Extracting rosin from plant material is a messy and frustrating process. You spend hours meticulously stripping the flower, then spend another hour cleaning your hands to avoid getting sticky residue on anything you touch.
All that works for nothing if you’re not using one of these bad boys! Don’t get stuck with your old hair straightener when there are so many new ones out there that will make the whole extraction process much easier. With this list, we picked six of our favorite choices for making rosin extraction easy and enjoyable!
What is rosin and why do you need it for hair straighteners?
Rosin is a solventless concentrate that you make using heat and pressure. It is concentrated resin, or essential oils, from the plant material. By putting pressure on the flower with something like our hair straighteners, you will force it to release its oils in a process called rendering. This oil can be collected and smoked for an intense high.
The best hair straighteners for rosin 2021. Hair Straightener Overall
This hair straightener is a great choice for rosin because it has the ability to heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit in about 30 seconds. This unique feature will help you save lots of time when trying to produce rosin, and it also comes with multiple heat settings that range from 300-450 degrees Fahrenheit. 2020.
The hair straightener features an adjustable temperature setting of 120-220 degrees Celsius so it can be used on a wide variety of materials. It only takes 30 seconds to reach its maximum temperature of 220 degrees Celsius which makes this one of our fastest picks for making rosin without a closed press. 2019. Best Handheld Rosin Press
If you are looking for something extremely portable to carry with you on the go, then this palm-sized rosin press is an excellent option. It only weighs about one pound so it can be taken just about anywhere without taking up too much space in your travel bag. 2020. Best Cast Iron Hair Straightener
The cast iron hair straightener has a temperature range of 300-450 degrees Fahrenheit and has multiple settings to choose from so you can easily adjust its temperature over time while producing different types of rosin. This specific model also comes with a three-year warranty which helps reduce the risk for any potential problems down the line. 2019. Best Clamp Rosin Press
This model features two heat-resistant silicon pads that firmly grip onto your material when pressed between them and preheat in less than five minutes. It can produce rosin in as little as five seconds and because it doesn’t require any hand-straining, you can work much faster than with the traditional plunger style press. https://cosmichairs.com/6-best-hair-straighteners-for-rosin-that-will-make-extraction-easy/
Best Electric Hair Straightener
The electric hair straightener works great for pressing large amounts of flower or bubble hash without needing to be repositioned constantly like when using a manual hair straightener. This model also comes with two heat settings to allow you to adjust how much pressure is applied, depending on your preference. 2018. Best Hot Air Hair Straightener
The hot air hair straightener is perfect for eliminating any unwanted debris that may have accumulated inside your material throughout the drying process, making sure that it’s fully prepped before being pressed into rosin.
Electric Hair Straightener
The electric hair straightener works great for pressing large amounts of flower or bubble hash without needing to be repositioned constantly like when using a manual hair straightener. This model also comes with two heat settings to allow you to adjust how much pressure is applied, depending on your preference. 2018.
Best Hot Air Hair Straighter The hot air hair straightener is perfect for eliminating any unwanted debris that may have accumulated inside your material throughout the drying process, making sure that it’s fully prepped before being pressed into rosin. Weighing in at only 1 pound, the hot air hair straightener is very lightweight and easy to use. Note: make sure you use this product on a heat-resistant work surface such as marble or tile since it does get very hot!
Duct Tape Roll:
Using duct tape for pressing rosin has been popular for a while now due to how easily accessible it can be found at any hardware store.
This method also allows you to press a lot of material quickly without needing to stop between batches, which makes it perfect when you’re pressed for time. While this isn’t our favorite option available on today’s market, we have included the duct tape roll in our list so that anyone who wants to try pressing rosin with their hair straightener knows what they’re getting first.
Hair Straightener (Without Nooks and Crannies)
A hair straightener is an excellent tool to press rosin with because it has smooth surfaces, which means you don’t need to worry about buying expensive micron bags if you want to turn your rosin into vape cartridges or pre-filled syringes.
