Heat styling tools have come a long way. It used to be that sitting in the kitchen waiting for the inevitable burned ear was all we had. Nowadays we have the luxury of walking into a store and picking up a plug in heat styling tool and being done.
The accessibility is a glorious thing, but it can also have a double-edged sword kind of feel. Trying to keep up with the latest and greatest tools and all that they do can become overwhelming. There are different types of heat styling tools, different sizes and different technologies at play. It’s a lot.
Because flat irons allow for a wide range of versatility, we should probably tackle them first. With flat irons*, you can create a bone straight look, curls or even waves.
For the most part, the basics remain the same, so once you understand them, you can apply your new found knowledge to other heat styling tools you may choose to purchase. Let’s demystify flat irons* and break them down by price points and performance.
Materials
The plates of the flat iron* do all the work. Because that’s the part touching your hair and pressing the heat into your strands, you want to pay close attention to this aspect of the flat iron* you decide to go with. You can choose whichever model suits your needs, just be sure that you know exactly what you’re getting and that it is indeed what you want.
Ceramic plates made a big splash when they were originally introduced to the market. Because ceramic plates are smooth, they gave a silky result that was unmatched at the time.
However, as time moves on, so does technology. And although ceramic plates provide a smooth finish, they do not work well when it comes to distribution of heat. Ceramic plates also become worn and over time can lose their effectiveness.
Next up is tourmaline. Tourmaline is a gemstone that is crushed and applied over the plates of flat irons. The natural properties of the stone allow it to retain heat and to distribute it more evenly than ceramic plates. There are no pockets of intensified heat across plates that are reinforced with tourmaline.
Tourmaline is usually applied over the top of ceramic plates. This combination creates fantastic sleekness and shine because the best of both types of plates are at work when you use this type of flat iron* on your hair.
What about the flat irons that say that they have been infused with Argan oil? I feel that it’s a hoax because after a while the Argan oil if it is truly there will run out. Could you do a pt.2 to explain the iconic and nano flat irons like what they do etc?
Thanks so much for the break down! It couldn’t have come at a better time because I’m in the market for a flat iron so now I know what to look for 🙂
So what brands are recommended