Hair straighteners are one of those products that do not come as a ‘one size fits all’ type. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of this detail and tend to shop for a hair straightener without putting their hair type into consideration.
So today we’re going to run you through different types of plates commonly used in a straightener, to help you decide which one is more likely to suit your hair type.
A Quick Guide to Straightener Plate Materials
Here’s a look at the most common plate types you'll encounter, along with how each one behaves on the hair. Understanding their unique benefits will help you choose a straightener that aligns with your hair type, styling needs, and long-term hair health.
Ceramic: Ceramic plates are great for holding onto high temperatures and keeping them consistent, ensuring that the heat is distributed evenly down the plates. Ceramic plates are smooth, minimizing tangles as you run them through your hair, and also enabling them to reduce frizz while adding shine.
- How they feel: Smooth, which allows them to glide through hair with minimal snagging.
- Best for: Most hair types, especially fine medium hair. They are fantastic at reducing frizz and adding shine without excessive heat.
- Watch out for: Lower-quality ceramic plates can crack or chip over time.
Titanium: Titanium plates heat up very quickly and are then able to retain that temperature for quite a while. They are lightweight and are gentler on the delicate ends of your hair. These plates are best for people who have damaged ends, as well as for those who have quite thick or coarse hair.
-
How they feel: Ultra-smooth and strong.
-
Best for: Thick, coarse, or unruly hair that needs high heat to be tamed. They are also gentle on delicate ends, making them a good option for those with some damage.
-
Watch out for: The intense, consistent heat can be too much for fine or chemically treated hair, potentially leading to dryness or burn.
Ceramic Coated: They are usually made from metal but have a ceramic coating, meaning that the heat isn’t distributed evenly. While they do get quite hot, they aren’t good at retaining that heat, especially when compared to pure ceramic plates.
- How they feel: Smooth at first, but the coating can be worn off over time.
- Best for: Occasional use or those on a tight budget.
- Watch out for: The heat distribution is less even than pure ceramic or titanium, and they can lose heat quickly when gliding through sections of hair, leading to inconsistent results.
Tourmaline: This is one of the newer plate materials and does tend to be more expensive than the rest. While tourmaline is a gemstone, it is ground up and then used on flat iron plates, usually over the top of ceramic. This makes the ceramic even smoother than it was, resulting in less hair damage. Tourmaline is also highly durable and maintains high temperatures well.
- How they feel: Exceptionally smooth, often smoother than pure ceramic.
- Best for: Anyone seeking maximum shine and frizz control, especially those with frizzy, dry, or damaged hair. It creates a smooth finish with less heat, promoting hair health.
- Watch out for: This advanced technology often comes with a higher price tag.
shivani chauhan
My hair is frizzy and wavy