Best Hair Straightener 2012

It's funny how you are getting ready to go out and your hair is unmanageable. There are times when all you can do is tie your hair into a ponytail or hide them inside a hat/cap. We all have been through bad hair days and nothing we do, at that moment, can have saved us from being an embarrassment. The reason I am so confident in making this generalized statement is that even I have been through this situation, countless times, and have yet to find a permanent solution. Till the day us women can have perfect hair, at all times, I think we will just have to settle for temporary beauty and hair care solutions that have been invented by humankind.

Of course, not every woman on this planet has similar hair. The texture, length, color, volume, and type is unique. And on top of that, when you add styling into the mix, it feels like you're dealing with a bit too much. Out of all the hair care products available in market, there is one method which guarantees silky, smooth hair every time. What is it? Hair straighteners. And that's what we will be talking about in this article - finding the best straightener that suits your hair texture and type. But that's not all. In order to find one that is perfect for your hair texture and type, we have to go through a few stages. As you read the article, you will learn more about these stages.

Different Plate Materials for Straighteners

Sometime ago, I thought that the plates in these machines were the same. Well, what a revelation that was. If you have been scouting beauty stores, then you are aware of the vast range of straighteners which are available. With different plate sizes (we'll discuss on that in some time), shapes of the flat irons, material of the plates, and prices, no wonder the decision to find the best flat iron is so tough. So how can someone get the right straightener for their hair type? A good way to tackle this is by understanding what these various straighteners offer and how they can be most useful to you. Hence, before investing in a flat iron, first know what are the different plate materials available. Here's an easy breakdown on the various plates available in market today.

Basic Irons These irons have metal plates and have limited or sometimes no additional settings included. These are often known as "no frills" models which aim to get your hair straight and nothing more. A major issue with these irons is that their heat settings are not controlled and can burn your hair, if not used properly. So my advice to you is - try to stay away from such straightening irons. If you have dry or frizzy hair, you don't want to dry them furthermore.

Ceramic Irons These irons have ceramic plates (one of the popular choices) that come in range of prices. It gives equal heat distribution and has less chances of burning hair. Ceramic irons have ceramic heaters in them which help in producing negative ions. This helps in keeping your hair shaft smooth and closes the hair follicles.

Titanium Irons These irons are supposedly strong and durable to use for an extended period of time. With even heat distribution, it helps straighten curls and waves easily; that too in a very short amount of time. Less amount of time used while straightening hair means, you use less electricity; a win-win solution.

Tourmaline Irons These irons (I would personally call them one of the best flat irons out there) are used for styling, straightening, and managing hair the right way. They heat up really fast, don't damage hair, and can be used on wet and dry hair (certain models). Tourmaline irons make your hair look shiny and healthy.

Ionic Irons These irons (very, very awesome flat irons) are made to remove frizz from your hair. They help in giving a beautiful shine to your hair as it locks the moisture in, instead of drying the hair out. These flat irons can be a bit pricey because they are so good. To achieve best results and keep your hair healthy and shiny, these are the best straighteners.

Plate Size Selection

Selecting the right size is the key. It makes a heck of a difference in the way your hair looks, shines, and sets. Apart from the material of the flat iron, the plate size can also make a huge difference to the appearance of your hair. You go get ready for office, school, or a special event, along with wearing the right clothes and makeup, your hair also makes an important statement. If your hair is just 'O.K.' looking, then spending hours getting ready will go to waste. When you're searching for salon-like results, you should concentrate more on high quality plates. And depending on the length of your hair and texture, choosing the right flat iron for you is essential. Which is why, we have put together the following table that will make things a bit clear for you.

Plate Size Recommendation
Hair	Fine	Medium, Wavy	Coarse, Curly
Above Shoulders	Any	" - 1"	1" - 1"
Shoulder Length	Any	1" - 1"	1" - 2"
Below Shoulders	Any	1" - 2"	1" - 2"
Temperature Recommendation
	< 360F	360F - 380F	380F - 410F
Plate Material Recommendation
	Tourmaline, Ionic	Ceramic, Tourmaline, Titanium, Ionic	Tourmaline, Titanium, Ionic

Choosing the Straightener For You

It doesn't matter if your friend, sister, or colleague has the most expensive or best straightener. What matters is which straightener will suit you. You can't just randomly walk into a store and buy one. Of course, there are certain brands that are above others. A few of the brands (in no particular order) are CHI, BaByliss, GHD, Remington, Croc, Paul Mitchell, Solia, Sedu, and a few more. However, this doesn't mean that any straightener will be ideal. You have to check the technology it uses and all the other minor details we've discussed in this article.

Now since we have been talking about the techniques and tricks required to find the best straightener, it's no wonder that we will be going over them right now. These are simple guidelines which everyone should be aware of before making the purchase. So, shall we look at these guidelines to find the best straightener for thick hair, fine hair, and wavy hair?

1. The plate size is very important. Follow the instructions given to you according to the table presented above.
2. The iron has to have adjustable heat controls to increase or decrease the temperature.
3. The material of the plates can be either ceramic, titanium, tourmaline, or ionic. It would be better if the plates are titanium and/or tourmaline.
4. Check the wattage of the iron. Low wattage means low reheating capacity after using on hair every time.
5. The heating system should be ICHS - Integrated Ceramic Heating System. They can be used on damp hair, the plates heat up faster using less electricity, and won't damage your hair.

Hair Straighteners that Work Great

Every brand/product has its own benefits and drawbacks. They can either make or break your style. So when you are out shopping, these factors are supposed to be kept in mind because they can make a huge difference between purchasing the perfect/right iron and an O.K. flat iron. The reason I'm stressing on these guidelines or suggestions a lot is because there are tons of brands sold by various retailers who claim they have the best flat iron for fine hair, thick hair, wavy, or frizzy hair. So how can someone find the right iron for their hair type and length? Simple. Just go over the table given below and find out.

Selecting the Right Straightener
Hair	Fine	Medium, Wavy	Coarse, Curly
Above Shoulders	GA.MA Ceramic HP Flat Iron	Hot Tools Pink Titanium 1" Flat Iron	HAI Convertable Ceramic Flat Iron
	Cricket Centrix Ceramic Flat Iron	HAI eLite Nano XT 1" Flat Iron	Solia Tourmaline Ceramic Ion Flat Iron (1")
Shoulder Length		GHD Classic Styler Ceramic Hair Straightener	Ozon Titanium Flat 1" Iron
		Sedu Flat Tourmaline Ceramic 1" Iron	Sedu Revolution Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron
Below Shoulders		FHI Ceramic Technique Flat Iron 1"	FHI Ceramic Technique Flat Iron 1"
		BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium 1" Straightener	Croc 2 Infrared Flat Iron 1"

This was all about the best hair straighteners of 2012 for thick hair, normal, fine hair, wavy, and frizzy hair. I hope that when you go out shopping, you won't be as confused as before and can make the right decision in protecting and styling your hair with flat irons.