iron    This flat iron is fantastic.  It works quickly, produces a great even result, and great for someone who straightens their hair on a regular basis. 


Ghd 00217 Professional Original Styler, 1 Inch  And for one of the best flat irons on the market... produces some of the best results with the option of curling the hair with a flat iron and a variety of other hair styles.