Ceramic:  These plates allow for even heat distribution which means that the chances of one area being overheated are low.  This ultimately means that it has less potential to burn or damage your hair.  Ceramic is the most basic material that you want your flat iron to be comprised of and it is arguably the most commonly used.  I would suggest that you find an iron that is pure ceramic, some tools that are marketed as “ceramic” simply have a ceramic coating.

This does not just apply to less expensive, consumer models but also some high-end professional flat irons as well.  The ceramic coating can potentially chip or peel exposing the metal below (usually aluminum) and may damage your hair.  Irons that are pure ceramic plates usually include that information in the description.  These are more delicate so you have to be careful not to slam the plates together, but overall are an excellent choice.

Example of a ceramic flat iron – GHD Classic Styler 1 Inch Original – Straightener Flat Iron

Ionic: The term ionic usually means that the flat iron generates negative ions.  Hair is usually positively charged due to its water content (H2O+) and therefore a tool that provides negative ions while styling results in smoother, shinier, frizz free hair.  This applies not only to flat irons, but also blow and hooded dryers.  The important thing to remember is that “ionic” does not refer to a specific material – all ceramic irons generate negative ions, while tourmaline and titanium boost their output.

Example of an Ionic flat iron – Apiker Ionic Hair Straighteners with Infrared Technology

Tourmaline:  What exactly is tourmaline?  It is a crushed brittle gray or black mineral that occurs as a prismatic crystal in granitic and other rocks.  In hot tools, these crystals are crushed into a fine powder and infused into the flat iron’s metal plate.  Therefore a ceramic or titanium iron may be tourmaline.  Tourmaline flat irons have a very high output of negative ions (much more than ceramic alone) and create extremely sleek, shiny hair.

Example of a Tourmaline flat iron – HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron

Titanium: Titanium is a metal that excellent heat conduction, consistent heat, allows for minimum temperature variation and therefore minimizes heat damage.  It heats very quickly, also has a high ionic output, and transfers heat faster than ceramic.  This is arguably the “best” type of flat iron to have (at least until they come out with something better, which you know always happens) but you will have to decide for yourself which iron is best for you and your hair.

Example of a titanium flat iron – KIPOZI Pro Flat Iron with 1 Inch Titanium Ion plates