Flat irons are some of the most useful hair styling tools, but they are also the most damaging. Although flat irons allow you to have perfectly straight hair, no matter your natural hair type, they have the capability to literally fry your hair. Once your hair is damaged, it will be very difficult to style it, because it will be prone to frizz and fly-away strands.

Ceramic flat irons are definitely the best choice when searching for straighteners that cause a minimal amount of hair damage. The ceramic plates on the flat iron help to distribute heat evenly throughout the hair. This is much safer for hair than using a non-ceramic metal iron, because the non-ceramic varieties leave “hot spots” or sections of hair that are unevenly heated. Often these “hot spots” occur on the ends of the hair, which are the most susceptible to heat damage. Ceramic flat irons, however, seal more moisture inside each hair cuticle, including the ends, and as such, do not leave damaging “hot spots.”

Another advantage of using flat irons with ceramic plates is that the plates on ceramic flat irons are smoother than the plates on non-ceramic flat irons. Having smooth plates is much less damaging to hair because the hair is then able to glide smoothly through the plates, thus avoiding further damage. Non-ceramic straighteners have rough plates that easily snag and pull at hair strands, causing much more breakage.

Although ceramic flat irons are safer than non-ceramic metal irons, they still cause damage to the hair. Some ceramic flat irons are safer than others. Many brands simply spray a rough ceramic coat over the metal plates, in an effort to keep the manufacturing costs down. This thin coat wears off quickly, and leaves the hair susceptible to damage. Far superior are the flat irons that have several layers of ceramic literally baked on to the plates.

One common misconception about flat irons is that using a hotter flat iron causes more damage to hair. Surprisingly, this is far from the truth. Hot flat irons allow you to keep the flat iron moving through your hair, instead of having to keep one section of hair exposed to heat for a longer amount of time or having to go over the same strands multiple times. The more time you spend straightening your hair, the more damage you’ll do to it by pulling at the strands or unevenly heating certain sections. By straightening your hair more quickly, a hotter flat iron will actually cause much less damage.

Although a hotter flat iron is usually better, different hair types require different heat levels. This is why it is important to purchase a flat iron with heat controls. In general, most hair works well with a flat iron set between 360 and 380 degrees Fahrenheit, or 180-190 degrees Celsius. Hair that is very coarse or thick will need a higher temperature setting, preferably between 380 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit, which is between 190 and and 210 degrees Celsius. Extremely curly hair may also need to be set above 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Wavier hair will straighten easily at a lower temperature.

If you have fine hair or damaged hair, it is important for you to choose a setting that is hot enough to straighten your hair quickly, but not so hot that it will wreck your hair. Fine or damaged hair should be straightened with a flat iron set between 350 and 360 degrees Fahrenheit, or below 180 degrees Celsius.

The temperature guidelines above are only rough estimates of what will work best for your hair. It is important that you purchase a flat iron with adjustable heat controls. Not only should the heat be adjustable, the available temperature settings should span all of the heat levels mentioned above, or between at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit to around 410 degrees Fahrenheit. A few good examples are the Chi flat iron and the Sedu. After you’ve purchased your flat iron, you will want to practice using a few times at various heat settings until you’ve found the temperature that allows you to straighten your hair most quickly and effectively.

Another important factor to consider when choosing a flat iron is the size of the plates. Flat irons like the Hot Tools 2 inch straightener feature larger plates and are best for coarse or thick hair because they work much faster. Unfortunately, the larger flat irons tend to be heavy and difficult to use. This is why those with fine hair or already straight hair are better off using smaller flat irons, like the Chi, which works well for smoothing and de-frizzing hair. Small flat irons are lighter and a lot easier to use. The most popular flat irons fall somewhere in the middle and usually come with plates that measure around 1 1/2 inches. A good choice in this size range is the Solia.

In order to find a flat iron with the ideal features (smooth ceramic plates, adjustable temperature and appropriate plate size) you are better off looking in a professional hair salon or a specialized beauty store. Drugstore flat irons may appear more affordable, but in reality, will do more damage to your hair, because they rarely come with ceramic plates and adjustable settings. A professional brand usually costs between 75 and 150 dollars, but this is an investment worth making. A safe flat iron will pay for itself over and over again.

