Furry Easter Bunny ears, speckled eggs, baskets galore have been in my peripheral vision this season — so far. I walked right by them all the other day in my hunt for the perfect flat iron. Little did I know there would be dozens of flat irons on display: wide, miniature, zebra-print, bejeweled. It was dizzying, to say the least.
I was on a mission to surprise my14-year-old niece with her teenage flat iron. I circled the boxed heating tools, walking up and down the aisles stocked with every variety. The flat iron search yielded a vast selection of winners ranging in price, color and just about every other feature.
The Chi flat irons were a bit pricey, coming in at a couple hundred dollars, but were pleasingly well-designed with quality in mind and get five-star reviews from just about everyone in the hair industry, including me. Then there’s the Sam Villa collection which is simply amazing, and why shouldn’t it be since it’s designed by a long-time colleague and global Redken superstar. Since my birthday teen was transitioning from her little girl flat iron to the teenage variety, I felt she needed one that was a bit safer to use. Professional quality irons get so hot so quickly that they can ruin your hair if not used properly.
When shopping for flat irons, think about the following things: daily use or less frequent use, smoothing out stubborn curls or defrizzing straight locks. Make a short list of things to look for in a flat iron. Ceramic plates that don’t tug or tear hair, a temperature control dial, automatic “off” switch, long and durable cords, and a reputable brand.
Size is important when it comes to flat irons, so if you have thick, wavy hair and know you are going to be less patient with no time to spare, go big. On the contrary, if you have short or thinner, more fragile hair and can be a bit more patient, grab the smaller ones. Some of my clients love the travel-size flat irons that can be tossed into a weekend bag for quick touchups.
Well, after researching flat irons for my birthday princess and careful deliberation (oh, I hope she doesn’t read this column since what teenager wants to be called a princess), I settled on one that can be used on wet or dry hair to achieve beautiful, sleek tresses when she is cutting it close to get to play practice or pizza with friends. Remember to spritz on a thermal heat protectant before heating up those strands of hair, and I hope this helps you pick the flat iron that’s just right for you.
Maybe you should get some marshmallow Easter peeps as well, because I’ll be cornering the market on those sometime soon.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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