- Marcel Grateau, a French inventor, created heated metal rods that were used to straighten or otherwise style hair in 1872. In the 1900s, women straightened their hair using heated combs and even hot irons intended for clothing. These products used a combination of heat and pressure or pulling, and they worked. But they also left women with severely dry, damaged hair. Today's styling tools perform the task much easier and with less risk of harm to women's hair.
- Flat irons now are small, electric appliances. They are plugged in and allowed to heat up, much like curling irons. When the flat iron is hot, the person using it closes it onto the top of a section of hair and, keeping it closed, slides it down the length of the locks. This process is repeated until all of the hair is straight.
- There are three basic types of flat irons. Ceramic irons offer even heat distribution and are less likely to burn the hair. Ionic irons use a negative electric charge to straighten and control your tresses. Tourmaline flat irons get super hot very quickly and leave hair sleek and shiny. Among these types, there are also different widths and sizes of flat irons. There are also some that can be used on wet hair, drying and styling it concurrently.
- Flat irons are typically the same size as curling irons, only they come in a flat, clamp shape. Hair naturally tends to hold a positive static charge, which causes it to fly away and be less manageable. An ionic flattener uses a negative charge, which causes the hair to lie flat. The heat of flat irons along with the force of the clamped end irons out hair, much like an iron removes wrinkles from clothing.
- Over time, using any styling tool that uses heat will cause damage to the hair. Less-frequent use, along with products created to repair and protect hair, will lessen this damage. Only use a flat iron on clean hair, as oils in dirty hair can cause it to singe. Don't use a flat iron on wet or damp hair, unless it is specifically made for such use. Parting your hair into small, workable sections will help you straighten your hair more quickly and effectively.
