Neither ceramic nor titanium is necessarily better or worse—it's just that one plate is likely better for your specific hair type. “ Ceramic plates are often ‘safest’ for dry, damaged, or fragile hair,” says hairstylist Amy Abramite, adding that these plates, in general, don’t get overly hot, so the overall temperature of ceramic irons stays in a relatively safe range. I wish the only factor to take into account when buying a new hair straightener was the price, but that's really only a fraction of the decision. Of course, the price tag might help you narrow down the selection, but you still gotta decide between all the devices within your budget. So while shopping, remember to: Consider your hair type and condition. Fact: hair straighteners are one of the most useful hair tools around. If you're after poker-straight hair, beach waves or bouncy curls, any hair stylist would confirm that having a quality hair straightener can help even the most novice hair enthusiasts master the most versatile hairstyles with ease. Afterwards, my hair looked much sleeker than if I'd used a hair dryer, and had a bit more volume than if I'd ironed-flat my whole head of hair. The styler provides the perfect mix of volume and sleekness – almost reminiscent of the 90s signature fluffy blowout.

Yes, you can't really create anything else but poker-straight strands ( mermaid waves and tight curls are sadly out of the question) but it really does what it says on the tin. I'd never seen my hair this healthy-looking after using a hair tool. Long hair that takes forever to straighten will appreciate an iron with extra-long and wide (like one-and-a-half or two-inch plates) plates that can fit larger sections of hair to cut down on styling time. But if your hair is short, you’ll maybe prefer a shorter, narrower iron that can get close to the root. Think about what you love and hate about straightening your hair (give me low heat that doesn’t fry my fragile hair all day, pls)—choose your hair straightener based on those parameters. Compare the features. But before we get into the key qualities, as well as 13 of the best flat irons for natural hair, now's the time to remind you just how crucial the right styling products and heat protectants are for avoiding damage when heat styling. Before you even think about blow-drying your hair, apply a moisturizing hair serum (Taylor recommends the So Shear Genius Satin Shield) to prep your strands first. After your hair is dry, Lopez recommends using an aerosol heat protectant that has a starch to it, like Kenra Professional Platinum Heat Cast Spray 12, for style longevity. Straightening hot brushes on the other hand, are more like a combination of a hair straightener and brush, with heated plates or bristles to straighten as it combs through the hair.

2. Cosmopolitan Argan Oil Straightener

My whole head of hair took less than 30 mins to style – for a lazy girl with a lot of hair, that's pretty impressive. What's more, because the hair tool isn't as streamlined-looking as others in my arsenal, I was worried it would be heavy and make my arms ache like I'd done a weight session at the gym, but it's actually pretty light considering all the tech, weighing just 0.821 kg. The typical blow-dry brush works across hair textures but is amazing for a big, bouncy blow-dry on finer hair types as the air flow helps to keep a bit of texture as it dries. “The results of a blow-dry brush on any hair type are similar to that of using a blow-dryer and large brush on that hair," advises amika Global Ambassador Naeemah LaFond. “The main point of difference is not the finish, but the convenience and the ease of use — you will no longer have to struggle with a dryer and a brush at the same time. Manoeuvring two tools especially when blow drying curlier hair types can be exhausting when doing it yourself at home.” Its wishbone hinge mechanism ensures the plates are perfectly aligned, giving you the power to create bigger curls with more ease and control.

Its ceramic plates are infused with Argan oil that will nourish your hair with vitamins A and E and other nutrients which will boost their shine and softness, leaving your hair feeling conditioned and cared for. They say beauty comes at a price but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to break the bank for each hair product you buy. Hair Straighteners for Women: Unveil your best look with our hair straighteners and curlers in one. Perfect for achieving sleek, smooth results in mere minutes. Flat iron hair straightener technology delivers unparalleled performance Temperature settings: consider hair straighteners with variable temperature settings so you get the optimum experience for your hair type and desired look. Such a feature is also great if you plan on sharing your straighteners with others. There's never been a better excuse to ditch your old – probably super damaging – hair straighteners for some swishy new ones.

We would suggest buying the Remington S3500 Ceramic Straight Straightener as the best affordable option because it heats up in 15 seconds and gives you that glossy finish. Is titanium better than ceramic for hair? A variety of temperature settings is also a good idea for damaged hair. The lower the temp, the less frying you’ll do to your delicate ends, so you can start on the lowest setting and work your way up.

There are loads of hot brushes on the market though and they offer different finishes and work for a variety of textures – some suiting specific hair types more than others. So, if you’re a little confused where to spend and whether you need a blow-dry hot brush or a straightening brush, this guide is here to make life easy... When it comes to heat, Lopez says you want a flat iron that has even, consistent heat distribution across the entire plate (no hot spots). Lopez also suggests looking for a flat iron that emits negative ions, which help with static and create a shinier, smoother, more reflective surface on the hair. Design And the worst thing you can do? “Don’t clamp your straighteners down at the root,” warns Ky. “Instead, gradually close the plates as you’re pulling down the hair and make sure there’s no angle, as this will give your hair an indent that's hard to get out.” We're not being dramatic when we say that finding 'the one' will make a huge difference to your daily routine. We're talking no more frazzled lengths, no more static flyaways and best of all, no more split ends.Thanks to it small speaker you’ll be alerted when the straighteners switch on, reach the correct heat or enter standby. They also switch off automatically if you leave them for 30 minutes. Considering most hair straighteners range from between 190°C-210°C, and this device is set at 150°C (with the plates themselves coming in at 120°C), I was surprised to find I didn't have to re-style my hair at any point in between my next wash day. It really did live up to its frizz-free claims. Sleek hair with minimum damage - what more could we ask for? What is the best affordable hair straightener? Prepping your hair before using a hot brush is the same as the you need for a traditional blow-dry. Wash and condition your hair well so you remove all lingering product build up and then re-hydrate. And then – this is the crucial part – you need to add in a good heat protection spray to prevent thermal damage. We’d love to be able to tell you that hair straighteners are good for your hair, but all that heat does come at a price.