Iron for Botox and keratin - how and which iron to choose

Criteria for choosing a professional hair straightener

Iron coating

The coating of the iron is also very important.

• Metal (aluminum) coating cannot be used when working with Botox and keratin, since uncoated metal may react undesirably with the ingredients of the composition. It also has a low maximum heating temperature, approximately, depending on the manufacturer, up to 160-180 degrees, which does not correspond to the temperature regime for the procedure - compositions for keratin straightening begin to work at a temperature of at least 200 degrees. Therefore, using an aluminum-coated straightener is not suitable for Botox and keratin treatments.
• The coating of the straightener made of tourmaline or ceramic due to its properties will not cause unwanted reactions with the composition. And although such coatings have a fairly high heating rate, they still have a significant disadvantage - uneven heating of the plates. That is, the temperature of the center of the plate and its edges can differ in the range of 5 to 30 degrees, which will accordingly affect the quality of the procedure performed and the period of its wear.
• The titanium coating of the straightening iron is rightfully considered the most advanced and most suitable for Botox and keratin procedures. Titanium is also a metal, but titanium does not react with any cosmetic products. Titanium has light weight, high thermal conductivity, increased strength and wear resistance, as well as resistance to mechanical damage. The titanium coating is smooth and does not have the property of “gluing” or sticking to the hair when evaporating, so a titanium-coated iron glides easily through the strands without catching individual hairs.

Caring for your keratin hair straightening iron

Applied cosmetics will inevitably cause contamination of the device.

In order for the keratin restoration procedure to be truly high-quality, it is necessary to constantly keep the device clean. This is especially true for irons with ceramic coated plates, which will inevitably become dirty during the procedure. To ensure the cleanliness of the device, after each use you should wipe it using warm water, a soft cloth and cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach areas. To better remove the remaining keratin composition from the surface of the plates, before cleaning the device needs to be slightly heated and turned off by removing the plug from the socket. This will ensure safety while doing work.

If, after these steps, there are still contaminants on the surface of the plates or the body of the device, you can deal with them by wiping them with a soft cloth soaked in alcohol diluted with water. Once it is clean, you need to wipe it with a dry cloth and leave to dry. It is prohibited to straighten hair with an iron with moisture remaining on the surface.

You can use warm water and a soft cloth to clean the straightener.

Ergonomic design

The ergonomic design is responsible for the convenience of working with the iron.

The body of the iron must be made of heat-resistant plastic, which will ensure ease of ironing and comfort for the master during the work. Of course, this does not mean that the body of the iron does not heat up at all - of course it heats up, because the body has built-in plates on which a high temperature is maintained for the entire duration of the procedure, but the heating temperature should not exceed the temperature at which the straightener can be comfortably held in hands.

Comfortable in hand. Let's call this point exactly that, because depending on the size of the iron itself, the width of its handles, weight, angularity or, on the contrary, streamlinedness, on the coating of the body (smooth or rubberized matte), on the presence or presence of relief on the handle - all these parameters determine how much convenient to hold in your hand and comfortable to use at work.

Keratin specialists work for several hours in a row, holding a straightening iron in their hand. Therefore, using an uncomfortable iron that doesn’t fit your hand can lead to:

• To increased load on the hand.
• To pinching of blood vessels and nerve endings in the thumb, index and middle fingers, which bear the load when pinching the iron.
• And, as a result, to increased fatigue, pain or numbness of the hand or individual fingers.

Temperature

All modern straighteners are equipped with a digital display with a light indicator, with which the technician sets the temperature at which the procedure will be performed. The indicator allows you to set, maintain and control the temperature throughout the procedure with an accuracy of one degree.

Whatever coating you choose, the iron must distribute heat evenly across the plates to work, that is, the heating temperature must be the same both in the center and along all edges of the plate, this is extremely important so that the entire strand is processed at the same temperature, without temperature loss along the edges of the iron.

The iron must operate in a wide temperature range from a minimum of 130 degrees to a maximum of 230 degrees. This will allow you to both perform Botox and reconstruction procedures using a “warm” technique with minimal heating of the hair fiber, in the case of working with damaged hair, and perform the keratin hair straightening procedure even with the toughest complex hair at high temperatures.

