Best Flat Iron Buying Guide

1. I am wondering what the differences are between Ceramic, Ionic, Tourmaline and Infrared. Can you tell me more for a better understanding?

The Tourmaline and or the Ceramic, is the protective material coating covering the hot plates. The Tourmaline and the Ceramic are both coating materials that are for producing negative ions during the heated process. The important benefits of the negative ions from the Ceramic and or Tourmaline protective coatings are to improve the health of your hair. Our hair carries positive electrical charges cause by hair movement of dry friction and the everyday environmental factors of the hair. The everyday natural hair movements tends to spread out making the hair difficult to style. Dull, dry, and unhealthy hair is caused by electrical charges that cause hair cuticles to open. The job of the negative ions is to cancel out the positive electrical charges, resulting in full hair repair for smoother more relaxed hair.

The Infrared is the safe and common way for heating the flat irons that produce far infrared rays.

2. Are there any differences between the Ceramic and Tourmaline flat iron?

There have been no differences between them but either will do, because both are the same in generating negative ions.

3. How do I decide on the right size of flat iron should I use?

The size of flat iron to choose depends on the hair texture and hair length. You can see the table below as a reference.

Many who have naturally straight hair, may want to smooth the hair should choose small ones of 1" to 1.5" sizes. The small sizes are also the ones recommended for hair already chemically straightened.

The smaller sizes are lighter in weight, easier to use and more versatile. But the larger flat irons work faster saving time when working with the long coarser hair, even when the larger size is heavier and not as easy to maneuver around.

When it comes to the sizes, the most popular flat irons are 1.25" and the 1.5".

4. With such a wide temperature range, what is the appropriate temperature for my hair?

The temperature to use depends on the texture of your hair. The laboratory tests have tested various hair textures for tabulating the following results:

Buying a flat iron with adjustable temperatures is very important for your hair.

5. Is there a way to reduce flat iron hair damage?

Setting the correct temperature for your hair is very important for hair damage protection. By trying a few settings starting from low to high, you will quickly find the best heat setting for your hair. The best setting will quickly and efficiency straighten your hair with no burns to hair.

For the best results, use flat iron heat protection spray before styling.

6. Compared to the regular drugstore flat irons, is it really worth the investment in a Professional flat iron?

Most all common consumer flat irons from drugstores or stores like Walmart, are almost always
made from cheap materials combined with poor user friendly design.

The professional flat iron materials and design:

Plate: There are those general consumer flat irons on the market today that sometimes claims being made with "Ceramic" or "Tourmaline", but are actually made of aluminum plates coated with regular paint. After only a few uses, the cheap painted coating will eventually come off to cause unprotected exposure. This will cause the hair to be caught in plates and cause more and more damage after each use. There are consumer complaints of their hair thinning after using flat iron plates from the unprotected exposure, due to hair getting caught and pulled from missing paint.

Heating Element: The heating of the flat iron constantly maintaining a constant correct temperature during the complete styling session is highly important to how well the flat iron performs. Since cheaply made flat irons are made with PTC heaters that are cheap, there can not be a sustained constant temperature. This cheap heating system is a contributing factor in prolonged hair straightening, taking more times going throughout the hair, and slowing down the desired results and causing more hair damage, as an end result over a shorter length of time.

Performance: Straightening curly hair does not work well and will spring back quickly from most consumer store brand flat irons. Consumer store brand flat irons will eventually burn and severely damage your hair, even with just normal usage.

The investment is worth it for a good fifty to one hundred dollar professional quality flat iron. The cost is no more than one visit to a good salon, and the one time professional flat iron price will pay for its self for years to come.

7. What are the best care taking steps in maintaining my new professional flat iron?

The most important steps to take are to:

• Always unplug flat iron after each use
• Use Styling iron cleaner after each use, clean the plates with it.
• Never wrap the power cord around the flat iron in any way
• AGAIN- never leave flat iron plugged in when not in use