The wonderful thing about hair styling tools that use heat is that they make it possible for you to completely transform your appearance. Not to mention that these styling tools are easy to use and allow you to style your hair very quickly. But the convenience comes at a price. A major concern for those who use heated styling tools is the high amount of damage that these tools can cause to hair. This is why it is important to shop carefully for styling tools that cause the least amount of damage.

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.