How to Buy a Flat Iron

Flat irons can be used to tame the unruliest hair or turn frizzy locks into a straight, sleek mane. With so many models on the market, it helps to do some homework to decide which flat iron is best suited for your hair before buying one. Everything from the width of the flat iron plates to the texture of your hair can affect a flat iron’s performance, and knowing such things also can keep you from damaging your hair.

Instructions

1. Decide whether you want the flat iron’s plates to be made of ceramic or tourmaline. Tourmaline is a stone that is marketed by some flat iron manufacturers as a material that creates more negative ions than ceramic plates. The additional negative ions are said to help give hair a smoother, softer texture when straightened.

2. Look for a flat iron that suits the texture of your hair. Curly or frizzy hair can benefit from flat iron plates equipped with straightening pins or a detangling comb. Plates without pins or combs tend to smash those hair textures into clumps instead of straightening the hair.

3. Get a flat iron that can handle the length and thickness of your hair. Short hair is difficult to straighten and style if the flat iron plates are too wide. Conversely, the extra surface area of wide plates makes it easier to straighten long, thick hair.

4. Consider buying a flat iron that also dries hair to eliminate the extra step of drying your hair before straightening it. However, it’s often recommended that you at least towel dry your hair before using this type of flat iron.

5. Know that you can add versatility to hairstyles by getting a flat iron that straightens and curls hair. These models typically have thinner, rounded plates. They can eliminate the need for applying additional, potentially-damaging heat to hair by using a curling iron to add body after straightening it.

6. Increase a flat iron’s maneuverability by buying one with a swivel cord or getting a cordless model. An immovable cord can get in the way, especially when the back and center sections of hair are straightened.

Tips & Warnings

• Some flat irons have a removable straightening comb.

• Flat irons that dry and straighten hair may get hotter than other models, and they often release steam that can burn.

• Flat irons with straightening pins may yank hair.

Resources

• Find flat irons and see customer reviews.