When to Replace Your Hair Straightener

For many people, hair tools are something that are kept forever (until they simply stop working). However, what people don’t understand is that all tools have an expiration date! In fact, sometimes that expiration date is as little as two years. Think about it like this: You’d never drink expired milk even if it was still sitting in your refrigerator, right?

That just wouldn’t be healthy. Well, the same should go for the straightener in your bathroom drawer! If a straightener that is past its prime remains in use, your hair is going to suffer. It can damage your hair along with strip your luscious locks of their natural oils. We do recognize that not everyone knows the signs to look for in an overused straightener. We, however, do know that signs. If you think your straightener might be on its last legs, take a look at these signs:

Snagging hair and scratched plates

Sometimes, after years of use, your straightener will begin to develop scratched plates or tiny dent marks in the plates. This can lend itself to a number of problems, including loosening of the plates themselves, or snagging of hair. It’s very damaging to the strand to snag while applying heat. Scratches can also lend themselves to trapped product, which in turn can eventually burn or be disruptive to your attempt to style.

A weird smell

If your straightener is producing a strange smell, that likely indicates that something is wrong with the internal wiring of the device. Some people describe this smell as being somewhat ‘fishy.’ When the internal wiring of the device is faulty, it makes for a very risky and unsafe situation. The smell could additionally be due to any product that you’ve gotten into the scratches or denting, or potentially the smell of burning hair. If you believe that the smell is of burning hair, that simply means that you are damaging your hair by using the outdated device. A good straightener does not produce any of these smells.

Takes a long time to straighten your hair

Professional grade straighteners heat up quickly and straighten your hair instantaneously with use. If you find that you need to consistently go over spots again and again, this means that the power of your straightener has significantly weakened. It may not be a dangerous issue, but it can become quite time consuming and annoying. Applying heat to strands over and over again is also not good for your hair’s health.

Flashing lights

If you notice that your straightener is constantly flashing or flickering light (by the power button or temperature button), it likely means that your straightener is experiencing an issue with heat control. Like frayed wires, this could not only burn your hair, but also cause some serious electrical issues. These flickering lights are easy to ignore, but don’t let them slide!

Spooky temperature settings

Does it seem like the temperature of your straightener is being controlled by a ghost? If you are experiencing odd temperature changes in your device without actually changing it yourself, you are in need of a new straightener. While aggravating and strange, it can potentially be pretty dangerous. You should always be in control of the temperature of your straightener.

Messed up external wires

When a straightener has been used over and over, the external hardware and wires can become broken, frayed, or damaged. While this is an issue for your hair, it is also a major issue for your general safety. Visibly damaged wires can cause serious shocks to occur when the device is plugged in. It could even lead to a fire.

If you’d like to extend the life of your straightener, there are absolutely things you can do! First, it’s important to buy a straightener that is going to last. Quality plates are a must. Never purchase a flat iron that does not have either ceramic tourmaline or titanium plates.

At FHI Heat, we use the best materials possible to provide you with the longest lasting tools that produce stunning results. Ceramic plates produce negative ions which allow the styling to happen very quickly. Titanium is great because it evenly heats up the plates, does not corrode over time, and is fantastic for thick or coarse hair. We also infuse our titanium plates with magnesium for maximum smoothness.

Our professional grade styling tools are designed to bring salon quality into your home. Using an FHI Heat flat iron means smoothness and effortless style. Of course, we’ve taken every precaution to make sure that our tools can sustain substantial amount of use over time. Check out our wide selection of stylers here.