Frequently Asked Questions
Are hair straighteners safe for my hair?
You may be wary of using high heat on your hair, but hair straighteners are perfectly safe when used correctly. “The key is to use them on dry hair and ideally as a finishing tool. I typically recommend smoothing with a round brush before straightening. Always apply a heat protectant before styling to shield your strands from high temperatures,” says Los Angeles- based hairstylist Joseph Maine. “Also, it’s important to keep the flatiron clean to ensure it heats evenly and doesn’t snag your hair.”
How do I minimize heat damage from my straightener?
Heat damage is avoidable with the right high-quality tool and prep routine. Sure, there are tons of flatiron options out there, and some are lower in price than others. But what you don’t pay in money, you might pay in results, as low-quality heated tools (regardless of their price tag) can quickly lead to scorched strands and breakage. When it comes to a searing-hot device you’re sandwiching your delicate strands between, it’s worth investing in quality.
What makes a hair straightener stand out? Here’s the gist: You’ll want a device with multiple heat settings to suit your hair type and plates made of ceramic, titanium, or a mix of both.
Beyond the tool you’re using, every hairstylist we chatted with agreed that the most important part of preventing heat damage is using a heat protectant. “I tell all my clients to think of it as a lightweight shield that keeps the cuticle sealed while the heat does its work,” says Kaprisha Gipson, a New York City-based hairstylist. A heat protectant creates a barrier over your strands and adds slip between your hair and heated plates to help prevent moisture loss and keep your hair from becoming brittle from exposure to extremely high temperatures.
New York City-based hairstylist Devin Toth suggests avoiding passing over the same section of hair. “It’s better to go over it once, slowly,” he explains. “People tend to have more damage in their face-framing area of hair because they hit it with the iron too many times to get it just right.” Another key to safely straightening is to be mindful of your flatiron’s temperature. According to Toth, the optimal temperature to avoid burning is 365 degrees Fahrenheit, but it truly depends on your hair type and needs. “Fine hair generally needs much less heat than coarse hair or curly textures,” says Eddie Parra, a hairstylist based in New York City.
How do hair straighteners work?
“Flatirons work by using heated plates to temporarily alter the structure of your hair, making it straight,” says Maine. “When you apply the heated plates to your hair, the heat breaks down the hydrogen bonds in the hair’s cortex, causing it to straighten. Once your hair cools down or gets wet, these bonds reform, and your hair goes back to its natural state,” Maine adds that varying materials like ceramic, titanium, or tourmaline have different effects on the heat distribution and speed of the straightening process.
What are the differences between ceramic and titanium plates?
These two materials are both effective at straightening hair, which is why they’re the most popular options for flatiron plates, but each caters to different needs. According to all the stylists we spoke with, ceramic is the gentler of the two, making it suitable for all hair types, especially fine or fragile strands. “Ceramic plates reduce the risk of hot spots that can burn the hair,” notes Parra.
As for titanium, these plates do provide quicker, straighter results, but their heat can make them too intense for finer hair types. “Titanium plates deliver smooth and shiny hair that is noticeable under any lights; they deliver heat very quickly, and usually a professional would use these types of straighteners,” explains Luis. Overall, we recommend titanium plates for those who have thicker hair types that are more resilient to heat damage.
How should I choose a hair straightener?
Picking a hair straightener is a personal choice and largely depends on your hair type and styling desires. “For fine or damaged hair, look for a flatiron with adjustable heat settings to prevent overheating—ceramic plates are great for even heat distribution without getting too hot,” Maine tells Allure. He adds that if your hair is on the thicker or coarser side, a hair straightener with titanium plates is ideal because they “can handle higher heat and manage frizz more effectively.”
Toth explains that plate size and shape are key to selecting a hair straightener. “The wider the plate, the straighter the hair will look. So if you like to really bend and bevel the ends of your hair, then choose a narrower plate,” says Toth. Maine echoes Toth, explaining that a “wider plate can straighten more hair at a time, which is useful for thicker hair, while a narrower plate is better for short hair, detailed styling like bangs, or achieving specialized styles like flatiron waves or curls.
According to Maine, you should also consider the type of plate edges featured on a hair straightener before making your purchase. “If the plates of the flatiron are slightly protruding out of the iron and the edges of the plates are beveled, then you will be able to effortlessly make curls with this tool,” he states. “If the plates are not protruding with beveled edges, then the iron is mainly designed for straightening hair.”
Meet the experts
- Kaprisha Gipson, a New York City-based hairstylist
- Michele Joseph, a hairstylist and founder of Seam and Strand based in New Jersey
- Miguel Luis, a hairstylist at Rita Hazan Salon in New York City
- Joseph Maine, a hairstylist and founder of Trademark Beauty based in Los Angeles
- Taylor Murphy, a hairstylist based in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Eddie Parra, a hairstylist at Benjamin Salon New York in New York City
- May Paulina, a hairstylist based in Florida
- Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City
- Amerah Underwood, a hairstylist and founder of Umi Salon based in New York City
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. When reviewing tools, we also take into account testers’ experience levels. For instance, an innovative new blow-dryer may feature industry-leading technology, but if the only people who find it intuitive to use are professional hairstylists, we have to consider this when determining whether it is worthy of a recommendation.
For our review of the best hair straighteners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists with varying hair types and desired styling outcomes, and whether one product was tested across multiple hair types. Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, safety, ease of use, and value. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.allure.com
