Another name for ironing curls - rectifier, although this definition does not fully characterize the device. With it, you can not only make a naughty hair smooth and straight, but also curl beautiful curls. Much has been said and written about the dangers of the device, because any thermal effect adversely affects the strands. But what to do to those who do not think of creating beautiful curls without this tool? Competently approach to purchase. The article will tell how to choose an iron for hair with the most careful influence on the hair, as well as how to properly use the device to get a chic effect.
Principle of operation
Girls with curls know that curly strands of nature begin to spin even more after shampooing and in wet weather. With this phenomenon is connected the principle of action ironing as a rectifier.
By exerting heat, the tool helps remove excess moisture from the hair shafts. If you need to create beautiful curls, the device works the same way as curling iron or hair curlers: it fixes curls in a certain position with the help of high temperature.
Modeling any styling, you need to clamp the strands between the plates ironing.
Types and selection
There are several basic parameters that allow you to choose a tool with the least aggressive influence on the hair.
The material from which the working surface (plate). The most important criterion. Determines the degree of impact on the hair shafts. Now you can find devices with such internal coating:
- metal - the most dangerous for hair. May heat unevenly, destroying the structure of the strands. The only plus is the low cost of such a device,
- ceramics - one of the most popular materials. It is an independent coating or base for other materials (tourmaline, titanium). It warms up well and keeps the desired temperature, it slides easily through the hair. But it is more expensive than metal, and the laying materials leave traces on the ceramic surface that need to be wiped immediately after using the ironing,
- titanium - often applied to ceramics, therefore they call this iron titanium-ceramic. This layer makes the plates smooth, providing fast sliding, therefore minimizing the risk of overheating. Among the shortcomings - the price of the tool,
- teflon - also coverage is not cheap. Gently affects the curls, well slides on them, preventing tangling. Unlike ceramic, it does not provoke sticking of hair and styling products. Minus: over time, Teflon application is erased, and the iron begins to aggressively affect the hair,
- marble - these irons are distinguished by high cost and a sparing effect on the structure of the hair shafts. Often they are called two-part. The surface of each side consists of two parallel plates: from ceramics and marble. The first material heats the strands, the second immediately cools, reducing the harmful effects of high temperature,
- tourmaline (or ion-ceramic coating) - the most modern version. It warms up evenly, slides well, removes the static effect. Contributes to the retention of moisture by hair, therefore it practically does not damage their structure,
- there is devices with jade platesbut this is more a sphere of professional hairdressing,
- one more option - silver plating - Significantly increases the cost of the tool, so not so popular.
The size of the plates. They are narrow and wide: less or more than 3 centimeters. The longer and thicker the curls, the greater must be the width of the surface.
For winding strands suitable tools with narrow plates. In addition, they are convenient to straighten bangs.
The form and method of fixing plates. Manufacturers produce models with straight and rounded edges.
By type of attachment there are devices with rigidly fixed or floating work surfaces. The second ones are attached to the body with springs or rubber bands, and therefore they smoothly descend and ascend during sliding along the curl. Such devices are rarely on sale, but are the best option because it is more convenient to use.
Attention! For curling hair, it is better to buy flat irons with rounded plates. So you can avoid the appearance of creases, curls will be smooth.
Clearance between plates. If there is no gap, the strands are tightly pressed, and the heat is distributed evenly through them. If there is a small distance between the sides of the ironing, the hair may get worse as it warms up, requiring repetition of the procedure.
When buying such a tool, make sure that the lumen size is not more than 1 millimeter for rigidly fixed plates and 2 for floating.
Temperature indicators. The lower limit of heating of most irons is about 100 ° С, and the upper one ranges from 150 to 230 ° С. Thick and thick curls require a high temperature, while weak, soft and thin ones are best treated at 130–150 ° С. For curling usually enough 180 ° C.
Some models are heated to the highest mark instantly - these are professional devices. The fastest rate for amateur devices is 5–10 seconds, the slowest is about a minute. If you plan to curl curls in a hurry, choose irons with an average value: 10-30 seconds.
A necessary option in any device of this type is the thermostat. Without it, the device will “warm up” to the highest temperature, which you may not need and is even dangerous if your hair is weak, thin or colored.
Power. Usually starts from 25 watts. For regular waving, it is better to buy a powerful device, because when winding the temperature should be higher than when straightening.
Additional nozzles. It can be a hairbrush for untangling hair, or tongs that are useful for twisting strands, “crimped”, spiral or brush heads.
Some other useful parts and options that make using the iron more comfortable:
- ionization function. Removes static stress, makes hair obedient, shiny,
- cord that rotates. Does not get tangled during operation,
- heat-resistant handbag, where you can put not fully cooled device.
