THE HAIR STRAIGHTENING IRON GUIDE 2024 - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
A straightening iron is now part of the basic cosmetic equipment for many women. Straightening irons are usually used to straighten curly hair. But they can also be used to create curls in straight hair. In this article, you will learn what types of straightening irons are available on the market in 2024 and how they differ.
WHAT IS A HAIR STRAIGHTENING IRON?
You can easily straighten and style your hair using a straightening iron. The straightening iron is heated using electricity and then individual strands of hair are worked from top to bottom with a little pull. The heat and gentle pressure causes the straightening iron to lengthen the hair and straighten it. You can also style curls with a straightening iron. To do this, similar to a curling iron, individual strands of hair are wrapped around the iron and held for a short time. The heat forms the hair into curls, which can then be fixed.
A straightening iron contains two collapsible heating plates, which are usually made of either ceramic or titanium. Straightening irons with heating plates coated with Teflon are also available in retail stores. Some straightening irons are metallic, but have an additional ceramic coating. This coating is important so that the hair is not burned when straightening. However, frequent use of a straightening iron can damage your hair. Therefore, it is important to take good care of it and provide it with sufficient moisture. Damage to the hair can also be repaired with the help of special shampoos, such as the Renaissance shampoo. Regular use of hair masks is also highly recommended.
WHAT TYPES OF HAIR STRAIGHTENERS ARE THERE?
The selection of types, sizes, colors, shapes and functions of the different hair straighteners is constantly growing. It can be difficult to keep track of everything. Below we present the most important types of hair straighteners that will be available in stores in 2024.
HAIR STRAIGHTENERS IN VARIOUS SHAPES AND COLORS
When it comes to the shape of the straightening irons, a distinction is made between straight and rounded models. Rounded straightening irons are particularly suitable for styling curly hairstyles, while straight models usually have a wider surface and can straighten the hair more quickly and effectively. The "crimping iron" is a special feature. In contrast to the otherwise smooth and flat ceramic plates, crimping irons have a zigzag structure that gives the hair a "crimping" effect. With some straightening iron models, the plates can be changed as desired, so new styling options are always possible.
You also have a wide choice of colors. While most straighteners used to be black or white, you can now buy straighteners in many different colors. Pink, purple, gold and mint green are particularly popular.
CABLE AND SIZE OF STRAIGHTENERS
Most straighteners are connected to a power outlet using a cable, but there are now also cordless versions. For straighteners with a cable, the cable should be rotatable and ideally have a length of 2.7 - 3 m. A rotatable cable adapts to the position of the straightener and is therefore much easier to handle. A sufficiently long cable is also very advantageous, especially for styling curls.
Straightening irons come in different sizes and widths. The following applies: the wider the plates, the faster the entire hair can be straightened. The so-called mini straightening irons, on the other hand, are particularly suitable for straightening individual thin strands of hair. Straightening irons can also vary greatly in terms of weight. There are light models that weigh just under 300 g, but also heavy straightening irons that weigh up to 1 kg!
WHAT TECHNOLOGIES FOR HAIR STRAIGHTENING IRON ARE AVAILABLE IN 2022?
Most straightening irons work with ion technology. When straightening, millions of ions are released into the hair, preventing it from becoming electrostatically charged by enveloping it strand by strand. Straightening irons with ceramic plates containing tourmaline are particularly popular. Tourmaline is a crystallized silicate that produces 20 times more ions than other heating plates.
However, there are now other technologies for gently straightening your hair. Straightening irons that work with infrared light heat the hair from the inside out. This is intended to prevent damage to the hair during straightening. The infrared function can be used with straightening irons with ceramic as well as titanium heating plates. A combination of ion and infrared technology is also quite common, e.g. with infrared straightening irons with tourmaline heating plates.
Modern straightening irons often have a steam function. Similar to an iron, steam is released during straightening. This makes it easier to straighten the hair and allows active ingredients from styling products or similar to penetrate particularly deeply.
CABLE AND SIZE OF STRAIGHTENERS
Most straightening irons can be set to different heat settings or continuously variable temperatures. The higher the set temperature, the greater the straightening effect. At the same time, high heat can quickly cause damage, especially to fine hair.
Here you will find a temperature recommendation for straightening irons, based on the respective hair type:
- 100°C – 140°C: for very sensitive, brittle and weak hair
- 140°C – 160°C: for fine and thin hair
- 160°C – 180°C: for normal hair
- 180°C – 240°C: for strong, firm and unruly hair
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A HAIR STRAIGHTENING IRON?
Ease of use: The easier the straightener is to handle, the easier it is to create stylish and artistic looks.
Heat-up speed: Can be an important factor, especially in the morning. Most straighteners heat up within 15-30 seconds, but some take significantly longer.
Key lock: To prevent you from accidentally changing the temperature of your straightener, some models have a built-in key lock.
Automatic switch-off: To prevent short circuits or other electrical accidents, most straighteners have an automatic switch-off function. Even if you forget to switch the straightener off after use, it will deactivate itself within 30 - 60 minutes.
Fireproof protective case: This allows you to easily take your straightener with you when you travel. Some manufacturers already include the case in the delivery.
Dual voltage: If you often travel abroad, a hair straightener with dual voltage is ideal for ensuring you always have the perfect style. This is because the sockets abroad often have a different voltage and therefore cannot be used without a transformer. However, this is not a problem with hair straighteners with dual voltage. You can tell whether your hair straightener has dual voltage by looking at the label on the packaging. 110V-240V means that you can use it throughout Europe or America without any problems. If the voltage is only 100V or only 240V, this is not the case.
CONCLUSION
Choosing the right straightening iron doesn't seem that easy at first glance. However, if you know what to look for in a good straightening iron, it's not difficult to filter out your personal favorite from the large number of straightening iron models available. When styling with the straightening iron, however, you should make sure to protect your hair beforehand, e.g. with a heat spray or something similar. And rich care for your hair also ensures that damage caused by overheating does not occur in the first place or can be repaired straight away. In our online shop you will find many different shampoos, conditioners and hair masks for every need.
