Whats wrong with CHEAPER flat irons?!?!?!

[BeatriceFly]

My mom wants to go buy some ceramic plated flat iron she saw somewhere for $25 but I've been trying to explain... NO!! The more expensive ones are better!!

When in actuality, I have no idea, I'm going off what you guys say!!

Now we are both naturals (4a-4b), is there something wrong with using these cheaper ones?

 

[texasqt]

Well, I bought a cheap one about a year ago and its not bad. It's gold plated and it gets really close to the roots, etc. However, I've recently purchased a tourmaline one which was more expensive (maybe $40) because its suppose to be healthier for the hair (if used correctly). It's not a Chi or T3 ($100+) but it works for me. Most ceramics and tourmalines are more expensive than the regular gold plated ones and you will find that they range anywhere from $25-200. Just make sure she doesn't buy a $10 one - I did and it stopped working a month later. Also, look for one with adjustable heat settings, consider how fast it heats up, what is the temperature range, etc. Some may not get hot enough but you won't know until you use it.

 

[Priss Pot]

Put it like this, SOLID ceramic (or tourmaline, etc.) plates are what work best. The cheaper flat irons usually only have ceramic coated irons. Those coatings can wear out, and besides they aren't too smooth. I found me a flat iron that has SOLID ceramic plates and it works great to me. It glides down my hair and it has NO snagging (like regular coated plates). It's the Logo Cricket 1in. flat iron at Sally's, and it only cost about 40 something bucks. I'm sure that there may be better flat-irons out there, but I didn't have the money to shell out $100+ for a Chi at the time. I had to find something that was cheap AND works well.

 

[Priss Pot]

double post

 

[mermaid]

Yep, cheapies are coated and the coating comes off, and can heat unevenly. I have cheapies, but I don't use them much (Usually just wear my natural curl).

 

[BeatriceFly]

hmmm i see
so can someone recommend a good cheaper one
maybe one that would be available from target.com (i got a $150 gift card for xmas)

 

[Mars_Reiko]

I use this flat iron

It's not bad, I paid about $24 dollars at walmart. It works very good for me. I've had it about 6 months now. Here;s some info on it http://www.conair-store.com/product_detail.asp?T1=CON+CS19JCS&.

 

[B_Phlyy]

I agree, cheap flat irons are ceramic coated, not the real thing. Also, they are more likely to break faster. I had a Conair 1" flat iron and it just broke the other day. I think I've used it 5 times.

 

[LondonDiva]

Yep, cheapies are coated and the coating comes off, and can heat unevenly. I have cheapies, but I don't use them much (Usually just wear my natural curl).

Dunno how it works in the states, but I have a cheapie paid £19.99 for it it's now £9.99 and is solid ceramic plates. For the UK ladies I got it from Robert Dyas by JML. Used it regularly and had it for about 2 years.

The only downside is it's not temperature controlled.

Funnily enough the expensive ones I've seen are coated and not solid.