We do not advertise equipment, we test it and make a rating. We haven't ignored hair straightening irons. With the support of professional hairdressers and based on customer reviews, we present a rating of the best hair straighteners of 2021.
When choosing a hair straightener, girls often ask: are ceramic or titanium plates better? What is the best flat iron for curls or damaged hair?
Hair straighteners allow you to create beautiful hairstyles every day without the help of professional hairdressers. These devices work like this: the plates of the iron grab a strand of hair and, under the influence of high temperature, remove excess moisture from it, as a result of which the curls are straightened. Some models of such stylers are equipped with additional options that provide hair care and protection from heat. The straightener comes with attachments for different styling options.
We have previously written about:
- TOP 13 Best hair dryers
What is a tourmaline straightener?
Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone that, when heated, begins to release negatively charged ions. Human hair is positively charged. As a result of the influence of negative particles, the positive charge of the curls is neutralized, which means that the characteristic electrification effect is eliminated. As a result, the hair becomes smooth, lies flat, and the treatment has a positive effect on creating a hairstyle.
Semi-precious metal tourmaline
The tourmaline iron has the following features:
- The straightener is a ceramic base on which tourmaline powder is applied.
- The presented types of irons are recommended to be used if the hair is colored or weakened.
- The semi-precious stone is capable of emitting ultraviolet light.
The main difference from standard types of straighteners is the presence of a property, which is the ability to retain water inside the hair structure. This has a positive effect on its condition, especially if the curls are already damaged by previous procedures.
You can learn about the benefits of titanium coating in hair straighteners in our article.
What is tourmaline in hair straighteners?
Tourmaline may sound like a confusing technical term, but it is quite simple. Tourmaline releases negative ions as soon as it comes into contact with heat. Another technical sounding term, right?
Well, positive ions are actually what is in the atmosphere that causes frizz and static in your hair. What tourmaline does is work to convert positive to negative, and the negative ions are what results in smoother, shinier hair.
Now it's probably clear why tourmaline is pretty amazing. Tourmaline can actually perform much better than the typical ceramic found in flat irons. So if you are looking for the best hair straightener, you may want to consider the Tourmaline Flat Iron!
Advantages and disadvantages
An iron with a tourmaline coating has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be discussed in more detail so that you do not encounter problems during use. The tourmaline straightener with ionization has proven itself quite well.
The positive aspects include the following factors:
- This hair straightener glides through your hair better. Nothing sticks to the coating, which means that the iron will last longer.
- The effect of tourmaline perfectly removes static electricity, which has a positive effect on the condition of curls and the entire hairstyle as a whole.
- Natural sealing of the hair cuticle occurs, which is why its structure is protected from external influences. Sealing prevents the penetration of harmful substances into the structure, as a result of which hair straighteners can be used repeatedly without damage or danger.
Despite significant positive circumstances, a hair straightener using a tourmaline coating has disadvantages consisting of the following factors:
- The first is based on the cost of the device - this is a high-tech device, which means its price is higher than standard and common rectifiers. It’s a little more budget-friendly to choose a mini-iron.
- The second factor is the lack of necessary and familiar functions in the model and the presence of minor flaws. Everything is connected with the fact that the production of the presented type of electrical device has not yet perfected its skills, so you will still have to face problems.
- The third is the peculiarity of heating the outer part of the device, and this provokes a long cooling time.
The effect of hair treatment with a straightener with tourmaline coating
These are only the main advantages and disadvantages of the presented electrical equipment. Each girl will find her own positive and negative aspects during use and will be able to choose the best hair straightener coating for herself.
Popular brands
Top 5 popular options for rectifiers with ionization function:
- BaByliss PRO 2091EPE is a model created for those who are ready to value time and want to take good care of their hair. The coating is made of ceramics, Electronic thermostat from 150 to 230 C. The cost of the device is from 4800 rubles.
- Philips HP8344 - half the price of the unit, suitable for home use. Heats up in 10 seconds, cools down quickly, and has a powerful antistatic effect. Used for curling.
- Remington S8700 is a device from an American company, equipped with a built-in touch sensor to protect hair from overheating and allows you to select the appropriate styling mode. Price from 1900 rub.
- GA.MA Attiva Digital is ideal in terms of price and quality ratio. It has a comfortable rubberized body that does not slip out of your hands when working. There is a display and heating indicator. Thermostat from 150⁰С to 220⁰С. Cost from 2300 rub.
