We’re having a lot of fun posting tweeting to our top 100 beauty friends on Twitter and we’re getting some good questions from our followers. Here’s one example:
NM tweets…Any insight to new technology in flat-irons: nano fusion, far-infrared heat, crushed tourmaline, ionic and effects on hair?
The Left Brain leaps to respond:
Here are some specific flat iron claims that NM questioned along with my comments.
1. Tourmaline technology produces up to 20 times more moisture-locking ions than other professional irons. Being solid ceramic versus a coat of ceramic, it allows for more crushed tourmaline gemstones, thus producing more negative ions and creating shinier, silkier, and more reflective hair.”
There is no scientific evidence that I could find which would support the 20 times claim or an indication of what ions are formed. The only reference I could find was that it produced Hydroxyl ions when put in contact with the water. There is no evidence that these ions have ANY positive effect on hair. More important for characteristics like shine, silky feel and reflectiveness is the condition of the hair. If the hair is not damaged, it will look shinier & feel smoother. Ions have nothing to do with it.
2. “Tourmaline is a natural source of negative ions.”
What ions? Ions have to be some kind of element or compound. There is no such thing as “negative ions”. There are “negative hydroxyl ions” or “negative chlorine ions” but there are no “negative ions”. I can’t refute or confirm without an indication of what kind of negative ions they are talking about.
3. What’s the difference between ceramic and tourmaline?
Ceramic is a material composed usually of clay. Tourmaline is a silicate, precious stone. They are just different types of inorganic materials.
4. “Ionic technology emits negative ions, which neutralize the positive ions that cause static in the hair. It breaks down water molecules to 100 times smaller, allowing moisture to easily and quickly absorb into each strand, therefore creating softer, smoother hair.”
No, this isn’t true. Water molecules are not made smaller. Water molecules stay the same size. There is no published scientific report to demonstrate that Tourmaline irons create less static than ceramic ones.
5. “Hair carries a positive electrical charge caused by dryness. Over time this positive charge increases, and as hair becomes drier, the more open the cuticle becomes. When a flat iron or hair dryer is heated, negative ions are created, canceling out the positive charges and smoothing the hair cuticle.”
Hair carries both a positive and negative charge but it’s not “caused” by dryness. It is the result of damaged proteins which can be caused by heat damage, styling damage, environmental damage, sun damage, etc. It’s not true the the cuticle becomes more open because of ions and it’s also not true that “canceling positive charges smooths down the cuticle”.
6. “Far Infrared Heat – This technology heats the hair from the inside out, causing less surface damage. Said to straighten hair faster hence reducing damage.”
No it doesn’t. These flat irons work the same as regular flat irons. They transfer heat from the surface through the hair not the other way around. There is no proof that they work different.
7. “Is Far Infra-Red heat more energy efficient? Does it really heat hair from the inside out – is that even possible?”
These flat irons do not heat the hair from the inside out. I suppose it would be possible to heat the hair from the inside out, but I’ve never seen a flat iron that actually does. And even if you could do it, there is no evidence that it would make a noticeable difference.
8. “The Ionic Energy and the Silver Nano Technology kills 99.9% of bacteria and air born viruses. “ And, if nanotechnology is generally used in conjunction with silver, how does that figure in to a ceramic plate iron? And how/why is it known for its natural anti-bacterial and antifungal properties?
I have no idea what technology they are talking about. The heat from ANY flat iron will kill bacteria and viruses. Nano technology won’t make a bit of difference. Silver is known to have antibacterial properties. But I don’t understand what exactly is the benefit of a flat iron killing bacteria and viruses?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
b-b-but my stylist told me so! That’s why this iron cost me $160.00! LOL.
Thanks for busting this, Brains. The advertising of flat irons really gets my goat! They might as well start selling clothing irons with ‘nano ceramic technology’ as it would make much more sense than with hair irons.
I’ve found that the most important factor (by far) dividing the “good” and “bad” straighteners is the temperature it will go up to.
“Tourmaline Ceramic”, the kind of straightener I use, is something I prefer only because the coating doesn’t wear off after extended use, causing the plates to become rough and uneven and pull at your hair. I’m pretty sure that’s because of the heavily glazed plates, not the material they’re made of.
As long as the iron can get up to 400 degrees F or higher, and the plates are smooth and dependable, it’s a good iron!
Obviously, neither of these two factors improve your hair health :/
And JJ, I agree- some of these irons cost well over two hundred dollars! I’d rather save the two hundred and stick to my eighty dollar straightener (which I still thought rather steep!).
“It breaks down water molecules to 100 times smaller”
Hehehe…
I study physics (actually Masters in Applied Physical Science but it is essentially all physics) and sometimes when I read these sort of things, I think that the advertisers just use a bunch of “big, bad, technical words” to throw people off and make it sound more effective than it really is. Most people don’t know negative, positive ion or negative, positive charges, etc. Educate yourselves, people!