T3 Tourmaline 1″ The Narrow Wet-or-Dry Straightener

Harnessed Tourmaline Power ** By infusing the T3 Bespoke Labs Narrow Wet-or-Dry’s plates and heaters with T3’s Tourmaline technology, the Narrow Wet-or-Dry creates an unparalleled amount of negative ions and far infrared heat. And because of T3’s proprietary process the Narrow Wet-or-Dry won’t lose its hair beautifying power over time, unlike other irons. ** Straighten and Dry Wet Hair

** Utilizing a special channel and vent system that evaporates excess water as steam means you’ll be able skip blow drying all together, saving those early morning minutes for better things.

** From Shower to Shine ** Boosted with the Tourmaline power, a maximum temperature of 410 ºF and highly engineered fixed plates you’ll be able to transform hair into shiny-smooth locks straight out of the shower.

** Time Saving Styling ** As if cutting a whole step out of the beauty routine wasn’t enough, T3 SmartPipesTM technology saves you even more time by keeping the Narrow Wet or Dry iron at the precise temperature you set, regardless of how hard you work it.

Price: $99.95

Sedu Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline Straightener

Sedu SU-100A Ionic Ceramic Pro Flat Iron featuring Tourmaline technology generates more negative ions than just ceramic irons only. Negative ions eliminate frizz and renew hair with shine and softness. Adjustable heat temperature from 235° F – 410°F. Ultra-lightweight design made with composite materials used in aerospace.

Price: $119.99

CHI Turbo Digital Microchip Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

Take your hair from bland to bling. When you want to look gorgeous, fast, the CHI Turbo Big 2-Inch Ceramic Flat Iron Hair Straightener delivers on your ultimate fantasy. Discover a versatile styling essential that fashions straight looks, flips, and more in minutes. Ceramic technology and flash-quick heating create silky smooth, flyaway-free hair. Attention to detail and comfort elements include lightweight design, a 10-foot heavy duty electrical cord, 360-degree swivel connection to prevent tangling, and heating elements that ensure only the ceramic gets hot – not the handle. Versatile heat settings give you total control for all your hairstyling needs. Seals the cuticle, repels humidity, locks in color, and prevents fading.

Price: $114.99

BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium 1 1/4″ Hair Straightening Iron

BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Straigtening Iron features a built-in ionic generator and recessed LED electronic temperature controls. This tool performs up to 40% faster than many straightening irons available today. The extra-long plates are a great feature, plus the slim design is easy to handle and will eliminate hand fatigue. High heat levels up to 450 degrees, provide extraordinary straightening results.

Nano Titanium is an exception conductor of heat. It maintains stability in ultra-high temperatures and emits negative ions in their most beneficial form for faster straightening, locking in the hair’s own natural moisture. The BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium Straightener yields maximum far-infrared heat, penetrating the hair from within for gentle straightening without damaging your hair. A special Ryton housing resists high heat.

Price: $90.00

Diandra Garcia burned a long track line across the front of her forehead. With her sporty new haircut, she decided to put the old flat iron to work and add a little body to her bounce. Little did she know that the “bounce” would involve searing her head! See the damage to Diandra’s forehead, as evidenced by her picture, found here:

A careful, conscientious mother of three daughters, one being just one year old, was using a flat iron in her bathroom. After using, she unplugged the iron, but to no avail. A few minutes later her precious baby wandered into the bathroom, pulled the iron off of the counter, and severely burned the back of her leg. Although the iron was cooler than normal, it was enough to cause some damage to this poor baby’s body.

A beautiful, young, blond-haired woman decided to try a flat iron for the very first time. While she had used a department-store straightener in the past, she had never tried using a real flat iron. She borrowed her friend’s iron and wound up giving herself some beautiful scabs along her hairline.

Did you know that flat irons are nothing more than miniature sized clothes irons? Indeed, women have been using irons on their hair since the invention of the over-the-wood-stove varieties. Irons cause damage to clothes as well as hair. In this picture we see a young woman attempting to use a clothing iron on her long, beautiful hair.

