I use the T3 Duality iron, but it is more than you want to spend - it was $160. I will say, it is excellent quality and I am so much happier with it than I ever was with the cheaper ones I had.

As for protecting your hair, I use two products: Kerastase Ciment Thermique and Chi Silk Infusion.

Good luck!

i just read about Chi silk fusion and it looks good. Someone recommended another Chi product but it was to be applied on wet hair then let it dry which wasnt what i was looking for.

And yes, $160 is out of my range sadly, if i was using it everyday then i would do it but i would use it maybe 1nce a week.
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I heard Baby Liss are great. My hair dresser likes them.

I have a T3 iron as well, and the reason I forked over the extra money was because the cheaper irons were RUINING my hair. And if they weren't ruining my hair they weren't straightening it!

So unfortunately, I think you might have to spend the extra dough.

Fiend, have you checked out folica.com? They have some pretty good deals on irons and hair care. They also are having a special with some codes that they have listed on the website for $$ off your order.

I have never used Chi, but have heard people rave about them. That may be a more inexpensive choice for you!

I have a Chi (couldn't tell you the model off the top of my head, but I will check) that I picked up from folica.com...I know that I recently received a promotional email. I will go through my inbox and see if I can find it to give you any promotions! I bought mine a few years ago and it still works great:)

Martini - i swear you are the devil! i have never heard of folica.com before and now that i have checked it out i think i am in heaven. shame on you for feeding my addiction! lol. and the Chi irons range from $100 up so they are pretty much in the same range as T3.

Romaniagrl!!!!!! how are you???? its been along time since i've seen you online.

Bluesarah - uggh, ruining hair is not a good thing. i'd rather spend $160 then damage my hair anymore then it is.

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I found the email! PM me with your email address if you want me to forward:) It is for $20 off of $100 and a few other items.

Now that I read your last post...it is for $35 off of $150 too if you go that route!

Can't help you on the flat iron but check out retailmenot.com for the best coupon codes!!! Good luck

Fiend, glad to be of service! LOL! It is a wonderful site and with Hanako's discount, it may be worth it to get the higher-end product. Just a thought....

You have to tell us what you end up getting - I just love shopping, even if it is for someone else!

I my Chi.

I didn't want to buy a hugely expensive straightner for my hair either. I have very curly hair and all the straightners I've tried and owned never really got all the curls out, until I bought the Remington S2003 High Protection Fabric Straightener with Teflon Woven Fabric technology for high heat protection, Variable setting up to 200C (fast 60 second heat up time), Ceramic Tourmaline plates, Heat protection wrap/mat, Auto shut off, 3m swivel cord. It was E55,- when I bought it so it might be cheeper now.
Because I have very curly hair my hair gets damaged pretty quickly (I dye it at home as well every 3 months so it really isn't the most pampered hair there is), I usually let my hair airdry, but sometimes I like it straight for looks or for the fact that it's sooo much easier to handle.
I added a picture of my hair straight (and what I used) to the Lacey Schwimmer inpired look I did (click here).

your hair looks soooooo pretty cc!

Wow, CCee that really straightened your curls out!!!

I forked over for a Chi on AudreyStar's recommendation a while back. I think I paid $80 for mine. She also recommended the Chi Silk Infusion, and I got that as well.

Both have transformed my hair. Even my hairdresser commented on it. The Chi is so much better than the cheaper flatiron I was using before.

Thanks ladies for all of your suggestions and help! I think i am going to get this one

http://www.folica.com/CHI_Original_1__d4857.html

It comes with the 2 produts that i have previously heard about so i think its a great value.

CCee - i googled the iron you mentioned and it seems like its only sold in the UK. It can be found on ebay and AMazon but the price is in euros so i am assuming if i bought it i'd need the converter plug.

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Fiend, it looks like you have found a good deal!

I can't wait to hear how it works out for you!

We have something you americans don't have?? Wow!
Too bad you can't find it there, keep us updated on how you like the Chi!!

