How To Tell If Your Chi Flat Iron Is Fake

I used to own a Chi, which I purchased from a hair salon for $120. I used it almost daily for about 2 years until it literally blew up on me. Not a big 'blew up', it just started smoking and sizzling from where the cord attached to the iron and in the socket. So I unplugged it and threw it away. I was recently browsing around to see if I could find a new one for a decent price, when I came across comments on pages stating they had received fakes. Fake Chi flat irons? I didn't know they existed. I decided to research a little since I'm a curious thing, lo and behold, I realize the one I had was a fake! I was pretty mad, I couldn't believe I paid $120 for a fake, when apparently they are being sold for really cheap. So I have put together this little guide to prevent others from making the same mistake.

The most obvious way to tell whether or not you have a fake Chi is by the plug. An authentic Chi will have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter with a reset button on the plug, just like most hairdryers have. A fake Chi will have your typical plug that can be found on most simple electronic devices such as stereos, phone chargers, or even lamps. It is important to buy an authentic Chi with the right plug, because these are safer than the counterfeits, which may be why mine died the way it did. I want to add my house could have easily been set on fire due to this, there have been times I had left it on and not realized it until I got home that evening, so be safe and buy an authentic Chi.

Your second indication will be the labeling. Counterfeit Chi irons will usually have a sticker on it stating the usual 'Caution' warnings. Authentic Chi irons have the warning engraved into them. Mine also had the sticker, strike #2. 

The third indication to look for is the LED light on/off switch. On the authentic Chi irons, the LED light will turn off when the switch is in the off mode, and turn on when it is in on mode. If you have a fake, the LED light will stay on regardless of being in the on or off mode. Mine stayed on unless it was unplugged, obviously a fake.

Your final indication that you have a fake is the logo or anything else that is printed onto the iron. On a Chi iron if you look at the base of the handle, there is a circular cap where the logo is printed. If your Chi is authentic, the logo will be perfectly centered and will be printed in the correct font. On a fake Chi, the logo may be off-center and in a smaller or different font than the Chi logo. 

I was very disappointed when I realized my Chi was a fake. I loved it, and it still did the job I would expect of an authentic one, the main problem I had was the fire hazard. Mine had all the first 3 indications of a fake. It did not have the bad logo, though. The logo on it was perfect. 

Be sure before you buy a Chi online or from someone in person, you check for these signs. I have seen too many pictures of Chi irons for sell on eBay where the plug wasn't shown in the picture, this is likely someone who didn't think it was necessary to include the plug, or someone who knows the iron they have for sale is a fake. Either way, don't take any chances and waste your money on what could possibly be counterfeit when for a few more dollars and a little more time you can probably find a real one.