Why You Should Consider Using A Vibrating Hair Straightener
Straightening one's hair, especially those with thick locks or curly strands, can be a tall order. Sometimes, it can be an hours-long affair, especially if you're using a straightener or brush that's not as powerful as you would like it to be. It's not surprising why many resort to hair straightening treatments for a more permanent solution. Think rebonding, relaxing, Brazilian straightening, or keratin treatments. These can be pricey, but they let you live a frizz-free life, at least for a few months.
But if you love your waves and curls and only want to straighten your hair for a short period of time, using a hair straightener is your best bet. The tool uses a combination of heat and iron to change the structure of your strands and alter the bonds that make them curly. As a result, you have silky, straight hair.
According to Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist and scalp expert, hair straighteners deliver "sleeker, longer-lasting looks that smooth the cuticle [and] locks in the style with minimal tension and less repetitive passes on the hair fibers." She explained to NBC News that flat irons are designed to "elongate" and "flatten" the cuticle of the hair fibers better compared to other tools. But if you take one look at the market, you'll find that most straighteners look and function the same. Perhaps one of the few outliers is vibrating hair straighteners, which work precisely how they sound.
What are vibrating hair straighteners?
Vibrating hair straighteners are one of those tools that seem gimmicky or like they might only work within the confinements of TikTok, however, they can actually be beneficial to those who want to prioritize minimizing the damage often inflicted by heat-based styling tools. These hair irons look and function similarly to standard straighteners, except that their iron plates operate differently.
"Vibrating flat irons are a straightening tool that has vibrating plates to reinforce heat distribution on the hair," Darrius Peace, a hairstylist and natural hair expert, explained to Byrdie. "It'll allow you to spend less time straightening your hair, which will help with avoiding heat damage." What's more, since the iron plates are constantly moving, your strands will less likely to experience snagging or worse, breaking. If you have finer locks, you may even notice that your hair packs more volume with a vibrating straightener as opposed to a standard iron.
Are vibrating hair straighteners worth the investment?
At the end of the day, it's still your choice what type of hair straightener to look for. Vibrating hair straighteners can sometimes be on the pricier side because of the moving iron plates, but perhaps they're worth the investment if it means subjecting your precious locks to less stress. Since the plates are moving, the heat is allocated more evenly, and the straightener process will be much faster, too (via Byrdie). You won't have to pass the iron through the same sections repeatedly as well.
Ultimately, though, regardless of the bells and whistles hair straighteners have, the results will still largely hinge on what type of hair you have. "Hair that's finely textured, or compromised by chemicals, or already damaged may not be able to handle hot temperatures and still remain healthy," hairstylist Amy Abramite told Cosmopolitan. In that case, it's better to go for styling tools with low-heat settings. On the flip side, if you have a thick and curly crown of glory, straighteners with high heat settings are more capable of accommodating your curls. Of course, don't forget to use heat protectant even before you let any styling tool touch your hair. They add a significant barrier between your strands and the equipment, helping seal in moisture and prevent damage.