So my hair is stupendously frizzy. Seriously. It doesn't know if it's curly or wavy, and usually settles on frizzy. Even when I use good products, it misbehaves. I have found that it behaves better short, but I have always been terrified of cutting it higher than my shoulders for fear that I can't braid it into submission. Right now it is about 3 inches below my bra strap. If I try to straighten it with my cheap-o straightener, it takes me about 3 hours. I get sick of it about half way in, so it usually isn't that great anyway. Lol.
Now I really want a new style. I want to go pretty short, but if I do and it looks stupid curly I will have to straighten it every time I wash it. I know it won't take nearly as long short, but if I can shave off some time every couple of days I would love it! Plus, I don't want to fry my hair too much. I have heard that Chi straighteners are less damaging and faster. Is there any truth to that?
I have a Chi and it works 100X's better than any of the cheap ones I've ever had. Totally worth the money!
I have similar hair. If you can spend the dough, definitely get a chi but get one from a good salon versus Ulta or other places. It should be about 150-175. Definitely worth it. I also had a T3 which had a dial adjusting the heat and that worked great too.
I would caution you about going too short. I think the best and healthiest way to straighten is with a blow dryer and round brush versus an iron. I use the blow dryer and then go back over with an iron to just finish it off. Takes about 30 minutes total.
If your hair is too short to wrap around a round brush, that would make it really hard to straighten. Good luck
I have tried a ton of different straighteners. I have very thick, course, curly hair. Its not pretty curls though its a frizzy mess. I have used the chi and found that the price of a straightener does not mean its better. I have been through at least a dozen or so straighteners in the past few years and I have found the BEST straightener recently just by chance.
Its by revlon I bought it at target for only $24. Its got titanium plates and its slogan is one pass and your done. Mine is blue but I think they have other colors. I showed it to my aunts cousins sisters and mom and they all went out and bought it. Look for it at target. Revlon brand with silver titanium plates. It has cut the time it took to do my hair in half.
Good luck I hope this helps!
I loved my Chi, but asked husband to get proper voltage transformer at front desk of or hotel in England, but he only came back with an adapter and I fried it!!! So I bought another high end one, which I ended up liking better. I have thick curly hair. the best thing i learned to do was stop trying to straighten it pin straight. Instead I put a single curl in with a thin high quality straightener so I create a smooth wave/ curl. Now I aim for smooth with lots of body (similar to hot roller look) instead of pin straight which couldn't hold up to humidity. And I only wash it twice a week so though it takes a while to style, on non washing days I just brush and go. I think us ladies with lots of hair shy away from the skinny straightener, but in reality the skinny one allows you to get closer to the root and get better results. I will update my brand when I get around to going upstairs.
Update: I have a Hai 2" ceramic straigntner that I like better than my Chi (similar price)
but hands down my Sebastion Professional 1" with a curved edge is my go to iron!!!! $90 ?? can't remember but its been working great for 4 years and in addition to straightening, it curls. Again I will recommend the Sebastions (heats faster, two heat settings, straighten, and curls, and cost slightly less than most high end ceramic straightens)
I don't!
The chi doesn't have enough heat for my hair and it can't be adjusted. So it ends up reeeeeeally damaging it because instead of "swipe, next" (about 2 seconds) I have to move reeeeeeeeeeally slowly, and go over and over and over the same piece again. I have to straighten ALL of my hair, about 40 sections. That can take me 5 minutes with my iron that goes up to 430 degrees, or it can take me 30 minutes with the CHI or CHI type irons :P
So for MY hair (ringlets I blow out straight, and then iron for gloss, shape, curl here and there), they're awful.
The chi is great but it is not healthy for your hair to use it daily.
It's a quality product, no issues with what we have.
I've got a lot of Native American herItage, especially with my hair. Naturally straight. I did however participate with a new straightening product which is non chemical called Enviro Chi and I love the conditioning it gave me. I did it in October and I use the exact products recommended and I'm still reaping benefits.
Just don't overdo the heat on your hair... It's damaging.
Chi is great!
I have a Solia tourmaline ceramic straightener that I got from Folica.com that I really like. It is $79 but I got it for 20% off and free shipping.
For Christmas I got my dd the blue Revlon with titanium plates that a previous poster recommended. I took it back because it did nothing for her hair. We both have thick wavy hair and it was still wavy after using the straightener. I noticed after using it on a couple sections of hair that it was barely warm any more and I needed to let it heat back up. I had it on the hottest setting.
I don't want to spend a lot on a straightener for dd but I may have to watch Folica for sales and get dd a Solia if I can't find something that works on her hair.
I don't have one but just had this conversation w/my stylist because I was seriously considering buying one (I currently have a bed head straightener) she told me that I didn't need anything like a Chi. She told me the Hot Tools straightener is a good one so that's what I'm going to be buying :-)
I was a stylist for 7 years before quitting to be a SAHM- My advice would be, YES- invest in a Chi, they are well worth the money- they come with a one year warranty, so deff. hold onto your info inside your box when you buy it- they are great about upholding their warranty- At certain salons (ex. the one I was at) they will give you a life time warranty when you buy it from them- b/c they can easily exchange a broken chi for a new one through their supplier. If you do decide to get it cut short, have your stylist (experienced stylist) thin the interior layers- it will help reduce the bulk which will cut down on your styling time- do not have her thin the top layers as you will create more "fly aways" - when you do straighten your hair be sure to use products that protect your hair from heat- no matter what brand flat iron you use they can all be damaging when you use it regularly- Chi's are less damaging b/c of the way the plates are made and coated, but it's still LOTS of heat on your hair- Using a silicone based product will help to lessen the frizz and add some shine(goes on dry) start with a little and add to it- be sure to get your hair dry before you flat iron, adding that much heat to wet hair is like boiling water on your hair- I would also recommend looking into dry shampoo's - the are made of powder that you sprinkle onto your scalp, they absorb the oils and then you dry it out- you never have to get your hair wet, therefore straightening less throughout the week. Good luck with taming your locks!
I haven't tried them but the "Wen" products look pretty convincing. My sister gets her hair straightened-it is very expensive-but it lasts for months and is silky smooth-and it starts out looking like Don King on a Harley!
My daughter has a Chi, I have a couple cheaper ones because I don't straighten my hair very often. The Chi is a lot faster.
I have one for my daughter. It gets really hot which she needs (mixed hair) so I don't use it on mine. I also use protective products on her hair. I do it once a week.
As I said, she is mixed and got more of my husband's genes in her hair. It takes me about 30 minutes to flat iron her whole head of hair, which is a quarter of the way down her back. Prior to her texturizer, it took me close to an hour.
Added - they are stupid expensive. I got ours for about $75 and that was more than half off. I waited for the best JCPenney sale I had seen. Even the lady who rang me up said she'd never seen someone get it that cheap :). So look around for sales!
I've had my chi for almost 15 years. It works very well, but still takes time, about 45 minutes for me. I also have to get my husband to do the back for me. I use the chi spray also.
If you cut your hair too short I think it could be harder to do.
Chi Straighteners are just as damaging as the cheap straighteners. They tend to be hotter so they straighter better. Most chis have ions that will protect the hair a bit more but you need to be careful. I am a fan of the chi and currently use it but you need to be careful to not damage your hair. If you buy one, make sure you purchase a thermal/heat protector to put on your hair, otherwise you will damage your hair and your hair will brake and split. Don't plan on using the chi everyday since it will damage your hair. Do styles that don't need a lot of heat. Just to give your hair a break from heat every once in awhile. Best of wishes!!
