Every hair enthusiast knows CHI as a legendary and iconic brand when it comes to heat styling hair.
From the early YouTube gurus to big-time salon professionals today, CHI has always been at the top of the list when it comes to flat irons, hairdryers, and other tools to transform hair into gorgeous styles.
It’s also an amateur’s no-brainer choice if they’re looking for a flat iron when they’re making a first-time purchase because it’s always one of the first brands that pop up if you look up the best flat irons out there.
CHI is known for technologies that promote hair health when it comes to their hot tools.
So if you’re looking to buy a trusted, renowned flat iron that can last you years and help reduce heat damage on your hair, CHI is the way to go.
Why CHI is a good brand for flat irons?
CHI has always been the gold standard for commercially available flat irons, and for good reason.
Their heat-styling tools are designed and developed by salon professionals for fellow stylists.
But because love for hair care and styling is prevalent today, CHI flat irons are available for anyone to buy and use at home.
You can get your hands on CHI irons essentially anywhere, from online marketplaces to department stores to your local salon.
CHI offers various lines of hot tools, hairdryers, and even smoothing and styling creams to help you achieve salon-beautiful hairstyles. But the crème de la crème lies in their flat irons.
Their straighteners are popular for using the latest ceramic technologies.
Each flat iron is made with ceramic plates, which reduce heat damage and keep your hair from burning even when you pump up the temperature as you style, unlike cheaper tools that burn your hair in seconds.
Many CHI flat irons also release loads of negative ions into the hair, which help keep frizz at bay and retain moisture in the hair.
So if you want smooth, sleek, shiny hair, CHI is the way to go.
CHI flat irons can be pricier than those of other brands, but they’re well worth it for their quality.
They’re known for their longevity as well—many women claim they’ve had their same holy grail CHI iron for almost a decade!
What kind of CHI flat iron to look for?
CHI has dozens of flat irons to choose from. What you should opt for depends on your personal hair concerns and how you want to style your hair.
For example, if you’re planning to rotate between straight, curly, and wavy hairstyles depending on your mood or look, you should opt for an iron with rounded edges.
A curved flat iron makes for versatile styling, so you can use it for more than just pin-straight hair.
You should also assess your hair type before picking out a CHI iron.
If you have fine locks, you should go for a gentle ceramic iron.
On the flip side, if you have thick and coarse curls that might be challenging to straighten, opt for titanium-coated plates of the flat iron for African-American hair for extra hot-styling power.
Ceramic plates are also great for those with dehydrated and parched hair because it helps seal moisture in the hair cuticle.
It’s also better for those with dyed hair who want to maintain the vibrancy of their color.
(For the differences between the two material, check out our Titanium vs Ceramic Comparison)
Whether you have fine, delicate hair strands or thick coils that are hard to heat-style, CHI has a flat iron for you.
Here are some of the best ones you can choose.
The 15 Best CHI Flat Iron
CHI Original 1″ Flat Hair Straightening Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
If you’re a beginner and don’t know what to go for, know that you can’t go wrong with CHI’s original ceramic flat iron.
It has 1-inch ceramic plates that heat up evenly and go up to 392°F if you need extra heat and hold.
These plates give you sleek, shiny, frizz-free locks. And with its curved shape, you can also use it to flip and curl your hair to get pretty waves.
CHI Professional 1-Inch Ceramic Tourmaline Hairstyling Flat Iron
Another OG you can’t go wrong with is this 1-inch flat iron made with ceramic and tourmaline plates.
These two allow the release of a high amount of negative ions, which help eliminate all traces of static. That means no frizz and flyaways—just a neat, clean look all day long.
This iron heats up in as quick as 30 seconds and comes with a temperature dial so you can freely gauge what heat level to use on your hair.
This is also a favorite flat iron for African-American hair.
CHI PRO G2 Digital Titanium Infused Ceramic 1″ Iron
If you have hair that’s hard to straighten, you may need extra help from titanium plates.
This iron has ceramic plates coated in titanium, helping it blaze up to a whopping 425°F in just 40 seconds, so you can get styling as soon as possible.
This iron comes with multiple heat settings you can choose from.
It’s easy to read and manipulate through the digital LCD screen on the iron’s handle.
CHI Ellipse Teflon & Titanium 3-in-1 Styler
This iron is unique compared to the others we’ve taken a look at.
Instead of being a standard flat iron, this is a 3-in-1 styler with a curved rod that can be used for straightening and curling.
You can choose between three styling modes:
- “Curl” for bouncy ringlets.
- “Smooth” for sleek and straight hair.
- And “Wave” for sexy, tousled hair.
It’s a great option if you love to switch up your look every day but don’t want to invest in multiple heat tools.
It has a touch-sensitive display screen so you can easily change up the style and heat settings, which go as high up as 410°F.
CHI G2 Ceramic and Titanium 1 1/4″ Straightening Hairstyling Iron
If you have thick hair that takes forever to heat-style, you might want to go with this iron.
It has titanium-covered ceramic plates, helping your hair heat up faster without sacrificing the integrity of your hair with excessive heat damage.
This iron has a “mode” button to help you choose among preset temperature levels.
This flat iron is a bit wider than the usual at 1 and ¼ inches wide. This makes for faster styling because it’s able to straighten each section of hair at a quicker pace.