Tip For permanent use, it is better to buy a professional iron more expensive. A quality amateur tool is a good choice for occasional use.
Pros and cons of use
Advantages:
- the ability to perform a beautiful home styling at any time
- high winding speed. Curl curls can be in 15-20 minutes
- the iron smoothes strands, giving them additional gloss,
- as a tool for curling suitable hair of any length.
Disadvantages:
- Any, even the highest quality and expensive iron spoils the structure of the curls. This is a matter of time and frequency of use of the device,
- the result is short-lived,
- there is a risk of overheating and burning hair, especially if it is wrong to calculate the temperature, hold the strand between the plates for a long time or buy an iron without a thermostat,
- high cost, if we are talking about a good, high-quality tool,
- to do a neat curl, you have to practice. Desirable - with a cold device. You can preview the training video.
For frequent business trips, you can purchase a compact and small mini iron.
Babyliss ST327E
- coating - Diamond Ceramic applied to a metal surface
- maximum temperature - 235 ° C,
- 6 modes of thermoregulation,
- can be used on wet hair,
- long rotating cord
- one of the plates is floating,
- auto power off after one hour of work,
- the cost is about 2,700 rubles.
Bosch Classic Coiffeur PHS7961
- coating - tourmaline-ceramic,
- maximum temperature - 200 ° C,
- 5 modes of thermoregulation,
- floating plates
- ionization function
- long cord that spins,
- warming up time - 25 seconds,
- the cost is about 3,500 rubles.
Philips HP8344
- coating - tourmaline,
- maximum temperature - 230 ° C,
- ionization function
- the ability to adjust the temperature
- there is an option to lock the buttons,
- the cost is around 2,800 rubles.
Remington Keratin Therapy Pro S8590
- coating - ceramic with keratin,
- maximum temperature - 230 ° C,
- 5 modes of thermoregulation,
- elongated floating plates with rounded edges,
- overheating protection sensor,
- auto power off after one hour of work,
- warming up time - 15 seconds,
- cost - from 4500 to 5900 rubles.
Rowenta sf3132
- tourmaline coating with keratin,
- maximum temperature - 230 ° C,
- 11 temperature conditions
- one of the plates is floating,
- warm up time - 30 seconds,
- ionization function
- long rotating cord
- the cost is about 2300 rubles.
Devices from Moser, Parlux, Harizma, GA.MA. also have a good reputation.
Terms of use
- Wash your hair with air conditioner. You can additionally apply a moisturizing mask to the hair.
- Dry your hair in a natural way, but not completely.
- Treat slightly moist curls with a heat shield, neatly spreading along the entire length of the comb with rare teeth. If it is a spray, spray it at a distance of 20–30 centimeters from the head.
- Dry your hair completely with a hair dryer.
- Divide all the hair into narrow strands.
Important! Do not use mousse, foam or gel: they can “glue” hair shafts. Better at the end fix the hair with lacquer. Read more about tools for creating and fixing curls on our website.
Further actions depend on what kind of curls you want to get.
To create large curls:
- Pinch the strand, slightly departing from the root zone.
- Fully rotate the device.
- Smoothly run it along the entire length of the curl.
- Wait for cooling, repeat with the rest of the strands.
To get small or medium waves, do this:
- Braid all strands in braids. Do not make them too fat.
- Heat each iron alternately, moving from top to bottom.
- Dissolve the pigtails, pack and fix with varnish.
The following method will help to make medium-sized elastic curls:
- Twist the strand into a flagellum.
- Warm it up with an iron.
- Straighten, repeat the same procedure with the rest of the strands.
You can twist the flagella in the "snail", wrap them in pieces of foil, and then heat the instrument. So do many professional hairdressers.
Precautionary measures
- Make sure that the scalp and hands do not come into contact with a hot surface, otherwise you may get burned.
- Do not leave the appliance turned on after curling your hair.
- Do not place the iron on surfaces that may catch fire or melt due to heat.
- Keep the device away from children. Keep it out of the reach of them.
- Spray lacquers and sprays away from the heated device.
- Make sure the cord is not twisted, otherwise the heated plates can damage it.
- Do not take the iron with wet hands.
- Do not perm on wet strands.
- At least for a while refrain from laying brittle, damaged hair.
Attention! Hot tool makes hair more vulnerable. Immediately after using it, do not comb the locks with a comb with metal teeth, protect the strands from the sun, discard heavy accessories on the head.
The iron for a curling - a useful thing, here only to choose and it is necessary to use it competently. Do not save on the purchase, because it will certainly affect your hair. Try to use the tool no more than 1-2 times a week, always with thermal protection.