I am late to the party, but I love my T3, as well. The T3 products are good, too. I love Boost. It makes my hair look really smooth and shiny when I straighten it. The new No Frizz from Living Proof is AMAZING, as well.

Cool, let us know how you like it!

You may not want my input as I use a fairly cheap flat iron. I use the Helen on Troy Professional Gold Series. I use Model 1010, I don't know if they sell that one anymore, but it gets my hair straight on one run and my hair laughs in the face of most straighteners that white girls use. This one just gets really hot, no secret to it really. I'm black...obviously and it gets my hair super straight, like I've been asked if my hair was fake straight.

I just use Hair Milk by Carol's Daughters to protect my hair. It seems to do the trick, nothing fancy, though if you have straight hair I'm sure the silicone route is probably better to keep your hair from getting greasy.

I'm also looking for a new one for a while now. I don't mind about the price range since I use the flat iron almost everyday. I have my eyes on the GHD one for sooo long but haven't got the chance to buy it yet.

Okay ladies, i was all set to buy the Chi, until i started reading the reviews. ALOT and i mean ALOT of people said that the CHI breaks after maybe 6 months of use. People said they liked it but it would break (a couple of ppl said that they had purchased a 2nd one and the same thing happend again!). So now i am back to square one i am super indecisive because if i am going to spend alot on a iron i want to make sure it
A. doesnt burn my hair off
B. doesnt break really easily and
C. actually straightens well

This is harder then it needs to be, why cant they just make 5 types of irons and not 60 million. and what the heck is digital nano??

BTW the SEDU seems to have great reviews, has anyone heard of it?

I looked at the T3 but there aren't that many positive reviews, i prefer to see alot of reviews on an iron so i can make a judgement based on the different pros and cons.

Check out my site: http://fiend.onsugar.com/

Jessie banana - i look and cheaper irons as well, but i dont want my hair to be super super straight as i have fine damaged hair. I just want something to straighten out the frizz without causing any major damage. Your review is kinda scary for someone like me; i am imagining myself shedding constantly from all the damage of super straight hair

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Fiend, I was going to buy a Chi as well, but came across the same reviews you did and then went with the T3. I can say that I have been nothing but pleased with it. I bought mine from Nordstrom (don't know if you have one near you) because I was worried and wanted to go with a store that had the best return policy if it fizzled out after a few months and Nordy's takes back nearly anything, anytime.

For what it's worth, I have a friend who has had a Chi for 3 years and she has never had a problem with it!

Martini - from what i read it looks like the newer CHI's are the problem and the older ones do not break as easy. I have a Nordstroms 15-20 min away so maybe i need to check it out, i did hear they take back almost anything so that would definitely solve my problem!

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Check out The GHD iron... it is the BEST. it is expensive... but it is really good!!

You can find it at beautychoice.com and there is a promo code where you can get a free T3 hairdryer....

You might check out Sally's. I got my straightener from there. It can't remember the name, but I gave about $50 for it. It works great on my hair. I know Sally's sells the Helen of Troy's there too... oddly, you can't forget that name!

I'm in the same boat, Fiend. It seems like for every good review I read, I read a negative one too. I haven't decided on anything yet. I just can't afford to waste $100+ on a flat iron that doesn't work well. What makes it more difficult is that I can barely find any stores/salons that have much of a selection of flat irons. Anyone know a good source if you live in Canada?

Pistil I got mine from Trade Secrets (which has stores in Ontario and Quebec). They have a pretty good selection and a wide price range. I got my GS Professional Ceramic straightener there and paid $100. It's worked out well for me so far and I've been using it for about 8 months now.

You can always talk to your stylist and see what he/she recommends (some stylists might also sell straighteners in-house).

you know, i should ask my stylist, i just dont want him to try to sell me one in his shop, im sure it will be waay more expensive then one i can find on the internet

I guess i'll ask him casually, and say i was "thinking" about getting one lol
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You can ask which one he'd have at home himself, or which he would purchase if he was buying right now, because you want to get one "before you go on holiday in June and you don't know if you see him again before you're actually purchasing the straightner.".