CHI Hair straigteners - help for a Brit!

[Clare D]

Hi
We travel to the US next week first for a family wedding and then a trip to Disney. The GHD hair straighteners I have won't work in the US as they are the older range and are not dual voltage.
Thankfully they work ok across Europe but this means that I either have to buy new GHD's with dual voltage or buy some US straighteners which I am happy to do as we visit the States but I am unsure which ones and where to buy them from. My SIL to be is already in the States so they could be delivered to her parents. Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks Clare x

 

[Imzadi]

Instead of getting a CHi, get one of these. It is much cheaper, has gotten great reviews and can be used on wet or dry hair.

http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Straight-Ceramic-Straightening-Tourmaline/dp/B00067YSLO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1248218188&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Conair-S3CS-Profesional-Ceramic-Straightener/dp/B000E8TGJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1248218076&sr=8-1

 

[Sarah84]

I had this problem on my first visit to the US a few years back and rushed out on our first morning to get some CHI's after relising my GHD's didn't work
and i must say i was impressed, they worked just aswell as my GHD's we got them from a hairdressers in Mall of Mellenia upstairs i think just near the Macys

 

[MinnieMe87]

Instead of getting a CHi, get one of these. It is much cheaper, has gotten great reviews and can be used on wet or dry hair.

http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Straight-Ceramic-Straightening-Tourmaline/dp/B00067YSLO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1248218188&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Conair-S3CS-Profesional-Ceramic-Straightener/dp/B000E8TGJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1248218076&sr=8-1

Be careful if you get either of those, if you have hair that tends to get dry easily those can really fry your hair. Make sure to use lots of conditioners if you do buy one of those just in case. My friends love the wet to dry straighteners, but they won't work on my hair. I have very thick very wavy/frizzy/curly hair.

I loooove my Chi! It's the best thing to happen to my hair ever. Yes, they are expensive, but well worth the money for me. It's the only straightener that straightens my hair and keeps it that way. Tames the frizz and makes it shiny. I can also go a few weeks longer without a trim because it doesn't dry my ends out like other straighteners did to my hair.

 

[omghidanielle]

Those wet/dry straighteners are actually the worst thing for your hair. When you apply the hot iron to your wet hair, it heats the water AND your hair, and can burn your hair pretty badly.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Instead of getting a CHi, get one of these. It is much cheaper, has gotten great reviews and can be used on wet or dry hair.

http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Str...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1248218188&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Conair-S3CS-P...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1248218076&sr=8-1

I just saw Paula Begoun (author of "The Beauty Bible" and "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" and a few others, and a guest on shows like The View, The Today Show, etc) on Oprah today recommending the Remington Hair Straightener. She does a lot of research on the products she recommends. I might get one myself.

 

[Imzadi]

Those wet/dry straighteners are actually the worst thing for your hair. When you apply the hot iron to your wet hair, it heats the water AND your hair, and can burn your hair pretty badly.

Actually, the reviews suggest to use it on slightly damp, not sopping wet hair. Also, I thought all hair straighteners, even the CHI recommend using a heat conditioning product?

Back when curling irons were in, I had a couple that had a steam feature in it. Press a button and steam comes out to slightly dampen the hair to set the curl in to the hair. The curler wasn't meant to be kept in one spot for too long, just like hair straigheners.

Frying hair has more to do with a bad appliance with too high heat and/or keeping it in one spot for too long, combined with no protective styling conditioner.

 

[MinnieMe87]

Actually, the reviews suggest to use it on slightly damp, not sopping wet hair. Also, I thought all hair straighteners, even the CHI recommend using a heat conditioning product?

My friends use theirs on damp-wet hair. They don't have issues with their hair being dry/fried because they do use conditioners like you mentioned. For some reason when I tried one, no matter the conditioners I used on my hair the straightener fried it. My hair tends to be on the dry side anyway, so that might have something to do with it? I've had no problems with dryness and using the Chi, it's just what works for my hair type. My hairdresser has had people order them and hate them.

