Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Flat Iron Shopping - How Confused Are YOU???




For any leading brand of any product, you are sure to find a positive review somewhere.  There are some things that are cheap enough to let you experiment with little to no risk until you find your perfect match.  Some things, like hair tools, require a bigger investment and a bigger commitment. Even if you snag a great deal on the internet,  you will have to pay the shipping and wait for your card to credit if you return it.

It's prudent to do as much research as possible, and there are an abundance of helpful reviews from Youtube videos to Google surfing.  The problem is, most women can't afford to have tried more than two or three flat irons, so their ability to make comparisons is limited - "the best" really means "the best one they've tried".  Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Often, it's not the tools... it's YOU.

The further your hair is from naturally straight, the harder you have to work and the better you have to condition your hair.  If you experience quick reversion (the hair "goes back" to its natural texture quickly after straightening), you need to evaluate every phase of your hair care.  Are you stripping and damaging your hair with harsh sulfate shampoos and overuse of chemicals?  Do you use a high quality ceramic dryer and employ good blowout technique?  Do you have an effective cocktail of products that leave your hair hydrated, supple, and tamed prior to flat ironing?  All this goes double for coarse and ethnic hair.

The technology is the thing.

A few years ago, the InStyler Rotating Iron came out.  The mechanics were very interesting with a rotating barrel and brushes that smoothed the hair.  Neat! Well, it doesn't hold a candle to the advances in ceramic technology employed by a quality flat iron.

Ceramic irons produce negative ions that neutralize the positive ions in hair.  Ceramic produces far infrared heat, which is the gentlest way to heat the hair.  Ceramic produces even heat distribution throughout the plates.  All of these factors promote a sealed hair cuticle that will stay smoother longer.  That is why every flat iron worth its salt is made with ceramic.

So what do you want in a flat iron?  Well, look for irons that have quick heating and temperature control.  You absolutely want ceramic coating - the more coating the better.  The average girl does not need solid ceramic.   It is superior, yes, but it is also very easy to damage (ceramic is a soft material) and crazy expensive.  Most quality irons will give you amazing results with a metal coated by ceramic.

The GHD IV Stylers provide these benefits PLUS:
  • "Floating Plates" that grip the hair gently without damaging it.
  • Static free plates to prevent fly aways.
  • A fire retardant outer casing that doesn't overheat and can be handled easily while styling.
  • Superior technology with great temperature control and fast, even heating.

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