Flat Iron Talk

MaxiGlide Flat Irons

2011-12-31T16:50:00.000-08:00

The Maxiglide flat iron is different than other flat irons. It is designed to straighten hair without having to use a blowdryer first. It has ceramic coated plates, and one of the plates features detangling pins. It also has a "steamburst system" which allows you to steam your hair as you straighten it. My sister, who has very soft hair that is hard to straighten, does well with this product. However, you have to use it properly for it to work. She says to be sure and read the directions and follow them exactly to get the best results.

How Do Flat Irons Work?

2010-10-06T19:30:00.001-07:00

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

2010-09-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

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.

Reduce Hair Damage With a Microfiber Hair Towel

2009-01-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for ways to use less heat on your hair, but still get the look you want, try drying your hair with a microfiber towel. Microfiber towels have several benefits because they dry gently, and absorbs much more water than regular terry cotton towels. Many of them come in cute shapes that wrap easily around your head so that you can put one on and have dry hair 1/2 an hour later with no need for a blow dryer.

August is Hair Loss Awareness Month

2008-08-15T01:10:00.000-07:00

August is Hair Loss Awareness month. The American Academy of Dermatology has published an excellent article on their site titled Good Hair Care May Head Off Hair Loss. If you are experiencing any kind of hair loss, I encourage you to read this article for help. It asks you ten questions which may help to determine if your hair care routine is causing you to lose hair. To read the article click here.

How To Choose The Best Flat Iron For Your Hair

2008-08-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

There are many different types of flat irons out there. They vary in price from $20 to over $100. Here is what I look for in determining if a flat iron is a good buy.
The best flat iron will have the following features:

an adjustable temperature gauge so that you can control the heat.
true ceramic or ceramic touralamine plates (not coated plates).
a manufacturer's warranty so you can replace it if it breaks.

My personal favorite place for buying a flat iron is at Folica.com
I purchased a Solia Flat Iron there and I am very happy with my purchase. It is well built, and has lasted me 2 years and going strong. It meets the requirements I listed above.

Humidity and Thick Hair - How To Deal With It

2008-08-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

Question: The humidity and my thick hair makes it difficult to dry my hair completely after I wash it. Can I blow dry it and then sleep on it and then flat iron the next morning?

Also, I'd appreciate suggestions on what temperature to use on coarse thick hair. I have the FHI professional flat iron and am using a heat protective spray but am still having to go over the hair more than 2x to get it the way I want. My hairdresser has the same one and didn't need to do this so I'm thinking either this is a "not completely dry hair" issue or I don't have it at a high enough temperature. I do not want to fry my hair either!

Mahalo,

The Deb

Answer: Hi The Deb. Yes, you can blow dry your hair, sleep on it, and then flat iron it the next morning. I don't suggest cranking up the heat to get your hair straighter. If you are not getting the results you want, try changing the hair products you are using. You might want to try some different hair products to see if that helps you get the results you want. If you are using a shampoo that contains sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, or ammonium laureth sulfate) or a heat protectant that contains alcohol, these might be drying out your hair so much that it makes it impossible for smooth results.

Solia Flat Irons

2006-11-01T02:43:00.000-08:00

Solia is another manufacturer of high quality ceramic flat irons. Solia Flat Irons are made from a combination of ceramic and toulamarine. Solia Flat Irons have the following features:

1. They are available in four sizes: 3/4", 1", 1-1/4", and 1-3/4"

2. The temperature can be adjusted between 140 degrees F and 450 degrees F

3. The manufacturer states they can be used on damp or dry hair.

4. Solia Flat Irons have a special feature called the "Dynamic Alignment System." According to the manufacturer this is supposed to ensure perfect contact between the plates and your hair

5. I like the fact that the body of Solia Flat Irons is all plastic, as opposed to the felt backing that some of the other flat irons have. I had a flat iron with felt backing that I used a little while ago and I had to stop using it because the felt backing came off and exposed the glue that was holding it onto the iron!

6. Unlike Sedu, Solia Flat Irons come in only 120V, so you can only use them in the US and Canada.

How To Use A Flat Iron

2006-11-01T00:29:00.000-08:00

A flat iron is a heated hair appliance, and like any heated hair appliance it should be used with care and thought. Don't believe everything that the manufacturers tell you. A flat iron can help control curly locks if it is used right, but if it is abused, it will fry your hair just like any other heated appliance. Many people think that they can use a flat iron at the highest setting every day and have their hair look wonderful every day. With the new flat irons reaching temperatures of over 400 degrees farenheit, using your flat iron at the maximum temperature is not a good idea. Here are my tips for using a flat iron safely and effectively.

1. Don't use the flat iron every day. Use it between hair washes, but give your hair a rest. Hair can only take so much.

2. If your flat iron is one of the newer models with an adjustable temperature setting that reaches over 400 degrees, don't use your flat iron on the highest setting. Using it on the highest setting every time you use it is like cooking on "broil" every time you use your oven. Using it on the highest setting may get you the results you want in the near term, but eventually your hair will break down and become "fried." Experiment with your flat iron to find the lowest temperature at which you will get your desired results.

3. Use a moisturizing hair product on your hair before you flat iron it. This will help to protect your hair from the heat, and will help the flat iron to glide more easily over your hair.

4. Flat iron your hair in small sections for best results. The flat iron will work better if it goes over small sections of hair instead of large sections.

5. Detangle your hair before running the flat iron over it. You can detangle it with a blow dryer after washing it, or by using a comb to predetangle small sections before flat ironing them.

6. As with almost anything else in life, you get what you pay for. Invest in one of the higher quality flat irons for better results.

7. Treat your flat iron with care. When storing it, don't wrap the cord around it, and don't hang it from the cord. This may cause an electrical short in your cord which will shorten the lifespan of your flat iron.

Sedu Flat Irons

2006-10-31T17:40:00.000-08:00

Sedu Flat Irons have been made popular by celebrities. Sedu Flat Irons have several features which make them impressive.

The plates are made from a combination of tourmaline and ceramic. Tourmaline is a mineral which holds a negative electric charge when heated up. Hair tends to hold a positive electric charge when it is combed or brushed making it fluffy and flyaway. By applying the negative charges on the tourmaline flat iron to your hair you will help it to lay flat.

Sedu Flat Irons come in two plate widths: 1" for short to medium hair and 1.5" for medium to long hair.

Sedu Flat Irons come in a US/Canada model, a UK model, and a Europe model. THIS IS IMPORTANT. The US and Canada operate on a different voltage than the UK and Europe. If you purchase a US/Canada model Sedu (or any other electrical appliance for that matter) and try to use it in the UK or Europe, you will fry your flat iron. So be sure to purchase the UK or Europe model if you are going overseas.

The temperature of the Sedu can be adjusted from 240 degrees F to 410 degrees F so the temperature can be adjusted to your liking.

Hi and Welcome To Flat Iron Talk

2006-10-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

Hi. This is a new blog about flat irons. If you are confused about all of the options out there then you have come to the right place. On this blog I will attempt to sort out some of the confusion to help you make the right choice for your flat iron needs.