The plates feature an improved ceramic coating with keratin, enabling you to straighten the craziest curls without getting them tangled.
Takes quite a while to cool down.
The Philips flat iron with ultra-wide plates can straighten quite a big strand of hair at a time. In addition, active ions help you get rid of static in hair. Now straightening curly hair has become a much easier and faster process.
Keratin infused ceramic coating
47 mm
Constant temperature
210 °C
60 sec
Yes
"On" indicator light
2-year worldwide guarantee
30 heat settings in a wide temperature range will let you select a heat heating that will suit your hair type best.
You may feel a burning smell after long use.
The Remington S3500 is a good device that heats up quickly and has high-quality ceramic plates to deliver quick and smooth results. It also comes with a heat proof pouch for easy storage and transportation.
Ceramic
29 mm
30 heat settings
150 - 230°C
15 seconds
Yes
"On" indicator light
3 years
Thanks to the thin plates with a size of 19 mm, you will be able to both straighten and curl your hair. Such a tool will be irreplaceable for those who have short hair and bangs.
Auto shut-off feature is absent.
The Philips HP8302 is a compact hair straightener with a long swivel cord and ceramic plates that easily glide down your locks. It is a good option for travellers since it is compatible with 110-240 voltage.
Ceramic
19 mm
Constant temperature
210°C
60 seconds
No
"On" indicator light
2 years
Thanks to the improved PTC heating element, which prevents overheating, this flat iron will evenly distribute the heat down your locks and thus, won't damage your hair.
The coating may start flaking on the sides.
The Havells HS4101 is a flat iron with floating plates that will let you make perfect hairstyles at home. Plus, it features a plate lock system, which will be handy when you need to store or carry the device around.
Ceramic
25 mm
Constant temperature
210°C
45 seconds
Yes
"On" indicator light
2 years
This professional device is suitable for straightening both wet and dry hair. The front side of the plates features special cutouts for your fingers that help you squeeze the floating plates as tightly as you need.
The heating time is longer at the max temperature.
This professional hair dryer is a convenient tool that allows you to save both time and money. The device offers you a wide temperature range and suits people with thin and thick hair types alike.
Aluminium alloy with ceramic coating
38 mm
4 heat settings
160 - 220°C
30 seconds
Yes
"On" indicator light
Amazon's 30-day return policy
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Philips HP8316/00
Keratin Assistant
Have you always longed for perfectly straight and smooth hair? With the Philips HP8316/00, your dreams will come true! Thanks to the infusion of keratin into ceramic plates, the HP8316/00 does an excellent job at straightening your hair and does it in a safe way, making it one of the best-selling models on the market right now.
Keratin is the main compound in our hair. Unfortunately, though, high temperatures often destroy it, resulting in split ends and unhealthy look of the hair. With the Philips HP8316/00, however, you won't face this problem. Thanks to the innovative technologies ensuring instant hair recovery, the straightener will not only let you achieve the perfectly straight look but also it will make your hair look shiny and healthy. Plus you can take advantage of the long service life of the tool since ceramics plates are more durable and do not lose their properties even with extensive use.
Those having problems with hair electrification can use the Philips HP8316/00 safely without the fear of damaging their hair. The tool effectively removes frizz, helps hair entanglement problem, and works well for all hair types, including died and weak hair.
Another advantage of the Philips HP8316/00 is rather wide plates allowing you to grip more hair at once for achieving quicker results. That makes it especially suitable for women with long and thick hair.
Active Ions for Healthy Hair
The benefits of the Philips HP8316/00 do not end with the plates though. Another perk is that it uses innovative Ionic Care technology, letting the plates emit negatively charged ions to cover the hair and prevent it from losing its natural moisture. Thanks to this, the natural balance of moisture in the follicles remains unaffected. Active ions, in turn, condition the hair and smoothen cuticles, resulting in the hair attaining beautiful shine and gloss.
Where the Philips HP8316/00 also excels is in the ease of use, offering you many advanced features that give convenience and peace of mind. This way, if it happens so that you forget to turn the tool off after use, it will automatically switch off in around 60 minutes. Swivel cord technology is another great feature, ensuring your convenience of use, providing more flexibility and preventing wire entanglement. Also worth mentioning are the Easy lock function and a loop, making the storage of the straightener easier.
