Hair straighteners, or flat irons, are a type of hair iron that is designed to straighten curly or wavy hair, as opposed to curling irons, which curl hair, and crimping irons which crimp hair. All hair irons work by applying heat and pressure to hair in an effort to change it to a desired shape. But not all hair irons are created equal, and some hair irons can cause breakage and even burn hair. Some have titanium plates and some have ceramic plates. Some have infrared heating elements. Some claim to be “ionic” and have tourmaline. So how do you know which kind of curling iron is the best for you?

First, a little history. The modern curling iron was invented by Marcel Grateau in 1872..http://www.misikko.com/flat-iron-history.html Around this same time, a woman named Erica Feldman was using heated rods to straighten her hair and the hair of others. It was only a matter of time before some combined the concepts, and in 1909 by Isaac K. Shero invented the flat iron. In 1912, the design was perfected into the form we know today by Lady Jennifer Bell Schofield. Later, in the 1970s, the crimping iron was created, and surged into popularity in the 1980s

Folica.com maintains a "Top 10 Flat Irons" list "based on thousands of consumer reviews, the latest technologies and years of testing," according to the site. Currently number one on this list is the Sedu Pro Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron (1 1/2") with free heat proof pouch, although that is subject to change. Most of the flat irons on this list are on the high end side and so cost quite a bit, so be sure that they're what you want before you buy them.http://www.folica.com/shop-by/top-10/flat-irons As another option, a user rated list of top hair straighteners can be found, appropriately enough, at HairStraightening.net.http://www.hairstraightening.net/Best-hair-straighteners.html