How Do Flat Irons Work?

Have you ever wondered what makes ceramic flat irons work? How does this little device cause frizzy, flyaway, dull hair to appear lay flat, and to appear shiny, smooth,  and glossy?  The ceramic flat iron is a wonderful little technological marvel that combines electrical, thermal, and mechanical forces to help straighten and smooth hair. 

Electrical Forces Help Your Hair Not To Be Flyaway
The flat iron can help your hair not be be flyaway.  Flyaway hair happens because hair in its natural state tends to hold a positive static charge which make it flyaway.  The ceramic plates hold a negative electrical charge (sometimes referred to as "negative ions"). This negative charge on the flat iron plates counteracts the positive charge on hair to make the hair lay flat. 

Thermal Forces Help To Straighten Your Hair
The flat iron can help temporarily straighten curly or wavy hair. The thermal force, or heat, of the flat iron causes the protein bonds in the hair to temporarily restructure and straighten as the flat iron is pulled through the hair. 

Mechanical Forces Help Make Your Hair Smooth and Shiny
Hair that has been damaged by chemical treatments such as perms, relaxers, and coloring, or even harsh shampoos, will tend to look dull and dry.  This is because harsh chemical treatments, in order to work, have to open up the cuticules on the hair shaft.  The cuticules on the hair shaft normally lay flat, but when they are opened up, the hair appears dull and dry.  The mechanical force of the flat iron, which happens when you squeeze the two sides together and run it through your hair, helps to re-align the cuticles of the hair shaft in a downward direction, helping to restore the smoothness and shine of your hair.

The Best Cheap Flat Iron for $20 or Less

If you're like me you love a good deal when you can get one. You've decided you want a flat iron, but you aren't going to pay a high price for one. Inexpensive flat irons have come a long way in terms of features and workmanship. If you are looking for a cheap flat iron which one should you choose? Here is a look at the best flat irons for under $20:

The Andis 67095 1-Inch Ceramic Clamp Flat Ironhas the following features:
•20 heat settings
•Heats up to 375 degrees Farenheit
•Has an auto shut off
•Has ceramic plates
•As of the writing of this blog post, 47 reviewers at Amazon.com out of 80 have given the Andis 67095 1-Inch Ceramic Clamp Flat Iron a 5 star rating.







The Conair Flat Iron 2" Ceramic Straightener - Dual Voltagelooks like a great affordable flat iron for those of you who live or travel outside of the United States. This flat iron has the following features
•Dual Voltage: It can be used in America and in Europe.
•25 heat settings.
•Extra wide 2" ceramic plates.
•Auto shutoff (just in case you forget to turn it off).
•As of the writing of this blog post, 153 out of 235 reviewers at Amazon.com have given the Conair Flat Iron 2" Ceramic Straightener - Dual Voltage a 5 star rating.




The Babyliss Pro BABNT3050 Compact Nano Titanium Inch Straightening Iron, 1/2" is really cute.  It has the following features:
•It heats up to 430 degrees F (not sure if it has variable settings though)
•It is dual voltage (can be used in the US and overseas).
•It is compact and sized for travelling.
•As of the writing of this blog post, 18 out of 28 reviewers on Amazon.com gave gave the Babyliss Pro BABNT3050 Compact Nano Titanium Inch Straightening Iron, 1/2"  a 5 star rating.

Should You Get A Cheap Flat Iron Or An Expensive One

Should you get a cheap $20 flat iron or should you invest in an expensive brand. As you probably already know, there are hundreds of choices when it comes to flat irons. Flat irons can range in price from $15 to over $200. Is there really a difference? Well actually yes. My first flat iron was a cheap ceramic plated flat iron. It didn't heat up enough to actually straighten my hair. The felt backing on the iron came off. Thankfully I didn't use it long enough for it to start chipping. My next flat iron was a Solia which I purchased from Folica.com. I have been very pleased with this flat iron. It is a true ceramic flat iron with a temperature gauge, so I don't have to worry about chipping or poor temperature control. It is constructed well, and tt has lasted me a few years, so it was a worthwhile investment. However, if you don't have a lot of money to spend on your flat iron, but you want to get one anyway, Ceramic Tools gets good reviews on Amazon. It is not a true ceramic flat iron, it is ceramic plated, but it does have variable temperature settings, and is very affordable.