What type of hair straightener is best for you? Titanium or ceramic? The titanium and ceramic debate has been going on for some time now, and people are still asking: What’s better? Is it easier to use a ceramic or titanium straightener on my hair? Which one does a better job at making my hair look smooth and sleek? The answer to these questions is not black and white-it depends on your personal preferences (and what matters most to you). Read below to find out more about the differences between the two types of heaters.
Ceramic vs Titanium – Difference and which one should you choose?
While ceramic plates are usually best for dryer hair types, they can be used on all hair types. Ceramic is generally more damage-resistant than titanium, but both will last you a long time if properly cared for.
t type of hair straightener is best for you? Titanium or ceramic? The titanium and ceramic debate has been going on for some time now, and people are still asking: What’s better? Is it easier to use a ceramic or titanium straightener on my hair? Which one does a better job at making my hair look smooth and sleek? The answer to these questions is not black and white-it depends on your personal preferences (and what matters most to you). Read below to find out more about the differences between ceramic and titanium hair straighteners.
Titanium is a popular heating element material because it can heat up rapidly and is capable of maintaining its temperature for a long time. This means that the titanium plates on your hair straightener will stay hot and ready to smooth your hair with less waiting time than if you were using a ceramic flat iron.
Related: Hair Straightener vs Brush
What are some of the Benefits of Ceramic hair Straighteners?
Ceramic hair straighteners are often thought to be less damaging to hair because they emit negative ions. These negative ions make your hair shinier by reducing the build-up of positive ions (that can be created by heat) on the surface of your hair cuticle. This is not always true, however. Some ceramic plates do not release enough negative ions for this benefit to take place. However, there are ways you can tell if your ceramic flat iron emits negative ions or not. One way is to place a magnet on top of your flat iron. If it sticks, there are negative ions present in the ceramic plates.
Another hair straightener benefit is that ceramic heaters heat up quickly and distribute heat evenly throughout the plates. This means you’ll spend less time trying to find the perfect temperature setting. Also, because these plates heat up quickly, they save money by cutting down on your utility bill!
What are some Benefits of Titanium hair straighteners?
Titanium has many properties that make it ideal for use in hair styling tools. Titanium can be heated quickly and retain high temperatures for longer periods of time compared to other metals used in hair styling products. Therefore, titanium allows fast heating without emitting excessive amounts of heat and damaging your hair. The titanium also emits negative ions, which seal the hair cuticle and keep your hair smooth and shiny. Titanium is extremely durable and will not corrode or oxidize in high heat, so you can style your hair over and over again without worrying about the titanium plates getting damaged. Also, because these plates heat up quickly, they save money by cutting down on your utility bill!
Which type of Ceramic plates do I need for my hair type?
First, you should determine what type of ceramic material your plates are made from. If they are not marked but feel slick and smooth to the touch, then they may be made from ceramic tourmaline. These are perfect for most hair types because they emit negative ions which seal your hair cuticle, resulting in shiny locks. However, if your plates have a rough surface or contain seams where the plate has been glued together, these are made with zirconium dioxide crystals. They don’t emit negative ions so they will not produce shine in your hair.
Reasons to buy a Titanium flat iron instead of ceramic
Some people like to buy titanium flat iron instead of ceramic because it is stronger and less likely to damage your hair. Although you might purchase a titanium flat iron that has plates made from ceramic or vice versa, they are both equally effective when used properly. They will heat up just as quickly, they will straighten your hair just as well, and they won’t cause major damage. Titanium also gets hotter than ceramic material so it is able to produce straighter strands in half the time compared with other materials.
The main difference between these two materials is the way in which each one emits negative ions when heated up. As previously mentioned, tourmaline produces negative ions which seal your cuticle and make your hair shiny and sleek. Ceramic emits more negative ions than titanium, and this is what makes ceramic plates better for your hair.
How to use a hot air brush with your new flat iron
Titanium plates are in most cases coated with tourmaline. This is the best choice if you want to go for a hot air brush straightener, which emits negative ions when heated up. Ceramic plates, on the other hand, emit more negative ions so they are better for your hair than titanium materials.
For better results without any chances of damaging your hair, make sure to use a heat protectant product every time before using your new flat iron.
It takes less time to straighten your hair because a ceramic plate heats up faster and distributes heat evenly throughout the entire surface. You can even iron out thick curly hair or add curls in half the time it would take you with previous models.
The downside for this material is that it can create static, so if you have curly hair this might not be the best choice for you. Titanium plates have a more steady temperature and don’t cause frizz or static but they are harder to clean.
Nowadays, even high-end flat irons come with ceramic plates combined with titanium-ceramic materials for better results on different types of hair. A good tip while shopping is to check out the digital display of your preferred model because some models only work with certain types of hair (i.e., fine, coarse). If you want a more affordable option, try buying a regular ceramic straightener and apply thermal protectant spray every time before using it.
Questions about using a flat iron were Answered by experts in the industry
How can you avoid burning your scalp with a flat iron?
When using any type of heat styling tool, it’s best to start at the lowest setting if unsure. Also make sure not to leave your flat iron in one spot for too long, which could damage hair follicles or even burn skin. After straightening hair, always use an antioxidant serum to help protect against heat damage caused by hot tools.
For more information about flat irons and other types of hair straighteners, visit our Heat Styling Guide.
Some people still think that ceramic is better than titanium when it comes to selecting a flat iron mainly because they are not keen on the idea of heating metal plates near their heads. But today’s ceramic plates are very different from the one’s available years ago. For one thing, ceramic is more heat-efficient than metal (including titanium), which means that it heats up faster and cools down faster too. Second, improved technology has made ceramic plates smoother and less likely to damage hair cuticles during use.
You will also find flat irons with heating plates made of tourmaline or tourmaline ceramic. Tourmalines are semi-precious gems capable of generating abundant negative ions without being electrically charged. And when heated, they can emit far-infrared heat for quick thermal styling results.
Conclusion:
In all, you have three choices when buying a hair straightener: ceramic, titanium or tourmaline. The latter two often come with negative ions technology. However, the best ceramic irons offer greater versatility in terms of temperature and heat distribution. As such, they can be used for a wider range of hair types and styles.