There are many tools on the market geared towards helping women look and feel their best. One of the most popular beauty tools is the flat iron. There are many flat irons on the market, all show casing different sizes, materials and features. It can be overwhelming to find the best one for you, but it doesn’t have to be.
The price of flat irons can catch some people off guard. You may be tempted to buy the cheapest one you see, and assume you’ll be able to make it work for you. However, that is not a good idea. If you do that, chances are you are going to be unhappy with your purchase. You will likely have dried frizzy hair from the experience as well.
All of the features on a flat iron are geared towards women with different hair types. So the first thing you need to do is figure out what hair type you have. Hair types typically fall into three categories. Thick/coarse/curly hair, normal/medium/wavy hair and thin/fine hair. As you can guess, women with thin/fine hair are likely going to need different care then women with thick/coarse/curly hair. There is no one size fits all when it comes to flat irons. Here we are going to talk about how to choose the best flat iron for natural hair.
If you have thick/coarse/curly hair you are going to require a higher temperature setting then other hair types, typically between 380°F and 410°F. Women with normal/medium/wavy hair need an ideal heat setting of 360°F to 380°F to achieve straight hair and women with thin/fine hair need something lower than 360°F.
Using a temperature too high for your hair type may seem like a good idea to achieve straighter hair faster. In reality, using a flat iron that is too hot is likely to result in dried out frizzy hair. Using a temperature that is too low is going to mean that you have to pass the flat iron over your hair repeatedly, which is increasing the risk of damage to your hair and creating more frizz. The ideal method to straightening your hair is to pass over each section of hair with the flat iron only once, finding a flat iron with an adjustable heat setting is the ideal way to find the perfect heat setting for your hair.
There are three main types of plates that come on flat irons. Ceramic plates are the most economical option. While they do take longer to heat up, they are okay to use on all hair types. It is important to make sure you are getting a ceramic plate, however, and not a ceramic coated plate. Ceramic plated flat irons get hot quickly but can also have hot spots because of the cheaper metal underneath.
Tourmaline ceramic flat iron are also ideal for all hair types. Tourmaline is a ground up semi-precious metal that is used to cover the plates of flat iron. This makes the plate very smooth and less likely to cause damage. Tourmaline coated plates are a lot more expensive, however, they are also more durable and won’t chip or suffer heat loss. These plates retain their heat well, which gives you consistency when straightening your hair.
Titanium plates are ideal for women with thick/coarse/curly hair as well as normal/medium/wavy hair. Titanium plates get hot quickly and stay hot, this makes them less ideal for women with thin/fine hair as their hair is more susceptible to heat damage. Titanium is usually more expensive but it is also durable and causes less heat damage and frizz.
The final thing to consider is the plate size. Choosing the ideal plate size isn’t about the type of hair you have, but rather the length of your hair. If your hair is above your shoulders, you are going to want to find a flat iron that is half to one inch wide. If your hair is longer, below your shoulders, you are going to want a flat iron that is one and a half to two inches wide. Also be aware of the weight of your iron, if you have long or thick hair, moving the flat iron over your hair over and over again can be exhausting.
Before you decide on your final purchase, remember there are many things to take into consideration to help you choose the best flat iron for your hair natural hair. By investing in the flat iron best suited to your hair type and length, you are guaranteeing that you will be able to achieve perfectly straight hair whenever you want, for years to come.