<p>I’ve been in the market for a new straightening iron and find myself completely incapable of making a decision. I have crazy hair that gets matted and frizzy and wild without heat styling, and the conair straightener I’ve been using the last few years isn’t doing it for me anymore. I came across an old thread here about hair straightening treatments (which I am not interested in) and I got the idea to ask here.</p>
<p>I immediately gravitated toward the Chi, but haven’t been satisfied by the options I’ve been able to find-- either it doesn’t have adjustable temperature or it doesn’t have tourmaline or it has the weird red strips I’ve heard fall off anyway that I don’t understand. I am 99% sure I want the temperature control-- I change my heat settings based on how my hair is doing, my texture fluctuates drastically. It blows my mind that they even sell irons without temp control. I am less sure that I need to have tourmaline as long as we’re still talking ceramic, but my research seems to indicate that it IS better and my hair is SO testy, it seems like tourmaline would be a good idea. But I’ve read so much conflicting info that I’m tied in a knot on that issue and can’t proceed. </p>
<p>I was tempted by the FHI Runway, but am squeamish about spending more than $200, especially given the fragility of full ceramic plates. It seemed to be the only “clear winner” in all the reviews I’ve read, but not sure I’m ready to spend more than $200-$250. I’m being extravagant as it is.</p>
<p>I’ve read every ratings and reviews website in the world and I’ve looked at dozens of brands, and I am STUCK. I want a salon quality appliance. Anybody able to help me out here?</p>
<p>(P.S. Whoever suggested the rialto make up mirror last time I came here with questions was right on target! It was exactly what I wanted and couldn’t find.)</p>
<p>I have a Chi with temp control and ceramic plates that works great and has amazingly lasted for ten years with everyday use. The red fuzzy stuff on the handles has indeed largely worn off, but it’s just an aesthetic thing. I don’t know a thing about tourmaline, but it strikes me that the effectiveness of a flat iron depends on the amount and evenness of the heat and the smoothness of the plates–the Chi satisfies on both counts.</p>
<p>I have a Chi with temperature control (my mom bought it for Christmas on QVC so I’m not sure what the model is.) D1 has a regular Chi and she says that one is fine (I bought it at Costco, but they don’t often have them) but is jealous of my temp control ;)</p>
<p>Believe it or not…I bought one from those guys at the mall. It’s fabulous. BUT it’s not any better than my daughter’s Chi (which has temp controls). They were about the same price…$100 or so. </p>
<p>Honestly, I was bored at the mall last summer and the guy was sitting doing nothing. My MANE of hair looked awful and by the time he was done, it looked fabulous. I did NOT buy it that day…but I went back to the mall (here not where I was visiting) about a month later…figuring EVERY mall probably had those flat iron guys. Found it…had my hair done again…and bought the thing.</p>
<p>Chi here also. Both my d’s use a chi ceramic style flat iron though theirs do not have temperature controls. They swear by them. You could try asking your hair dresser for one they would recommend for your type of hair/needs.</p>
<p>Our mall guys sell “herstyler” products. My sister raves about them and got her flat iron from them, but she’s never used anything higher quality than my conair before that so I’m not sure how great the herstyler really is. Any idea if that’s what yours is, thumper? My sister also has stick straight hair to begin with and I really don’t know who she thinks she’s kidding buying a straightener at all. lol.</p>
<p>Those of you using Chis, have you ever owned anything else that you can compare it to, for better or worse?</p>
<p>Both my daughter and I have the FHI Platform; she has the 1 3/4" and I have the 1 1/4". I could not live without the temperature control; my hair will not straighten without it being set on 450! In the years that we have owned the FHI, we have replaced 2; my daughter dropped hers on her ceramic floor and the plate came loose, and mine quit heating hot enough for me. </p>
<p>If you are patient and google for coupons and sales, you should be able to get the Platform in the low $100 if not at $100; that is what I paid the last time which was about a year ago. I think the Platform is an excellent flat iron and can’t imagine you would need the runway. My hair salon uses the Platform and they like to be on the cutting edge with their products.</p>