It sports 1 ¼” plates that is also perfect for maneuvering over short hair.
CHI Tourmaline Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 1″ in Fire Red
I know what you’re thinking.
So far, all of the CHI irons we’ve seen have the same sleek black design.
But if you like being more adventurous with your hot tools and love a pop of color, try out the tourmaline ceramic iron in Fire Red.
It has all the features of the fan-favorite ceramic and tourmaline-plated iron, but in a vibrant, outrageous color.
It releases negative ions to keep your hair smooth, shiny, and frizz-free after styling and heats up to 410°F in as fast as 30 seconds.
CHI Digital Ceramic Hairstyling Iron in South Beach
This 1-inch ceramic iron comes with a unique digital LED screen to help you better read and change up the heat settings of your plates.
It goes up to 425°F, relatively higher than many other CHI irons, so it’s a great option for those with thick, hard-to-straighten hair.
The ceramic plates give you smooth and hydrated curls without dealing too much damage on your hair.
Because they’re floating plates, they have an awesome grip on your hair as you style without you having to squeeze and pull too much on your iron.
They also come in a cute teal color called “South Beach”—perfect for island girls who love the ocean!
CHI Lava Infused Ceramic 1″ Straightening Hairstyling Iron
One of CHI’s more unique technologies is this flat iron made with volcanic lava rocks.
Ceramic and lava work together to provide consistent and evenly distributed heat on the hair without damaging it.
The lava rocks work great for conducting heat and sealing the hair cuticle as you style, so that you can retain a lot of moisture in your frizz-free locks.
It also helps keep your plates more durable, so this iron can last you years without having to be replaced.
CHI Onyx Euroshine 1″ Straightening Hairstyling Iron
This iron is made with advanced onyx and ceramic plates that produce two times more negative ions than your regular flat iron, which can result in smoother, shinier hair.
It has extended iron plates that come up to four inches long, so the plates effortlessly glide on your hair without much work.
The plates have a rounded shape to them, so you can use the iron for versatile styles like waves and curls as well.
The iron also has an LED neon light bar that displays the temperature of your plates for easy, accurate reading.
CHI Tourmaline Ceramic 3-in-1 Styling Iron
This is another 3-in-1 iron you can use for both straightening and curling your hair, but this time it’s made of ceramic and tourmaline plates.
Because of the plates’ gentleness and ability to reduce heat damage, this flat iron is more recommended for those with fine, thin, delicate hair.
You can choose between Smooth, Curl, and Wave settings on your iron so it can adjust to whatever style you want each day. Talk about variety!
CHI Smart Titanium Ceramic Digital Hairstyling Iron In Shimmer Charcoal
This iron has ceramic and titanium plates for effortless heat-styling with less damage.
Like all CHI irons, this one leaves a nice, natural shine in your hair.
There’s a digital screen to display the temperature of your iron. You can even lock in that temperature so you don’t accidentally change it as you style your hair.
This iron comes in a unique Shimmering Charcoal color, which is perfect for ladies who love CHI’s signature sleek black design but want a pop of personality and sparkle to their flat iron.
CHI Tech 1″ Ceramic Dial Hairstyling Iron
This ceramic iron does wonders for straightening your hair quickly without dealing damage due to high heat.
It straightens your hair while locking in moisture to keep your bounciness and shine.
However, what’s unique about this iron is that it has a temperature dial that’s easy to manipulate and control.
All you have to do is twist the dial to adjust the heat settings depending on your hair type and texture, and you’re good to go.
CHI Tech 3/4″ Travel Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
If you love to travel but can’t live without your flat iron, you can take this travel-sized CHI along with you on your trips.
The ¾-inch plates are just right for straightening hair of any length and texture, but are travel-friendly in size.
Like CHI’s classic ceramic irons, this small but powerful iron releases negative ions that help smooth out your hair and keep it sleek and shiny, all while retaining moisture.
This iron is also dual-voltage, so it’s perfect for traveling to countries with different sockets.
CHI Deep Brilliance 1″ Black Titanium Hairstyling Iron
If you have textured hair that is quite difficult to straighten, this flat iron will be a godsend.
It’s made with black titanium plates, which heat up a lot faster than ceramic plates but still distribute the heat evenly.
It can reach a temperature of 450°F, which may be necessary if you have coarse, curly hair that is stubborn under a flat iron.
CHI Smart Gemz Volumizing Zirconium Titanium Hairstyling Iron
If shiny hair is your goal, you’ll love this flat iron.
It’s made with zirconium and titanium plates that can leave your hair looking lustrous and glossy after styling.
It’s also a great option for those with curly hair that’s hard to straighten.
This hot pink iron also has a touch-sensitive digital display screen to read and adjust the temperature of the plates.
Conclusion
CHI is an awesome, trustworthy brand that will give you and your hair amazing results, so it’s only fitting for it to be your go-to for hot tools, especially if you’re looking for a flat iron for everyday styling.
If you prioritize the durability of your tools and maintaining your hair’s health and shine, CHI is definitely for you.
You have a cornucopia of CHI flat iron options at your fingertips—all you need to do is choose one that is perfect for your hair type and favorite hairstyles.
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