OT: good, cheap flat iron?

Dusty

Anybody have any recommendations for a good one? My new haircut kinda needs one to look good and mine decided to bite the dust this morning (it won't heat up!). I'd love to get a Chi, but my flat iron budget runs more towards Wal-mart.

15 years ago

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

shiny

Veteran

I do NOT recommend a cheap flat iron!! I bought a cheap wal-mart one, and I fried my hair right off. It was horrible. I shudder just remembering it....

15 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

I don't know what brand my is. I got it at Sally's Beauty Supply and my daughter likes it better that her Chi. I think it was less than 30.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I agree with Shiny. My flat iron was around $80 on folica.com--kind of pricey but still less than a CHI--and it was well worth it. My hair actually feels softer and healthier AFTER I use it. Folica has coupons all the time.

Once you burn your hair, that's it. No turning back unless you cut it.

15 years ago

Srujana

Veteran

Sally's carries one by GVP, its cheaper than the Chi and its results are comparable. Its the only straightener I've used for the past 4 years and its still working great. Whatever you do end up buying, I'd try to choose a ceramic one...those have yielded better results than the metal plated kind

15 years ago

Vani

Veteran

I am very much in the no cheap flat iron camp. After 3 conairs and jilbere's and the like, I LOVE my Solia that I bought from folica based on their recos (actually asked for it as a xmas pressie from DH). It came to about $80, but I've owned it for 3 yrs now and it still looks and works like brand new. The 3 I bought earlier together would have come to that much and the cheapie ones never last longer than a yr at most.

15 years ago

Anonymous

I've had a cheap flat iron and use it sparingly. Once I used it almost every day in a week - and my ends split and burned. The plates are old, they aren't inset like new flat irons and pulled terribly. I also recommend folica.com - I'm eyeballing a sedu flat iron soon!

15 years ago

DressLover

Veteran

I highly recommend Solia or Sedu, both on Folica. Flat irons are worth the investment because you can't repair your hair once you damage it. Also, mid-range straightners should last longer than cheaper irons.

If anyone is looking for an AMAZING flat iron, I love my ghd. It's quite an investment, but my hair is so soft and shiny after I use it. It monitors its heat setting and adjusts it to the needs of your hair type to avoid damage.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I have to agree with Shiny on this one. Cheap flat irons seem to leave my hair looking ack! But it could just be me... I never have managed to get the hang of a flat iron... as often as my stylist gave me remedial lessons so I went and bought a Conair 1 1/2 inch barrel curling iron and I really like how it straightens without that stick straight look that I always ended up with using the flat iron.

15 years ago

latikak

Member

CHI can be expensive but there are good deals online! Look on Amazon or search Google.com

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I just wanted to add that my flat iron is Solia as well and I love it.

I also tried Wigo and didn't really like it as much, but it is cheaper than my Solia and better quality than the drug store brands.

15 years ago

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

Hmm...I'll have to see if they still make my old one it treated me well. It never damaged my hair and it was always shinier after I used it (and it lasted me 6 years, so I really got my money out of it.) It was a Revlon from Wal-mart.

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Check ebay for Chi's, too

15 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Dusty, I have an extra CHI flat iron I got on ebay Ive never used, and if you send me your address you can have it free...it was bought NIB...here's my email addy- mymail2006@comcast.net

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Wow, lucky you Dusty!

15 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Dusty - I no longer use mine - send me a private message if biscuitmom's doesn't work out for you.

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

dusty, the KEY to flat irons is temperature control. Too hot and they fry and frizz,and break the hair, too low and they don't straighten effectively. Cheap irons often come in one setting on and off. You really don't have any control over the heat.

Sounds like biscuits mom has a nice one for you....but watch the temp. Unless you are a pro, the higher temps on professional flat irons are just too much for the hair, particularly if it is color treated or bleached!!:)

15 years ago

marianna

Veteran

Taylor -- I have a nice flat iron but I always use it on the highest temp -- it seems to straighten better and I've never had any problems with damage (and my hair is color treated). Am I hurting my hair or can I keep using the high temps if everything seems okay?

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

MaRIANNA,
You obviously have the correct temp for your hair.. If you have no breakage or frizz , you are fine. Also technique is important...if you are on the highest setting and moving quickly through the hair , less damage occurs even if you pass over the same strands many times...quickly. Sounds like you have it down!!

Some professional flat irons get unbelievably HOT!!!

15 years ago

Rosie

Veteran

So nice to have a resident hair expert!

Dusty, definitely take one of those ladies up on their kind offers!

15 years ago

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

Thank you so much for all your help, everybody! (Thank you especially, biscuitsmom and Sihaya, you guys are so sweet!)

Taylor - Thank you so much for your advice. My old one did have a temperature control (but I used it at the highest setting - no breakage and no frizz that wasn't there already). I'll definitely keep that in mind when I get my new one.

15 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I just want to add that the cheap one I bought WAS ceramic. But it did only have one temperature - which was too high for my thin, color-treated hair. I use mine on a medium setting. I don't think it's a Chi - its some other brand.

15 years ago

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