<p>I swear if you go to the mall it will NOT cost you $250. I would NEVER have paid that much. I think I paid about $100, maybe $110 for mine. They are always running a “special”. If you walk away…the price comes down.</p>
<p>I have the purple one…I think mine is 1 inch.</p>
<p>It works way better than the Chi ever did. It’s the best flatiron I have ever used. Really smoothes my hair and makes it shiny. It does have an adjustable temperature gauge. It heats up within minutes.</p>
<p>I use a Sedu I bought from Folica. Very wide plates-have very thick curly hair- works great as long as I use a good heat spray product beforehand.</p>
<p>I currently have a run of the mill Conair. Does the job fairly well. The lady at the salon used a brand named Crocs - worked incredibly well. She claimed it was the best one out there. I haven’t yet bought one - but probably will. Chi is another brand that most people swear by…</p>
<p>I have a GHD (“Good Hair Day”) that was highly recommended by European women on my other favorite forum. It cost about $250, so it was a special birthday present. It has heat control and automatically works on European current which is nice when traveling.</p>
<p>We’re on a budget, but D and I both have the Remington Wet 2 Straight. I’m on my second one, but had my first one for a long time before it gave out. It has an adjustable temperature control. </p>
<p>My hair has some wave; D has ringlet curls. I don’t know if the higher price straighteners work better or not but we’ve been happy with it. If you want to consider a lower-price straightener, I recommend it.</p>
<p>We have a Chi. Started with a low-cost one at Target that did not work, bought an expensive one at a beauty supply that worked great but died after a number of years, bought a Chi and am very happy with it.</p>
<p>I have a really stupid question, but it appears this is the place to ask it Actually, two questions…</p>
<p>Do people with straight hair straighten it for some reason? My hair is stick straight, and I never understood using a straightener, but someone upthread mentioned shine.</p>
<p>My 15 yo D currently has a bad cut. I did not expect asking for a few layers would result in her looking like Carol Brady’s shag. Her hair has a small amount of wave and it made the layers look even worse. We bought a cheapo Walmart straightener, and it does make it look better while we ponder grow/cut differently? Should she be using some type of spray etc. before straightening? I worry about the heat on the hair.</p>
<p>Thanks. As you can tell, my version of “hair care” involves wash and air-dry.</p>
<p>Straightened hair can be sleeker and less frizzy if you already have straight hair… unless you straighten it until its damaged, whichcase it’ll be dull and frizzy anyway. My sister’s straight hair does curl a bit in the humidity and the heat styling helps it hold. Personally I think there are better ways to achieve that than straightening already straight hair (and exposing the hair to a flat iron’s high heat), but I have wild animal hair so I’m probably not an authority on the matter. </p>
<p>I use tresemme heat tamer spray when I straighten. It’s not the best product available but it does the trick for me… I’m not sure if it REALLY protects the hair like it says it does, but adding a bit of hold means I have to use less heat to get the hair straight, so in theory it makes sense that it would lessen damage. I’m currently experimenting with redken iron silk… boyfriend’s aunt works at a salon or something and he got it for me to try. There’s LOTS of products out there you can use for heat protection. Some amount of heat damage will occur with regular styling. Conditioner is important. Everybody has their favorite product. I’ve been meaning to try bumble…</p>
<p>Is there really that big a difference between the expensive ones and the cheap ones? I have 2 in different widths, and needless to say I didnt spend a lot on them. They seem to be fine. But I have nothing to compare them to. My hairdressers is great, but I attribute that to her skills.</p>
<p>My cheapo one does NOT work as well as the Chi (my DD’s) or my one from the mall. It just doesn’t. And believe me…my skill is no better on the more costly ones.</p>
Actually, two questions…</p>