While practicing hot styling, especially carefully care for the curls, pamper them with additional hydration, nourishing masks. With careful attention to the curls harm from the ironing will be minimal.
A lot of helpful tips about hair curling can be found in our articles:
Useful videos
How to choose a good hair straightener.
Choose a hair straightener and style your hair.
Rectifier coating - the main indicator when choosing
The main indicator when choosing a hair straightener is materialof which the plates are made, with the help of which direct contact with the hair takes place, and their exposure to heat by means of heat. The main materials for the manufacture of plates:
From this list, the most safe and high-quality coating is tourmaline. Due to the light gliding on the hair tourmaline causes less damage to the hair structure, as this material is evenly heated and the process of straightening is much faster.
But it is worth considering that reclaimers with tourmaline coating is not a budget option.
If it is not possible to purchase an iron with tourmaline plates, the ceramic version will be a worthy alternative. The only difference between this material from the previous one is the absence of ionization of the hair.
Titanium and Teflon rectifiers are suitable for those who rarely or for quite a long time use this type of styler, the protective properties in these materials are very weak.
Temperature Regulator
A couple of years ago, rectifiers with a temperature regulator began to appear on the market. Of course, the introduction of such a function facilitates the process of straightening and preserving the appearance of hair.
As a rule, the temperature of the ironing varies from 140 to 230 degrees, and here there is only one rule - the thinner and weakly salted your hair type the more gentle should be the temperature regime. But if your hair is not porous and more close to straight hair, then it is quite possible to do without a temperature regulator.
Rectifier plate dimensions
The next important indicator is plate width. Plates can be as narrow as 1.5-2 cm or as wide as 4-5 cm.
The thicker, tougher and longer the hair, the wider the plate should be, thus, having held the iron once, you straighten more hair, thereby reducing the risk of damage and burning.
The space between the plates
Be sure to pay attention to the availability or lack of clearance between the plates.
It is desirable that he was absent, it will allow to evenly distribute the heat of the ironing along the strands, without resorting to additional straightening and, accordingly, injury. If there is still a gap, then its maximum distance should be no more than 1 millimeter.
Professional or household rectifiers?
When choosing a rectifier, the question arises: which iron to choose professional or household?
Of course, if the budget allows, then the preference should be given professional ironingwhich as a rule are always made of good materials, the kit can include useful tools in the form of corrugated nozzles (convenient for creating basal volume), comb nozzles for smoother straightening and term cover, which allows you to remove the iron immediately after use.
But also household option may have the same options, the main difference is the life and quality.
Philips rectifier to save time
Hair straighteners of this brand heat up very quickly, which significantly saves time.
Also, if you have not just waves, but large heavy curls of the Philips ironing perfectly align them even at minimum temperatures, which allows you not to injure the already porous structure of the hair.
GA.MA brand - pros and cons
This is a brand that produces high-quality and preferred by most rectifiers. Their huge plus is the quality of the plates, fast heating and the type of installation.
The minus that can be encountered when using this ironing - difficulty pressing temperature control buttons.
Read the various hairstyles on the side with luxurious curls.
Think what kind of thermal protection is best for your hair? On this link read the review of different manufacturers.
BaByliss straightener to keep hair shine
Rectifiers, perform their functions well, without damaging the hair.
Some models are equipped with a steam supply system during straightening, which reduces hair moisture loss, preserving their natural shine and moisture.
Mark Remington - sales leader!
American brand, which produces some of the leading sales of hair straighteners. These rectifiers have reasonable price and decent quality.
All modern models equipped with temperature controllers. Plates are easy to use due to their long cords and the shapes of the straighteners themselves.
Brand Rowenta with temperature control system
One of the most common rectifiers.
Irons, due to their rounded shape, can not only perfectly align unruly and curly hair, but also create perfect curls, ranging from small light curls, ending with large Hollywood curls.
Easy to operate, as all new models are equipped with a temperature control system.
So, when choosing ironing key indicators its qualities should be the material from which the plates are made, the immediate width of the plates, the presence of a temperature regulator and the absence of a large gap between the plates.
Overview of tasks solved by the consumer
A flat iron is often given a name by its immediate function - it is called a “hair straightener”.
Asking how to choose the right hair iron, the future owner wants only a simple and effective device that will remove excess moisture from the hair, thereby straightening the hair.
Focusing on the sea of useful information that helps to solve the problem, how to choose a good hair iron, a woman seeks to eliminate flaky hair scales and give them more shine and life.
List of key features
When purchasing a hair straightener, you need to pay attention to such characteristics as:
- the material used to make the plates
- the gap between the plates
- maximum temperature and thermostat.