People who have damaged hair as a result of over-styling have two choices… cut it off or use more styling products. Numerous haircare manufacturers market quick-fix cures to flat iron victims, making them believe that applying a miracle goo, special hair oil, or tonic will return their hair to its natural, healthy state. Sadly, these preparations merely mask the problem, rather than solving it. In this picture, a young woman shows her damaged hair, which appears uncontrollable.

Despite the negative publicity or damage potential, it is important to note that flat irons are not entirely bad. Used at a low heat setting, and on rare occasions, a flat iron can be a great addition to any woman’s beauty regimen. On the other hand, daily use is not advisable. Reconstructing damaged hair can seem next to impossible, not to mention frustrating.

This professional salon model CHI Ceramic 1” Hair Straightener is a best-selling iron for good reason. This limited edition pink chi flat iron will let you brighten your day while you style your hair. Part of CHI’s original collection of flat irons, this versatile styling tool has an ergonomic design and curved edge plates to create any style from straight to curly and everything in between. With a flash heating element and fixed temperature setting, the power to create the style of your dreams is your hands, and with ceramic, ionic, infrared technology, frizz is nowhere to be found.

Price: $111.50

To understand which flat irons work best, you must know how flat irons work. Think back to 8th grade and remember what your science teacher told you about positive and negative ions. You probably did the experiment with magnets and metal shavings. Holding the magnet over the metal shavings caused the shavings to cling to the magnet but pointing two north ends of 2 separate magnets repelled each other. The lesson learned was that opposite magnetic fields attract each other but like ions repel. Curly, frizzy, dry and damaged hair has a positive ionic charge. To make hair look its best, the positive ions must be neutralized.
The ceramic plates on a flat iron produce a negative charge that neutralizes the ions on the hair leaving it silky and smooth.

Other flat irons made of metal and plastic do not produce a negative ionic charge and only contribute to the hair’s positive ionic charge. This leaves hair follicles open, drying out hair and leaving it brittle. In nature, these ionic atoms strive for neutrality; thus neutrality provides stability, health, and wholeness.
Metal and plastic flat irons penetrate the hair from the outside and heats hair unevenly. This causes hair to lose moisture and creates damage to hair. Whereas ceramic flat irons heat hair from the inside out and dries hair evenly. Therefore, ceramic irons are excellent on damp hair but metal and plastic irons tend to singe damp hair leaving it stiff, dry, and dull.

Ceramic flat irons cause less damage to hair than metal or plastic flat irons. Ceramic plates also don’t tug or catch on the hair so the hair is less likely to burn. Ceramic plates make hair shiny by smoothing hair cuticle.

Ceramic flat irons use infrared heat to straighten hair. The infrared heat is generated by transforming direct light into heat. One benefit of infrared heat is that it can heat and object from within without heating the area around it. Infrared heat is able to penetrate the hair cells with enough heat to straighten it from the inside without burning the hair. Some East Asian communities believe that infrared heat actually has restorative properties.

While plastic and metal flat iron can usually be purchased cheaply, the benefits of ceramic flat iron outweigh flat irons made of other materials. At any price point, a flat iron with ceramic plates is healthier for your hair.

ghd Professional 1 Inch Ceramic Flat Iron

This flat iron is not only capable of straightening, but it is capable of curling and creating wavy hair-style. GHD Advanced 1 Inch Ceramic Heat-styler has a rounded or curved barrel, which is particularly helpful in any kinds of styling processes to produce a good hair-style. Greater still, for the purpose of ensuring optimum usage of the functions that provided by this flat iron, an instructional DVD that includes various methods of styling one’s hair is included.

Price: $173.21

Original CHI 1 Inch Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

This professional salon model CHI Ceramic 1” Hair Straightener is a best-selling iron for good reason…it’s awesome. Part of CHI’s original collection of flat irons, this versatile styling tool has an ergonomic design and curved edge plates to create any style from straight to curly and everything in between. With a flash heating element and fixed temperature setting, the power to create the style of your dreams is your hands, and with ceramic, ionic, infrared technology, frizz is nowhere to be found.

Price: $70.11