A close look at Chi’s paddle-shaped straightener brush that provides great detangling and smoothening
4.4 out of 5
Model name/ number: CA2270
RRP: $80.00
Temperature settings: 360 to 410°F
Auto shut-off: 60 mins
Weight: 11oz
Cord length: 9ft
Universal voltage: yes
Warranty: 2 year
Added extras: dual voltage for international travel, ion generator to reduce static frizz, digital heat settings
Best for: medium to long hair length, mid to thick hair texture
Pros: easy to use like a regular brush, glides through hair, great for detangling, has a digital display and digital heat control
Cons: heavy, difficult to clean the bristles
How it stands out: has very dense bristles that both detangle and provide slight tension to hold hair in place for quick and easy smoothing
Straightening brushes are people’s go-to tools for comfortable and easy smoothening with a natural look rather than bone-straight hair. Of course, a sturdy and durable tool would be a cherry on top for a price as affordable as possible.
Chi is a respected brand for its material quality and it has many other hair tools that many swear by. Their paddle brush doesn’t disappoint in terms of quality and design, and it’s one of the best options in the market as a great detangler.
With a maximum temperature of 410°F, maybe it doesn’t get as hot as its competitors such as Drybar(420°F), but it has ergonomically placed bristles and a very large surface for the fastest and most efficient styling. Below we share our experiences with “ Chi Paddle Straightener Brush”. If you’re curious about the competition, check out the article about Best Hair Straightening Brush Reviews.
Shape And Size
The shape of a hot air brush is the first and most important factor to consider before making a decision. Paddle brushes are usually chosen for their capacity to cover a large surface in one go and provide a fast session. They also are much easier to use compared to barrel-shaped tools which makes them more convenient for many.
Chi’s paddle-shaped brush is quite large sized (one of the largest on our list). It has a length of 4.8” and a width of 2.7”. This size is very desirable for long hair since smaller tools would take much longer to tame it. But the large paddle shape can’t do a very good job of coming close to the roots and styling them. So if you have short hair, there are many other options in the market that will satisfy you such as Tymo Ring Plus (1.24”*3.83”) or Conair Instant Heat with its small barrel.
Bristles
Straightening brushes are a lot about their bristles. They come in all sorts of different sizes and arrangements. Most of them contain two types of (heated and detangler) bristles which serve different purposes.
Chi Paddle Straightener Brush has both of these bristles and a lot of them. Its heated bristles are 0.15” thick and they provide effective smoothening. It has detangler bristles both inside and outside the heater plate and they’re 0.09” thick. This tool is a great detangler with its very dense bristles that are quite long compared to the others in the market.
Heat And Variable Settings
Paddle brushes are gentle tools and you usually don’t need to worry about heat damage while making a decision. Chi Paddle Brush comes with 5 different heat settings that should fit almost all hair types.
It has a maximum heat of 375°F. While this number is much lower than what they promise on their box which is 410°F, it’s still a high enough number to tame unruly hair. The lowest setting, on the other hand, is 250°F. This is a wide enough range that is beneficial for all different hair types from fine to thick. But if you have very thick hair and you want to make sure the tool satisfies you with quality smoothening, there are other options in the market such as Drybar Brush Crush which goes up to 420°F.
The tool locks itself at the desired setting so there are no surprises in terms of overheating. It also has a 60 min auto shut-off for maximum safety and peace of mind.
Performance And Durability
Chi never disappoints us with their quality material and their paddle straightener brush is no different. The tool is sturdy and it endured all of our tests successfully. It also is a durable tool that will last you for many years to come.
It has tourmaline-infused ceramic plates for eliminating frizz and many users report that this tool is superior than others at achieving the most frizz-free results.
Chi has a wattage of 40w which is an average number, not really the strongest. It’s important to note that this is not classified as a luxury tool and there are others in the market that provide even better quality material such as Drybar and GHD Glide but they’re also more expensive.
Ergonomics
The weight of hair tools may not be important if you just hold it for 5 minutes a day or you go to the gym and have very strong arms. But for most of us, it gets very frustrating to hold a heavy tool for too long. Chi Paddle Brush, with 10.9oz, is a relatively heavy tool, right below GHD glide(11.7oz), which is the heaviest on our list. If staying away from arm fatigue is your priority, lighter tools such as Drybar(9.6) or Babybliss(8.1) are worth considering.
The diameter of its handle is 3.5”, which is an average size that would fit most hands without feeling uncomfortable.
It has a 75” swivel cord, which is also a medium size and it’s long enough as long as you don’t use this tool professionally. It has dual voltage as well which allows you to use it all over the world.
Price and Guarantee
Chi is usually an above-averagely priced brand, but their paddle-shaped straightener brush is more affordable compared to most of its biggest competitors. With a price of $80, it’s cheaper than both Drybar($110) and Ghd($170). But there are still other paddle straightener brushes in the market that offer a more budget-friendly tool like Babybliss with only $60.
Chi’s price in our opinion is very fair, considering its quality material and frizz-free results. It comes with a 2-year guarantee which is the standard in straightener brushes.
Other versions of Chi
Chi Heated Paddle Brush is not the only straightener brush that this brand offers. Chi amplitude Heated Round Brush is another tool that has the same qualities, but it’s round instead of paddle-shaped. It has a slim barrel with 4” length and 3.5” width. Instead of providing natural results like a paddle brush, this shape can actually curl and add great texture to hair.
Its slim size also makes it much more convenient for shorter hairstyles as it can come close to the roots. For longer hair, on the other hand, they’re much slower than the large paddle-shaped brush. So, the decision between the two is about what kind of results you want, as well as your hair length.
Competition
The biggest competition of Chi paddle-shaped Brush obviously are also paddle-shaped brushes. Ghd Glide is a great tool and it’s our favorite straightener brush this season for its perfect results and quality material. And yes, it is better than Chi. But it’s double the price of Chi and in our opinion, a bit overpriced. Chi may not have the luxury qualities like Ghd, but it’s a perfect alternative for the ones that don’t have that big of an investment to spend on a straightener brush.
Another great alternative to Chi is Babyliss. With a price of $70, it’s a more affordable option. It also is safer for fine hair as it works at very low temperatures like 120°F. It’s lighter than Chi with only 8.10z and provides very efficient results. It may not have the sturdiest material but it’s a great budget-friendly alternative.
