Ceramic and titanium flat iron straighteners are two of the most popular materials for hot tools. Both of those materials make for great flat irons, which are effective and safe to use on hair. But they are not the same. When it comes to choose a ceramic vs titanium flat iron there is a few things to keep in mind.
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Ceramic Flat Irons
Ceramic flat iron straighteners are kinder on hair and heat evenly. This protects hair from heat damage caused by uneven hot spots, which is a common problem with cheap hair straighteners. They are also cheaper, overall, than titanium flat irons.
In terms of effectiveness, ceramic vs titanium flat irons heat up more slowly but more evenly. If you are a casual user a ceramic flat iron is safer than a titanium one because it’s more difficult to burn your hair. It also requires less passes to straighten hair, which reduces heat damage.
Ceramic flat irons transmit heat using deep infrared which is more gentle on the hair. It heats the hair from inside out, so it’s less damaging and works better for fine or fragile hair.
Picture | Product Name | Price |
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HSI Professional Glider Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron Hair Straightener | CHECK PRICE | |
KIPOZI Flat Iron 1 Inch Titanium Plates Pro Hair Straightener | CHECK PRICE | |
INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron | CHECK PRICE | |
HAI GOLD Convertable, Premium Professional Flat Iron - Ceramic Hair Straightener, 450F | CHECK PRICE | |
CHI Original 1" Flat Hair Straightening Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 1 Inch Plates | CHECK PRICE |
Do 100% Ceramic Flat Iron Straighteners Exist?
The holy grail of ceramic hair straighteners would be a 100% ceramic plate. However, that is not practical because ceramic is quite fragile and would break too easily. It can become quite expensive.
However, there are plenty of ceramic flat irons that claim to be 100% ceramic, and some of them are. They use a ceramic plate on top of a more flexible base. Cheap hair straighteners have a thin ceramic coating, which soon peels off and snags the hair.
Premium ceramic flat irons on the other hand use many layers of ceramic plates so the surface doesn’t peel. It gets the best from ceramic, which is an even heat distribution, without the peeling or snagging.
A ceramic flat iron can last you for years (if you use it for domestic use, not at a hair salon) so it pays to invest in something that won’t degrade.
Picture | Product Name | Price |
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HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron | CHECK PRICE | |
Revlon Smooth Brilliance Ceramic Hair Flat Iron | CHECK PRICE | |
HSI PROFESSIONAL CERAMIC TOURMALINE IONIC DIGITAL FLAT IRON HAIR STRAIGHTENER | CHECK PRICE | |
DORISILK Infrared Flat Iron Hair Straightener,Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Anti-Static | CHECK PRICE | |
Cordless Hair Straightener, Portable Ceramic Hair Straightener | CHECK PRICE |
Titanium Flat Irons
Titanium hair straighteners are the favourite of professional hair salons for a variety of reasons. Titanium is a lightweight metal with high heat conductivity. For a flat iron, this means it heats up to very high temperatures, incredibly quickly. It also distributes heat evenly through the plates, avoiding hot spots.
Titanium flat irons are more lightweight than ceramic ones, and so easier on your wrists. If you are choosing between a ceramic vs titanium flat iron and budget is not an issue titanium are often better. If you have long hair, the best straighteners for thick hair are often titanium.
Titanium straighteners do heat up very quickly, and that means you can accidentally fry your hair if you are not careful. They also heat the hair from outside in, which is great for natural and coarse hair but can damage fine hair.
Picture | Product Name | Price |
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MIRACOMB 3D PRO Nano Titanium Flat Iron | CHECK PRICE | |
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium-Plated Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron | CHECK PRICE | |
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Ionic Hair Straighteners | CHECK PRICE | |
Professional Titanium 1.75Inch Flat Iron Hair Straightener & 2-in-1 Hair Styler with Digital LCD Display | CHECK PRICE | |
L'ANGE HAIR Le Titane Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener and Curler 2 in 1 | CHECK PRICE |
Titanium Vs Ceramic, which one is best?
When choosing between a ceramic vs titanium flat iron, the key things to keep in mind are:
1. Heat Transfer
Heat transfer is how long it takes for the heat from the plate to go from the plate to your hair. Ceramic flat irons heat up hair from inside out, using a more gentle infrared energy. Titanium flat irons just outright heat the hair from outside in, very quickly. Titanium is absolutely the best at heating up and transferring heat, so they are much quicker and effective on thick and coarse hair.
Titanium Vs Ceramic? Ceramic flat irons for fine hair and delicate or damaged hair. Titanium hair straighteners if you need the higher temperatures, have very curly or coarse hair. Or just have loads of hair and little time.
2. Hot Spots
Ceramic hair straighteners heat up more evenly, and they don’t have heat spots. Titanium flat irons, on the other hand, can heat up too quickly and some brands heat up unevenly. Other brands on the other hand have sensors to keep the heat on the plates even and constant. So it really depends on your budget, but ceramic flat irons are generally safer.