A hair straightener’s plates also get very hot (most of them can go up to 400°F), so using them for pressing flowers wouldn’t be a problem at all. However, most hairdressers recommend only using the highest heat setting on your iron just in case there are any nooks or crannies on your straightener that you haven’t noticed. This is why using a hair straightener to press rosin isn’t as efficient as pressing it with an actual rosin press.
Hair Straightener (With Nooks and Crannies)
The alternative to buying a hair straightener without nooks and crannies is to buy one that has some sort of pattern etched into its plates, but this can be extremely costly. If you do decide to go for this style of flat iron, though, know that they come in both professional models and smaller less expensive ones made specifically for hairdressers on–go. Although these alternatives can be more expensive, they are also more effective at producing rosin.
Why choose a ceramic flat iron:
Ceramic plates on a flat iron can produce rosin, and ceramic has many of the same properties as silicone. Ceramic itself is non-porous, so it will not absorb any rosin. Also, ceramic tends to be very smooth and therefore presses the material against the plates with little sticking or sticking back onto the material. Finally, ceramic heats evenly and does not burn as some materials will when you press them at high temperatures. Unfortunately, these straighteners tend to be on the expensive side because of how effectively they produce rosin–and professional-level hair straightener sets may cost even more than buying a hair straightener and a rosin press!
How to use a flat iron with rosin tech?
If you are using a standard ceramic, tourmaline, or titanium straightener, make sure to first brush your hair with a hairbrush to remove tangles and other debris. Then apply some heat protectant hair serum first if desired; this product will not only protect your hair but also help the plates glide easily along the surface of your hair. If you are planning to press large amounts of material or multiple times, then you should wrap the ends of your hair around your finger first to expose more surface area for pressing.
Tips on how to get the most out of your new hair straightener
After every use of your hair straightener, it is always good to unplug and clean the plates. You can use a baby wipe or any lint-free wipe to remove the rosin residue from between the plates and around the edge of each plate. If you want, you can also use a small cleaning brush for this purpose as well. After wiping down the plates, be sure to let them fully dry before plugging them back in; if not, you risk damaging them (or hurting yourself).
Conclusion:
So as we can see from everything presented here, what you need for rosin tech is really pretty simple: an iron that can go up to at least 500 degrees Fahrenheit and preferably with tourmaline or titanium plates, a heat-safe surface to press the plates onto, and some kind of pressing tool. With this minimal list of equipment, you are ready to make your own rosin!
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to hair straighteners. If you want an iron that will last longer and is durable enough to withstand repeated use, expect to spend at least $100 on one. You can find cheap hair straighteners online or even in big box stores like Walmart but these are often risky purchases because they are not designed for daily use.
FAQs about using a flat iron with rosin
What is the best size plate?
The larger the plate, the more surface area you’ll be able to extract from. If you’re doing large batches (1-2 grams) then you’ll want a large plate. Smaller plates are good for travel and everyday use because they take up less space in your kit.
When should I turn off my hair straightener?
As soon as it heats up, let it heat up for another 30-60 seconds so it’s ready to go when you need it. Some irons don’t even require preheating! Question: How long should I press each time? Answer: For smaller plates, 45 seconds or until rosin “flows” is usually good. For larger plates, press for 45 seconds and then re-press at 90 degrees for another 30 seconds.
How should I store my hair straightener after use?
Answer: You can turn it off or leave it on, but you should never submerge an iron in the water! Turn it off first, let it cool down completely, then place a piece of foil over top to protect the plate from dust/moisture.
What temperature do I need to press rosin?
Rosin is produced between 150-220C (300-428F), however, these temperatures are not recommended because they may damage the material. The best temperature zone is 160-170C (320-340F).
Do I need to press my hair straightener with the plates closed or open?
It is recommended that you always press with an open plate. However, if you are short on time and your hair iron has adjustable temperature settings, pressing with the plates closed may work better for you (results will vary).
How should I clean my hair straightener after use?
Allowing build-up to sit on your hair straightener is one of the most common causes of less than satisfactory results. Clean your flat irons regularly using Isopropyl Alcohol or lighter fluid (naphtha) to remove any residue/residuals that have built up.