ConsFirst / Hair straighteners / Compare
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron vs CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we report. Learn more
The short answer
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on heat-up & temperature control. CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital) wins on straightening results, hair-friendly heat, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron is some units fail early; for the CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital) it's no ready chime. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron | CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in hair straighteners | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Flat iron | Flat iron |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 4% | — |
| Overall score | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Straightening results | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Hair-friendly heat | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Heat-up & temperature control | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $60 · $$ $60–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron
- Some units fail early
Amazon's summary says some owners' irons are still going strong, while others broke within two months. Durability is its most negative topic (66 negative vs 50 positive mentions).
- Heating complaints from a minority
Heating speed is mostly praised, but 121 of 660 Amazon mentions are negative.
- Value questioned by some
56 of 375 Amazon value-for-money mentions are negative. Reviewed found no cons.
CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital)
- No ready chime
The display shows the temperature rising, but there is no sound when it is ready. Reviewed lists this as a con, and Good Housekeeping's pros wished for an audible tone.
Source: Reviewed, Good Housekeeping (via AOL) - Pricey; lost to a budget iron
Reviewed lists 'Expensive' as a con. Wirecutter's panel liked how it glided, but it was edged out by the about $30 Remington.
Source: Reviewed, Wirecutter (NYT) - Lookalike fixed-heat version
The CHI Lava 1-inch listing on Amazon (B07L37WXVC) has an on/off switch and no temperature settings. In its review summary, owners flag the lack of heat control (73 of 83 mentions negative) and some say it doesn't get hot enough.
Who should pick which
Pick the Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Ionic 1-inch Flat Iron if
Fast heat-up (about 14 s)
Curly hair that needs smoothing without tugging
Straightening plus curling
Skip it if: You want proven long-term reliability; You want the lowest price
Pick the CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital) if
Fine or thin hair that needs low heat
Shine in one pass
Bathrooms where the outlet is far away (11-ft cord)
Skip it if: You want an audible 'ready' signal; You want the best value (Wirecutter preferred the Remington)
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.