If you love the look of straight hair, but don't naturally have it, you might use a flat iron to achieve the sleek locks of your dreams. But how do you protect your hair from heat damage so that it's hot, but not literally?

Flat iron technology has come a long way since this handy tool was first introduced. Ceramic flat irons are hot-sellers because the ceramic surface is 1. Perfectly smooth, which ensures that you're not pulling on your precious hair and 2. Evenly heated, which makes for uniform results. Ceramic tools generally win over the old gold-plated versions hands down.

So which ceramic flat iron to get? There are a lot on the market and they range in price from inexpensive to salon quality. This is one of those instances where you really get what you pay for. Your concerns when buying should include how often you'll use it and what kind of results you want.



First of all, flat ironing really shouldn't be done every day. This can be incredibly damaging, especially if your hair has a tendency to be dry. You should also use only the hottest setting it takes to straighten your hair; hotter temperatures can also lead to damage. And never, ever touch a flat iron to wet or damp hair, unless it's one like the Remington Wet 2 Straight iron which is made specifically to dry and straighten your hair at the same time.

For professional results at home, buy a ceramic flat iron in a mid price range, so expect to spend at least $50.00 or so. The smaller the plates, the more control you'll have over sections of hair. A good habit to get into is to divide your hair into three or four sections and make use of clips to hold your remaining hair out of the area you're working on. Work on sections no bigger than 2" wide, start the iron at the root of your hair and swoop it down in one smooth motion. It's best not to go over your hair again and again with the heat.

Want a really good iron? I'm eyeing the Sedu Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline, which sounds like the flat iron of my dreams. Maybe Santa will bring it to me, if I can be good.

'Til next time, my pretties.