A curly’s worst nightmare is growing her hair out to her desired curl length and then having a disastrous experience like a bad haircut or worse, a straightening job gone wild! It is a horrifying thought to let years of investment go down the drain over a style that typically lasts a few days. Of course we love being curly, but we also love the beauty of versatility.
In order to keep our curls when straightening with heat tools, it is wise to take a critical look into two of today’s innovative technologies for heat styling: tourmaline and ceramic.
A Closer Look at Ceramic
Ceramic has an excellent reputation for high quality results by stylists and at-home users. It is a non-metallic, inorganic material that produces negative ions. It heats up quickly and distributes heat evenly. More expensive and higher quality ceramic irons are made of full ceramic plates. However, common ceramic flat irons are made of aluminum or titanium plates, coated with ceramic. While this still makes a high performance flat iron, prolonged use can cause the ceramic to wear away, exposing the non-ceramic plate, which could cause snagging, uneven heat distribution, and harsher heat. Folica.com reports that, “Ceramic diffuses heat and seals the hair cuticle for shiny, frizz-free locks.”
A Closer Look at Tourmaline
Tourmaline is the newest in heat style technology. It is a crystalline mineral that is produced organically and used to coat the plates of a flatiron. This precious-gemstone can produce six times more negative ions than ceramic. “It’s often infused into Ceramic and Titanium plates to produce even straighter, shinier results.”- Folica.com. Tourmaline outputs the most negative ions for the high levels of shine and smoothness. When the negative ions from the iron come in contact with the positive ions of dry hair, the result is a neutral charge, which lays the cuticle flat for glassy, frizz-free hair.
A Word from An Expert
“When you purchase a styling tool, you want to be sure it has healthier hair alternatives. Ceramic is an excellent choice for shine, protecting the hair from heat damage, and shielding against frizz. It does this through sealing moisture within the hair leaving a shiny finish. Tourmaline is a gem; it helps provide moisture also and enhances shine. Your hair will appear healthier, bolder, and sleeker. Tourmaline and ceramic both allow sealing of the cuticle so it looks more polished. They are great features to have and give multiple options for different markets.
If you have a dryer without ceramic or tourmaline, you are basically applying intense heat, which just dries the hair, taking away moisture. This is similar to how the sun dries, leaving the hair dull, dry and damaged. A titanium iron is different. It gets really hot and maintains consistent heat levels for even heat distribution. This type of iron is popular for Keratin Treatments.” -Jazmin Brunson, Associate Brand Manager of Exceon American Beauty Supply (the makers of SEDU”>.
What is best for you?
Assess your hair type. If your hair is damaged, fine, or if you are concerned about heat damage, you may want a ceramic flat iron infused with tourmaline. If your hair is extremely healthy and strong, with thick, coarse, curly hair, you have limitless choices. However, regardless of the flat iron you decide upon, prolonged or misuse can cause damage to your strands, so take all precautions when flat ironing. Regarding price, tourmaline alone is cheaper to produce than ceramic, but some of the best irons utilize both technologies so the prices range. Do choose an iron that fits your budget without compromising quality, and be sure to check the warranty!
We asked Sedu about the proper way to protect your hair from the heat and this is what they had to say:
“People who have curly hair should get a tourmaline or ceramic iron for added protection. You should also be sure to shampoo and condition before heat styling, which both provide nourishment into your hair. When using a heat tool, use an anti-frizz product to ward against frizz, UV rays, and heat. This will allow for using the least amount of heat. A great option is the newly released, Sedu Moisturizing Collection, complete with Shampoo, Conditioner, Thermal Primer and Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment.”
Our hair deserves the careful analysis of styling tools and products. Each step in the straightening process is equally important and necessitates appropriate follow through. Starting with a thorough cleansing, conditioning, and heat preparation process, followed by cautious and controlled heat application. The New Cupuacu Anti-Frizz Smoothing Collection by Carol’s Daughter is a complete set of adequate protection for smooth yet healthy tresses.
So, which iron and product accompaniment will you use at your next flatiron session?