 

[omghidanielle]

Actually, the reviews suggest to use it on slightly damp, not sopping wet hair. Also, I thought all hair straighteners, even the CHI recommend using a heat conditioning product?

Back when curling irons were in, I had a couple that had a steam feature in it. Press a button and steam comes out to slightly dampen the hair to set the curl in to the hair. The curler wasn't meant to be kept in one spot for too long, just like hair straigheners.

Frying hair has more to do with a bad appliance with too high heat and/or keeping it in one spot for too long, combined with no protective styling conditioner.

any amount of moisture can possibly burn your hair when it's heated. It's similar to putting an iron close to a shirt that is damp, it steams up and gets very very hot

(I'm always burning myself )

 

[Va-bear]

My friends use theirs on damp-wet hair. They don't have issues with their hair being dry/fried because they do use conditioners like you mentioned. For some reason when I tried one, no matter the conditioners I used on my hair the straightener fried it. My hair tends to be on the dry side anyway, so that might have something to do with it? I've had no problems with dryness and using the Chi, it's just what works for my hair type. My hairdresser has had people order them and hate them.

Your hair sounds rather similar to mine - mine certainly leans towards dryness even when I baby it. I was wondering, what sort of conditioner do you use when you use your Chi?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My opinion is the ghp straightener is a superior product. Here the ghp straightener costs well over $200. It is not at a price point where a majority of people have bought one. I like that the ceramic plates tilt and are not stationary. Other brands are beginning to offer that feature.

I'm sure you'll be able to find one that suits your needs during your stay.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I love my CHI. My hairdresser recommends getting all the wettness out of your hair if you want nice straight hair. She tells me that is the key to getting it to lay flat for longer.

The flat iron actually seems like it puts moisture back into the hair, you can see it stream as it is working. Almost like the moisture that is in each strand of hair get locked into it. My hair looks and feels healthier now that I use my flat iron.

 

[missypie]

We are a three Chi family. There is a store called Ulta that is common in strip shopping centers in the US and you can get them there.

 

[onelilspark]

Definitely go to Ulta.

 

[Va-bear]

LOL, now you've got me looking at hair straighteners!

Amazon does seem to have some really good deals on CHI's if thats the way you want to go - as you said it could be delivered to your family (and for many the shipping is free). That way it can be waiting for you and you dont have to go out and try to shop (unless you want to!


http://www.amazon.com/CHI-Ceramic-Style-Farouk-Black-2f/dp/B000F1EXIE/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_2

http://www.amazon.com/Farouk-CHI-Inch-Ceramic-Hairstyling/dp/B0009V1YR8/ref=acc_glance_hpc_ai_-2

http://www.amazon.com/Farouk-GF1001...al-Hairstyling/dp/B001JJBE2E/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_4 (pink! )

More pink! http://www.amazon.com/Farouk-GF1001PD-Ceramic-Flat-Dazzle/dp/B001DIG4N0/ref=pd_sim_hpc_4


Good luck and happy wedding! Oh, and of course have a BALL at Disney!!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

www.folica.com has good prices and great service.

Lori

 

[Clare D]

Thank you all so much for your replies, the problem is I am now none the wiser . I like the look of the Chi straightener as from the reviews they seem to be very similar but are loads cheaper. As I say I don't want to buy another set of GHD's with dual voltage as they are £100 so at least $150
I understand the Chi's can't be used here in the UK but that doesn't worry me as I have GHD's plus it gives me an excuse to tell DH we are going to the States each year for our holiday
I'll be checking out the ones recommended so a BIG thank you everybody
Clare x

 

[madcam]

I am a long time CHI user. Love, love, love my CHI. But recently I heard that there was an even better straightener out there. It's the straightener by T3. Check it out....I think this is my next purchase and I am pretty sure it works with ALL outlets.

 

[Claire L]

I got my first set of GHD's about 5 years ago and were only the UK voltage. Last November I bought the IV GHD's as they are also 110v and they are great, plus they a good back up for home incase my orginal GHD's go wrong

Claire