Sleek hair is a head-turner, and to get the look flat irons are the best route to silky, shiny locks. But to ensure your straightened hair remains healthy, especially if you use your flat irons regularly, it’s essential to get the very best.
When it comes to flat irons, ceramic and titanium are the materials of choice for many hairdressing pros. But which comes out on top for speed and ease of use, hair protection and hair straightening abilities?
We put them to the test to decide – ceramic Vs. titanium flat irons: which one is better?
Titanium vs Ceramic Hair Straighteners: What’s the Difference?
For safely straightening your crowning glory, flat irons with either titanium or ceramic plates are recommended by the experts and are the two most common materials used. But titanium and ceramic hair straighteners are different in several key ways.
Let’s take a look at each type of hair straightener in turn.
Ceramic Hair Straighteners
These types of hair straighteners use plates made from ceramic, which is a non-metallic, inorganic material. Ceramic is known for even heat distribution which prevents ‘hot spots’ and is gentle on the hair.
Ceramic uses natural far-infrared to warm the hair shaft from the inside, which helps to protect the outer layer of the hair from drying out and locks in more moisture to create that high-gloss shine. Many ceramic flat irons also produce negative ions, which help to neutralize hair and smooth out frizz and flyaway for a smooth finish.
However, ceramic hair straighteners take longer than titanium to heat up and won’t reach the same high temperatures. They are also not as durable as the ceramic coating can be vulnerable to chipping.
Titanium Hair Straighteners
Titanium is a light, strong metal that heats up super-fast and can reach higher temperatures than other types of straightening irons. This speedy heating saves time on your straightening so while they can get very hot, you will spend less time using them on your hair. Titanium plates are also extremely smooth and glide down the hair shaft without snagging or dragging, leaving a lovely smooth and silky feel.
Heating from the outside in, many titanium flat irons come with negative ion technology, to keep moisture inside the hair shaft. But the seriously fast heat they generate means they can be a little harsh on finer or more fragile hair, and so work best on thicker, longer, or coarser locks.
Lightweight and easy to use, titanium is also surprisingly scratch resistant and durable, making a robust straightener that can withstand plenty of hair straightening use.
Which is Better Titanium or Ceramic?
So, now we know the main differences between the two, which one is better? Before we get to the answer, here’s how each type of flat iron performs:
Heat Generation
Titanium irons are the Usain Bolt of the hair styling world, heating up in super-fast time thanks to its high-heat conductivity. You can also get really high temperatures – typically up to 450°F – which are evenly spread across the plate to prevent hot spots on your hair.
Ceramic irons are slower to heat up, but are still pretty speedy, usually up to temperature in around one minute and remain evenly heated across the plate. And while they don’t get to the high heat of titanium, they hold it well.
Combatting Frizz
By heating from the outside in, ceramic irons are less likely to dry out the surface of your hair. Added ion technology means they can also lock in moisture, to combat frizzy and fly-away hair.
Titanium, on the other hand, dries from the outside in and so can dry out hair if not used properly. But their fast and high heat means they work more effectively on wavy or coarser hair.
Heat Damage
Just like all hair straighteners, both titanium and ceramic flat irons have the potential to dry out and damage your hair, especially if they are not used properly or over-used. However, the high heat of titanium can be harsh on some hair types, whereas the slower, more even heat of ceramic is overall, gentler on hair.
But whichever type of straightener you use, it is essential to also use a heat protector product on your hair to minimize any potential damage.
Durability
While effective at straightening hair, ceramic plates can be prone to chipping and scratching over time. The more expensive titanium, however, is more durable and has excellent scratch, cracking and chipping resistant properties.
Hair Type
While both ceramic and titanium are effective hair straighteners, they do have their own advantages and disadvantages, meaning they each work best with different hair types.
As long as there are enough heat settings, ceramic straighteners can work with most hair types, although they may not get the same results on very thick, curly, or coarse hair. However, it is with thinner or more fragile hair that ceramic comes into its own as it is gentler and can operate at lower temperatures.
Titanium is certainly a hair straightening powerhouse and depending on the model you choose, should have a choice of temperatures that are easy to control. However, thanks to its fast, high heat, titanium flat irons are particularly suited to thick, long, coarse, or unruly hair that needs a little more taming to get the shine and sleekness you want.
So, there you have it – when deciding between titanium and ceramic and which one is best as a straightening iron, both are a good choice. The deciding factor is your own hair type which will help you decide whether ceramic or titanium straighteners are best for you.
FAQ:
Is titanium more damaging than ceramic?
If they are used properly, titanium flat irons are a fast and effective way to straighten your hair.
However, as they heat up very quickly and to a high temperature, it is easier to burn or overheat your hair if you are not careful, compared to the slower heating ceramic type of flat iron.
Are ceramic straighteners bad for your hair?
Technically, any type of flat iron can be potentially bad for your hair, especially if they are over-used or not used correctly. However, some types of hair straighteners are kinder on your hair than others. Ceramic flat irons, in particular, are considered the safest option as they heat up more slowly and don’t reach the high temperatures of titanium. So, used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions and alongside a heat protector product, then ceramic straighteners are safe to use.
However, they are best suited to finer or medium thickness hair and may not be as effective on thicker, curly, or coarser locks.
Is titanium or ceramic better for curling hair?
Your hair type and thickness will ultimately decide which type of material you choose, when it comes to your hair styler, including curling irons. So, just as ceramic is better for finer hair, if you have lots of thick hair, or your hair has a coarser texture, then titanium, with its ability to heat up fast to higher temperatures, is going to make curling your hair easier and longer lasting.
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