Let's talk flat irons, girls - need guidance

jcc64 wrote: I'm sick of my very un-cooperative hair. When there's no humidity, it's very well-behaved, but when does that ever happen in NY in the summertime? I'm sick of going around looking like I just got out of bed.
What is the difference between a $30 flat iron and a $100 one? Isn't it a pretty simple device- what would justify such a high price tag? And what else is involved- will I need a special shampoo, will my hair end up looking like a broom? Is it damaging to color treated hair?
Fill me in, ladies, I've never been a very efficient girly-girl.

luvmykids replied: I don't have curly hair so don't use a straightener a whole lot, but I do know that the more expensive ones (like a Chi) are supposed to be less damaging and work much faster. I have a mid-range one that I got at a beauty supply store, it's worked fine for me, I do make sure to use a heat protectant on my hair (I spray it on each section before I iron it, you can get them everywhere) when I use it but other than that you shouldn't need anything different. Maybe a deep condition once a week.

DillsMommy replied: I have a Chi. I love it. The plates are ceramic--which I think are supposed to be less damaging. I've had cheaper ones in the past and they would only last about a year and fall apart. So far I've had my Chi for a little over 2 years. My hair is straight already but it gets a layer of frizz --especially when it's really humid.

My2Beauties replied: Well for starters the cheaper ones are just that...cheap and they don't work well. I would suggest a ceramic one or teflon (I just bought a new straightener yesterday so it's so funny you had this post ). I paid $50 for mine and I love it. I suggest a 1 inch one, they are easier to use and seem to grab the hair better. I bought one similar to a Chi but it's also got teflon or something in it, now I gotta go home and look. It's not that normal gold ceramic look. My hair never gets caught in this one and it doesn't "pull" at it and try to hold onto it, plus the minute it goes over my hair it's cooled off before my hair touches my neck or shoulders, I used to burn myself all the time like that.

moped replied: YOu get what you pay for and if you cheap out you will have fried hair and be unhappy. Spend the big money on a CHI or a Paul Brown - they are good!!!

jcc64 replied: So, the cheaper ones will fry your hair and the more expensive ones won't? I don't even know how to use one, guys. Is it easy to figure out?
I'm such a lame girl!

Crystalina replied: I paid about $40 for mine and I use it all the time. It's an Andis and I got if from Wal-Mart (it's also a one inch ceramic). I couldn't live without it. I've had it for about 2 yrs and it works just as good as the day I opened it. I like it because it heats up to full capacity in about one minute. I also use a flat-iron spray for my hair that I got at a local salon. My hair is colored every few months and I don't think my hair is damaged in the least bit.

As far as shampoo, I use whatever in the heck I can afford at the time.

lisar replied: My sister has curly hair and hates it and she has to straighten it with a flat iron. She uses a ceramic flat iron. She had one of the cheap ones but it doesnt work as well so she got an expensive one and it works much better.

jcc64 replied: What are the cheap ones made of, so I can avoid them?

Crystalina replied:
I'm not sure what they are made of but just stick to the ceramic. Even the cheap ones have that nowadays.

Danalana replied: My SIL is nutso and paid $130 for hers online. She claims it doesn't burn her hair and her last one did. It's ceramic, which isn't supposed to burn. The cheaper ones will say ceramic too...I really don't know. The one I have was $20 from WalMart and it doesn't burn my hair...of course, I don't use it much, mostly for my bangs. But I agree, you get what you pay for.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I use a cheap Revlon one and I love it. It is ceramic. Most will say ceramic on the package. It gets really hot so it gets it super straight. It's about $20, at Walmart. It doesn't damage my hair, and in fact I get compliments on my hair all the time at the salon about how healthy it looks. My hair also doesn't "refrizz" in the humidity with it, like some do.

luvmykids replied:
Yes, it's easy. It may take a little practice but it's very basic. If it's easier though, I'll just trade you my only wavy underneath hair for your curls

Crystalina replied:
I just clip all my hair up and do small strands at a time. When you get used to it you'll know how much hair you can straighten at a time. I start from the back and work forward. Since I cut my hair it's much faster.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: They are easy to use Jeanne, just make sure you do it in small (maybe an inch or two width) sections. I would always clip up the top portion of my hair and do underneath first. Use a polmade (sp?) or some type of shine/straightener product after you're done to tame the frizz. You should be able to go with the look for a couple days. My sister has naturally curly curly hair and has hers professionally straightened in a salon. It lasts her a couple weeks, but it's expensive. She looks great though and I know it's easy because you just wake up and go!

I would suggest having a salon straighten it for you first and just watch closely. A really good cut will help too, because I'm sorry, but IMO, if you're hair is already damaged and you don't have a good cut, flattening it just makes the damage standout more. Same goes for coloring, if your roots are showing, they will show more when hair is straightened. JMO.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Get the expensive one.

As a matter of fact, get the Cortex Coriolis type. Well worth the money. I can't tell you how many thousands of dollars i've spent on my stupid hair... best purchase I've ever made.

See how straight my hair is?

Well... if you look at Amy's little girls Sophia and Nora... their hair is tame compared to mine.