Best Inexpensive Hair Straighteners

When buying a budget hair straightener, it is extremely important not to go wrong with the plate material. If you don't know which coating is best for a hair straightener, consider the following:

1. Metal plates are used in the most budget devices, and they heat up unevenly. They can be used if the user has thick, strong hair;
2. Ceramic coating is considered the best option due to its affordable price, uniform heating and ease of maintenance. The main disadvantage of such plates is their rapid cooling;
3. The highest quality coating for a straightener is tourmaline, which attracts with its increased level of safety, glide, and reliability. The downside is the price. It is important to understand that we are talking about a semi-precious mineral that is applied on top of ceramics. However, some manufacturers sometimes offer such plates in the budget segment, while reducing the number of options for their equipment.

There are also titanium plates, but they are extremely rare due to their high price.

REDMOND RCI-2312

Our Top 10 rectifiers open with a budget model from REDMOND, the RCI-2312 series, which attracts with its stylish design and fairly high-quality floating plates. The main component of the structure is protected by ceramics. This guarantees gentle hair care. On the subject of sliding, we were able to see only positive customer reviews. Among the negative comments, we note that some users complain about the process of creating curls, during which they have to make significant efforts to clamp the plates. Selecting the optimal temperature level is easy. Also pleased with the lock located on the handle.

Pros:

• fast heating;
• good glide;
• careful care;
• good build quality.

Minuses:

• you need to press hard.

Rowenta SF 1519

In search of an inexpensive hair straightening iron, quite a lot of buyers preferred the Rowenta SF 1519 model, which received a lot of attention due to its fast heating and safe care for curls. The device is equipped with a high-quality ceramic coating, which ensures easy gliding. The maximum temperature reaches 200 degrees, which is not the highest figure, but enough for the target task. Comfort in use is also supported by the presence of a good floating plate system, thanks to which it was possible to achieve excellent pressure to the ends of the strands. The cord rotates 360 degrees.

Pros:

• plate blocking;
• cable quality;
• ceramic coating;
• good pressure.

Minuses:

• Maximum temperature.

VITEK VT-2307 CL

The two previously presented models were not enough to decide which budget hair straightener to choose? In this case, we present to your attention Vitek VT-2307 with Aqua Ceramic ceramic coating and simple heating temperature control. This invention takes less than a minute to heat up. It is also worth noting that the manufacturer took care of strong fixation of the product, which can be explained by the presence of springs, as well as a smoothly moving mechanism. The balanced design fits comfortably in the hand and does not cause any difficulties during operation.

Pros:

• build quality;
• good spring mechanism;
• fast heating;
• temperature adjustment.

Minuses:

• There are few left for sale.

Rowenta SF 6220

Another good hair straightening iron, taking into account the price/quality ratio, is the Rowenta SF6220 series model, which attracts with its ergonomic design and high-quality plates, the width of which is 25 millimeters. We have checked many reviews of this flat iron for its effectiveness on different hair types and have received positive feedback from customers. This is probably due to the temperature control ranging from 130 to 230 degrees, as well as the high-quality ceramic coating. Another strong point of the rectifier is ionization and quick preparation for work. You only need to wait 15 seconds before use. The design includes a digital screen to indicate heat.

Pros:

• thoughtful design;
• fast heating;
• ceramic coating;
• temperature range.

Minuses:

• not found.

Philips HP8321 Essential Care

The best inexpensive flat iron of 2021 is the Philips HP8321 Essential Care model, the main difference of which is the tourmaline ceramic coating of the plates. In the mid-entry level segment, only a few are pleased with this quality of foundation. At the same time, the temperature can reach 210 degrees, and the plates have a good length, which ensures decent contact with the user’s curls. It takes about 60 seconds to prepare the tongs for use. Thanks to the ergonomic design and the presence of a handle lock, this straightener is convenient on the road. In addition, the manufacturer took care of the presence of a durable and convenient cord on a hinge, which prevents the possibility of cable tangling.

