Choosing The Right Straightening Irons
In college, my roommate decided that she would like to see what I looked like with straight hair. I have naturally curly hair, and the curls tend to hang in ringlets at times. Because the curl is much more than a wave, it is rare that my hair looks even remotely straight. The answer to this, for her, was to iron my hair with a clothes iron. I’m not sure to this day why I allowed her to do this, but I did. It actually worked rather well, but if I had done it day after day, it would have caused profound damage to my hair. I decided to live with my curls rather than damage my already fragile hair. Today, the straightening irons on the market are much easier on your tresses.
When the straightening irons for personal use first came out, they were always made of metal, at least, those were the only ones that I found in the store. The one I bought had a comb attached, and the iron also allowed you to steam your hair while you used it. Because the steamer was there, I assumed it was just fine to use it. I found out that I was really wrong about that. Steaming my hair with the straightening iron as I went was causing way more damage than I had imagined. I might as well have been using the clothing iron instead.
Today, most will not come with steam. There are still metal plates on some straightening irons today, but there are also some that now come with ceramic plates. These are much safer for the hair, and can leave your newly straightened hair with a really nice luster. These ceramic types are a bit more expensive, but infinitely much better for your hair than metal. These are also the type that most professionals will use if you go into a salon to get your hair straightened for a special occasion.
When you are choosing straightening irons to use at home, consider spending a little more to get the ceramic plates, and skip any that offer steam as an aid in straightening your hair. If you can’t find anything in your local store, look online for a great selection. Keep in mind that even the best of these can cause some damage to your hair over time. You should be sure to get regular trims at your salon, and to give your hair a break from the straightening irons once in a while. That might save you from having to cut your hair very short to get rid of all of the damage your styling routine may cause.
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