Plate material options:
About the features of the plates ironing
When deciding which hair iron is better, one should also pay attention to the material that was used for the iron plates. The fact is that the choice of a particular option affects the ease of use, the quality of the results and the health of the hair.
To help decide which instrument to choose, you need to know two simple requirements.
- Warming plates should be done evenly. If the plates are heated unevenly, in particular, in the central part the temperature is higher and lower at the edges, then there is always a risk that the hair will be burned or not smoothed.
- The second requirement is a good glide. In his absence, you will have to suffer with the process of ironing.
On the pros and cons of materials for the plates
Additional useful properties from modern developments are inherent only in tourmaline plates. The reason is that there is a semi-precious mineral in their composition, due to which negative particles are released and transferred to the hair.
Positive health effects: obedience, shine and vividness of hair with a lower level of electrification.
However, reviews indicate that plates made from a range of materials lead to rapid damage to the goods. The result is not only the deterioration of the appearance of the iron, but also the worst slippage of it through the hair.
For this reason, only professionals can straighten hair with this iron. For home use, handle the device with extreme care.
If you choose a model with metal plates, then you should not expect uniform heating from it. In this regard, analogues from tourmaline, ceramics, Teflon and titanium are advantageous.
Metal is also no different to good slippage and ionization of hair.
The maximum temperature for different options varies in the range of 180-230 degrees.
Two plates - what is the expediency of this design
Selecting a model with two-part plates, you need to know that they have not one but two plates on each surface.
Such a distribution of functions creates additional convenience in the process of application and allows for better hair preservation: due to the fact that they retain less heat for less time and are less exposed to damage from overheating.
Features of the choice of plate material
When finances are limited, a matched iron will please its owner if it includes ceramic plates.
But, as a rule, a woman says to herself: “I choose something that is cheaper” and becomes the owner of a model with tourmaline plates or two-part plates.
Prefer Teflon and titanium plates should be only with a long - over one year - the use of ironing.
It is necessary to refrain from buying models equipped with metal plates: this is a direct path to hopelessly ruined hair.
Manufacturers & Pricing Overview
Hair flat irons are produced by companies and firms specializing in the production of various types of household appliances.
If you have the appropriate financial capabilities, it is best to purchase any of the options mentioned.
Household appliances for hair, as more affordable for the mass consumer, is characterized by price characteristics ranging from 700 to 1600 rubles. They differ from professional analogues: the quality of performance and the breadth of the functional set.
Modern manufacturers offer a wide selection of different rectifiers. Customer reviews allow you to make the TOP 5 of the best irons for 2016.
BaByliss BAB2073E
This iron - one of the best models with a titanium coating. Also, many users say quite a long cord that allows you to straighten unruly hair with great comfort.
Advantages:
Iron BaByliss BAB2073Elong wire, "able" to rotate,
Disadvantages:
- overheating of the outer side of the plates.
The average cost is 5,000 rubles.
Moser 3303-0051
Hair straightener, one of the best among models with tourmaline plates, can operate in 6 modes, heat up to 200 ° C, and all these changes can be observed on a convenient display.
In addition, many customers note a very long cord (3 meters), which also enhances comfort when using a useful device.
Advantages:
Iron Moser 3303-0051
- display,
- 6 modes,
- ionization function
- nozzle for straightening.
Disadvantages:
- when pressing the buttons the iron collapses.
Average cost - 2600 rubles.
Braun ES2 Satin Hair
Another model with ceramic plates, which is characterized by ease of use and wide functionality. This allows users to create individual settings when styling their hair.
Braun ES2 Satin Hair
Advantages:
- rapid heating
- the ability to create curls,
- ionizing system
- 15 modes,
- display,
- long cord
- heat tracking.
Disadvantages:
- no eyelets or hooks for hanging.
The average cost is 6,200 rubles.
Rowenta SF 7640
These forceps allow you to quickly create an impressive hairstyle. Ceramic plates, which heat up to a temperature of 200 ° C, do not damage female hair at all.
The rectifier is also equipped with a display and a power indicator. The wire, which rotates around its axis, adds extra points when choosing the best hair straightener.
Advantages:
Braun ES2 Satin Hairheating up soon
Disadvantages:
- quite high price for its class.
Average cost - 4800 rubles.
Reading the instructions and recommendations of professionals
Successful purchase ironing is not only the purchase of an expensive accessory for personal care from a reputable manufacturer. First of all, it is a careful acquaintance with all the characteristics of the model, an understanding of the purpose of each of the components of the design and selection in accordance with everyday tasks that require optimally successful solutions.
