How do I choose a flat iron for my hair?

Flat irons have been around for a long time.
It takes just a few moments to transform frizz and curls into elegant waves.
But not all straightening irons work in the same way these days, and you can choose flat irons with very different functions.

It all depends on the solutions used.
When choosing an appliance, it’s important to pay attention to the shape and coating of the plates, as these determine how evenly the heat is distributed over their surface.

The ionization will prevent static electricity and make your hair perfectly smooth, and the temperature control will protect your hair from damage. Simply choose the right setting and adapt it to your hair type.

For women on the move, we recommend models that can be styled on damp or wet hair, as well as on dry hair, to save time and flexibility.
We women attach great importance to the appearance of our hair.
We’ve been growing our hair for many years, so it’s not surprising that we want to take care of it as best we can.

What should I look for in a flat iron?

A straightening iron lets you straighten your hair using high temperatures.
First of all, as the name suggests, it straightens and smoothes your hair.
Simply place a strand of hair between the heating plates and pull the device along it.

To buy the right device, you have several options:

• Ceramic or titanium coating?
• With or without ionization?
• Or maybe steam?

The most important thing is that the model is adapted to your needs and the condition of your hair.

How to straighten your hair?

• Basic rules of hair care

Straightening requires high heat.
Direct contact with the hot plates of a flat iron can dry out hair.
That’s why it’s important to take care of your hair in a balanced way, so that it’s well nourished and protected.
After assessing your hair’s current condition and needs – for example, whether it’s curly and weighed down, or dry and rough to the touch – choose a conditioner containing the right active ingredients.
These are divided into emollients, proteins and humectants.

It’s best to only straighten dry hair, as humidity doesn’t mix well with electricity.
You risk electrocution or damage to the straightening iron.
Wet strands are also more susceptible to damage.
The exception is a device with a Wet&Dry function.

Hair-friendly

It’s all about protecting the strands to be straightened as much as possible.
We all know that high temperatures are not good for our hair.
So it’s important that your flat iron protects your hair as much as possible from the undesirable effects of heat styling.
In this respect, temperature regulation and levels are important.
Your straightening iron should have a wide range of heat settings, so you can choose the right temperature for the condition of your hair.
It’s also a good idea to equip it with additional safety features such as ionization and steam generation.

Thick, unmanageable and/or curly hair

Do you have thick, hard-to-style hair or want to achieve strong curls?
A titanium-coated flat iron is one of the best choices.
It’s also a good idea if you straighten your hair every morning and want to save time, as titanium conducts heat well and heats up quickly.
If you want to use your flat iron for several people, choose one with an anodized coating, which can be cleaned easily and efficiently.

Also read: Hair lice: Effective and natural treatment

Keratin will work well if you only use your flat iron occasionally.
If you use it every day, choose a model that emits keratin as well as oil.

Steam extraction

This is one of the most interesting options.
Firstly, thanks to this feature, you can safely use the appliance even on damp locks, without drying them first and exposing them to extra heat.
What’s more, steam works well for smoothing natural curls.
A steam appliance is not recommended for oily hair.

Also read: choosing a good hair dryer!

Use the right products

Use thermoprotective sprays and lotions before straightening your hair, to protect it from the damaging effects of heat.
Use styling products (hairspray, gel, etc.) only after your treatment.
Otherwise, you’ll make things more difficult for yourself and risk damaging your hair.

Use flat irons only on healthy hair

When straightening damaged hair, even very intensive care won’t work.
First of all, adapt the temperature to your hair type.
Fine, weak strands need the lowest possible temperature.

Take a break from styling your hair

Try not to use your straightening iron every day if possible.
A little break certainly won’t hurt.
Also, choose a tried-and-tested model.
It’s essential to use a good appliance and take good care of your hair.

Uniform heat conduction

The plates on your flat iron need to heat evenly so that you can style each section of your hair at the same temperature.
Otherwise, hot spots can form on the surface and burn strands.

• How can I prevent hair loss?

Smooth gliding

The surface of the hot plates should create as little friction as possible when styling.
It’s important that the straightening iron glides smoothly over your hair, so you can style it comfortably and without unsightly creases.

