We take a deep look at Bio Ionic’s more affordable flat iron with gold-coated plates
Bio Ionic OnePass Styling Iron
Price: $130 Available Sizes: 1”, 1.5” For Which Hair Type: All Hair Types, All Hair Lengths What We Like: Versatile What We Don’t Like: Not Very Fast Rating: 4.6/5.0
Bio Ionic’s flat irons are known for bringing super smooth results combined with quality material. They recently came up with a version that has gold-coated ceramic plates which is also more affordable than the other flat irons that the same brand offers. Ceramic is a material that is known to be gentler on the strands than other materials. But it’s also known to be slower. The extra gold coating is meant to heat up quicker to bring faster and more consistent heat. But frankly, after our tests, we can say that there is no difference in the speed of this tool.
What is special about this flat iron though, is its very low minimum heat setting of 170°F. This number is lower than most and provides extra gentle results for fine hair. Combined with its ceramic plates, this tool is one of the gentlest on the strands on our list. The maximum heat setting is 450°F, which is high enough to tame stubborn hair. Its price is much lower than the other Bio Ionic flat irons with only $130. We know that it’s still an investment but considering its durable material it’s worth the price. Below we share our experiences with “Bio Ionic Goldpro Flat Iron”.
While flat irons can come in a big range of different sizes, Bio Ionic Goldpro Flat iron offers 1” and 1.5”. The smaller, 1” size is considered medium and fits almost all hair lengths and types. If your hair is on the shorter side, we recommend to choose this option. You may even want to go for another brand with smaller plates in case you have very short hair. FHI Platform Signature Pro Styler offers 0.5” plates which is perfect for pixie or bob cuts. If you have medium to long hair and your strands are thick, we recommend the 1.5” option as it can cover a larger area at one pass and it heats up better with its larger surface. If you have long hair but your strands are fragile, it’s best to stick with the 1” as it heats up less and is gentler on the hair. This flat iron has a rounded body that allows you to create beautiful curls and waves.
The length of its plates is 3.55” and is the shortest number on our list. Considering this and its ceramic plates, this tool is not the fastest in the market. If speed is your priority, a tool with long titanium plates, such as Babyliss Nano Titanium Prima 3000 will be more satisfactory.
The size of the whole tool is 11” which is an average number and it’s compact enough for most.
It’s important to mention that it doesn’t come with multidirectional floating plates which is a great feature that ensures full contact with hair at all times. You can really see the difference in the speed and smoothness in tools like Hot Tools Black Gold Evolve Flat Iron and FHI Platform Signature Pro Styler which both have this feature.
Heat And Variable Settings
Knowing which temperature is right for your hair is crucial for its health and the quality of your session. Bio Ionic Goldpro has an extraordinarily large range of variable settings that starts from 170°F and goes up till 450°F. Its lowest temperature is definitely gentle enough for fine hair which usually needs extra care. The lowest setting of 170°F is less than most flat irons in the market and is extremely appealing in case you have fine hair. It’s one of the gentlest tools on our list. The high setting is also very effective as it can tame even the unruliest strands.
The heat of its handle stays on 76°F which is safe to touch throughout the session. The temperature of its cool tip is on the limit of being too hot with 139°F and the back of its plates goes up till 159°F, which means they both should be touched with caution as it may burn the sensitive hands if it’s used for long.
It comes with a 60-minute auto shut-off which is a valuable feature that maximizes safety and puts forgetful minds at ease. It also has an audible warning that signals when it reaches the desired temperature.
Material And Performance
Bio Ionic Goldpro Flat Iron has 24K gold-coated ceramic plates as we can see by its name. Ceramic is a material that heats up slowly while distributing the heat evenly. It’s known to be much gentler than titanium plates. It’s no surprise that combined with its low heat setting, this tool is perfect for fine hair. Ceramic irons are much better choices for daily use than ceramic as well as beginners.
The gold coating, on the other hand, is meant to deliver faster heating which should result in a faster session. But our tests show that this feature is overrated and this tool actually doesn’t deliver faster results than the usual ceramic flat irons.
If speed is your priority, there are many titanium flat irons on our list that will satisfy you better. Babyliss always prefers its flat irons to be titanium as it’s preferred by professional that value speed and know what they’re doing with their tools and less likely to cause damage to hair.
Bio Ionic flat irons are luxury tools with high-quality material and Goldpro is no exception. It has durable material that will last you many years without issues. But it’s very lightweight which makes this tool a bit less sturdy than a luxury tool should be.
Ergonomics
Bio Ionic Goldpro is the lightest tool on our list and only weighs 7.5oz. It’s almost half the weight of some of the flat irons on our list. This is a great quality if you get tired while styling your hair and want to prevent arm fatigue. It also makes this tool travel-friendly.
Diameter of its handle is the average 4.5” which is the same as most flat irons. It’s a number that fits most hands.
It has a 9ft swivel cord. This is one of the longest sizes in the market and comes in handy if your plug is far from your mirror. The fact that it’s swivel makes it easier for your wrist to create curls.
It has dual voltage that enables to use it anywhere in the world. Combined with its lightweight design, we can say that this is a travel-friendly tool.
It comes with digital display and temperature control which makes it much easier to control and adjust its temperature.
Price And Guarantee
Bio Ionic Goldpro is in the category of luxury tools, rather than being budget-friendly. It costs $130 which is an investment for sure but when we look at the other tools with the same quality, it actually is quite cheap. It certainly is the cheapest of the Bio Ionic flat irons which usually cost no less than $200. It’s definitely worth its price with its durable material and ergonomic design. It comes with only 1 year guarantee which is much less than usual but we can easily say that this tool probably would last you for many years without breakage anyways. If you want an even more affordable flat iron, it’s worth considering Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron or Hot Tools Purple Ceramic Digital Flat Iron which has similar qualities and delivers smooth results with only $56.
Competition
Bio Ionic Goldpro has many superior qualities, especially its gentleness on the fragile strands. But being a fast tool is not its strong suit. If you have thick hair and you don’t want to spend too long in front of the mirror every morning, you may want to consider a titanium flat iron with a maximum speed as high as possible. BabylissPro Nano Titanium Ultra-Thin Straightener ticks all these boxes and its one of the fastest tools on our list. It has a maximum temperature of 450°F, which is more than enough to tame stubborn hair and has very long plates of 4.74”, as well as a 2” plate width option. Combined with its titanium material, this tool is one of the fastest options in the market.
We know that spending $130 on a flat iron is not for everyone. That’s why we want to mention a more affordable alternative with similar qualities. Conair Double Ceramic Flat Iron comes with ceramic plates and has different size options of 1”, 1.5, and even 2”. Its temperature range is less than Bio Ionic and it’s less gentle on the strands with 266°F minimum heat. But it costs only $29 and you get a value-for-money product. Of course, the material quality can never be as good as a luxury tool but it does its job efficiently and delivers smooth results.