- Budget option Gorenje HS90BG – price from 1200 rubles. The curling iron has a classic shape, the plates are made of ceramic. The presence of a temperature controller makes it possible to select a suitable individual operating mode. Attractive design.
Styling devices with an ionic function make it possible to keep your curls healthy and shiny. Yes, rectifiers are several times more expensive than their classic counterparts, but they are fully justified in operation.
Feel like a queen when styling with ionizing hair straighteners.
What to look for when choosing
When choosing a tourmaline straightener, you should pay attention not only to the fact how it works, but also to additional factors that differ from model to model. Here are the following recommendations for choosing technology:
- It is better to give preference to professional models. Despite the fact that they are expensive, they have additional functions, and reviews from professionals indicate long-term use.
Iron from a famous brand in a convenient package - It is necessary to choose models from well-known manufacturers. It is a well-known brand and achieves its fame only due to its quality and effective use.
- When choosing a model, you need to study the functionality - the available functions are indicated in the instructions, some irons have attachments included. You can also ask your sales manager to tell you why the straightener you have chosen is good.
- Availability of a warranty period - not every manufacturer gives a good guarantee for their product, this should be of concern.
Tourmaline coated straightener plate
An important criterion when choosing is the mandatory presence of a thermostat. If the device does not have a temperature switching function, then it is prohibited to buy it. This will lead to a problem in the form of hair damage, as a result of which further use of the iron will not follow. The money is wasted - it will be difficult to return the used device.
Types of rectifiers
Despite the fact that all irons work on exactly the same principle, their characteristics and cost may differ significantly. Straightening devices come in two types: professional and conventional.
Ordinary
Non-professional ironing models may not have additional functions. Their heating usually takes an order of magnitude longer than professional ones, and the power is much less, but they can also be attractive in appearance. Due to this, the price difference between expensive and cheap ones is practically not felt. Some models come with additional attachments included. They are used only for home use. Due to their simplicity, you don’t need any special skills to create the styling.
Conventional device
We recommend reading on our website what the features of rectifiers with the steam operating principle are.
Professional
Professional straighteners can be used by both ordinary girls and hairdressers to create various hairstyles. They differ in their functionality, the ability to regulate the heating temperature and a large number of various attachments. They also have high power and instant heating, which simplifies the work of a hairdresser or stylist. Their main feature is the ability to apply to damp hair. The only downside is the massiveness of the device itself. Lovers of compact sizes should opt for mini hair straighteners.
Professional device
Rating of tourmaline straighteners
To help you choose a tourmaline straightener, you should provide a rating of the most popular and best-functioning models.
Rowenta SF3132
The German brand gained popularity several decades ago, which is associated with the distinctive positive qualities in the constant use of small household appliances. The presented model is distinguished by a large number of temperature modes - there are 11 of them, so the plates can heat up from 130 to 230 degrees.
Another advantage of the design is the presence of one floating plate, which allows the strands to be captured neatly and without tearing off the hair. The iron heats up within 30 seconds after switching on. Its cost is about 3 thousand rubles.
Straightener model Rowenta SF3132
Philips HP8321/00 EssentialCare
This model is convenient for use on trips, since it uses a voltage switch from 110 to 230 V. The advantages of use include elongated plates with tourmaline coating, which makes straightening curls faster and safer.
Despite the positive aspects, the model has a serious drawback. In this case, they highlight the inability to change the temperature, which often makes the iron unsuitable for use. Its cost is about 2 thousand rubles.
Straightener model Philips HP8321/00 EssentialCare
GA.MA Urban (P21.URB)
This straightener contains a ceramic-tourmaline coating, which makes frequent use of the iron safer for the plates themselves - the presence of a special layer of silver provides reliable antibacterial protection. The model is compact, so it is often purchased for travel and other trips. The disadvantage of a straightener is the lengthy preparation of hair for styling, so it is mainly used only to eliminate the characteristic electrification. The cost does not exceed 2 thousand rubles.
Straightener GA.MA Urban (P21.URB)
GA.MA IHT Tourmaline Slim (P21.IHT.SLIM)
Another GA.MA straightener attracts the attention of buyers due to its fast heating and gentle processing of curls, which ensures uniform heat distribution. Moreover, this model has an interesting memory function, which consists of reproducing previous settings. Therefore, if one person uses the device, it means that he does not have to constantly painstakingly and carefully adjust the temperature.
