Titanium flat irons are some of the most popular hair tools on the market today. You can use the appliance to get straight hair, but you can also use it to make waves and curls that stand out. If you use a titanium flat iron, it’s imperative that you clean it frequently, which most users fail to do.
For best results, heat up your flat iron just slightly so the product loosens up. Unplug the flat iron after it reaches a moderate temperature. Then, use a soft towel to wipe down the plate. Soak cotton rounds in water and rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining buildup.
To learn more about how to clean your titanium flat iron, as well as why you should take your time to do so, keep reading.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Flat Iron
Most women know the basics of flat iron usage. Apply heat protection before use, and always unplug the appliance before leaving your house.
One thing that most flat iron users forget about is cleaning the flat iron.
Just like any other appliance around your home, it’s important to clean your titanium flat iron to keep it working properly.
Here are a few reasons why:
Keeps Your Hair Clean and Oil-Free
Think about how much product, germs, and build-up your flat iron has access to.
If you apply heat protection to your hair before using the flat iron, that protectant will end up coating the iron.
Not to mention, hairspray, dandruff, and other products also layer onto the flat iron with usage.
This build-up is not dangerous for your hair, but it is gross. The last thing you want is to add more grease, oils, and germs to your hair every time you straighten it.
After all, you likely are straightening your hair after you have just washed it in the shower.
Dirty Flat Irons Are Not Effective
Not to mention, dirty flat irons are not as effective.
The extra build-up means that the maximum heat is not going to be reaching your head evenly. So, you will end up using the dirty flat iron for longer in order to get an even, straight finish all around.
Dirty Flat Irons Cause More Heat Exposure
Not only does this waste your time, but it is actually bad for your hair.
When you continuously run the flat iron over your hair, you are exposing it to more heat damage. In the long run, this is a recipe for disaster for your beautiful locks.
You can avoid all of this simply by cleaning your flat iron frequently.
The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort, tools, or resources. In just a few minutes, you will have a completely clean flat iron that is as effective as the first day you got it.
How to Clean a Titanium Flat Iron
Now that you know you need to clean your flat iron, the next thing you need to know is how to actually clean it.
Many people have no idea how to clean a flat iron, and they are afraid to try it out of fear of damaging the appliance.
Luckily, the process is easy, safe, and effective using the tips below.
A Note on Safety
Your flat iron is an electrical device when it is turned on and plugged into an outlet. As you probably know, electricity and water are a deadly mix.
The last thing you want to do is expose yourself to harmful electricity while you are cleaning your titanium flat iron.
To make sure you are safe, unplug the flat iron entirely before adding water or alcohol to it. Just turning off the flat iron is not enough.
You still risk burning and exposing yourself to electrocution if you leave the flat iron plugged in. So, unplug the flat iron and take it to an area away from water before you start cleaning it.
What You’ll Need
- Soft, clean towel
- Warm water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton rounds
- Q-tips
Instructions
1. Heat Up the Iron
Although you should never clean your flat iron with it plugged in, the first step in the cleaning process is turning it on to its lowest setting.
Don’t let it get too hot either. Instead, allow it to get just warm enough that it can loosen up the product buildup from the plates.
If you do not allow the iron to heat up at least a little bit, you won’t be able to effectively remove all the buildup.
2. Unplug the Appliance
Once the iron is moderately warm but still cool enough for you to touch, unplug your iron entirely.
Once again, this step is critical for your safety.
Never move on to the next steps until you have completely unplugged the appliance and it no longer has access to electricity or power.
3. Gently Scrub With a Towel
Now that the appliance is away from electricity, take your soft, clean towel and softly scrub the plates.
This step will remove any excess buildup that can just quickly be wiped off with a dry tool. Make sure not to scrub too hard, or else you could damage the plates.
4. Deep Clean with Water and Rubbing Alcohol
For an even deeper clean, dip cotton rounds and water and gently rub them on the plate.
Follow the water-soaked rounds with rubbing alcohol-soaked rounds. If there are hard-to-reach spots, use rubbing alcohol dipped Q-tip.
Once again, don’t scrub too hard to avoid damaging the titanium plates.
This deeper clean is not necessary every time you clean your flat iron. Instead, you only need to do this step whenever there is a lot of buildup and junk.
5. Allow Iron to Dry
The last thing you need to do is allow the flat iron to dry before using it again.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to clean a titanium flat iron is imperative for having an effective straightener that is clean and works exactly as it should.
For most users, it’s best to clean the straightener once a month to ensure your hair is clean and not exposed to excessive heat.
The good news is that the cleaning process is easy.
All you need to do is heat up the straightener a bit before unplugging it. Then, wipe it down with a dry cloth, water-soaked rounds, and rubbing alcohol-soaked rounds.
This will effectively remove any buildup to ensure your titanium flat iron is working as it should. If you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol, that’s fine too.
You could use water alone, or you could use fingernail polish remover instead.
What’s most important is that you clean the flat iron in the first place and unplug it before exposing it to water.
If you do these few things, you will be able to properly maintain your flat iron so that it lasts a long time and straightens your hair quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s best that you should clean your straightener once a month if you use the straightener frequently. If you use the straightener infrequently, you can clean it less often, but don’t forget to clean it, nonetheless.
Try the cleaning method above first. If that does not work, rub a little bit of white toothpaste onto the iron scorch mark and wipe off the toothpaste using a microfiber cloth. Make sure not to use gel toothpaste, and don’t allow the toothpaste to get onto other parts of the iron.
If you see brown stuff on your straightener, it is the burnt product or gunk stuck to the straightener. Remove it with the method above to keep your straightener clean and effective.
If you do not want to clean your strainer with rubbing alcohol or simply don’t have rubbing alcohol at hand, you can use the exact same method as before, but use nail polish remover instead of rubbing alcohol. You can also forgo rubbing alcohol entirely by just opting for water.
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