Titanium Vs Ceramic flat irons? Unless you are skilled at straightening your hair, and buy a quality titanium flat iron, ceramic ones are a safer bet.
3. Frizz Control And Humidity
Titanium flat irons naturally produces negative ions. Negative ions cancel out the water attracting positive ions in your hair. This keep the hair cuticles closed, and reduces frizz. If your hair is frizz-prone or you live in a humid environment, titanium straighteners are great to keep your hairstyle going for longer.
Ceramic outputs less negative ions but that doesn’t mean they don’t work in humid climates. There are many ceramic flat irons coated with tourmaline or other ionic materials. They will still leave your hair smooth and shinny, and protect from frizz.
Ionic ceramic vs Titanium flat iron straighteners? If frizz and humidity is your main concern, titanium has an edge there.
Picture | Product Name | Price |
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7MAGIC Flat Iron Hair Straightener with Digital Display | CHECK PRICE | |
INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron, 2-inch | CHECK PRICE | |
NITION 1 inch Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron 2 in 1 Hair Straightening Iron | CHECK PRICE |
4. Ease Of Use
Hairdressers love titanium flat irons, because they are much lighter. Titanium is more lightweight than ceramic, and so a better choice if your arms get tired easily.
Titanium is also more resistant to cracks. So if you know you are clumsy and prone to drop your flat iron on the floor, titanium works best. Ceramic plates will crack, eventually, if they are dropped enough time. Cheap ceramic coated straighteners will crack very quickly.
You may not even see the cracks, but they will snag your hair when you use the straighteners. Instead of gliding through the plates, your hair will get stuck and burn. And you will know it’s time to get a new flat iron straightener. Avoid burning your hair by choosing a flat iron hair straightener wisely.
But not all is doom and gloom for ceramic flat iron straighteners! They are more newbie friendly, because they heat up less and they are more gentle with hair. If you have never used a straightening iron before, a ceramic one is a safer option for your hair.
Ceramic vs titanium flat iron? All things being equal, titanium is more durable and less likely to break. But they must be handled with care.
5. Budget
Both ceramic and titanium flat irons come in a variety of price ranges and features. A 100% ceramic flat iron will be more expensive than regular ceramic or cheap titanium hair straighteners. A high end titanium flat iron will last you longer and comes at a higher price.
Once you know your budget, check out our guide to choosing a hair straightener and pick the one most suitable for your hair type and length. If you are going to straighten your hair daily, it is worth investing a big more money to keep your hair healthy.
The cheapest hair flat irons are often a thin ceramic coating on an aluminium base, and they will start peeling with use. But if you only use them occasionally, it could be fine. However, don’t risk the health of your hair by going for something so affordable it is not good quality.
Ceramic vs Titanium? For the budget conscious, a ceramic flat iron will offer better results at a lower price point than a titanium one. But do your research and make use of offers and discounts.
Ceramic vs Titanium Curling Iron
And what about curling irons? Titanium curling irons are more lightweight and can reach higher temperatures. If you have coarse or thick hair, or hair that never holds a curl, titanium barrels work best.
If you have short hair or fine, delicate hair, you probably want to stick with ceramic curling irons instead. They don’t reach the highest temperatures, but you probably don’t need that.
Always curl your hair in the lowest heat setting that your hair will take. This will keep your hair healthy and your curls looking great. Dry hair makes for sad frizzy curls, so invest in a good heat protectant spray.
Picture | Product Name | Price |
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Bed Head Curlipops Clamp-Free Tapered Curling Wand Iron | CHECK PRICE | |
INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR Tourmaline Ceramic 1 Inch Curling Wand | CHECK PRICE | |
Nicebay Curling Iron, 1 Inch Hair Curling Wand with Ceramic Coating | CHECK PRICE | |
REMINGTON Pro Pearl Ceramic Conical Curling Wand | CHECK PRICE | |
CHI Spin N Curl Special Edition Rose Gold Hair Curler | CHECK PRICE |
Tourmaline vs Ceramic Flat Irons
Tourmaline is a brittle gray or black mineral that is present on granitic rocks. It is a great generator of negative ions, and very popular on hot tools for this reason.
Crushed tourmaline can be infused on the metal plate of ceramic or titanium flat irons. This increases the output of negative ions by a huge margin. Negative ions protect hair from humidity and frizz and create sleek and shiny hairstyles. People with coarse or curly hair will enjoy tourmaline vs ceramic straighteners. Titanium is still slightly better though.
If you are looking for a straightener for curly hair tourmaline can be a budget friendly alternative to titanium.
As you can see, there is a close match between ceramic vs titanium flat iron straighteners. Keep in mind that within each category there are a variety of hot styling tools, so do your research. Read reviews about them, looking careful at the hair type they are most suitable for.
What’s Next
There are lots of great hair styling tools on the market these days, but it’s important to choose suitable ones for your hair type and your personal style goals. Be sure to read more here.
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