A hair straightener is a device that can be used to create straight or curly hair. The process of using a hair straightener requires electricity and knowing how much power it takes to operate the device will help you estimate your total energy use for the year.
New post: Best Chi Hair Straightener in 2022
A typical home in America uses around 10,000 kWh per year according to U.S. Energy Information Administration statistics from 2017, so let’s just say that this home has an average electric bill of $120 per month, which equals $1,440 for the year. If we multiply 1,440 by 12 months then divide by 1000 then we get 14 kilowatt-hours (kWh). So if you have a typical American household with an average electric bill of $1,440 for the year, then one hair straightener would use around 14 kWh of electricity.
What is a Hair Straightener?
Hair straighteners come in two flavors: flat irons and blow dryers. Both are devices that use high heat to manipulate hair into different shapes. Flat irons have a metal plate with a handle that warms up when plugged into an outlet. The heat from the plate is applied to damp hair use and then the flat iron moves down the length of the hair, making it straight. Blow dryers have a similar process but they use hot air instead of heat plates to change the shape of your locks.
GET – Best Hair Straighteners on a Budget 2022
How is power Consumption does it Use?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “a blow dryer warm air to about 300 degrees F or 150 degrees C, which can lead to dry skin and hair”.
For this reason, the energy efficiency of a hair straightener is important. It’s estimated that adding just one watt of electricity can add up to seven hours over a year. So how much does it really use? To answer this question we have to look at both types: flat irons and blow dryers. If you choose a high-quality device with a ceramic plate, an electric heater will use around 10-15 watts of power per hour. For a higher-end model that uses ionic technology for curling your locks, then one hair use straightener would use around 50 watts of power.
CHECK – Best Dual Voltage Flat Iron for Travel 2022
Of course, the wattage would depend on how long you keep it on your hair. A quick pass over a strand with a straightener takes only a few seconds. So if you kept it on for an hour per day, seven days a week, you would add about 70 hours extra to your yearly total. In this case, using an electric device would add around nine cents to your monthly energy bill. For more expensive flat iron models with ionic technology, adding up 120 hours over the year could per hour cost or about 28 cents per month.
Why do you need one?
If the reason you want a straightener is for your image, then that is no reason to waste electricity and harm the environment. There are plenty of do-it-yourself options. For example, simply sleeping on clean cotton pillowcases can help smooth out your hair overnight.
If you need to curl your hair for a special occasion, consider investing in some bobby pins or curling irons as an alternative. They use less energy than straighteners and usually take around 10 minutes or less to do their work. With this information, maybe now you will have enough knowledge about how much electricity does a hair straightener use.
Where to buy one?
You can buy a hair straightener on Amazon.
Related: Best Flat Iron For Short Black Hair
Source: Here you will find all of the sources used for this article. Most are free and some require registration/subscription. It’s definitely worth it to check out these sites, many pay for themselves.
What are the Different Types of Hairs Straighteners and What they’re used for?
Hair straighteners can be flat or curling irons. Curling irons are appliances that hair is wrapped around to give it a curl. They require specific techniques and can easily burn hair if not used properly. Flat irons are used for flattening the hair shaft, usually after blow-drying. They also come in many different sizes and shapes for different types of hair. Some are thicker (for thick, coarse hair) and some are thinner for fine hair.
What do they use Energy consumption for?
Hair straighteners work by emitting heat that flattens or curls the hair. The electricity is used to create an electrical current that emits heat which then heats up the plates of the iron.
Hair straighteners use a lot of electricity, but the amount usually depends on the type and size of flat iron being used. A basic model should use about 20-60 watts while a larger one for thick, coarse hair should use up to 80 watts. The heat from these appliances can be very damaging to fine or thin hair which is why they are recommended for coarse, thick hair. They can use anywhere from 200-450 watts of electricity.
How much does it cost to use one?
Since the amount of electricity depends on the size and type of flat iron used, the price differs per device. Basic models should only cost around $15/year while larger ones can range from $35-80.
Paying attention to the amount of heat used is important in order to limit how much electricity you use and save money. The average cost per year for basic models should be around $15 while larger ones may range from $35-$80. For both types, using them less will result in using less electricity and lower your electric bill.
How do I know which type is best for me?
There are many types of straighteners to choose from and it is important to understand the differences and what each type may offer before making a purchase.
- Ceramic: usually come with several heat settings, like 300 degrees for fine hair and 450 degrees for coarse hair; because ceramic produces even heat distribution, this option is popular among those with thick or wavy hair; ceramic also emits negative ions that seal the cuticle for smooth shiny results; ceramic plates are very thin and thus do not snag on long or thick hair
- Tourmaline: produces similar effects as ceramic, but tourmaline is one of the few materials that can emit negative ions while at the same time producing infrared heat; often comes with variable heat settings; tourmaline is sometimes combined with titanium or ceramic for more even heat distribution
- Titanium: can heat up very quickly without producing damaging infrared heat; great for fine hair, but may snag on thick or wavy hair because of its hardness; will not cause chemical damage to the hair shaft as some metal plates can
- Ionic technology: produces smoother hair by sealing the hair cuticle and increasing shine – does not emit infrared heat but still heats up quickly; some models may be more damaging to the hair shaft than ceramic
Conclusion
Electric hair straighteners can use a lot of electricity, especially the ones that have more features and heat settings. Some straighteners do not emit infrared heat but still produce enough heat to cause damage to the hair shaft.