Then she showed me a cotton ball between the hot ceramic surfaces of the iron. "See, it doesn't even do anything to this cotton ball!" Me: "Well, what happens to a cotton ball in a metal one?" Kiosk girl: "Oh it totally melts and withers!" I doubt it. So I tried it at home. It doesn't do anything. Glad I saved 257 dollars, especially since I don't have time to straighten my hair, we have been busy doing other things . . .