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If your hair has ever been fried from flat ironing, it is important that you start protecting it. Both tourmaline and ceramic technologies are designed to keep your hair as healthy as possible while getting it as straight as possible. Tourmaline helps keep the health of your hair at its best by counteracting ions that cause damage to hair and closing down the cuticle, while ceramic technology heats up the flat iron plates evenly so that there are no hot spots. Choose one of the best tourmaline ceramic flat irons out there to keep your hair looking fabulous.
Best High-End Iron: T3 SinglePass Professional Straightening and Styling Iron
This Allure Best of Beauty award-winning flat iron is one of the best according to the leading women’s magazine. The stylish design – black and white with silver detailing is new as of 2011. The iron heats up quickly plus, thanks to the ceramic technology, the temperature stays consistent to prevent hair burns. The tourmaline-infused plates help to keep hair in optimum condition while straightening. The only downside, according to Allure, is that the power button and temperature controls are on the inside of the iron. So be careful not to burn your fingers when turning it off or adjusting the temp.
Best for Travel: CHI Air Expert Baby Tourmaline Ceramic Mini Flat Iron
This pint-size flat iron is recommended by Allure magazine for short hair such as bangs or for travel. The iron is only 6 inches long but works just as well as the full-size CHI irons. It has both ceramic and tourmaline technology packed into it, so strands aren’t compromised – even while on vacation. If you’ve got exceptionally long or thick hair, this may not be your best option but for those with short strands such as bobs, this one is ideal.
Best Splurge: FHI Heat Runway Ceramic Iron
The FHI Heat Runway Ceramic Iron won the 2010 Best Beauty Buy award from In Style magazine because it is gentle on hair without sacrificing styling power. It is said to get hotter than other irons – it heats up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit – without singing strands. The tourmaline and ceramic technologies make this high-priced ($330 at the time of publication) flat iron extra gentle, controlling frizz while leaving strands super straight.
Best on a Budget: Infiniti by Conair SS9 Nano Silver Steam Straightener
This one is a mouthful but don’t let the long name scare you off – the Infiniti by Conair SS9 Nano Silver Steam Straightener was voted as the “best performer overall” by Consumer Reports magazine. This one is loaded with not just tourmaline and ceramic technology but also the nano technology of microparticles of silver coating. All of this technology equates to healthier hair overall. This flat iron features ceramic-coated combs so hair is detangled during straightening. Plus there is an on-demand steam feature that helps put moisture back into hair.