At the same time, this iron is not very effective in treating thick hair - it simply “doesn’t handle” it. The kit does not include a case; according to reviews, it is not happy with long-term use. The cost of the presented model is about 1.5 thousand rubles.
Straightener GA.MA IHT Tourmaline Slim (P21.IHT.SLIM)
Which is better: tourmaline or ceramic coating?
Ceramics makes the process of creating a hairstyle almost safe: the tool easily glides through the strands, reducing the time it takes to work on them. These devices are very popular due to their harmlessness, efficiency and relatively low cost.
By applying tourmaline coating to the ceramic, negative external effects on the hair structure are completely eliminated. The negative charges that appear during heating eliminate static electricity, neutralizing the positive ions of the strand. In addition, the tourmaline layer enhances the effect of cosmetics used to create hairstyles.
Tourmaline coating applied to ceramics has not only all the advantages of ceramic coatings, but also its own strengths:
- faster and more uniform heating;
- maintaining the water balance of the hair;
- maximum safety;
- durability compared to ceramics.
Therefore, when choosing a curling iron, it is recommended to give preference to models with a tourmaline working surface.
How to use
Once the best straightener is selected, the question arises about the correct use of the device, which is typical for beginners. Tourmaline irons are not distinguished by a special technique of use, so here the sequence of use is presented as follows:
Proper use of a hair straightener - processing each strand one by one
- Wash your hair, after which you need to apply a special thermal protectant to your curls - this will additionally provide protection from exposure to high temperatures.
- Next, you should dry your hair - it is better to do this naturally. But if this is not possible, you can use a hairdryer. Please note that there are instructions for the selected ironing model - if it allows the use of the device on wet hair, then you can resort to using it immediately. This will save a lot of time.
- Then you can start ironing. First, you should treat the area of the back of the head, then move to the temples, and finish processing the strands on the top of the head. The straightener should be moved from roots to ends.
- Next, fix the installation with varnish or any other fixing agent.
When using a straightener, you should be careful not to hold the plates in one of the areas. Otherwise, you may encounter a violation of the integrity of the hair structure, or even lose a strand.
How to properly care for and clean your straightener
Tourmaline straightener plates should be properly cared for - cleaned after each use. There is currently no specially developed product for cleaning tourmaline plates, but experienced users use improvised products that also effectively remove plaque formed from chemical hair care products:
- Chalk for cleaning an iron sounds strange, but this particular product allows you to quickly and without damage remove plaque from tourmaline plates. Use the chalk according to the instructions on the package.
Special pencil for cleaning the iron - Alcohol - used only when the plates are cool. The method is not as effective because it only removes certain types of chemicals.
- A drop of Domestos - used when the plates have cooled down.
It should be noted that, regardless of the product used, soft cloth napkins should be used for cleaning. You should not resort to strong rubbing of the plates, as this will lead to abrasion of the tourmaline layer, which means you may experience hair damage in the future.
We also recommend that you read the article: “How to clean your hair straightener.”
The best hair straighteners with titanium coating
1
BaBylissPRO BAB2091EPE/LPE/NKWE/NKPE
Rating:5.0
- with display
- maximum heating temperature 230 °C
- power-on indication
- additional functions: ionization
Average price: RUB 7,203
The professional styler BAB2091EPE implements several unique technologies. Plates with galvanic coating EP 5.0 ensure perfect gliding of strands and are not afraid of even the most “strong” cosmetics. The ionization option protects hair from high temperatures as much as possible. The heating element is self-regulating, due to which the operating temperature is regulated and maintained with minimal errors. It is one of the most reliable rectifiers.
Peculiarities:
- instant heating to operating temperature and 5 different styling modes;
- setting electron temperatures, digital display;
- long rotating cord (2.7 m).
2
Philips HPS930 Pro
Rating:4.9
- with display
- maximum heating temperature 230 °C
- additional functions: ionization
Average price: RUB 4,990
The HPS930 Pro model is suitable for both home and professional use. The titanium-coated floating plates are particularly durable and perfectly smooth. They heat up evenly and provide quick, high-quality styling. For gentle hair care, the device has a built-in ionization option with automatic activation.
Peculiarities:
- temperature adjustment is smooth, the range is wide, modes are switched with a “wheel”;
- heating is fast - in 25-30 seconds up to 160°C;
- there is an automatic shutdown after an hour of operation or inactivity;
- there is no mechanical lock to secure the device in the closed position;
- The display is not very clear.