photo from reddit
CHI Ceramic Hair Straightener
by CHI
8 endorsements on r/BuyItForLife first recommended in Jan 2025
A ceramic-plate flat iron/hair straightener from CHI, sold in mall kiosks and salon-supply stores for decades.
Added Jul 5, 2026, Updated Jul 6, 2026
Why it's buy-it-for-life
Redditors routinely report units lasting 10-20+ years of regular use before failing, with the cord being the most common eventual point of failure rather than the heating element. Some owners have revived a dead unit by replacing a small internal fuse. Several note the current CHI lineup feels lower quality than older units.
What redditors say
Recommended on reddit as recently as January 2025
Show 6 more mentions
- 4r/BuyItForLife comment
Some of those may have a fuse you can replace if you are handy... 17 years is a great run for something like this.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
Ive had mine since 2005... The new ones are total shit the original chi. I still use it.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I've had it for at least 17 years and it works really well!
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I've had mine since 2006 or so. Still going strong.
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
Mine was a pink camo Chi from 2008... I just had to replace it last year.
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
I remember when they used to sell these at kiosks at the mall. Mine is in my childhood bathroom... and it still works whenever I go home.
17-year-old Chi Straightener... Definitely a great example of a buy-it-for-life product.
Mine is 20 years old now and it still works great! The typical point of failure with them is the cord.
I used to have that one and did not have the same luck
I've had my Chi since 2009!
My Chi is so kinked, this sounds miraculous.
my chi has to be well over 10 years old now and still going strong.