How to Buy Curling, Crimping, and Straightening Irons
Using
hair irons to aid in one's hairstyle has been around almost as long as the iron itself, especially when it came time to
straighten one's hair. Today irons come in a variety of shapes and sizes to add all kinds of style to your locks.
All good irons regardless of type will provide a non-stick surface, adjustable
temperature settings, and indicators to let you know when the iron is hot. An
auto off safety feature is also essential. Let's face it, how many times have we gone running out of the house in a hurry only to realize later the iron was left on? An auto safety feature will automatically turn your iron off after a length of time for such occasions.
Irons come in
chrome,
gold-plated,
ceramic and more. Chrome is the cheapest of the materials, but is not generally considered a
professional level product because of its inability to heat evenly. Ceramic is the material generally preferred by professionals for its ability to hold the heat evenly and provide smooth, frizz-free hair. Regardless of the material, the coating over it also plays a role in the iron's likelihood of damaging your hair. Professionals generally recommend a
Teflon, garnet or
tourmaline finish for minimal damage.
Size does make a difference when it comes to irons, and many people often own a variety of iron sizes. Curling irons especially are a type of iron people have many varieties of. As a rule, use smaller irons for short hair or tight curls. Use larger irons for longer hair and big loose curls. That's not to say you can't put tight curls in long hair, but you certainly can't put big loose curls in short hair.