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

FHI and CHI flat irons are similar in many respects. They offer pretty much the same plate widths; the CHI Farouk Turbo flat iron comes with .7", 1" and 2" plates, whereas FHI flat irons come with 1", 1 ?" and 1 ?" plates. Also, both CHI and FHI flat irons come with flash heating, so that the plates are hot and ready to use within seconds. And both flat irons come with one year's warranty. However, there are some key differences between the CHI flat iron and the FHI flat iron.

In my opinion, the build quality and design of the CHI flat iron is superior to that that of the FHI flat iron. The handle on the CHI is more ergonomically designed and feels better in your hand; this is an important consideration if you will be using a flat iron a lot of the time and it makes straightening hair a lot easier and more pleasant. Both brands of flat iron come with swivel cords so you don't get tangled up but the CHI cord is longer than that of the FHI flat iron. Again, this is a plus point, as a longer cord makes using a hair straightener easier; especially when straightening your hair at the back.

The CHI flat iron also uses less power, which saves you money in the long run and is good for the environment. The CHI Turbo flat iron uses only 20 - 25 watts whereas the FHI Heat Technique uses 58 watts.

So, with CHI vs. FHI, does the CHI flat iron win hands-down? Not quite.

All CHI Farouk Turbo use ceramic plates. Ceramic plates are used in flat irons because the smoothing surface is incredibly flat thus helping reducing tangling and knots. Ceramic plates also produce negative ions that are important as these lock in moisture, prevent frizziness and keep your hair straighter for longer. But ceramic plates have now been surpassed by ceramic plates that are infused with tourmaline.

CHI flat irons don't have tourmaline plates but the FHI Heat Technique Professional Ceramic flat iron does. Tourmaline plates produce up to 20 times more negative ions than ceramic plates. Tourmaline plates also protect color and retards fading by sealing in color molecules and allows the color to last up to 2 weeks longer.

Not only does the FHI Heat technique Professional beat the CHI Farouk on straightening power, it also costs less. In fact, FHI flat irons are considerably cheaper than CHI flat irons.

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

Well, it all depends on your needs and what you want from your flat iron. If you want a well designed, well-built flat iron, then the CHI Farouk flat iron is for you. But, if you want a tourmaline flat iron, then the FHI is the recommended choice. Finally, you should consider price. FHI flat irons are cheaper than CHI flat irons. If you're on a budget or don't want to spend a lot on a quality flat iron, the FHI is the one. Both the CHI and FHI flat iron are top rated flat irons. Just decide what you want and how much you want to spend.