Have you ever noticed a funny smell coming from your straightener? Are you wondering what it is and whether there’s something wrong with it? Hair straighteners, also known as flat irons, are a popular tool for creating smooth and straight hairstyles. They are used by both men and women to create a variety of different hairstyles, from straight hair to curls. But people often ask; why does my straightener smell?
A straightener can smell for several reasons; it can be due to the hair products, heat, build-up, dust, mold, or the temperature being too high.
Like every appliance, they are not made with any strong smell. The smell only comes after usage and the conditions the appliance is exposed to. Nevertheless, if you have a smelly straightener, you can easily get rid of the smell.
Are Straighteners Supposed to Smell?
Straighteners can normally have a unique smell, however, if the smell is bad, it could mean something is wrong with your hair straightener. It could be a sign that you need to clean your flat iron. If you’re noticing an unpleasant odor coming from your hair straightener, it’s probably time for a cleaning.
There are some methods for cleaning your products that will help remove any dirt or buildup from your hair tools. Soap and water is one of the easiest ways to clean your flat iron. All you need to do is run some warm water through the plates of your straightener and then use soap or an electronics cleaner to scrub off any residue or build-up on your tool. You should also make sure that all parts of the tool are completely dry before using it again.
7 Reasons Your Hair Straightener Smells
There are many reasons why hair straighteners smell. Here are some of the possible reasons:
1. Hair straightener is dirty
If you use your hair straightener on wet hair, it can cause clogging in the heating chamber, which leads to a bad odor. You can use a dryer sheet or a piece of cloth to wipe off any moisture from the surface of your flat iron before you use it. Also, clean the plates regularly and avoid using too much heat for long periods. This will avoid buildup on the plates and ensure that your flat iron works well for a long time.
2. Hair straightener is not cleaned properly
If you don’t clean your flat iron regularly, you will see dust or dirt accumulating on its surface, which can lead to a bad odor from time to time. Make sure you clean your device after every use so that it doesn’t get damaged due to the accumulation of dirt and dust particles on its surface.
If you have an extra-long cord then make sure you put an end cap over it before storing it away so as not to damage it with any debris like pet hair or dust particles that might get into its internal workings.
3. Hair products
The most common reason for a smelly straightener is that you have some kind of residue on the plates of your device. This could be from previous heat treatments or just natural oils that are on your hair when you use the flat iron. The residue can build up over time and cause build-up on the metal parts as well as on your hair itself. This buildup can cause fire hazards or even damage to your hair.
4. Heat
Another main reason that your straighteners may have a funny smell is that they’ve been left on for too long, leaving them too hot for too long. Heat is one of the worst enemies of any electrical appliance, and it will cause nasty smells in your hair straighteners if they’re left on for too long.
5. Build-up
Build-up is another reason that your straighteners might be causing a foul odor because of build-up from the products that you use with them. If you use heat protection spray or serum with silicone in it, this can get cooked onto the plates over time and cause an unpleasant smell when it burns off when heated up again. This is particularly common if you wash your hair before using them.
6. Dust
Dust is one of the most common reasons your straightener smells. It can build up in the vents, causing the heating element to overheat and burn out sooner than it should. If this is the case with your straightener, you’ll want to clean out all of the dust from inside of it. You can use an air compressor or a vacuum cleaner with a crevice attachment to get into all of the little nooks and crannies where dust may have collected.
7. Mold
If you live in an area with high humidity or frequent rainstorms, mold could grow inside your hair straightener. Mold causes a musty smell that’s impossible to get rid of without taking apart your device and cleaning it thoroughly, so if this is the cause of your problem, you might need to replace your straightener altogether because there’s no way to guarantee that it won’t happen again if left unchecked.
How Do I Stop My Straighteners From Smelling?
Below are some tips to stop a straightener or Hot Iron from smelling:
1. Use a good-smelling shampoo and conditioner
If you want to prevent your hair straightener from smelling, then make sure that you wash your hair with a shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t have any strong odors. This is because most of the time, these odors will be absorbed into your hair, which will make it smell bad when it gets hot.
I recommend The OGX Biotin and Collagen shampoo. The thick and full shampoo and conditioner has the power to make your hair look and feel plump, full, and healthy. Packed with a proprietary ProVitamin B7 biotin formula, it helps increase the thickness & improve texture. The nourishing formulas provide essential care for hair that needs a boost.
2. Use a good heat protectant
Before applying heat to your hair, use a heat protectant spray or serum to shield your strands from further damage. Heat protectants contain ingredients such as silicone, which coat each strand of hair when applied before styling. This helps prevent damage from occurring at the cellular level by absorbing excess heat from the iron.
Also, check out the Hair Food Coconut & Argan Oil Heat Protectant Spray. It has no fear of blow-dryers or styling irons. It helps to seal and protect your hair from heat damage up to 450°F and gives it a healthy shine (Due to thermal styling).
3. Use the right setting for your hair when using the appliance
If your hair is very fine or thin, choose a lower temperature setting than you would normally use with thicker hair. This will reduce the amount of heat being applied to your hair and therefore reduce any damage caused by overheating.
If you don’t have adjustable temperature control on your straighteners, consider investing in a model that does so that you can adjust it according to your needs.
4. Regularly clean off your flat iron
The most important thing to remember when you’re caring for your hair straightener is to clean it after every use. The most effective way to do this is by wiping it down with a dry cloth or tissue paper. This will remove any excess oil or gunk from the plates and keep them looking shiny and new.
If you have an oily scalp, unfortunately, this isn’t enough to get rid of any unpleasant smells. You’ll need to invest in some kind of cleaner for your straightener if you want it to last longer than a few months.
5 Steps to Clean a Straightener
To properly clean your straightener, you’ll need a dryer sheet, some vinegar, and a soft cloth. Then follow the steps below:
- Take the plug out of the socket and unplug the device.
- Remove any attachments (like a comb or brush) from the straightener and remove all hairs from the device.
- Use rubbing alcohol or acetone to clean away any oil or residue from the plates on your hair tool.
- Pour a small amount of vinegar into a cup and dip a cotton swab into it, then rub it over all parts of your hair tool. Vinegar is an acid that will help remove mineral deposits left by hard water, which can accumulate on plates over time causing them to heat less efficiently and cause damage to your hair. (Note: Do not use vinegar if you have aluminum plates as this could corrode them.)
- Let it sit for 15 minutes then wipe down with a damp cloth or paper towel until dry (do not rinse).
Final Note
There you have it; the different reasons a straightener can smell and how to fix it. At the end of the day, you will find it is easy to have a fresh and functional Hot Iron.
