My hair was pretty straight growing up with a little bit of waviness thrown in there. On most days, I could wash and go without doing much to it. As I got older, I noticed my hair getting wavier and frizzier. It was getting harder and harder to get the hairstyle I wanted – that is until I bought a CHI hair straightener.
Before getting a CHI, I had a cheap little flat iron from Target for a bargain. It wasn’t anything special, but it was cheap. I knew I needed help taming the wavy, unruly mess that my hair became, but I didn’t want to spend too much money on hair styling tools. A year later I finally gave in and splurged on a CHI hair straightener, and I never looked back.
There are many different hair straighteners out on the market. When you’re shopping for a new styling tool, it’s important to know your hair type well to help you narrow down your options. Hair styling tools can damage the hair cuticle, so look for words like tourmaline and ceramic to protect your strands.
The CHI hair straightener lineup has some good options depending on your hair type. If you want smooth, shiny hair, read on for different flat iron options to help you decide which one will best suit your needs – and your wallet.
Comparison Table
What Is a CHI Hair Straightener?
If you’re in the market for a new styler, you’ll inevitably run into the CHI hair straightener lineup. CHI is a manufacturer of professional salon quality hair tools and serums. Hairdressers design their products for other hairdressers and they use the products in styling salons around the country. Additionally, their award-winning products feature advanced technologies to protect your tresses, leaving them smooth and shiny.
Why Buy a CHI Hair Straightener?
CHI hair straighteners offer professional features without breaking the bank. Their flat irons use advanced ceramic technology to help you achieve silky, frizz-free hair. The titanium-infused plates are durable and glide smoothly through your strands. One of the main reasons I bought my CHI was because it got hot enough to tame even my coarse, wavy hair. Many of the new models feature digital temperature liquid crystal display (LCD) screens with color-coded temperature displays.
Key Features
Flatirons literally iron your hair straight using high temperatures – up to 425° Fahrenheit (F). Investing in a quality styling tool like a CHI hair straightener can help minimize the damage. Features such as titanium-infused ceramic plates protect your strands from hot spots and help you achieve sleek, silky hair. Also, the color-coded LCD screen allows for proper temperature setting for fine, medium, and coarse hair.
How We Reviewed
We highlighted several different features when comparing flat irons. Since hair straighteners can cause a lot of damage to your tresses over time, we looked for heat protective technology to lessen the impact. Also, we looked at the size of the plates, how quickly the styler heated up as well as the length of the cord. We also pointed out added features such as dual voltage, which means you can use the styler when traveling.
CHI Hair Straightener Options
If you’re in the market for a CHI hair straightener, check out the options below.
CHI Original 1″ Ceramic Hair styling Iron
If you’re looking for a good, basic CHI hair straightener that won’t break the bank, this model is a good bet. This professional salon model is very versatile and can be used to flip, curl, straighten, and style your hair.
With flash-quick heating, it can reach up to 392°F, which works well for most hair types. The 1-inch ceramic plates make it easy to create silky, smooth hair quickly while minimizing damage to your strands. It comes with an 11-foot swivel cord for ease of movement during styling. Also, it has a two-year warranty to add peace of mind.
CHI Air Expert Classic Tourmaline Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 1”
CHI Expert Classic Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron
- The CHI Flat Iron produces an exceptionally high amount of negative ions, and Far Infrared, which reduces static…
- Features a temperature dial for variable heat settings, floating plates for professional results, quick heat up, and a…
- Ideal for all hair styling, including straightening, smoothing, curling, waving, spiraling, flipping and bending.
This CHI hair straightener can heat up to 410°F, making it a good choice for those with thick and coarse hair. With a 30-second quick heat up and an adjustable temperature dial, it makes it easy and convenient to get the style you want.
The tourmaline ceramic technology distributes heat evenly to prevent hair damage. It produces negative ions and Far Infrared heat, which reduce static electricity and eliminates frizz for smooth, shiny results. Additionally, the design of this flat iron allows you to use it for creating curls, waves, and spirals.
CHI G2 Professional Flat Iron
If you’re willing to spend a bit more on a styler, the CHI G2 model may be a good option. The titanium-infused ceramic plates offer added durability, longer lifespan and smoother, snag-free styling experience. This hair straightener heats up to 425°F, which makes it a good choice for thick, coarse hair.
The color-coded digital temperature settings make it easy to heat the styler appropriately for each type of hair. Additionally, the iron heats up in less than a minute. The sleek, ergonomic design makes it easy to straighten, curl, flip or create waves in your hair.
Pros and Cons of the CHI Hair Straightener
While the CHI hair straightener line has some good options, they’re not cheap, so you need to consider the pros and cons before making a buying decision. My CHI has worked well for me for many years, but that’s not to say that it’ll be a good fit for your hair type. There are many different brands and models, so make sure to look at different options before making a final decision.
