I have not used a flat iron since high school, but I do recall burning my forehead over, and over, and over again in an attempt to get that “perfect” look. I still have a small scar from one of the many burn incidents. And, while I do not have a picture of my self-mutilation, many others do.

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.