In conclusion, the Philips HP8316/00 with keratin-infused ceramic plates is by far the best hair straightener you can find out there. It effectively fights static, it suits all hair types, and it provides a long service life, which makes it an excellent investment.
Additional Info
Remington _S3500
For All Hair Types
If you need a decent flat iron from a well-known brand, we recommend taking a closer look at the Remington S3500. It is a versatile hair straightener that will suit pretty much any hair type.
What we like about the S3500 is that it offers a pretty wide temperature range that totals 30 settings and varies from 150-230°C. So, all customers, no matter their hair type, can select an optimal heat setting. Naturally, those who have rather thin hair are recommended to stick to low temperatures and if your hair is thick and coarse, you'll benefit from higher settings. Switching between heat settings is a breeze using a handy dial placed on the side of the unit.
Moving to performance, the Remington S3500 has ceramics plates, enabling the tool to provide careful and effective straightening without damaging hair. The plates are 29 mm, which is the standard size, and heat up evenly without cold or hot spots, so you can apply them to your hair without any worries. What we like most though is that because the plates are not very wide, it's easy not only to straighten hair but also to create curls and light beach waves, which makes the tool more versatile.
As for design, the Remington S3500 is quite ergonomic and portable and can be taken with you on trips when necessary. A heat-proof pouch included in the set facilitates its transportation and storage. Additionally, the S3500 works on 150-230 Volts and has a double insulated power cord, so you can use it with a 2-pin plug as well.
Quick Heat Up
The biggest strength of the S3500 is a fast heat up time. The tool reaches the set temperature in about 15 seconds, which allows getting started with styling almost immediately and saving yourself a rush. Just turn the iron on, comb your hair, and you can start. The S3500 also features an “On” indicator, so you can see when the straightener is heated and ready to work.
The S3500 is not only convenient in use but also safe. It comes with an auto shut-off feature and will turn off automatically after 1 hour without use. The only problem being reported is that with long use, the tool might start giving off a burning smell. Though no real trouble was registered, we would still recommend being careful with it and always shut the tool off after you're finished styling your hair.
Admittedly, the Remington S3500 is not the cheapest flat iron you can find on the market. However, it has a lot of things speaking in its favour. For one, it offers as many as 30 heat settings. For two, it's made out of high-quality materials ensuring its durability. And for three, it comes with a 3-year warranty, which proves it's a top-notch product. All this makes the Remington S3500 a sound choice both for home and salon use.
Philips HP8302
Good Option for Short Hair
For those who have a bob haircut and rock bangs, the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener will be a perfect choice. Fitted with plates measuring 19 mm, it will allow you to make your hair straight and silky from the roots to the very ends without putting in much effort.
What remarkably stands the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener out is its ergonomic design and small size, which makes it especially suitable for women with short hair. Such size is also an advantage if you want to curl your hair since it gives you an opportunity to create tight and accurate curls and waves. This way, you basically get a two-in-one tool. Thanks to the ceramic coating combined with SilkPro Care technology, the plates of the tool provide even heat distribution and glide smoothly without tangling in your hair.
Another benefit is that the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener is very portable. With the dimensions of 30 x 11.4 x 4.6 cm and 350 g of weight, it is ideal for frequent travellers.
However, the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener has one serious drawback. It works at a constant temperature of 210°C, which makes it a bad choice for people with damaged, thin or dyed hair. Additionally, because the preset temperature is rather high, it takes more time to get hot.
Low Price
With more than a modest price tag, it's natural that the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener doesn't have all the features of high-end flat irons. Yet, for its cost, it comes supported with a very decent 2-year warranty, which means it doesn't lack durability or quality. We wish the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener had an auto shut-off function, but, like we said, seeing its price tag, we can forgive it. Besides, it comes with an indicator light so you can see when it's switched on/off.
For your convenience, the model is fitted with a swivel cord which helps prevent entangling while giving you more freedom of movement. Plus, its length is pretty good as well, making about 1.6 metres.
As we briefly mentioned before, the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener is a good option for trips. And since this model works on 110-240 V, it will help you straighten your hair in any part of the world.
To conclude, the Philips Essential Selfie Straightener is a worthy contender and will become an irreplaceable assistant for women who have short hair or travel a lot and look for an inexpensive ergonomic tool.