Fast heating

The power of the appliance is primarily responsible for the time it takes for the plates to heat up.
The higher the wattage, the faster the straightener will be ready for use.
The straightening iron should heat up in a matter of seconds (10 to 30).
If it takes longer, consider looking for a more powerful device.

Cold plate for straightening iron

Located next to the main straightening plate.
It’s usually made of marble and doesn’t heat up.
This lowers the temperature of straightened hair and closes its cuticles.
This makes hair smoother, shinier and less prone to damage.

Rapid cooling

Just as it heats up, a straightening iron also needs to cool down quickly.
Waiting for the plates to cool down can be really annoying at a time when you need to store the appliance almost immediately in a suitcase.
Of course, manufacturers include a heat protection case with some models, but we don’t always think to take it with us when we travel.

Types of cladding: Which one to choose?

The basis of a successful purchase is knowing the most important characteristics of the coatings that manufacturers offer in flat-iron appliances.
Each material used has different properties, so it’s important to read their specifications before investing in a particular piece of equipment.

Ceramic coating

This is the most common coating on most straighteners on the market.
It distributes heat evenly over the plates, minimizing the risk of burning your hair.
The advantage of this coating is rapid heating.
What’s more, the ceramic plates are slippery and smooth, so they glide easily over your strands and won’t pull your hair out when styling.

Often, manufacturers also offer hair straighteners with a keratin-based ceramic coating.
Keratin-enriched plates care for your hair during styling.
The keratin is produced by the heat and then penetrates the hair strands to be straightened.

Also read: how to choose a natural wig?

Titanium coating

It’s considered one of the most durable and scratch-resistant.
As a result, flat irons with this type of surface are generally not cheap.
They are more durable than ceramic, so if you buy a titanium-coated flat iron, you can be sure it will last for many years.
Titanium plates are perfect for hair with strong curls or thick texture. Titanium plates are also smoother than ceramic ones, so they glide smoothly over your hair and style it with precision.

If a titanium-coated flat iron is too heavy for you, a ceramic-titanium-coated straightening iron may be a compromise solution.
The combination of these two materials will strengthen the ceramic plates, making them even stronger and less prone to wear.

Teflon coating

Teflon plates prevent the bits from sticking to their surface during smoothing.
Teflon-coated irons are inexpensive, but are becoming less common on the market.
This type of surface is not recommended for everyday use.
Teflon coatings do not heat evenly, which can dry out or even burn the strands.
What’s more, Teflon is not resistant to damage, so the flat iron will wear out fairly quickly.

Teflon is often mixed with, for example, ceramics or tourmalines, making the plates more durable and free from hot spots.

Mirror coating

Its great advantage is its softness, which is greater than that of ceramic.
They are perfectly polished, so shaping your hair will be easy and pleasant.
After using a straightening iron with mirror plates, your hair will be radiant with impeccable shine.

Tourmaline coating

Its main function is ionization. Tourmalines are minerals that produce negative ions when exposed to heat.
These in turn neutralize the positive ions formed on the hair after contact with heat.
Thanks to ionization, hair doesn’t frizz or become static.
It hermetically seals the hair cuticles so that the style remains perfectly smooth.

There are many models on the market with tourmaline ceramic plates.
The durability and softness of ceramic combined with precious stones will ensure spectacular results.

Anodized coating

It’s a special protective layer applied to the surface of the plates using the anodic oxidation technique.
What’s more, it distributes heat evenly so as not to damage your hair.

We don’t recommend investing in a flat iron with metal or aluminum plates. They are very damaging to your hair and do not guarantee safe styling.
Using them on your hair risks damaging it radically.
And that’s not the result we want.

It’s a marketing trick, meant to increase their appeal to a potential buyer and set them apart from the competition.
After all, each of these names sounds good, even professional, and can give the impression that the coating in question is better than ordinary surfaces.

In most cases, they don’t tell the whole story.
Remember, the most important thing about a coating is the material it’s made of, not its name.

This is what you should look for when choosing a flat iron for your hair.

Choose the width of the plates according to the length of the hair

If you have strong, long or curly hair, you should opt for a machine with wider, longer plates.
This will make styling really quick and easy.
Straightening irons with heating surfaces between 30 mm and 40 mm wide are ideal for this type of hair.

