Flat Iron Review

Some flat-iron features are redundant and over-hyped

Flat irons, also called hair straighteners, have become extremely popular in recent years as hairstyles have gone from curly to long and straight. Hair flat irons can be used to straighten coarse, curly or wavy hair or simply to add shine and tame frizz and fly-aways in hair that's already straight. Some people even use their flat iron to curl, flip and wave hair.

Although flat-iron reviews are plentiful, we found the most thorough evaluation at ConsumerReports.org, where nine hair straighteners are tested by professionals and ordinary users. Slate.com also provides a useful, though dated, review in their nonscientific but comparative test of seven flat irons. Good Housekeeping, Allure and InStyle magazines all test multiple flat irons, but very little information is given about their testing practices or their picks for best flat irons. User reviews at Folica.com and Amazon.com are useful when it comes to long-term satisfaction, something that even the best professional reviews don't judge.

Of all the latest buzzwords surrounding flat irons, "ceramic" is probably the most important one. Ceramic flat irons have plates that are coated with several layers of baked on ceramic. Although we didn't find any scientific evidence to back up the benefits of this technology, professionals insist that it is less damaging to hair and produces an even heat that is void of hot spots. Paula Begoun, author of "Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me", says that despite claims to the contrary, ceramic flat irons cannot seal in moisture but are less damaging because they are less likely to snag and pull the hair. Instead, hair glides smoothly through ceramic plates, which also conduct heat better than metal plates.

There is a difference, however, from one ceramic flat iron to the next. The best flat irons use pure ceramic plates, instead of ceramic-coated aluminum. These all-ceramic flat irons, such as the FHI Heat Runway (*Est. $340) and the Hana Elite (*Est. $235), are very expensive and more delicate. That's because pure ceramic is much softer than metal-reinforced ceramic and is easier to crack. For this reason, most flat irons use ceramic-coated plates, though high-end irons typically have more layers.

Experts at Folica.com and Misikko.com say that the terms "ionic" and "far infrared heat" are often redundant because all ceramic irons use these technologies. Ionic means that the iron produces negatively charged atoms, also known as negative ions, which counteract the positive ions in your hair creating a smooth, frizz-free appearance. Far infrared heat uses light at the far end of the infrared spectrum that is invisible to the eye. It heats the hair from the inside out and protects the cuticle, the outermost layer of hair, from excessive damage.

Tourmaline is a semiprecious gemstone that is often finely ground and infused into flat-iron plates. Like ceramic, it produces negative ions and creates smooth, shiny hair. According to Folica.com, there is no difference in performance between ceramic and tourmaline flat irons although many contain both materials.

Nanotechnology usually refers to nanosilver, which inhibits bacterial growth. Experts say this is especially desirable for professional hairdressers or those that share styling tools. Editors at Misikko.com warn, however, that nanotechnology can be a misleading term. It means that tiny particles of a substance are used. While nanosilver, nanotourmaline and nanotitanium are good features, nanoceramic means that only small amounts of ceramic are used, which is not desirable.

While adjustable heat and a large range of temperatures are sought-after features in flat irons of all price ranges, editors at Folica.com say consistent heat is even more important. Flat-iron temperatures can drop as much as 100-degrees due to heat transfer, so good heat recovery is important.