Nice informative post as usual. I’ve just had a baby and haven’t worried about my appearance for almost a year now so it’s refreshing to read a post like this, thank you.
but is there any difference between the golden and silver and other colored plates and which is less damaging?
ceramic or tourmaline
Yes. I use one quite often. Also make sure to deep condition and even try adding egg to your deep conditioner and washing it out well (2-3) times afterwords, it leaves your hair healthier and easier to manage.
I have noticed a huge improvement in my hair, when I switched from a cheap metal plated iron, to a solid ceramic and tourmaline iron. Also in my dryer. So are you saying that the new technology is no better than it was before? I’m no science buff…chemistry is not my thing at all, I’m just trying to understand.
I believe if it does not work in science it does NOT work. This would be majic, the unexplained vs the explained/slide-of-hand. If we are considering ourselves educated/professionals we should know for sure what we are talking about, otherwise it is all smoke and mirrors. Welcome to the world of cosmotology, being sold hype and emotion if we are not carefull.
Just found this post via Google. Thank you! I knew all the descriptions sounded phony but I didn’t know why.
I agree with some but not all of this post. You question the concept of a negative ion and say it needs to be “some sort of element or compound” and that’s simply not true. The definition of an ion is an atom or molecule (note: not a compound) that has an unequal number of protons and electrons. Thus, it’s either positively or negatively charged. In this case, it’s negatively charged.
Additionally, while these ions do not break down water molecules (that would just result in hydrogen and oxygen going their separate ways), it does break down the molecular clusters (read: surface tension). This allows the water to penetrate things that it couldn’t have otherwise. Picture it like this: You can’t put a rock through a strainer, but if you grind it up into dust it will go right through. That’s what these negative ions do with water clusters.
I think what you see with the flat iron marketing is not lying, it is just dumbing it down and hyping it back up. But at the end of the day, the tourmaline technology is effective and is scientifically backed.
“These flat irons work the same as regular flat irons. They transfer heat from the surface through the hair not the other way around. There is no proof that they work different.” – How do you know?
“These flat irons do not heat the hair from the inside out. I suppose it would be possible to heat the hair from the inside out, but I’ve never seen a flat iron that actually does. And even if you could do it, there is no evidence that it would make a noticeable difference.” – How would you know if it did or didn’t? Just give an example like say putting a thermometer on the plates of two or three different kinds of flat irons.
The absence of proof doesn’t make something non-existent. By that logic the mountain gorilla didn’t exist until 1902. Come on now.
Here’s how to prove that far infrared technology has no effect on hair. Three test subjects with the same virgin hair type/texture(it must be CURLY) and they must have three natural colors of hair. One dark brown to black, one redhead, one with light blonde to white hair. If the only effective heat is conduction then all three subjects will have identical results. If far infrared heat(which is arguably a radiation form) plays any part such as smoother or straighter hair then the results will improve as the amount of melanin present in the cortex of each subject’s hair decreases. The darkest hair would have the best results.
Far infrared heat would heat the cortex more than the cuticle since the cuticle is clear.
One possibility is that the presence of far infrared heat(albeit alleged) allows the conduction type heat that touches the cuticle to remain relatively low while the heat generated in the more opaque cortex would be higher and more effective in temporarily relaxing a curl pattern.
In addition to the fact that far infrared(I’m still conceding that it has to be present to do anything) heat would heat hair from the inside out…
It would/should also make any leave in conditioners with heat protection more effective. The vibration caused by the far infrared wave would for lack of a better word relax the water(it evaporates but not completely) molecules in those products. Since the other ingredients are mixed into water the water would/should then carry the “effective” ingredients deeper into the hair providing a better result than w/o heat or just conduction heat.
So yes it has to be present to do anything.(and no I haven’t the evidence beyond my hair feeling/looking awesome in comparison to other types of irons and even blow drying) Since the technology does(whether it’s actually present in hair appliances or not) do what the companies claim it does, your points are scientifically flimsy even to a non-scientist. Why? Because the things far infrared heat does? It does them at the molecular level. Your not being able to see it happening with your bare eyes proves nothing. If it did then I could say cold germs don’t exist because I can’t see them with my bare eyes.
*results will improve as the amount of melanin in each subject’s hair increases.
I really should have proofread my post.
So, does this mean tourmaline irons will give just the same results as the regular straighteners? I always thought tourmaline irons are better. Thanks for your post!
Thanks for sharing this. I never thought about questioning hair straightening technologies before.
Whether you majored in this field or not, I feel that your blog was too opinionated. It was interesting at first, but like you said about big companies trying to use big words to advertise their products, you are just trying to sound smart in an area that you don’t really know much about. Good trick though, almost fell for it. But I guess now I’m going to purchase me self a new tourmaline straightener!
I still believe that tourmaline flat irons work the best(at least for my hair), but thanks for sharing this information:-)
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