Farouk CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

1. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org editors try out nine flat irons in this brief report. Editors conclude that price, wattage and extra features don't make much difference in how well the irons work.

Review: Hair Straighteners, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Jan. 2009

2. ConsumerReports.org

Review Credibility: Very Good When the editors of ConsumerReports.org decided to test five flat irons, they included the Farouk CHI Original. In addition to having nine staff members use the irons at home, the editors counted the number of passes it took to make swatches of naturally curly hair straight. This last test was done in a humidity chamber.

Review: Flat Irons, March 2012

3. Folica.com

Owners posting reviews at Folica.com praise the Farouk CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron for working well without causing excessive damage to hair. While some claim it is durable and lasts long, others say that it doesn't work as well after a year or two of use. The support for this flat iron at Folica.com is massive; more than 1,900 reviews have been written.

Review: CHI Ceramic Flat Iron (Original 1" CHI), Contributors to Folica.com

4. MakeupAlley.com

Review Credibility: Good With more than 740 reviews, the Farouk CHI Original gets an overall score of 4.4 out of 5 stars -- relatively high for the discerning users at MakeupAlley.com. Most of the reviews here are detailed and glowing. Users say it improves the texture of their hair and beats out all drugstore brands, hands-down. Some users say that this iron is not worth the price. Some users do say they experience more hair damage with the CHI, since the temperature is not adjustable.

Review: Chi Ceramic Flat Iron by Farouk, Contributors to MakeupAlley.com, As of April 2013

5. Amazon.com

Of the more than 1,700 reviews posted at Amazon.com for the Farouk CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, more than 1,000 owners give it a perfect 5-star rating. Overall, Amazon.com customers say that the CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron cuts down on their styling time and is easy to use. However, a few warn that the warranty is not valid if purchased through an unauthorized retailer, including Amazon.com.

Review: Farouk CHI 1 Inch Ceramic Flat Hairstyling Iron, Contributors to Amazon.com

6. Amazon.com

Review Credibility: Good The CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron receives more than 2,300 reviews at Amazon.com, and it gets an overall rating of about 4 out of 5 stars. Many of the most recent reviews here say the iron stopped working after two months to a year. Many users say CHI irons sold on Amazon.com are counterfeits. The product page does specify that the iron is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty, meaning the reviews may not be representative of the Farouk CHI Original, in general.

Review: Ceramic 1-Inch Flat Iron by CHI Hair Products, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of April 2013

7. Cosmo Girl

Thousands of CosmoGirl readers along with the magazine's editors as well as celebrities vote to choose this list of nearly 50 products. A CosmoGirl reader from Colorado is quoted saying that the Farouk CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron heats up quickly, is easy to use and produces styles that last until the next shampoo. However, there are scant details about methodology here, and it isn't clear if other flat irons were tested.

Review: Kiss of Approval Awards 2008, Ellen Billis, Sept. 2008

8. Overstock.com

Review Credibility: Good The CHI Original is easily the most-reviewed flat iron on Overstock.com, with more than 800 reviews. The reviews give it an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Many reviewers say that this is the iron they compare all others against, and that it lives up to the hype. On the other hand, there are some reports of this flat iron burning out in a short time. Many users suggest the quality may have gone downhill in recent years.

Review: Flat Irons, Contributors to Overstock.com, As of April 2013

9. Pursebuzz.com

In this lengthy video, the unidentified reviewer says CHI flat irons cut styling time in half and that they last long if they are properly cared for. She prefers the less expensive Farouk CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron model, saying that it works just as well as the pricier ones.

Review: Fave Flat Iron Breakdown, Editors of Pursebuzz.com

10. Ulta.com

Review Credibility: Good At Ulta.com, the Farouk CHI Original gets more than 230 reviews and averages about 4.5 out of 5 stars. As with other sites, the most common complaints are damage to hair due to the lack of temperature settings, and a few complaints that it stops working. There are a handful of users who say the iron doesn't straighten their hair, but these are rare.

Review: CHI Ceramic Hairstyling Iron, Contributors to Ulta.com, As of April 2013

11. Slate.com

The Farouk CHI Original Ceramic Hairstyling Iron comes in in third place in Slate.com's hands-on comparison test of seven models. Reviewer Torie Bosch says it is comfortable to use and has a great swivel cord, but complains that it has no temperature adjustment and causes ends to look frayed.

Review: Set Me Straight, Torie Bosch, April 24, 2007

12. TotalBeauty.com

Review Credibility: Good Most reviews at TotalBeauty.com are positive, and the Farouk CHI Original get an overall rating of 9 stars out of 10. Some users say the CHI takes too much volume out of their hair, though most love the silky, smooth results. Several say it can cause damage because it gets very hot.

Review: CHI Original Flat Iron, 1 Inch, Contributors to TotalBeauty.com, As of April 2013