However, the wider the plates, the more difficult it will be to straighten your hair at the roots.
If you want to straighten a very short hairstyle, or even a man’s hair, opt for appliances with thin plates, between 15 mm and 24 mm wide.
The model you choose should therefore be easy to handle and slim.
You can then easily style your locks with masterful precision.

Also read: what are (protective) hairstyles?

For fine, medium or slightly wavy hair, we recommend choosing long, narrow plates with a width of 25 mm to 30 mm. You’ll most often see the 25 mm size in the stores.
This is the optimal width of the surface that will guarantee comfortable, efficient work.

If you’re a fan of curly hair, opt for a straightener that doubles as a curling iron.
This will not only save you money, but also space in your bathroom drawer.
Smoothing irons with rounded plates let you create bouncy curls and frizz.

It’s easy to get that perfect curl.
Some curling irons come with interchangeable clips that let you create curls of different sizes.
Keep this in mind when you buy your curling iron.

Design and features

Above all, a straightener must have a firm grip and feel good in your hand.
That way, you won’t drop it while styling, and your work will be smooth and comfortable.
Make sure it’s lightweight, too.

The cord needs to be long enough, ideally between 2 and 3 meters.
Sometimes, you’re not in direct contact with the mirror, so a short cord can make it difficult to style your hair.
A long cord is also more practical in a salon.
Also check that it is swiveling and flexible, as it will be easier to maneuver the appliance, especially when making curls.

A travel lock, useful if you want to take your straightening iron on the road.
The lock makes it easy to store and protects the plates from damage.
No need to wrap the cable around the straightening iron.

Not all flat irons offer this support, which is a shame.
More than once, when you’ve finished working, you’d like to hang your hot iron on a coat hanger or bathroom hook.
With such a holder, you’ll also save space in your wardrobe.

Rounded plate edges, if you want your straightening iron to act like a curling iron, the edges of the heating surfaces need to be rounded.
This will enable you to create a storm of curls with different twists.

Mobile plates, their role is to distribute the pressure exerted on strands during styling.
They adapt perfectly to the hair and change position when the pressure is too great.
Thanks to them, you’ll be able to style any style with precision.

Digital display, giving you greater control over the temperature.
What’s more, the display shows any additional functions that have been activated, such as selected programs or temperature lock.
Women usually like to see what’s going on with the appliance while it’s running, so the LED display is a must.

Temperature control is a basic function that every safe straightener should have. Why should it? Because the heating temperature must be adapted to the type and condition of your hair!
Because there’s no universal temperature that’s right for every woman.
And if it’s not adjustable, it can do a lot of damage to your hair.

High-power heating: power determines how quickly the straightening iron heats up.
The more powerful it is, the faster you can start styling.

Key features

Ionization, a negative ion-generating system for maximum smoothness.
It closes your hair cuticles to prevent frizz and static electricity.
It also protects colored strands from fading.

Steam generation moisturizes hair and protects it from water loss.
Not only does it reduce shaping time, it also has a nourishing and revitalizing effect.

Memorization of the last temperature, this function will save you time in your daily programming of the appliance.
When you switch the flat iron back on, it automatically reheats to the last selected temperature.

Thermostat protects the appliance from overheating, preventing hair from burning.
It also maintains a constant temperature.

Wet straightening: this function lets you style damp hair without having to dry it first.
Styling wet hair is generally not recommended.
It is therefore advisable to choose a straightening iron specially designed for this purpose.

Ultrasound/vibration: vibrates strands to make your hair even smoother.

Infrared, infrared light penetrates deep into the hair and has a positive effect on its condition.
Not only does it protect strands during styling, it also rebuilds and rejuvenates them.
It also protects color-treated hair from fading.

Lock heat settings, a useful feature that prevents you from accidentally changing the heat level of the plates during smoothing.

Rapid heating to maximum temperature, this function allows you to heat the plates to maximum temperature with a single click.

Moisture sensor, the device equipped with this sensor measures the moisture content of your hair and then adjusts the temperature according to the current humidity level.
This protects your hair against water loss.

Automatic temperature selection: if you don’t know what level of heat is right for your hair, a straightener with this function will do it for you.
It automatically adjusts the temperature so as not to damage your hair’s structure.

Automatic shut-off: straighteners with this function shut off automatically after a certain time.
This time is usually between 30 and 60 minutes.
If you forget to unplug it, you won’t have to worry about it overheating.