PROS
CHI flat irons have many features that could warrant the higher price tag. Here are some of the more popular advantages of this line of stylers.
Heat-protective technology
Using a flat iron on your hair day after day can be pretty damaging. That’s why it’s important to look for a model with heat-protective technology. The CHI styler line up has ceramic plates, which protect your hair during the styling process and prevent hot spots that could damage your strands.
Variable heat options
Knowing your hair type is essential when shopping for a new flat iron. The thicker your hair, the higher the temperature needed to get your hair straight. If you have thin, fine hair, you want to select a styler that has a lower heat. Most of the CHI hair straightener irons have adjustable temperature options, which means they’re a good option for different types of hair.
Styling versatility
You may not realize this by just looking at a CHI flat iron, but they’re quite versatile. Once you get the hang of it, you can not only straighten your hair but also curl it, make waves, or flip it out – all with a CHI flat iron.
It’s great to have a tool that you can use in so many different ways to style your hair.
CONS
As you may have guessed, there are also some cons to owning a CHI hair straightener. You have to decide if the pros outweigh the cons before making a purchasing decision.
Doesn’t last
The CHI website offers a two-year limited warranty on their stylers, but read the fine print on where you need to purchase it, so you can contact them in case yours bites the dust.
Heating problems
Another frequently reported problem was heating issues. Some users thought their CHI hair straightener did not get hot enough right off the bat, while others felt like their tool started getting less and less hot over time. Other reviewers reported that one side of their flat iron just stopped working one day. It seems like there may be some quality control issues with select CHI hair straighteners so keep that in mind when shopping around.
CHI Hair Straightener vs. Other Brands
It’s always good to look at different options when shopping around for hair stylers. Below are some other hair straighteners that could be a good option, depending on your needs and your budget.
RUSK® Engineering CTC® Technology Professional Str8 Iron® 1 Inch
This flat iron by RUSK features titanium-infused ceramic plates, which produces even heat transfer from roots to ends. The Sol-Gel technology leaves hair in optimal condition while offering a smooth glide as you style your tresses.
A memory function helps to easily reach the desired temperature at the touch of a button. The digital temperature display offers a quick way to check the temperature. This iron can heat up to 450°F, which means it can work even for thick, coarse hair. It features a nine-foot swivel cord for added convenience.
LumaBella Keratin Dual Touch Styler
LumaBella 1″ Keratin Dual Touch Hair Styler
- 1″ ceramic plates infused with keratin micro-conditioners for a healthy shine
- Heat sensor detects excessive heat and adjusts to your hair
- Keratin micro-conditioners leave no oily residue and last the life of the styler
This diverse hair styler can both straighten and curl your hair. It offers innovative features such as keratin-infused ceramic plates to help prevent heat damage. This feature helps transfer keratin micro-conditioners to your hair during styling, giving it a healthy shine.
Embedded heat sensor strips detect your hair’s heat exposure and adjust to a personalized heat setting to reduce damage. A unique floating plate design enables a flexible, optimum grip on the hair from different angles and ensures a uniform, smooth glide. With 5 heat settings topping out at 450°F, 30-second heat up and auto shut-off feature, this flat iron will work well for many hair types.
BaBylissPro™ Nano Titanium™ 1″ Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium 1″ Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron
- The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin hair straightener has a slim design that helps eliminate hand fatigue while…
- High heat levels provide excellent straightening results while Nano Titanium technology protects hair from…
- Use this Nano Titanium flat iron to smooth & straighten hair. Can also be used to create loose, beachy waves.
This exceptionally lightweight hair straightener features extra-long 5-inch plates that allow you to straighten larger sections of hair. If you have thick hair, this can be especially useful as it will cut down on how long it takes you to straighten your locks.
With 50 heat settings and a maximum temperature of 450°F, this styler can work for any hair type. The ultra-smooth titanium plates conduct high heat and resist corrosion while the ceramic heater offers instant heat and recovery. Additionally, the Ryton® housing ensures the hair straightener stays cool to the touch even at the highest setting.
When it comes to finding the right flat iron for your hair, a lot depends on your hair type, your budget, and the features that are important to you. Make a list of three to four qualities that would be nice in a hair straightener to help you narrow down your options. Compare your list to the products above, and you’re that much closer to finding your perfect flat iron.
The CHI hair straightener lineup has some good options at different price points, so this can be a good option if you’re looking to upgrade from a cheaper model. I’ve had my CHI for more than five years, but it may not be right for your hair type. With all of their options, though, it’s hard to believe you won’t find one that will straighten your hair the exact way you want.
What features are important to you in a hair straightener? Have you ever owned a CHI hair straightener? Share below in the comments.
Last update on 2021-05-18 at 14:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API