by 6 people |
Flat Iron Features; What they Mean & What They Do
So, you know you want a hair straightener and decide to start some research on which one will best suit you, only to find that there are 100's to choose from and they all have different features. Tourmaline, Ionic, Infra Red Heat Technology..etc..So what do these things actually mean and what benefits do they provide? Well, keep on reading and soon you will know exactly what those features mean and which ones count the most!
CERAMIC & TITANIUM PLATES
What is the Difference?
First let me say when buying a hair straightener PLEASE make sure the plates are True Ceramic or Titanium. Stay clear of painted plates as these will peel and chip causing damage to your hair by snagging and pulling. OUCH!
- WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CERAMIC PLATES?
Ceramic plates distribute an even heat preventing hot spots on the iron which can burn hair. Ceramic plates are smooth and will not chip or peel. They work to prevent static electricity, smooth and seal the hairs cuticle, eliminating frizz and add shine to hair. - WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TITANIUM PLATES?
Like ceramic, Titanium also produces an even distribution of heat, prevents static electricity, smooths and seals the hairs cuticle and add shine. There are a few benefits that Titanium has over Ceramic being Titanium is an extremely durable metal which is scratch resistant and light weight.
Ceramic Plates
Ultra Smooth Tourmaline Ceramic Plates
FAR INFRARED HEAT
How does it make a difference?
Far-infrared heat is produced from the use of tourmaline and ceramic combined.
- There are a few benefits with a hair straightener that uses Far Infrared Heat. This type of heating heats the hair from the inside out, causing less surface damage. Heat will distribute more evenly and it also produces quicker results making straightening your hair much faster and reducing the risk of damage.
NEGATIVE IONS
What do they do?
When browsing through hair irons you will notice many will include the feature "Ionic" This is a good thing!
- WHAT DOES IONIC MEAN?
When you read Ionic this means that the iron produces negative ions which have many benefits in a flat iron. - WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NEGATIVE IONS?
Negative ions can make straightening your hair go much quicker and an iron which uses tourmaline (see below) produces about 6 times more negative ions than a regular ceramic plated flat iron.
Negative Ions work to eliminate frizz and static by smoothing and closing the cuticle layer. This makes your hair soft and silky to the touch, shiny and healthy looking. Negative Ions also work to seal in the natural moisture of your hair which helps to protect your hair and color from heat damage.
TOURMALINE
What does this Mean and What are the Benefits?
Tourmaline is a semi precious gem which is a natural source of negative ions and far infrared rays(FIR).
- HOW IS IT USED IN A HAIR IRON?
The crystal is ground into a fine powder which is then infused onto the plates of a hair iron.You will usually see plates advertised as Ceramic Tourmaline or Titanium Tourmaline which means the Tourmaline is infused onto either Ceramic or Titanium plates. - WHAT BENEFIT DOES THIS PROVIDE IN A HAIR STRAIGHTENER?
Because Tourmaline produces negative ions and FIR when used in the plates of a hair iron this produces longer lasting straightness, shinier and smoother results. Tourmaline plates will also cause less damage on your hair and keep hair in a healthier condition.
Tourmaline Crystal
Other Important Features to Look for in a Hair Straightener
Temperature Control -
This is a very important feature as we all have different hair types. If your hair is thin, fragile, chemically treated or damaged you need to use your flat iron on a lower setting than you would if you have normal, strong, healthy hair.
Plate Size -
This depends on your hair length as well as what you intend to use your iron for. If you have really long hair that you only plan to straighten any size will work. HOWEVER if you have short hair, bangs, layers or plan to use your hair straightener to its full potential and curl, flip and add waves as well, a 1" plate size is ideal.
Flash Quick Heating-
This features gets the iron hot in seconds, no more waiting around for your iron to get enough to use!
Swivel Cord-
Most wouldn't think about this feature however a cord that swivels makes a huge difference. As you move the iron around your head to get to the back or from side to side a swivel cord will prevent you from becoming tangled up in the cord!
This is a very important feature as we all have different hair types. If your hair is thin, fragile, chemically treated or damaged you need to use your flat iron on a lower setting than you would if you have normal, strong, healthy hair.
Plate Size -
This depends on your hair length as well as what you intend to use your iron for. If you have really long hair that you only plan to straighten any size will work. HOWEVER if you have short hair, bangs, layers or plan to use your hair straightener to its full potential and curl, flip and add waves as well, a 1" plate size is ideal.
Flash Quick Heating-
This features gets the iron hot in seconds, no more waiting around for your iron to get enough to use!
Swivel Cord-
Most wouldn't think about this feature however a cord that swivels makes a huge difference. As you move the iron around your head to get to the back or from side to side a swivel cord will prevent you from becoming tangled up in the cord!
My Hair Styling Tools Blog
Hair Styling Advice, Tips & More!
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Ceramic & Titanium
- CHI Nano Ceramic Flat Iron
- CHI Nano Ceramic Flat Iron
- The Karmin Professional Titanium Flat Iron
- The Karmin Professional Titanium Flat Iron
Hair Straightener Links
Links to various Hair Iron Articles.
- Karmin Hair Iron at MyHairStylingTools.com
- Karmin Titanium Hair Iron. $99.99 and FREE Shipping to Canada & the US!!
- What is better, salon or home hair straightener?
- Hair straightening at home does vary from what you would pay for in the hair salon, usually anyone who wants to achieve a more permanent result would go to the salon.
- History of the Hair Iron
- In 1872, Marcel Grateau used heated rods to straighten or style hair. Ian Gutgold used harsh chemicals in lotions applied to the hair and scalp to straighten hair, however, these preparations often led to scorched scalps and damaged hair.
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- julie julie Apr 18, 2009 @ 1:39 am
- uh wow i didnt know there was this much to learn im so glad i checked this out
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- Nina Nina Mar 27, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
- Thank you very much. This site helped me a lot.
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- Suko Suko Feb 5, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
- Thank you for sharing your "beauty secrets". 5 star lens.
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- nika nika Jun 12, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
- this site gave me a few tips to know about purchasing hair straighteners, along with gaining knowledge about its history .
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by Erinlk
Hello!
My name is Erin and I am a single mother of two beautiful children and for over 5 years now I have been researching, studying, testing, desig... (more)
My name is Erin and I am a single mother of two beautiful children and for over 5 years now I have been researching, studying, testing, desig... (more)
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