Our take on CHI’s sturdy round straightening brush which adds great texture to hair
4.3 out of 5
Model name/ number: CA2168
RRP: $125.00
Barrel size: 1.25″
Temperature settings: 180 to 410°F (13 temperature settings)
Auto shut-off: 60min
Weight: 9.8 oz
Cord length: 6.5ft
Universal voltage: yes
Warranty: 2 year
Added extras: dual voltage for international travel, ion generator to reduce static frizz, digital heat control, and LED display
Best for: works great on mid-length, fine to medium hair texture, not recommended for textured or long hair
Pros: boosts shine with negative ions, has a cool tip for easy maneuvering, auto temperature lock saves the trouble of accidentally pressing buttons, includes a thermal sleeve for putting it away before it’s completely cool
Cons: long hair tangles in it, has a short cord, bristles may start to fall off after about a year of frequent use
How it stands out: the mid-sized barrel provides a gentle stretch, is lightweight and easy to maneuver, creating loose curls on medium-length hair with ease
CHI is a highly revered brand among home stylists, with good quality material and high performance, and their round straightening brush doesn’t disappoint.
They already had a paddle-shaped one and they recently released a straightener brush with a round barrel for the ones who want to curl their strands. It’s a slim-sized tool with only a 1.25” barrel for intricate curls and it adds texture to hair as well.
It has a wide range of heat settings and its maximum temperature is high enough (390°F) to tame the unruliest strands. It also is superior at eliminating frizz with its ionic technology and tourmaline ceramic coating. While it doesn’t have the best shape for a natural look, it still provides a gentle session as any straightener brush should do.
Below we share our experiences with “Chi Amplitude Straightener Brush”. If you’re curious about the competition, check out the article about Best Hair Straightening Brushes.
Shape And Size
The Chi Amplitude Round Brush features a round, slim barrel with a diameter of 1.25 inches and a length of 4″.
While paddle brushes are made for a fast and easy natural look, round brushes are better for adding texture to the hair and creating curls. Chi does both of these jobs perfectly. With its round barrel, it works as a curling iron while it can also function as a straightener, adding beautiful texture to the strands.
The 1.25-inch barrel is too large and difficult to use on strands shorter than chin length. The Chi Amplitude Round Brush does an outstanding job on chin-length and longer hair, easily grabbing the roots with its barrel.
But it will not be as efficient with long hair as strands can tangle easily in the brush.. And if you have long hair, Ghd Glide is another great option. A large paddle-shaped brush that may be just what you need.
Bristles
When it comes to choosing a straightening brush, bristles play a very important role. They come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes as well as arrangements. These tools generally have 2 types of bristles; heated and detangler.
Chi Amplitude has 2 types of detangler bristles (0.12”*0.37”, 0.08”*2.28”) and no heated bristles. Its detangler bristles are densely placed and medium length, which means this brush is a good detangler.
They do get hot, but still cool enough to touch while styling. They’re superior at grabbing the roots and styling as well, especially with short styles.
Heat And Variable Settings
The Chi Amplitude has adjustable heat settings with a digital display that shows the exact temperature, from 180°F to 410°F in 10-degree steps.
It has a quite high promised maximum temperature of 410°F, which it fails to deliver. The real maximum heat is 390°F, which is still a high enough number to tame even the unruliest strands. This number is one of the highest on our list and it puts Chi in a position of being a great option for thick hair. This quality also makes Chi a very fast styler but it heats up slower than most straightening brushes; in about 2 minutes instead of 1 like the others.
Digital display is not the only luxury that Chi offers. It also has a 60-minute auto shut-off, which makes this tool very safe to use, and also has 15-second auto temperature lock.
Performance And Durability
Chi almost never disappoints us with its performance and Chi Amplitude is no exception. Its material is sturdy, with very little risk of breakage. However, some users report that a few bristles may come off after a year of frequent use, so it may not be the most durable tool.
It has a wattage of 46W, which is average amongst straightening brushes, which comes after GHD Glide with 50W and Drybar The Brush Crush with 58W. Wattage affects the performance immensely, providing a faster and safer blowout with less risk of heat damage. When we compare between the round straightening brushes, on the other hand, Chi definitely is a winner in terms of wattage, which makes it clear that round-shaped brushes offer less wattage than paddle.
It has a tourmaline-coated ceramic barrel, which eliminates cold and hot pockets, providing a heat damage-free session while its ionic technology provides fast and frizz-free results.
Ergonomics
Hair tools can get frustrating to hold for long periods of time so it’s always worth considering the weight of the tool before you make your decision. Chi Amplitude has an average weight, which is 9.8oz. There are even lighter tools in the market such as Babylisspro Nano Titanium with 8.1 oz and even as light as Conair Instant Heat with 4.8 oz. They’re worth considering if you have weak arms and want to avoid fatigue.
It’s the longest straightening brush on our list with 12.5” and not the most compact option in case you want to travel with it. Yet it has a dual voltage which allows you to use it all over the world. It comes with a pouch as well to pack and carry around in case you need it.
Its cord is swivel and 6.5 ft long, a relatively short length, and may get frustrating if your plug is far away from your mirror.
Price and Guarantee
It has an average price compared to other straightening brushes on our list, but it can be considered expensive among the round-shaped ones. $58 may not be budget-friendly enough for many home stylists, but no need to worry. There’s another popular option which is much more affordable, called is Conair Instant Heat with a price of only $20.
It has a 2-year limited guarantee, which is also quite average yet it’s more than enough for most people.
Competition
As detailed above, Chi Amplitude is a round straightening brush and its biggest competitor is also found in the round-shaped category. Conair Instant Heat Hot Brush is a cheaper alternative that also delivers effective results yet compromises the material quality. It’s almost $40 less than Chi with only $20. The biggest sacrifice other than material quality comes with its lack of capacity to heat as much as Chi, which makes it a non-desirable option for thick and unruly hair. But if you have fine to normal hair, it’s a popular and effective alternative that can bring a similar quality to your session.
Another great alternative for Chi is a unique straightening brush. Tymo Ring Plus has a comb-like tool that actually can straighten the strands. With $70, it’s similarly priced ass Chi but instead of curling and adding texture to the hair, it straightens and smoothens it.