Additional Info
Havells HS4101
Best Flat Iron for Thick Hair
For those with a tight budget, we recommend checking out the Havells HS4101 Hair Straightener. Though less expensive than flat irons from famous brands, it doesn't lose to its rivals when it comes to delivering results.
Right off the bat, the Havells HS4101 Hair Straightener doesn't have adjustable heat settings and works at a constant temperature of 210°C. We don't identify it as an advantage, of course, but the manufacturer made up for this shortcoming by adding the improved PTC heating element to prevent overheating and ensure safe use. As a result, the tool distributes the heat evenly, which allows preventing damage and makes it suitable even for thin hair.
Next, we like the floating plates of the HS4101. Measuring 25 mm in size, they are neither too thin nor too thick, so you can use this flat iron with both short and long hair equally comfortably. Furthermore, the plates have a ceramic coating - it is gentle against the hair and helps the iron run down with ease. Floating plates offer you another benefit, namely, they adjust to hair of any thickness and glide over it without pulling.
Designed with Safety in Mind
This flat iron also features a plate lock system, which will be handy when you need to carry the tool or store it. This system allows preventing plates damage, thus prolonging the lifespan of the tool. Unfortunately, the lock system doesn't protect the exterior of the device, so it's recommended to take care of it to prevent its early flaking. Also, the tool is fitted with an auto shut-off feature, so even if you forget to turn it off, the HS4101 will shut off automatically within an hour.
What is also notable about this hair straightening machine is convenient controls. Unlike most other models, here the "On" button is placed not between the plates but on the side of the device, preventing you from clicking it accidentally during styling. To know if the straightener is ready to work, there's also an indicator light near this button. The straightener heats up in about 45 seconds, which is just a bit longer than average.
The next great thing about this model is a pretty long power cord (around 1.8 metres). That’s why, even if a power socket is placed not too close to the mirror, it won't be a problem. What's more, the cord is swivelling, so you can rotate it at 360°.
All things considered, the Havells HS4101 Hair Straightener is a decent device at an honest price. It has high-quality ceramic plates with a smart lock system that will give you long-lasting straight locks without damaging them.
Additional Info
Kemei hv888
For Wet and Dry Hair Straightening
The Kemei hv888 is a professional hair straightener that will suit you if you want to have salon-like results at home without paying too much for a beauty tool. It is very comfortable in use and will help you save a lot of time, making hair styling a quick job.
The most remarkable advantage of the Kemei hv888 is that it is suitable for both wet and dry straightening. Thanks to this, you won't need to use a hair dryer and the whole process will be less time-consuming.
Further down the list are heat settings. The Kemei hv888 offers 4 preset modes that range between 160°C and 220°C. This means it can be used on hair of all types. Selecting the temperature is done by using a control button between the plates.
We really like that the Kemei hv888 gets hot relatively fast. You won't need to plug it in long in advance as it takes the iron only 30 seconds to reach the selected setting. Of course, the highest setting might take a bit longer but it's still quicker than what many similar flat irons offer. To inform you of the straightener reaching the desired temperature, there's an indicator light near the controls that instantly turns off, which is handy.
Wide Floating Plates
Though we definitely recommend the Kemei hv888 for professional use, it might be a bit difficult to use it on short hair due to the size of its plates that make 38 mm. So, it may take you a bit of practice. Also of note is that the plates here are not completely ceramic and have only a ceramic coating, meaning you will need to use additional hair protection while styling to prevent damage by heat.
Other than that, the Kemei hv888 has many good points. It has an ergonomic design and special cutouts for your fingers on the front side that help squeeze the plates as tightly as you need. It is also fitted a long swivel cord allowing you to move freely in front of the mirror without being tied to a socket. Plus, as mentioned before, it's not devoid of safety features, making its use not only convenient but also safe. Best of all, it is much cheaper than most hair straighteners in its class, making it a particularly attractive purchase for professional users.
What Is a Flat Iron?
A hair iron is an excellent styling accessory that can be used to straighten, smoothen, and curl unruly and frizzy hair. It's often called a "straightener" or "styler". So, how does it work? When you run the straightener down your hair to the ends, it removes the static in hair, making it look much shinier and healthier. The operating principle of most hair products such as stylers, curling irons, straightening brushes is pretty much the same. They feature multiple temperature settings and can be adjusted to different hair types in order to prevent hair from damaging and overdrying. In this review, we offer you to take a look at 5 best flat irons available on the modern market as well as read about the key aspects important to consider when choosing one.
