Ceramics

• Ceramic hair straighteners are generally touted to be the best for your hair. Ceramic hair straighteners heat up and cool down much quicker than their metal counterparts and distribute heat evenly throughout the tool so that you're not over heating one area of your hair while another gets no treatment at all.
  
  

Chemicals

• Typically done at a salon, chemical hair straightening can last up to several months. Although it is effective, it can be very hard on your hair. If you choose to go this route, it is best not to color your hair after having it straightened for up to six months, and to have your hair care professional first do a patch test on your skin with the chemicals that will be used to assure you won't have a negative reaction to the product.
  
  

Best Options

• There are two non-chemical hair straighteners available generally known as the "best of the best." The CHI (available at most cosmetic and haircare stores) and the GHD (ghdhair.com). These popular tools heat up quickly and use ceramic plates for maximum protection. In addition, these tools often get it right the first time, making it unnecessary to go over your hair again and again and exposing it to harmful heat.
  
  

Tips

• Make sure you condition your hair liberally between each use of a hair straightener. This will keep your hair in tip-top shape and strong. It is also important not to straighten your hair if you don't need to. Leave your hair as is or find up-do hair styles that don't involve putting damaging heat on your hair.