Background
Ceramic ionic hair straighteners work by thermally straightening hair. Just as use of a blow dryer and flat or barrel brush results in hair that's straighter and silkier, hair straighteners work by using heat to temporarily break down and reform the hydrogen bonds in the hair. Because heat is applied directly to the hair by pressing it through hot tongs, the results are more pronounced. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that hair will stay straight until exposed to moisture, be it a humid or rainy environment, or the next shampooing. Newer straightening irons that use ceramic technology rather than plain metal plates and plastic heating elements are more efficient in transferring heat more evenly and uniformly. The less time the hot tool is applied directly to the hair, the less damage that results from flat iron use.
Precautions
If used improperly or too frequently, ceramic ionic hair straighteners may damage the hair cuticle, resulting in dullness and noticeable breaking. The AAD notes that the heat setting on ceramic straighteners should never be set at more than 347 degrees F (low-medium setting); less if hair has been treated chemically. Hair should be completely dry before using a hair straightener. Contrary to marketing claims that ceramic ionic hair straighteners are "healthy" for hair, the AAD notes that application of intense heat to the hair will eventually result in damage. The AAD advises applying a leave-in heat protectant prior to use to prevent hair damage, and using the straightener no more than two to three times per week.
Procedure
To get the best results with a ceramic ionic hair straightener, patience is required. The tool should only be applied to small, thin sections of hair at a time, starting from the part of the hair that's closest to the scalp and pressing it through the tongs in a single downward motion. Flipping the plates upward as they reach the end of the hair can result in a more natural appearance, as hair isn't "pin straight." Most ceramic ionic straightening irons will yield flat, sleek tresses after sections of the hair are pressed through the plates only once, although thicker sections of hair (or hair that's coarser) may require additional straightening. Straightening an entire head of hair may take between 30 minutes and an hour, or even longer for hair that's particularly long or thick.
Terminology
TheBeautyBrains.com indicates that ceramic hair straighteners may refer to the type of plate or plate coating used on the hot tool, ceramic being an inorganic clay composite. However, when used to market straightening irons, "ceramic" may also refer to the construction of the heating element. Professional-grade straightening irons with ceramic elements heat up quickly, retain heat evenly and are therefore easier to use. However, the Beauty Brains website expresses doubts about ionic technology, which claims to impart "good" negative ions to positively-charged hair, purportedly resulting in silky, healthier hair.
David Akerman, research and development scientist at Clear Edge Filtration, agrees that ceramic heating elements result in styling tools with even heat distribution, but disputes the notion that they impart negative ions to hair. "Positive and negative ions are everywhere in nature," Akerman states. "They are the key to making biochemical reactions work in every strand of DNA in every cell in every living thing and are neither 'good' nor 'bad.'" For more information on how to interpret marketing claims made by hair straightener manufacturers, see the Resources link below.
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