Are flat irons dangerous?

We've been flat ironing our hair since before we got Kirby, but I was wondering if it was safe? We always use it with the doors closed but for some reason my sister thought it was okay today to use it with the doors wide open. (she says it was only for a minute, but to be honest I don't really believe that and it may have been longer)

Is that okay? I don't know the brand (apparently it doesn't have a brand name?) and I'm not sure if it has teflon. It is a small apartment but they were on opposite sides of the aparment. Kirbys door was closed, the bathroom door was not.
It was heated to 450.

I have the windows open to be safe, but what do you guys think?

Found out that its ceramic

happycat said:

We've been flat ironing our hair since before we got Kirby, but I was wondering if it was safe? We always use it with the doors closed but for some reason my sister thought it was okay today to use it with the doors wide open. (she says it was only for a minute, but to be honest I don't really believe that and it may have been longer)

Is that okay? I don't know the brand (apparently it doesn't have a brand name?) and I'm not sure if it has teflon. It is a small apartment but they were on opposite sides of the aparment. Kirbys door was closed, the bathroom door was not.
It was heated to 450.

I have the windows open to be safe, but what do you guys think?

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I'm glad we guys don't have to spend all that time flat ironing or curling our hair.....it's bad enough shaving my face.....when I was about your age I even thought about using Nair or something similar, but then it was OK to look bushy faced & have fly-away hair...it was in the 60s & flower power was the in style.....

You are right to question your hair appliances as some do have Teflon coated parts on them...and...I'm not sure whether your hair irons fall under next year's Teflon ban that applies to kitchen utensils/appliances, but since many of today's bathrooms have vent fans, you could use that instead of freezing in the winter with open windows...while all manufacturers are usually brand conscious, I have noticed that some things do lack identification, especially things made in China, so you're right to ask/check.....since you're getting to the age where you'll be buying your own tools/appliances/utensils/ it's always good to check when shopping & if the tag/label doesn't say, make a note & contact the manufacturer to be sure.....

Sounds like you're kind of hard on your sister.....thinking she had the flat iron on longer than she said.....we don't fight do we?

weco said:

but then it was OK to look bushy faced & have fly-away hair...it was in the 60s & flower power was the in style.....

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LOL! Do you notice bushy full beards are coming back in style? At least around here. I'm starting to see it all the time now (on younger men). Beards with short hair is very 2014!

Very few curling/flat irons have Teflon in them anymore...I haven't seen anything like that on shelves in years. And the Teflon was always on the outside. It was very unpopular and discontinued. Most now are ceramic, steel, or tourmaline, so you're ok.
Btw, 450* is super hot and damaging. That's even hotter than when we do keratin straightening or brazilian blowouts.
Now, if there are smoothing, protecting products on the hair before you iron, that high temp will cause steam/smoke, vaporizing the products. And that can cause irritation depending on the product you use. Argon products are pretty safe..the argon oil, and smoothing cream is perfect for ironing. The cream is super light and doesn't leave the hair greasy.