Why is Ceramic Better? What are +/- Ions?

[SerenityBreeze]

Isnt direct heat bad for your hair period? What makes the ceramic barrels, plates, etc better? Whats all the talk about positive ions? How would you rate damage on Scale of 1-10 for the following?

Ceramic w/ Heat Protectant
Non Ceramic w/Heat Protectant

Thanks Ladies -- I know someone will have me covered on this! I feel like I am in Science 101 -- LOL (Please school me)

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

Ceramic heat is better for the hair then heat from a metal iron because metal heats unevenly and contains "hot-spots" that can irreparably damage the strands, you cannot adequately control the heat, whereas ceramic heats uniformly and evenly, allowing you to use less heat and control the amount of heat that touches your strands.

Negative ions are said to help close the hairs cuticle, providing for a silkier result and judging from the way my hair feels after using the Andis Tourmaline ionic blowdryer, I would say thats definitely true.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

thanks for the info BMP

 

[FAMUDva]

From The Truth about Flat Irons

Myth:
“Ionic” flat irons are better than ceramic flat irons.

Fact:
The word “ionic” is commonly used in the styling industry to refer to negative ions only. Ceramic flat irons use ceramic heaters, which produce negative ions when heated - no matter what.

An ion is an atom that's gained a positive or negative electrical charge. Think about magnets – opposites attract, because neutrality is the natural state of stability, wholeness and health.

Damaged hair is positively charged – from static electricity, chemicals or metal heated appliances. The positive charge keeps hair follicles open, dried out & brittle.

Negative ions neutralize the charge, closing hair follicles and smoothing the hair shaft. All ceramic flat irons produce them, while materials like tourmaline & titanium boost their output.

MYTH:
Aside from the cheapest ceramic irons, professional ceramic flat iron plates are made of pure ceramic.

FACT:
Most ceramic flat irons on the market use plates that are made of aluminum or titanium, then coated with several baked on layers of ceramic. Even high end, professional ceramic flat irons use this technique (they may have more ceramic layers). That's because pure ceramic is much softer than metal-reinforced ceramic - easier to crack during manufacturing (or with rough use). However, with prolonged use, ceramic coating can peel or chip, exposing the metal below and causing the plates to heat unevenly or damage hair.

There are flat irons with pure ceramic plates, like the high priced FHI Runway flat iron used by celebrity stylists, and the lower profile but highly comparable Hana Elite flat iron. The benefits of pure ceramic are real: expect far more even & diffuse heating, smooth handling, and no fear of ceramic peeling or chipping away over a lifetime of use. But be warned - never clap the plates together and handle the iron gently. If you can afford it, pure ceramic irons are of exceptional quality and receive excellent ratings from stylists and consumers.

MYTH:
The best flat iron for black hair is different from the best flat irons on the market.

FACT:
Choosing a flat iron for African-American or other ethnic hair types is not much different from choosing a flat iron that will work well on thick or curly hair – the difference is in the preparation and treatment needed before and after straightening. Ethnic hair tends to be coarse, but African-American hair is the most porous – meaning it is easier to lose moisture & sustain heat damage. Using moisturizing conditioners regularly is more important when heat styling black hair, before and after styling.

Shine-enhancing products commonly used on black hair are not the best choice when using a flat iron – spray laminators or oil based products can literally fry on hot surfaces, so use sparingly or not at all (tourmaline or titanium will add natural shine by smoothing hair). Other than that, much like coarse hair of any ethnic type, the trick is in straightening small sections at a time, looking for wider plate sizes (1 1/2" & up), and practicing to find the right heat and technique.

For more on using a flat iron to straighten African-American hair, check out our article, "How to Flat Iron Black Hair"!

 

[FAMUDva]

MYTH:
Ceramic flat irons/ionic heat/far infrared heat cause no heat damage to hair.

FACT:
Ceramic flat irons cause considerably less damage to hair than less expensive flat irons that use metal or plastic heating elements (or have less ceramic on their plates). But the hard truth is this: regular, prolonged exposure to heat – especially if your hair is already damaged, chemically treated or thin – will cause some stress to your hair structure.

The impact of heat styling can be lessened by using conditioners daily – and if you notice tress stress, try deep conditioning once a week (even with home remedies like egg, avocado or olive oil hair treatments). Before heat styling, use heat treatments to prepare your hair for the process (let dry completely before styling). Make sure your hair is as clean and dry as can be - damp hair in a flat iron will sustain more damage than dry hair and could instantly frizz up.

Unless, of course, you use a wet-to-dry flat iron - safe for use on damp hair, with the added benefit of eliminating the need for blow drying (you’ll still need to towel dry thoroughly and comb your hair out before ironing). And if you’re still using a traditional metal heated hair dryer, upgrade to one that uses ceramic elements as well – any professional hair dryer uses negative ionic heating to help protect hair, and dries much quicker so heat exposure is lessened.

One final tip: give your hair a break from heat styling on days when you don’t really need it! It’ll look that much better when it’s time to shine.

There are a couple more myths/facts on the link.