The 16 Best Hair Straighteners We Tested (2024) | WIRED Leave a comment
Most flat irons include plates fabricated from both ceramic or titanium, with little clarification on or throughout the packaging of the variations between the 2. Fortunately, we’re right here to assist.
Ceramic plates warmth up gently and evenly with fewer scorching spots, normally maxing out at a decrease temperature than titanium. This makes them much less damaging to hair that’s skinny, positive, breakable, or color-treated. Nevertheless, they take longer to warmth up than titanium, and since they don’t get as scorching, they normally necessitate extra passes to get hair completely flat. This isn’t an issue for hair that’s comparatively straightforward to straighten, however these with particularly cussed curls or texture could discover that utilizing ceramic plates makes the entire course of take too lengthy, thereby exposing their hair to extra warmth. Some ceramic plates are additionally coated or infused with tourmaline, a mineral that emits detrimental ions to supposedly cancel out the constructive ions that trigger frizz; copper, which is understood for even heating; or aluminum for greater resistance.
Titanium plates warmth up rather more rapidly than ceramic (although sometimes not as evenly), and so they normally can attain a better temperature—sometimes 450 levels Fahrenheit. This implies an iron with titanium plates will necessitate fewer passes to get that completely straight look, however the greater warmth can inflict extra injury. Titanium plates are finest utilized by these with thick, coarse, or cussed hair, and whereas flat-iron customers ought to all the time use a warmth protectant earlier than straightening, these utilizing titanium plates ought to undoubtedly use one. See under for some workers favorites.