Pros:

• thoughtful design;
• tourmaline coating;
• fast heating;
• compact sizes.

Minuses:

• no for this price.

Fast heating

Fast heating is a criterion that tells not only how quickly the iron heats up, but also how quickly you can change the set temperature, raise or lower it during use.

The design of professional irons includes a PTC element, which is responsible for quickly heating the plates to a given temperature from 40 to 60 seconds, changing the temperature to increase or decrease within 10 to 30 seconds. It also ensures long-term proper operation of the rectifier over a long service life, that is, it is responsible for accurately maintaining the set temperature.

What is the difference between professional straighteners and regular straighteners?

Professional straighteners differ in many ways from the household straighteners that many women use to care for their hair. And here it’s not just about the price of the device, but also about power, durability, safety for hair and various useful additions.

Unlike conventional straighteners, professional straighteners have the following advantages:

• They heat up faster.
• They can work for days.
• Their service life is longer.
• The devices have a thermostat installed.
• They have high power.
• Made from high quality materials.
• Virtually safe for the health and appearance of hair.
• They can be used every day.

As a rule, the service life of conventional straightening irons is much shorter, which means that if you buy a professional straightener once, you can save a significant amount of money.

Plate size

Of course, there is a plate size that is considered universal - this is 33 by 90 mm. It allows the master to carry out the procedure with hair of any length. However, for long or thick hair, it is much more convenient to work with an iron that has larger plates - 40 by 95 mm. For short hair, it is convenient to use an iron with narrow plates of approximately 25 by 80 mm. Depending on the manufacturer, the size of the plates in millimeters may vary, which gives craftsmen a large selection of straighteners.

A keratin hair straightening specialist's set of tools must include two irons, one with wide plates for basic work with long strands and quickly working through large volumes when working with thick hair, the second with narrow plates that will allow you to carefully work out short hair or bangs. Also, having two irons will protect you in case one of them suddenly fails due to breakage or physical damage.

Of course, a novice master is allowed to purchase only one straightening iron for the first time, but as a professional and as the amount of work grows, you should understand perfectly well that one straightening iron is not enough for your work and you must be prepared not only for hair of different lengths, but also in various force majeure situations.

Advantages and disadvantages

The obvious benefit of straighteners is attractive, smooth and shiny waterfall of hair. This dignity is significant and undeniable. As for the downsides, there is a possibility of ruining the health of your curls if you do not follow precautions or use it every day. But moderation is good in everything - if you don’t overuse this style, you can easily maintain a balance between external beauty and health.

Following a few simple rules will help protect your hair from unnecessary injury. First, always apply thermal protection. Secondly, do not use temperatures higher than necessary. This will help avoid dryness. Thirdly, never try to straighten wet or damp hair if the device itself does not provide such a function. Fourth, try not to purchase irons with a metal surface.

And, finally, always take proper care of your hair, because straightening does not give it health, but only enhances its natural beauty.

Popular salon hair straightening techniques:

• Japanese hair straightening;
• chemical;
• permanent;
• bio-protein;
• molecular;
• collagen;
• ceramic.

Plate mobility

A feature such as movable or “floating” plates has appeared quite recently and is a cool feature of professional irons for keratin hair straightening specialists.

The plates in such irons are fixed from the inside using special springs, which ensures the mobility of the plate when pressed on it. This function allows the plates to tightly press together when closing the iron. Floating plates allow you to tightly grasp and compress a strand of hair between the working surfaces, using much less force compared to conventional plates. Equipping the straightener with movable plates can significantly reduce the load on the hand and fingers of the master and, accordingly, makes the work easier and more comfortable.

Top 3 best professional irons with titanium plates

Professional titanium irons heat up faster than ceramic ones and cope better with ionization. It is not recommended to use them for thin, damaged hair, but for healthy strands they are optimal.

Philips HPS930 Pro

This convenient straightener with titanium plates heats up within ten seconds. Supports smooth adjustment from 140 to 230 °C using a wheel, while the indicators are displayed on the screen. There is protection against overheating, ionization is present.

