Style

This Type Of Flat Iron Is The Key To Healthy Styling

by Deanna McCormack

For many, flat irons are as essential to their everyday hair routines as shampoo and conditioner. With that in mind, choosing and using one of best ceramic flat irons can be the difference between slow, strenuous straightening that causes damage and smooth, silky locks that are easy to achieve.

In general, ceramic is one of the most popular materials used for flat iron plates and is a great choice for most hair types when it comes to damage-free styling. Why? For starters, ceramic irons don’t run the risk of overheating or frying the hair. Instead, they use gentle infrared energy that's distributed consistently and uniformly over the plates and onto each strand. Essentially, the plates release the same amount of energy which results in even, temperature-controlled styling that won't damage your hair. Ceramic plates are also very smooth, which is part of the reason they rose quickly in popularity when they first came to market. Instead of those old-fashioned straighteners that caused split-ends and flyaways from snagging and pulling, ceramic tools glide effortlessly through most hair types. Aside from the fact that this causes less damage (can you see a theme here?), this also cuts down styling time.

Ceramic straighteners do have one flaw, however — they are fairly delicate. Their plates are more prone to chipping and breakage, and if the iron you choose has only a ceramic coating, it may peel off after prolonged use and expose the metal underneath, which will damage your hair. So, always opt for fully ceramic plates when purchasing a flat iron.

Check out our top picks for the best ceramic straighteners, below.

1

A Professional Quality Flat Iron With Thousands Of Reviews

CHI Original 1-Inch Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, $80, Amazon

The CHI Original 1-inch Styling Iron has over 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon, and for good reason. Many would say this model helped popularize at-home, professional-quality flat irons, and lucky for you, it hasn’t changed much since then. Its original design, with quick-heating ceramic plates and an all-in-one ergonomic design, is good on all hair types (including damage-prone) and can be used to curl, flip, and straighten without producing frizz or static.

2

A Quality, Budget-Friendly Straightener With Solid Ceramic Plates

Herstyler SuperStyler Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron, $26, Amazon

The one of best thing about ceramic irons is they can be both budget-friendly and give you quality results without damage — even if you straighten your hair every day. The Herstyler SuperStyler Onyx Ceramic Flat Iron is the perfect example. It has 1.25-inch solid ceramic plates, an adjustable temperature up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (although you probably won’t need it that hot), and three different types of technologies: floating plate, negative ion, and infrared. All of this will result in reduced frizz and static, boosted moisture, and perfectly straight hair no, no matter its natural texture.

3

A Wide Plate Ceramic Flat Iron Infused With Silk Proteins For Long Thick Hair

Remington Studio Silk Ceramic Flat Iron, $37, Amazon

Infused with real silk proteins, the Remington Studio Silk Ceramic Flat Iron has 2-inch ceramic coated plates that make straightening quick and long-lasting, especially for anyone with long, thick hair. The wide plates reduce damage and speed up styling time, because you can cover a larger area of hair and don’t have to keep going over the same section. As a bonus, the digital controls make temperature control extremely easy.

4

A Mini Ceramic Flat Iron That's Perfect For Travel Or Short Hair

Conair MiniPRO 1/2-inch Ceramic Flat Iron, $12, Amazon

When you need to save space in your luggage or want to carry an iron in your gym bag or purse, the Conair MiniPRO 1/2-inch Ceramic Flat Iron is a great choice. It's about 6 inches long and makes styling short hair on-the-go a breeze. Not only do its quick-heating, half-inch ceramic plates allow you to get close to the roots to create lift and volume, but it also has dual voltage, which is perfect for international travel.

5

A Luxe Technology-Packed Flat Iron For Super Fast Straightening

BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron, $200, Amazon

If you’re willing to shell out a little extra for a ceramic-plated iron that you know will deliver quick, smooth results with as little damage to your hair as possible, go ahead and splurge on the BIO IONIC Onepass Straightening Iron. Unlike other models on the market, this one features silicone speed strips that allow strands to effortlessly glide through the iron, so that the hair becomes smooth and straight in one pass. The plates are also infused with nano-ionic minerals that provide extreme hydration, resulting in smooth, silky hair.

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