How to choose a hair straightener

Hairdressing does not stand still. Every day on the shelves you can meet more and more new equipment for styling. One of those is considered an iron for hair straightening. It consists of two plates that heat up under the influence of temperatures. The strand is placed and extended. But in order not to harm the hair, you need to choose a quality tool.

Ironing principle: general information

The device is an oblong plate fastened with a handle. The two parts are disconnected, a curl is clamped between them. Since the plates are heated to a certain temperature, they thermally act on the strand and straighten it.

The principle of work will be mastered even by a beginner. The device is connected to the network, a certain temperature is set in the presence of the corresponding function. After warming up, it is necessary to open the plates and clamp the curl with them, like with forceps.

The hair is heated gradually, so you need to slowly iron down from the roots to the ends. Then the laying of the remaining strands continues. After work, the device turns off, done!

There are various nozzles on the iron, which allow you to lay the "corrugation" (small waves, like from braids), round curls, a basal volume.

How to choose a straightener

The plates should be perfectly pressed against each other, have a flat surface without nicks and evenly distribute heat.

According to the plate material there are:

1. Ceramics. At the moment, they are used quite often by professional craftsmen and amateurs due to their low cost and high efficiency. Harm to the hair is minimized, the ceramics are heated evenly. The iron is easy to clean, with proper care it will last a long time.
2. Teflon. Everyone knows Teflon-coated irons, which are distinguished by their high durability and good thermal conductivity. Irons with a surface made of such material belong to the professional line of hairdressing tools. Teflon is more expensive than ceramics, but the cost justifies itself. Hair straightening is carried out in a gentle manner. The main advantage of the material is that hair styling and protection products do not stick to the plates.
3. Tourmaline. The heating halves of the appliance are equipped with an ionization function. Under the influence of charged particles, the hair does not undergo a static effect, cease to be cut and easier to comb. Tourmaline plates belong to a number of medicinal ones, they do not affect the strands negatively, and the result of straightening is preserved for a long time.
4. Metal. This type of coating is considered obsolete, because the hair is exposed to a huge load at high temperatures. Strands with frequent straightening are severely injured, become brittle and split over the entire length. Notches often appear on the metal surface, which only worsen the use of the device.
5. Titanium. It is an iron with titanium plates that is used for keratin straightening and hair restoration. The thing is the uniform heating of the surfaces and excellent heat conductivity. Titanium can withstand high heat, but models with such halves are expensive and are not needed for home use. The titanium coating is easy to scratch, so the service life is short.
6. Tungsten. An iron for straightening strands with this type of coating is classified as a premium segment line.The pricing policy is high, so not everyone can afford a product. The advantage is that the straightening lasts a long time, while it is not necessary to use styling stylers. The price is justified, but you need to proceed from the budget.
7. Jade. Not everyone has heard of such a semiprecious and rare metal that has healing properties. Jadeite shows impressive results on first use. The iron is suitable for use on wet hair, which is extremely important for owners of curly strands. A negative feature is the cost and rarity of the tool itself.

Additional functions of straightening iron

1. Thermal control. It is extremely important to choose a rectifier with the function of adjusting the temperature regime. Such a device will allow you to use it individually, adjusting the temperature to the characteristics of the hair. If they break and split, it is not recommended to include more than 160 degrees. With dense and heavy hair, they will become smooth if you straighten them at 180-200 degrees.
2. Auto power off. Some irons have the feature to automatically turn off or set a timer for a specific time. It is very convenient, you do not need to worry about the device burning out or worse. Some models have a built-in module, it can not be changed. Other devices, by contrast, can be programmed to turn off after a period of time you need.
3. The area of ​​the plates. It matters what size the heating parts will be. This indicator is selected taking into account the density and length of the hair. With too thin hair, you can be satisfied with the minimum figure. But if the strands are voluminous and long, to save time, you should choose wider plates.
4. Ionization. This function is useful to girls who naturally have “liquid”, electrifying, thin strands. Ions penetrate the core of curls, prevent and treat the cross section, remove the static effect. If you plan to use the iron regularly, pay attention to this option. She will not be superfluous.
5. Additional nozzles. Modern manufacturing companies are trying to supply universal irons with additional removable elements to the counters. In the kit you can meet the nozzle "corrugation" or parts to create curls. If this is important to you, buy a complete set. But pay particular attention to straightening surfaces, they must be of high quality.
6. Automatic mode selection. Otherwise, this feature is called touch control. After connecting the rectifier to the network, it heats up, then a curl is placed between the plates. Ironing automatically sets the desired mode by scanning the thickness of the hair in advance.
7. Price policy. You must pay attention to the cost in order to correlate the price with quality. Watch video reviews of popular models of irons in advance, study user reviews of the device. Do not chase low cost or high cost. Choose the features that you will really use.

