Hair straightening has becoming a standard service offered in most hair salons. This process is a relatively inexpensive procedure and produces results after a short period of time. With the popularity of the sleek, straight hairstyle, some women even go as far as purchasing their own hair straighteners for home use.

There are a lot of hair straighteners and flat irons available in the market. These include hair straighteners designed for commercial or professional use and hair straighteners for personal and home use. With the many options available, you may be a bit confused as to which hair straightener to use.

In selecting the best hair straightener suited for your hair type and needs, consider the following:

• Price

As with any purchase, price is one of the foremost considerations when choosing a product, especially if you are on a budget. Hair straightener prices range starting below $100 to about $200, sometimes even more. You should remember though, that the hair straightener is a one time investment and should benefit your hair in the long run. It is not advisable to go for the cheapest hair straightener you can buy as most inexpensive straighteners do not last as long and do not straighten hair as well as other flat irons. Try going for the average priced hair straightener, something you can buy for less than $150 is fine. Do not go overboard though, and purchase the professional hair straighteners, as you will not need that type of flat iron for personal use.

• Weight

Go for the lighter flat irons. Remember, you will be holding these little gadgets with one hand for quite a while, so buying a heavy hair straightener will cause fatigue after just a few minutes.

• Design

Ergonomically designed hair straighteners are the way to go. Look for a straightener that is easy to use, especially with just one hand.

• Hair type

Good quality hair straighteners are usable for a variety of hair types. You should still, however, find one that is suited to your type of hair. The size of the plate is also a consideration.

• Type of plate used

Ceramic, tourmaline, or metal plates these are your choices. Ceramic and tourmaline plates are recommended, as these assure less to no damage from heat if used properly.

• Temperature and heating time

Hair straighteners can come with variable temperature settings, if you find one, consider purchasing it. Another item you need to look into is the time needed for the flat iron to heat up and cool down. The faster the heating or cooling time, the better.