ConsFirst / Hair straighteners / Compare
Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) vs CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on heat-up & temperature control. CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital) wins on hair-friendly heat, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) is feels cheap; 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
| Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) | CHI Lava 1" Ceramic Hairstyling Iron (PRO, digital) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in hair straighteners | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $ | $$ |
| Type | Flat iron | Flat iron |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | — |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Straightening results | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Hair-friendly heat | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Heat-up & temperature control | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $60 · $$ $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
Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin)
- Feels cheap
Wirecutter testers say the plastic housing 'feels a bit rinky-dink'. One said that although it is light, it feels cheap in the hand.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Confusing heat lock, clamp can pinch
To lock the temperature you hold minus for two seconds, and to unlock it you hold plus. None of Wirecutter's testers found this intuitive. Some panelists also found the clamp pinched their palms until they had more practice.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Frizz control not for everyone
In Amazon's review summary, frizz control is the most mixed topic: 76 of 328 owners who mention it are negative. Mentions of effectiveness are mostly positive (1,050 positive, 177 negative).
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 Remington Shine Therapy 1 Inch Flat Iron (Argan Oil & Keratin) if
Sleek results on a tight budget
Curly and coily hair (goes up to 450°F)
Edges and the nape (narrow 1-inch plates)
Skip it if: You want a tool that feels solid and premium; You change settings mid-style (the lock is fiddly)
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)
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