These days, the beauty industry, especially the hairstyling industry, is filled with countless brands trying to topple each other with everything they got. Hence, it is becoming more and more difficult to choose a brand that you can rely on.
There is HSI, Paul Mitchell, Chi, Fhi, Nume (one of my personal favorites), Babyliss, RUSK, gHd, and many others. You will even find numerous arguments about which is better than which.
However, I am personally interested in the debate about Chi vs. Fhi, which has been going on for so many years that it feels like a lifetime. Today, I’m here to settle this once and for all. So, let us see who wins and who bites the dust. Is it a close battle, or one of them will win with flying colors?
About Chi
The first thing that comes into my mind when talking about Chi is reliability and performance. Farouk System Inc., the founding group of Chi, is not only famous for producing Chi but also for SunGlitz and BioSilk. Farouk Shami, the chairman of the group, was a hairdresser and his goal was to revolutionize the beauty industry with cutting-edge American technology.
Additionally, Chi is known to be the first brand to apply NASA technology in their straighteners to ensure a healthy and safe experience for the users.
Advantages
If you have a little idea about Chi and their straighteners, you should probably know why they are considered as one of the bests on the market.
Let’s start by lining out the pros first. Undoubtedly, the Chi straighteners are of top quality. They come with many unique features such as far-infrared heat and negative-ion technology to keep hair healthy and safe. Additionally, they feel great in my hand due to their ergonomic design and comfortable handle.
Apart from that, they are lightweight and heats up in only a few seconds. They also consume less power than standard straighteners, making them a good option in many cases.
Disadvantages
The drawback to most Chi straighteners is their plate material. Chi is famous for their ceramic plates; however, there are many flat irons now that use ceramic and tourmaline to boost up their proficiency by 20 percent. There are also many other straighteners that use titanium as their core component for the plates, which is known to provide better heating.
On the other hand, the Chi straighteners are quite expensive in comparison to the Fhi flat irons. Therefore, people who are on a budget prefer something from Fhi to satisfy their flat ironing needs.
About Fhi
Fhi, on the other hand, is a brand that came later into the market, yet it is considered as an equal to Chi. It is led by the CEO and president, Shauky Gulamani. He has been a hairstylist for more than 35 years; therefore, he knows exactly what hairstyling enthusiasts like us need and desire.
On a similar note, Fhi is also famous and preferred by many people because of their straighteners. They are an award-winning brand with a goal to improve and add more innovation to the beauty industry.
Advantages
Unlike, Chi most of the products of Fhi features ceramic plates with an addition of tourmaline. They are known to produce negative ions 20 times more than standard Chi flat irons. Moreover, it is believed that your hair’s color is less likely to fade due to the tourmaline coat.
I noticed a certain thing between the two brands, which may interest you as well. An equal-priced Fhi straightener offers more straightening power than a Chi flat iron. So, I came to the conclusion that the Fhi straighteners are cheaper in comparison to the other brand.
Disadvantages
Nevertheless, Fhi flat irons have their own drawbacks too. Despite their low price, the straighteners consume more power, which means more electricity bill. Therefore, in the long run, a Fhi flat iron may cost you more than a product of Chi.
Additionally, the build quality of Fhi straighteners is still not praiseworthy. I have used straighteners of both Fhi and Chi, and I must admit that the latter had a better overall design.
Nonetheless, everything depends on the model you choose from these brands. There are many high-end straighteners of Fhi that come with exclusive ergonomic design.
CHI Original 1″ Flat Hair Straightening Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
- Quick Heating
- 11 FT long cord
- Limited 2-years warranty
The Chi Original is my favorite among all the straighteners of this brand. It has a little bit of everything that you need to have a smooth flat ironing experience.
Like most other straighteners of Chi, this one also comes with their iconic ceramic plates. It ensures even heat distribution while producing a heavy amount of far-infrared heat and negative ions to keep hair healthy and safe.
The product features Flash Quick Heating, allowing it to reach its maximum temperature range of 392°F in just a few seconds. Finally, the design is what I like best about the flat iron. It is smooth and very comfortable to hold; therefore, styling with it doesn’t feel like a chore.
FHI Heat Platform Tourmaline Ceramic Pro Styler
- Maximum Temperature Range of 450°F
- Tourmaline Ceramic Plates
- Auto Shutoff
The Fhi Heat Platform Pro Styler is also one of my most favorite flat irons. It did cost me more, but the additional features sweetened the deal.
First of all, the plates used here are better than the ones in the Chi Original due to the addition of tourmaline. It enables the straightener to provide more straightening power and heat.
It comes with a wide temperature setting ranging from 140°F-°450°F. Thus, it comes in handy when you are dealing with coarse hair. The plates are a bit beveled, making them useful for hair with different textures.
It also features a 12ft long swivel cord and auto-shutoff system, allowing it to be more user-friendly than the Chi Original.
Our Recommendations
To be honest, both Chi and Fhi are at the very top of the market. So, even if one is better than the other, you cannot expect poor quality from the other one as well.
I personally think Chi is more reliable than Fhi. For instance, the Chi Original may not have many fancy features; it is still budget-friendly and able to perform efficiently for years without showing any signs of technical issues.
Nevertheless, everything boils down to what you look for in a straightener. Maybe you are someone who is not even concerned about Chi vs. Fhi; maybe you are someone like me who is more interested in Babyliss flat irons.
The point is, before choosing a straightener or a brand, make sure it is suitable for your needs. Different people have different needs for their hair; so, it is better not to rely on the ideas of other people completely.
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