The price of a professional Philips Pro iron starts from 4900 rubles

pros

• quick readiness for work;
• there is a display on the case;
• turns off after an hour of inactivity.

Minuses

• The plastic of the case cracks over time;
• It is noisy in ionization mode.

BaByliss Pro BAB2654EPE

A powerful iron with maximum heating up to 210°C supports five operating modes. The width of the plates is 2.5 cm, the device is compact and lightweight. Stably maintains the set temperature, due to the rounded ends it is suitable, including for curling.

You can buy a professional straightener BaByliss Pro from 4100 rubles

pros

• several thermal modes;
• compactness;
• long cord with rotation.

Minuses

• several thermal modes;
• compactness;
• long cord with rotation.

Dewal 03-410 Royal

Professional titanium straightener with moving plates and digital display, suitable for working with long and short hair. It operates in several temperature conditions, does not harm the curls with frequent use, and gently heats the strands.

Attention! The controls in the Dewal iron are located on the side and do not interfere with holding the device.

You can buy Dewal Royal from 2700 rubles
Pros

• movable plates;
• the temperature can be precisely adjusted;
• The cord is long and rotates.

Minuses

• the base of the device heats up during operation;
• Sometimes the device catches strands.

High quality power cord

No matter how insignificant this criterion may seem, the quality of the power cord is also of great importance.

• The cord must be dense, in a good, high-quality, flexible insulating braid. This will ensure its durability. When twisted, the cord will not break, which means that the wires that pass through it from the inside will not bend or break.
• The length of the cord is a very important point, especially if you work from home. After all, the client may not have an extension cord at home, and the sockets may be in places that are inconvenient for your work, and the cord may not be long enough. Therefore, we recommend that you choose the maximum cord length.
• The 360-degree rotating cord built into the handle of the straightener will allow you to work with the straightener as comfortably as possible. The cord will not twist and, depending on your movements, you will not have to waste extra time unscrewing it to its original state.

Price

Yes, of course, the cost of the iron is a fairly important nuance that influences the choice. But we must remember that high cost does not always correspond to high quality. Many brands factor into the price of a straightener, in addition to the cost of expensive advertising, the brand’s credibility and how well-known it is among customers. Keep in mind that the higher the cost of the iron you buy, the higher the bonus from the consultant in the store who sold it to you.

Therefore, the most expensive iron will not always be the best and most durable. However, you shouldn’t save on an iron - you buy it for work, and not for one time. In the mid-price category, for $65 to $100 you can buy a very decent and durable straightener.

Self-shutdown function

Automatic shut-off is not built into all irons. Of course, there is a point in it - if you suddenly forget to turn off the iron, the self-shut-off function will work after 60 minutes and your iron will turn off by itself. Let's think about it, 60 minutes is still enough both from excessive consumption of electricity and from worries about whether you turned off the device. But when working with an iron in your hands, you don’t always pay attention to the light indicator, so you can, without noticing the moment the iron turns off automatically, spend 5-10 extra minutes working with your hair with a cooled iron and then spend additional time figuring it out. where else the strands need to be finalized. Therefore, whether you need the self-shutdown function or not is up to you to choose.

How to choose and what to pay attention to?

Currently, there are two types of irons: professional and non-professional.

1. Non-professional irons attract with their appearance and affordable price. But there are also disadvantages. As a rule, such irons have a limited range of functions and relatively low power. They take longer to heat up but are easy to operate.
2. Professional straightening irons are used not only in beauty salons; recently they have been gaining popularity among non-professionals, and are increasingly used at home. They heat up quickly, are adjustable to suit different hair types and have a wide range of additional functions.

Irons have two types of thermostats: electronic and mechanical.

• A mechanical thermostat does not allow you to change the temperature regime, since the device always heats up to the same temperature.
• Electronic, in turn, allows you to set the ideal temperature for each hair type. Some of them have the function of remembering the last set temperature.

When purchasing, you should also pay attention to the power , which varies in the range of 30 – 170 watts. It has a direct bearing on how long the iron will last.