Does a Vibrating Hair Straightener Actually Work? We Tested It
Madness has broken out in hair tools. It’s like an arms race to the next best thing: hairdryers are gold-plated and coming out of NASA. Curlers are vacuuming your strands in and releasing them coiled, and the sheer amount of innovation happening in flat irons boggles the mind. Some use sensors to “read” your hair and adjust the temperature from there; others shoot out argan oil-infused vapor or use diamond-infused iron.
Over the last few months I’ve tested my way through the bunch, until I narrowed it down to one flat-iron ready for the ultimate test. The N:P Beautiful Flat Iron uses ceramic plates that vibrate to shuffle your hair back and forth, which minimizes pulling, the brand says. MIT studies back the technology up, but we put it to a still harder test: a simulated get-together before a group of women go out. Six women with all different hair types, textures, and preferences shared a single iron. Here’s what went down.
The Curly Hair Up Against Humidity
“I have crazy, curly hair. I cannot keep up with this humidity and my new short cut, so I blow out my hair and then go over it with a flat iron twice a week. I use a titanium iron to touch up in the mornings—titanium makes it so much smoother and frizz-free, and I can get more done with less heat. That being said, this iron is magic! It’s so much fun to use, and it definitely works way better on my kinky roots than a normal iron.” —Azadeh Valanejad, video producer
The Silky Hair With a Fried Past
“Back in high school, I’d flat iron my hair every single day, but I haven’t touched one since 2010. I was a bit worried this would be just like the heavy, hair-frying model I used to use—however this iron proved completely different. It gave me silky, straight hair a world away from the fried mess I used to sport back in the day.” —Melissa Haney, digital analytics manager
The Frizzy Hair Touch-Up
“I don’t usually use flatirons since they tend to snag my hair at the ends, plus I don’t really like to wear my hair pin straight. I’d actually use one more often if I could curl my hair with a straightener, but the curl never comes out right. This flatiron might be the one however, it went through my hair smoothly and curling my ends was a no brainer. Also, the vibration wasn’t too aggressive, so it was easy to get the hang of. I’d definitely recommend it.” —Khaliha Hawkins, digital administrative assistant
The Damaged Waves
“My hair is naturally pretty wavy, and since I’m now the proud owner of a lob, I love how my new cut looks when it’s smooth and sleek. Trouble is: I’ve found that a regular flatiron damages my hair, so I’ve cut back on using one…until now. I’d definitely incorporate this one into my daily routine. It straightened my hair in one go, and without as much heat as I normally apply to my hair. Plus, it doesn’t make my hair feel overly dried-out or crispy. I think I know what my next paycheck is going toward.” —Jen Lance, assistant editor
The Full-On Curls
“After devoting hours in high school to straightening my hair, I’ve mostly left flat irons behind. It’s just not worth it—any whisper of humidity in the air, and my hair’s back to curly. When I do go straight, it’s always with a blow-out first, since straightening with an iron alone takes at least an hour. That said, this was impressive. I tested it on an inch-wide section, and in a couple of passes it was straight and pretty silky. I’d still blow my hair out first, but this adds the glossy, smooth finish I never quite reach.” —Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer
The Thick, Long, and Iron-Averse Hair
“I never, ever flat iron or straighten my hair. It’s incredibly thick and long, and I’m always scared of damaging it. I also just don’t have the time to fully style my hair every day because of its length. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It actually didn’t make my hair feel dry, and the result was actually very silky and smooth. Also, it works so fast! I could definitely imagine myself using this every day before work on some quick strands, to look like I had a blow-out or make myself look a little less disheveled.” —Tara Gonzalez, commerce editor
N:P Beautiful Flat Iron, $249, revolve.com
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