CHI flat irons are a very popular choice of hair straightener. The Farouk CHI flat iron was the first to have ceramic plates, making it a best seller. But are today's CHI flat irons any good or have they been eclipsed by other brands of flat iron?

You can still buy the original CHI ceramic flat iron. It's the cheapest model in the CHI range and falls into the medium priced category for flat irons. It comes with 1" ceramic plates, heats in seconds and is still a very good hair styling tool. But if you're thinking of buying a CHI flat iron then you might be best to buy a Farouk CHI Turbo flat iron. CHI Turbo flat irons come in 3 different plates sizes; 0.75", 1" and 2". Choosing what size is best for you depends on your type of hair. Generally, the shorter or thinner your hair the narrower the plate size. Conversely, if you have long or coarse hair, then you're best using a wider plate. The company claims that the ceramic used in the plates of their flat iron are made from NASA tested ceramic - though I'm not quite sure what this actually means. What follows are the pros and cons of the Farouk CHI Turbo flat iron.

What is good about the CHI Turbo flat iron?

CHI flat irons come with a 10 foot swivel cord. This may seem like a minor point, but many other flat irons come with only 8 feet of cord - and not all are swivel cords. Having that extra couple of feet can make using the CHI flat iron really easy, especially when reaching behind to straightening hair at the back.

The CHI Turbo hair straightener comes with a circuit break for safety.

The Turbo CHI only uses 20-25 watts of electricity; reducing your bills as well as the planet.

The CHI Turbo has one of the fastest heat-up times; just a few seconds.

CHI flat irons have nicely designed handles that are easy to grip. They are also light weight.

What is bad about the CHI Turbo flat iron?

I have one major criticism of CHI flat irons: they don't use Tourmaline plates. Many manufacturers are now infusing Tourmaline on to the ceramic plates. Ceramic plates emit negative ions, but Tourmaline emits 6 times more. Negative ions are important as they help to close the cuticle layer to create a smooth, silky hair surface and seal in the hair’s natural moisture. Negative ions greatly reduce frizziness.

Tourmaline is the next technical advanced in hair straightening. Why CHI hasn't yet used this material is hard to say. And, CHI flat irons aren't cheap; for the same money you can buy a tourmaline flat iron from a competitor like the T3 Tourmaline flat iron.

So, is the Farouk CHI flat iron any good? The answer is yes. The CHI is a top rated flat iron with many excellent reviews from consumers and professionals alike. One final point: you can buy the CHI Farouk Pink Flat Iron and Hair Dryer Set with matching case. For every set that is bought, CHI donates a portion of the product’s sales to support the effort for finding a cure for breast cancer.