CHI vs. FHI – What is the best straightening iron?

Both CHI and FHI straighteners remain a popular choice as hair straighteners. They both offer similar plate widths, instant heat for a quick heat-up time, and are lightweight. But is the CHI Farouk Turbo plate better than the FHI Heat Technique professional flash plate or do FHI plates outperform CHI plates?

The FHI and CHI plates are similar in many respects. They offer practically the same plate widths; the CHI Farouk Turbo plate comes with .7 “, 1” and 2 “plates, while the FHI plates come with 1”, 1 ¼ “and 1 ¾” plates. Plus, CHI and FHI irons come with instant heat, so the irons are hot and ready to go in seconds. And both plates come with a one-year warranty. However, there are some key differences between the CHI plate and the FHI plate.

In my opinion, the build quality and design of the CHI sheet are superior to that of the FHI sheet. The CHI handle is more ergonomically designed and feels better in the hand; This is an important consideration if you are going to use an iron for a long time and it makes straightening your hair much easier and more enjoyable. Both brands of straightener come with swivel cords so you don’t tangle, but the CHI cord is longer than the FHI straightener. Again, this is a plus, as a longer cord makes it easier to use a hair straightener; especially when straightening the hair at the back.

The CHI iron also uses less energy, saving you money in the long run and good for the environment. The CHI Turbo iron uses only 20 – 25 watts, while the FHI heat technique uses 58 watts.

So with CHI vs. FHI, does the CHI iron win without problems? Not quite.

All CHI Farouk Turbo use ceramic plates. Ceramic plates are used in irons because the smoothing surface is incredibly flat, which helps reduce knots and tangles. Ceramic plates also produce negative ions which are important as they lock in moisture, prevent frizz, and keep hair straighter for longer. But ceramic plates have now been overtaken by ceramic plates that are impregnated with tourmaline.

CHI plates do not have tourmaline plates, but the FHI Heat Technique professional ceramic plate does. Tourmaline plates produce up to 20 times more negative ions than ceramic plates. Tourmaline plates also protect color and delay fading by sealing in color molecules and allow color to last up to 2 more weeks.

Not only does the FHI Heat Professional Technique outperform the CHI Farouk in straightening power, it also costs less. In fact, FHI plates are considerably cheaper than CHI plates.

So which one is better, the CHI or FHI iron?

Well, it all depends on your needs and what you want from your iron. If you want a well designed and built straightening iron, the CHI Farouk straightener is for you. But, if you want a tourmaline flat iron, then the FHI is the recommended option. Finally, you must consider the price. FHI plates are cheaper than CHI plates. If you’re on a budget or don’t want to spend a lot on a quality plate, the FHI is for you. Both the CHI and FHI plates are top-notch plates. Just decide what you want and how much you want to spend.