About the Company:
The CHI flat iron is produced by a company named Farouk Systems Inc, based in Houston. The name comes from the chairman, Farouk Shamidr dre beats. His mission is to give fellow hair artists a safe workplace that is free from harsh chemicals. Farouk produces high quality (professional) hair care and spa products. One product line they are famous for is their CHI hair straighteners.
Interesting features of CHI flat irons:
all have a 10 foot power cord
the power cord has a 360 degree swivel to prevent tangles
they all use only 20 to 25 watts of power which is amazing considering they are basically a heating element in a plastic housing
they heat up in under 1 minute (some people report in under 10 seconds)
the ceramic plates maintain an even heat
can both straighten and add curls, waves and flips (with a little practice)
The CHI models:
There are 4 types of CHI flat irons available. They include the original, the turbo, the nano and the mini.
The Original CHI Flat Iron
has all the features above.
uses a fixed operating temperature of a 302 to 356 F or 150 to 180 C
the ceramic plates are 1″ wide
The CHI Turbo
has a variable heat control which allows for temperatures between 175 to 356 F or 80 to 180 C
comes with felt heat protection
comes in 3 sizes, 1″, 2″ and the popular 7/10″ model
The Nano
comes in a 1″ wide model
has specialized nano technology to sterilize itself, in other words, the unit will not allow bacteria to grow on it. This is extra important in salons or if you plan share your CHI flat iron with someone else
operates between 300 and 350F which is 150 to 180 degrees C
The CHI Mini (aka the wee chi)
basically the same as the Chi original but only 1/2″ wide plates
great for adding little curls quickly
Science of ceramic flat irons:
The ceramic plates have been shown to release negative ions. These ions break apart bigger water droplets in your hair into very tiny particles. This helps ensure even moisture balance. It also reduces static which is a major cause of “the frizz”.
The high heat of hair straighteners also helps seal the cuticles making your hair smoother. This also helps reduce friction and reduce frizzyness.
Popularity:
The original Chi flat iron is quite popular. There over 1,800 customer reviews at Folica.com with a rating of 4 out of 5.
Complaints:
If you read the reviews you will soon discover that the main complaints have been with the power cord or the unit no longer getting power. A couple of wise customers (perhaps salon professionals) noted that a big cause of the problem is with people wrapping the power cord around the body of the CHI flat iron. In order to prevent that problem, it is recommended that you fold the power cord in a manner similar to how it arrived and/or gently store the folded cord in a paper towel tube to protect it. In addition, it is also recommended that you always use your ceramic flat iron on dry hair and to use a leave in conditioner for best results.
Warranty:
The Chi flat iron comes with a 1 year warranty and after warranty work can be found for around $35
Pricing:
Some of the best pricing can be found at Folica.com and it should be noted that in general there is caution about buying from the online auction companies because many hair care companies will not warranty new products unless they are sold by an authorized dealer such as Folica.com (and to be honest, the price difference does not warrant the risk).