Flat Irons Demystified - Price Points And Their Performance Breakdowns.

Heat styling tools have come a long way. It used to be that sitting in the kitchen waiting for the inevitable burned ear was all we had. Nowadays we have the luxury of walking into a store and picking up a plug in heat styling tool and being done.

The accessibility is a glorious thing, but it can also have a double-edged sword kind of feel. Trying to keep up with the latest and greatest tools and all that they do can become overwhelming. There are different types of heat styling tools, different sizes and different technologies at play. It’s a lot.

Because flat irons allow for a wide range of versatility, we should probably tackle them first. With flat irons*, you can create a bone straight look, curls or even waves.

For the most part, the basics remain the same, so once you understand them, you can apply your new found knowledge to other heat styling tools you may choose to purchase. Let’s demystify flat irons* and break them down by price points and performance.

Materials

The plates of the flat iron* do all the work. Because that’s the part touching your hair and pressing the heat into your strands, you want to pay close attention to this aspect of the flat iron* you decide to go with. You can choose whichever model suits your needs, just be sure that you know exactly what you’re getting and that it is indeed what you want.

Ceramic

Ceramic plates made a big splash when they were originally introduced to the market. Because ceramic plates are smooth, they gave a silky result that was unmatched at the time.

However, as time moves on, so does technology. And although ceramic plates provide a smooth finish, they do not work well when it comes to distribution of heat. Ceramic plates also become worn and over time can lose their effectiveness.

Tourmaline

Next up is tourmaline. Tourmaline is a gemstone that is crushed and applied over the plates of flat irons. The natural properties of the stone allow it to retain heat and to distribute it more evenly than ceramic plates. There are no pockets of intensified heat across plates that are reinforced with tourmaline.

Tourmaline is usually applied over the top of ceramic plates. This combination creates fantastic sleekness and shine because the best of both types of plates are at work when you use this type of flat iron* on your hair.

Titanium

Titanium plates provide similar benefits as do tourmaline plates. The difference is that titanium does not transfer heat from the plates onto your hair at levels as high as ceramic or tourmaline. For that reason, titanium plates are often marketed as safer for frequent heat styling needs.

Too much heat, even from a titanium plated flat iron*, can and will damage your hair strands. So this isn’t an invitation for overuse, but it is a plus to keep in mind when buying a flat iron.

Pricing

Price points usually fall like this: Ceramic, tourmaline, then titanium.

Understand this, each of these types of plates can be coated. This is something to be aware of. Ceramic plates can be coated with ceramic. What? Yes, the actual plate of the flat iron* can be manufactured from many different types of metals and then the outer layer can be coated with ceramic. Flat irons manufactured this way are typically much cheaper than flat irons which have full ceramic plates. Buyer Beware! You should read the fine print.

Flat irons manufactured this way are typically much cheaper than flat irons* which have full ceramic plates. Buyer Beware! You should read the fine print of the packaging to identify exactly what you’re spending your money on.  Ceramic has been around and the price point has dropped. You can find a ceramic flat iron for as little as $10.00.

Just the same, ceramic plates or plates constructed of any other metal can also be coated with tourmaline. Because it’s a gem and is crushed and smoothed over the plates, there has to be something underneath the tourmaline itself. The tourmaline has to adhere to a surface. Ideally, you want a ceramic plate that is coated with tourmaline. Ceramic has been on the market for a very long time and

The tourmaline has to adhere to a surface. Ideally, you want a ceramic plate that is coated with tourmaline. Ceramic has been on the market for a very long time and it’s used in flat irons and heat styling tools is proven. Other metals do not have the same type of track record. A tourmaline flat iron* can range in price from $30.00 to $200.00.

Titanium plated flat irons* are considered the cream of the crop and they are priced accordingly. These irons usually weigh in upwards of $80.00 to start.

Please keep in mind that the way a flat iron* is designed to deliver heat may also be a factor when it comes to pricing. Ionic heat technology and nano technology can easily raise the price of any flat iron* you choose.

These pointers should help make it easier for you to choose your next flat iron*.