Interior Parts & Functions of Steam Flat Irons

Steam flat irons contain a few unique features which allow you to straighten hair with the use of water. Two different steam irons exist, one requires water to create the steam and the other straightens hair while it's wet, eliminating the need for blow drying.

Wet-to-Dry Iron

Also called "Wet and Dry," Wet/Dry and Wet-or-Dry, these flat irons cut down on heat exposure because they dry your hair as you iron it straight. By eliminating the drying step, the wet-to-dry iron saves time on long or thick hair types which often take longer to blow dry.

Steam Flat Irons

Steam irons add moisture to dry hair or hair that may become dry through the straightening process. You add water to the unit in order to produce a steam mist.

Water Reservoir

In a steam flat iron, a removable water reservoir on top of the flat iron is filled with distilled water, capped and replaced. Variable steam settings heat the water to create steam which is then channeled out onto hair and the air through vents.

Vents

Both steam irons and wet-to-dry irons have vents or small holes located on the straightening plates and the top of the iron which release steam. The vents are connected to internal channels connected to the water source.

Pins

Some steam flat irons have pins along the middle of the straightening plates, which detangle hair as it's run through plates. Some irons allow you to adjust the depth of the pins with a switch on the appliance, to accommodate different thicknesses of hair.

References

• Folica.com: Infiniti Ionic Steam Straightener by Conair
• Missiko: Coriolis Wet-to-Dry Flat Iron

Resources

• Tame Your Mane Instruction Manual