We also recommend checking out our review of the best hair dryers for salon-like blowouts at home.
What Features to Compare
Coating of the Plates
The first thing to consider is the coating of the plates. Flat irons with ceramic and tourmaline-covered plates are considered to be the safest and most popular choice among consumers around the world. Due to even heat distribution, using hair stylers with ceramic and tourmaline coatings allows you to achieve incredibly smooth results without any static in hair. They are also much more gentle and cause no harm to your hair. Also, a lot of manufacturers started using tourmaline plates for their devices. The biggest advantage of this material is that it provides an amazing heating performance: the plates get hot really quickly and maintain the desired temperature until you’re done straightening. So far, tourmaline plates are the safest to use.
The size of the Plates
Depending on your hair length, you also should check the length and width of the plates. The wider the plates are the less time you will need to straighten your hair. However, if you want to create different hairstyles and give yourself luxurious curls, you may want to consider buying the model with thin plates. You will be able to not only straighten your locks but also curl them without the necessity of purchasing a curling iron. Heat Regulator Temperature adjustment settings are the next important aspect to consider. If your hair is dyed, weak or thin, it's recommended to get a product with varied temperature control so that you can use it either at low or moderate temperatures. The flat irons that have the minimum temperatures of about 150-180° C will suit you. For thick and curly hair, it'd be a better idea to opt for a straightener that can heat up to 210-220° C and higher for quick and efficient results. Please, note, when styling hair at high temperatures, using additional heat protection products is advised.
Additional Functions
Consider additional functions of a hair straightener. What we'd recommend you to take a look at is whether the product you choose features an auto shut-off function. It is very important in terms of safety and lowers the risk of a fire. You also should check how long it takes it to heat up. If you find yourself in a hurry pretty often, you definitely don’t want to wait long until the iron gets hot. Lastly, it is important to know how easy it is to control the heating settings. In this respect, make sure to check indicators, displays and the number of control buttons. As a rule, hair stylers with LCD screens are more expensive than those without one, however, when it comes to beauty, there's no such thing as a high price.
FAQ:
Q: What is an auto shut off function used for?
A: This function is used to turn the appliance off automatically. Which is very handy, if you accidentally forget to switch it off after styling your hair. Auto shut-off function is found in the majority of electric appliances designed for hair styling.
Q: How long does the hair stay groomed?
A: Actually, your hair may stay straightened for several days in a row until you wash it. With fixing agents, the results will last even longer. However, it all depends on your hair type.
Q: Can it damage the hair?
Q: What models are better for wiry hair?
A: Flat irons with a heat regulator are a more suitable option for users with wiry hair since curly hair requires much higher settings for effective results. At the same time, we'd not recommend you to straighten your hair at the max temperature in order not to overdry it.
Q: Should any fixators be used?
Q: How many functions does a flat iron usually have?
A: Some of them can only straighten. Others can also curl. Those with replaceable clips are used to make curls of different sizes and volume. Crimpers also create very beautiful waves. If you are not going to change your hairstyle too often, having a straightener only will be enough.
Sources:
1. Caitlin Corsetti 10 Things You Need To Know About Choosing A Flat Iron, Gurl. May 6, 2015.
2. How To: Choose The Right Flat Iron For Your Hair Type, Folica blog.
3. How to Choose the Best Hair Straightener for Your Hair, Overstock. June 12, 2015.
4. Choosing the Best Hair Straightener for You, Hairfinder.
5. Stella Rose Saint Clair Flatirons: The Perfect Plate For You, Beautylish. September 27, 2012.
6. Phillip Picardi The Top 10 Flatiron Mistakes When Straightening Hair, teenVOGUE. August 14, 2016.
7. Julyne Derrick How to Use a Flat Iron, About. June 27, 2016.
8. Augusta Falletta 17 Useful Tricks For Anyone Who Uses A Hair Straightener, BuzzFeed. July 2, 2015.
9. Anna Jimenez Hair Care: How To Straighten Hair Like a Pro, TotalBeauty.
10. Devri Velazquez Are You Using the Best Flat Iron for Your Hair Type? NATURALLYCurly. October 12, 2015.
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