Rules for choosing an iron

1. It is important to choose an iron, not by the presence of countless functions, but by quality. Without fail, give preference to well-known manufacturers. As a rule, such products have a service book and an official guarantee for a long time.
2. Also, do not consider too hyped brands, in most cases, sellers simply overcharge. In this regard, ironing, a young ambitious company, will be a bargain. As a rule, such a technique is of high quality and inexpensive.
3. After you have decided on the model and manufacturer, ask the seller to show the goods. You personally must make sure that the ironing is working and that there is no marriage. Look at the device, it should not have cracks or chips.
4. Carefully study the quality of packaging and assembly weighting.There should be no burrs on the plates, otherwise such a nuisance will cause a lot of problems with laying hair. Also, a quality device will last a considerable time.
5. Ask the seller what materials the attribute is made of. What is the guarantee and declared service life. Feel free to ask about the certificate and documents for the originality of the goods.
6. The iron should be delivered from the country from which the brand produces all products. For example, you know about a French company, but it says “Made in China” on the packaging; you should not buy such an iron.
7. Calculate your own strength, hair length and attribute weight. The last indicator of ironing will not allow him to work for a long time. A heavy and bulky attribute will bring a lot of trouble and discomfort during operation.
8. Be sure to consult with a consultant on how to properly care for the device. During operation of the iron, cosmetic compositions adhere to the plates. Therefore, in advance, specify how to remove chemicals from the surface.

Optimum performance for professional ironing

1. To style your hair properly and for the shortest possible time, plates should be chosen with a width of at least 30 mm. The only drawback of the attribute is increased power consumption.
2. If you have a dense or naturally curly mound, you should not give preference to thin models. In this case, the installation will take more time.
3. The small width of the rectifiers is from 15 mm. up to 25 mm. Large can be attributed to 30 mm. Keep in mind that the parameters directly affect the density of the hair and the width of the strands caught for straightening.
4. If you belong to the fair sex with a short haircut, then it makes no sense to purchase a product with a working width of more than 25 mm. Girls whose hair is below the shoulders are advised to take a closer look at the parameter of 30 mm.
5. With the length of the hair to the shoulder blades and decent density, you should choose an iron with a tong width of 30 mm or more. up to 40 mm. To straighten thick and complex curls, it is worth considering a model with maximum parameters. These tongs have a width of up to 80 mm.

Rules for using ironing

1. In order not to damage the hair, it is important to adhere to certain operating rules. Before using thermal devices, always cover your curls with protective means of directed action.
2. Most manufacturers provide special protective foams, mousses and balms. Substances show their properties after interaction with high temperature. Hair retains its natural beauty and shine. Such compounds include extracts from plants and pro-vitamins.
3. After taking water procedures, dry your hair thoroughly. Moisten the strands best with special tools. Straighten your hair from root to tip, covering small areas.
4. Select the size of the strand based on the width of the work surface. In no case do not stay in one place. Straightening of the hair should be accompanied by smooth gliding movements. When washing your hair do not forget to resort to the help of nutrients and masks.

Rules for ironing

1. Proper care and compliance with the rules during operation of the device will ensure a long service life. The flawlessness and cleanliness of the plates directly affects the quality of the hair after the procedure.
2. The plastic components of the device are regularly clogged with cosmetic products, so the iron needs to be cleaned in a timely manner. No sticky products or dust should remain on the product.
3. Before proceeding with the cleaning procedure, make sure that the iron is disconnected from the mains. Check the plates, they should be cold. For manipulation you will need soft rags and alcohol.
4. Moisten the cloth in liquid and wipe the surface of the plates thoroughly until they are completely cleaned.There should be no sticky marks on the product. Perfectly clean plates allow the fabric to glide smoothly over the surface.
5. Please note that it is forbidden to resort to the help of chemical and degreasing agents to clean the plates. Aggressive products can permanently ruin the surface of the iron.

Since the stretching of the strands with an iron is carried out thanks to the plates, which are heated, it is necessary to pay due attention to the material of the surfaces. The effect on the hair, its protection and further condition depends on this.

Video: how to choose a straightener