Have you ever heard the myths "Ionic" flat irons are better than "ceramic" flat irons? Look for “far infrared heating” technology when shopping for a ceramic flat iron. Nano technology" – always a good thing. The best flat iron for black hair is different from the best flat irons on the market. When looking for a flat iron, choose the one that gets the hottest?
"Ionic" flat irons are better than "ceramic" flat irons.
The word “ionic” is used alot in the styling industry to refer to negative ions only. Ceramic flat irons use ceramic heaters that produce negative ions when heated. An ion is an atom that's gained a positive or negative electrical charge. For instance think about magnets – opposites attract, because neutrality is the natural state of stability, wholeness and health. Damaged hair is positively charged – from static electricity, chemicals or metal heated appliances. The positive charge keeps hair follicles open, dried out & brittle. Negative ions neutralize the charge, closing hair follicles and smoothing the hair shaft. All ceramic flat irons produce them, while materials like tourmaline & titanium boost their output.
Look for “far infrared heating” technology when shopping for a cermanic flat iron.
Similar to the “ionic” label, “far infrared” heat is a general description of the properties of heated ceramic. All ceramic flat irons use far infrared heating. The far end of the infrared spectrum of light is invisible to the eye, but penetrates further than visible wavelengths because it “radiates” – directly heating objects in an area without heating the entire space - through a process of direct light conversion into heat. Far infrared heat is unique because it can penetrate human skin and hair cells, bringing heat within. This style of heat is the most efficient, gentlest way to heat hair - but any flat iron with a ceramic heating element will deliver.
Nano technology" – always a good thing.
The definition of Nano is “small”, but with flat iron it is used to describe the very small - tiny particles embedded in your flat iron’s plates. When you see “nano” as a description for a flat iron, pay attention to what word it’s attached to. For instance, nano-ceramic means it’s the ceramic itself that’s only present in tiny particles – not what you want if you’re looking for a salon quality ceramic flat iron. Other elements you’ll only see in nano form – nano silver, nano titanium, nano titanium oxide.
Nano silver inhibits bacterial growth – this is good if you like to share, if you’re a stylist or if you’re really scared of germs. Nano titanium causes heat to spread more evenly and adds shine by boosting the negative ion output of the plates. Nano titanium oxide inhibits chemical build-up that cause funky odors – again, most useful if your flat iron gets around. Tourmaline is one thing that’s always “nano” though it’s not always described as such – similar to titanium, it adds negative ions to produce smoother, sleeker results.
The best flat iron for black hair is different from the best flat irons on the market.
Choosing a flat iron for African-American or other ethnic hair types is not much different from choosing a flat iron that will work well on thick or curly hair – the difference is in the preparation and treatment needed before and after straightening. Ethnic hair tends to be coarse, but African-American hair is the most porous – this mean it is easier to lose moisture & sustain heat damage. Using moisturizing conditioners regularly is more important when heat styling black hair, before and after styling. Shine-enhancing products commonly used on black hair are not the best choice when using a flat iron – spray laminators or oil based products can literally fry on hot surfaces, so use in a meager degree or not at all (tourmaline or titanium will add natural shine by smoothing hair). Other than that, much like coarse hair of any ethnic type, the trick is in straightening small sections at a time, looking for wider plate sizes (1 1/2" & up), and practicing to find the right heat and technique.
When looking for a flat iron, choose the one that gets the hottest?
It may be true that curly, thick or ethnic hair requires high heat to retain a style, but work up from a lower setting and stop when result you reach your desired look. Most people will never need a temperature above 400°F to see professional results. If your hair is fine, damaged or chemically treated, work up from as low as possible and resist exceeding 300°F. Fixed heat Flat Irons settings tend to be fixed in a heat range appropriate for normal-to-thick hair. If you have problem hair (damaged, fine or very thick), you need the fine control offered by variable heat.
If you’re still using a traditional metal heated hair dryer, upgrade to one that uses ceramic elements as well – any professional hair dryer uses negative ionic heating to help protect hair, and dries much quicker so heat exposure is lessened.
The Top 10 Flat Irons are:
Sedu Pro Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron (1 1/2") $129.99
Sedu Revolution Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron 1 $159.99
HAI Convertable Ceramic Flat Iron $74.95
BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium 1 1/4" Straightening Iron $129.99
THIS IS AWESOME! I loved this post.OMG KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
ReplyDeleteThank you. I appreciate you for showing love. Please continue to stop by.
ReplyDeleteVery informative. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAlways! If theres anything you want to know or think people should know email me and I will post about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks boo for clearing this up! I have been having the hardest time tryn to fig what type of iron to get... I think i'm going to learn how to do my own hair.. We'll see how that goes! And you KNOW i will be calling you for HELP! Love u boo
ReplyDeleteIM hear for ya! MUAH
ReplyDelete