Any wavy hair or Curly Sue readers out there? Although I didn’t have any hair until I turned 2, boy did it grow in and compensate for those years of lost time. So many times, I have been told that I have a horse’s mane. The composition of my hair is so weird. I say that it has 2 “layers” – a top “thin” layer that is stick-straight, while the rest, or the “bottom” layer, is super wavy. I’m talkin’ beach curls for dayyys. This makes styling it without straightening or curling it a lovely challenge, and good hair days are seriously something to celebrate.
Naturally, I have to have a dependable and effective flat iron to really get my hair in the stick-straight order that I prefer. In college, I bought and used a hot pink Chi iron, and it lasted for over 7 years! When my Chi started to lose its touch in the summer of 2015, I scoured the internet looking for recommendations for my next power tool (my kind of power tool!). After reading a ton of reviews, I decided to try the HSI Professional 1″ Salon Model flat iron. How did I make my choice? First and foremost, I was looking for a flat iron that had a heat dial that can withstand really high temperatures. The HSI had it, along with 4.5 stars from over 26,000 reviews, so I decided to give it a shot and ordered it off of Amazon.
I’ve had this flat iron for about a year and a half now and am excited to tell you about it in my product review below.
Details
I ordered the HSI flat iron from Amazon for $39.99. Honestly, I was nervous because it was at such an affordable price point compared to the $100+ flat iron price points that I am used to seeing for top-notch styling tools.
I ordered the worldwide edition, which is compatible in the U.S. and in Europe (dual voltage of 110 Volts/220 Volts). The model number is E038. For this model, the temperature range goes from 140-410 degrees Fahrenheit.
Packaging
The product was delivered in a bright red rectangular box, clearly marked “HSI Professional”. The box itself was very sturdy yet lightweight, and the product was packed tightly into it along with a heat protecting glove, flat iron pouch, and travel size sample of argan oil. Inside the box was a small promo flyer that had information on how to activate a one-year product warranty.
Durability
The flat iron is made with 1 inch wide ceramic plates with a natural Tourmaline mineral coating. It has microsensors on the plates that monitors the heat and adjusts the temperature, as needed.
Ease of Use
Something to be cognizant of with this model of the flat iron is that there is NO automatic turn-off (more recent models do have an automatic turn-off), which has caused me a couple mini freak outs in the past after I’ve left the house and am debating whether I turned it off or not (#yikes).
In addition, this flat iron has an extra long 360-degree swivel cord, which makes it easy to navigate either at your desk or in the bathroom. It’s pretty lightweight (approximately 1 pound) and features an easy grip for holding. It’s never slipped through my hands, and sometimes you could say that I have butterfingers…
My Results
don’t mind me, blondie up against a light yellow wall. #photofail
The one thing that will be a make or break factor for any flat iron that I try out is hair snags. When hair snags happen while straightening my hair, I can’t even. It makes me instantly mad! Luckily, this flat iron flows through my hair effortlessly. It hasn’t snagged my hair once, and I’ve been using it for a year and half!
Because I have such thick hair, I do typically go over sections of my hair multiple times to make sure that it’s super straight, but even so, I timed myself yesterday while straightening my hair, and it only took me 12 minutes from start to finish to straighten my full head of hair!
I live right outside of New York City, which can be a humid place, especially in the summertime. Sometimes it feels like the heat literally ricochets off of the buildings and seeps into your skin (yuck!). However, the HSI flat iron keeps my hair straight throughout all of the seasons, including the humid summer, and my hair will even hold its straightness the next day (although in the summer I usually do have to wash my hair every day!).
If you’re interested in trying out this HSI flat iron, you can find it on Amazon here
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I hope this product review has been helpful and gives you a new option to think about the next time you’re in the market for a new flat iron. I am still so happy about how well this styling tool works for me and my thick hair, especially because it was a steal at $39.99. It’s the little things in life, right?!
Cheers to good hair days. xx
