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Whether or not you knew they existed, we are here to tell you that heat-resistant mats and hair cases are a must-have. If you regularly style your hair with a curling iron, waver, or flat iron, then you may be familiar with the amount of heat these tools generate and if there is an easy way to protect yourself and your delicate countertops, we are here for it.
Below are a few different heat-resistant mat and hair case options whose job is to protect your countertop from heat and keep them from sliding around while also providing a convenient way to store the styling tools.
These mats are all made from food-grade silicone, can withstand heat up to 500 degrees, and provide a non-slip grip. Additionally, you can choose from either a flat mat or pouch-style protective sleeve and mat option that will cover and protect your tools for storage and make for easy travel.
Top Heat-Resistant Mat Hair Case Reviewed
ZAXOP Silicone Mat — Best Overall
Made up of food-grade silicone, this hot hair tools mat, and travel pouch is a great and safe option to protect any table, bag, or vanity from irreparable damage. This travel pouch does double-duty and is smartly designed for the safe storage of all types of curling, crimping, waving, and flat irons while the mat comes with anti-skid markings on both sides to help keep the tool(s) from sliding to the floor.
Pros
- This mat and pouch come in seven fun color options
Cons
- This mat is not very wide
AFT90 Curling Mat — Runner Up
Another great option for a heat-resistant silicone mat is this version that functions as both a resting and travel mat to keep your hair tools secure and free of damage. A no-slip, wave-type ripple design keeps your pouch from sliding and holds your tools securely in place while its elasticity makes it ideal to wrap around and protect your hair tools whenever you are on the go.
Pros
- This mat is easy to clean
Cons
- When wrapped, there is no place to store the cord
Lessmon Mat — Honorable Mention
At just about the size of an iPad, this silicone heat-resistant mat is ideal for all your hot hair appliances and is large enough to place a clothes iron on too. Use this mat to protect all your countertops at home from any damage or burns and feel good about taking it on the road as this mat is foldable, easy to carry, and can serve as a protective, wraparound case.
Pros
- This mat is heat resistant up to 450 degrees
Cons
- This mat may not be long enough to wrap completely around the straightener lengthwise
Milaya Beauty Mat — Editor's Pick
Ideal for multiple uses, this 100% silicone mat is the perfect addition to your bathroom or anywhere that needs protection from hot tools. This mat has been conveniently upgraded to a larger size to provide more space for multiple hot tools and has a textured design on both sides to keep your tools from sliding around. This mat also has a firm surface grip and makes an ideal opener whenever you need some extra grip.
Pros
- This mat is easy to clean
Cons
- This mat may not fully cover the end of a styling wand
EIOKIT Silicone Mat — Excellent Quality
This silicone two-in-one heating mat is a great way to safely store your hot tools immediately after use. You can also use it as a convenient pouch to protect them while traveling and the mat is ideal for delicate surface protection as it protects up to 450 degrees. The silicone material is food-grade, BPA-free, durable, and safe.
Pros
- Easily rinse the mat in warm soapy water for fast and easy cleanup
Cons
- This mat may not be long enough to rest the entire hair iron
Lessmon Mat — Contender
Unlike our other options, this heat-resistant mat and pouch comes with the option of a glove as well to better protect your hand. Made from silicone, this mat will protect the counter as you are styling your and the iron pouch allows you to place the tools inside whether they are heated or not. Lastly, the pouch has a unique texture with a slip-free design to ensure the tools stay where they are put while the mat grips the surface.
Pros
- This mat is safe and durable enough for daily use
Cons
- The glove is made from a cotton material
Conair Pouch — Excellent Value
If a travel pouch is all you need, this heat-resistant storage one is a great option. It fits almost all sizes of styling tools so you can easily store them without the worry of damaging or burning anything. This pouch also has a sturdy velcro closure in the front, a chic, easy-to-find black and white chevron print with black trim and interior, and is the perfect solution for grab-and-go styling.
Pros
- This pouch has a pocket on the back for cord storage
Cons
- The outside of the case should not be used for resting a hot styling tool
Heat Resistant Mat Hair Case: Buying Guide
Styling your hair is one of the most effective ways of altering your overall look. You can wear the same dress on two separate occasions and still look completely different because of a different hairstyle.
Luckily, tools like flat, curling, and waver irons make this process of hairdressing simple and accessible to almost anyone and everyone. These tools are used by both professional hairdressers and by folks who just want to alter the looks of their own hair.
These hair irons are not perfect, though. Sure, they are fairly easy to use, but handling and storing them is an entirely different thing. This is where the heat-resistant mats come into the picture and eliminate these issues.
Why You Need a Heat-Resistant Mat
Safety
The first and arguably the most important benefit of owning a heat-resistant mat is that they secure these irons in place. Most high-quality mats have very grippy surfaces. On the one hand, this grip makes them stay in place on almost any surface you put them on. On the other hand, the tools you put onto them also stay there for the most part. This protects the tools from falling and potentially breaking, and it protects you from getting burned by a flat iron that spontaneously slipped off of the powder room counter.
Storage
If you don’t have a heat-resistant mat, your storage solution looks something like this. You use the iron, put it on the counter, and wait for it to cool off before you can store it in a pouch or a container. Heat-resistant mats, on the other hand, allow you to store the irons as soon as you’re done using them. No need to waste time waiting for them to cool down. This has the added benefit of safety for pets and children that can stumble close to the iron while it is cooling down.
Surface protection
Another major benefit of owning a heat-resistant mat is that it will protect the table/counter from getting charred due to excessive heat. This might not be an issue at first. But, if you use your hairstyling iron on a regular basis and put it on the same surface, you will start noticing burn marks. The damage depends on the type of surface and the intensity of heat you like to use, but it is inevitable. This alone is enough reason to buy a heat-resistant safety mat.
Buying the Right Heat-Resistant Mat
Should you buy a heat-resistant mat for your hair styling tools? Yes, you definitely should. Which one should you buy? The answer to that is a bit more nuanced. There are hundreds if not thousands of options to choose from, with each one claiming to be the best.
The truth, however, is that there is no single “best” heat-resistant mat that is perfect for everyone. Instead, different mats are the right fit for different people. Here’s what to look for in order to find the ideal mat for you.
Size
The first consideration you have to make is the size and shape of the mat. Measure the length of your hair iron and make sure that the mat is at least as long as the heating part of the iron. Ideally, you want a mat that is long enough to fully cover the whole iron, both on top and on the inside. You can also go for the slim mats if you are space constrained on the counter. But, if you have more than one iron, buying a wide head resistant mat is the better option over purchasing a slim one for each.
Material
Choosing the material might not look like it matters since almost all quality mats are made out of heat-resistant silicone. However, not all silicone mats have the same resistivity. Make sure that the mat you buy has a maximum safe temperature that is at least 50 degrees higher than the peak temperature of your iron. So, if your iron goes up to 400 degrees, buying any mat with a max temperature of 450 degrees is not a good idea. Also, look for mats with the “food-grade silicone” label as they are safer.
Cost
The last factor you have to take into account is the price of the heat-resistant hair iron mat. Luckily, these mats are not that expensive, especially compared to the costs they save in potential injuries and burnt countertops. You can find a fully-functional high-quality mat for between $5 and $15. There are mats that cost over $15, but most of these high-end mats are not worth the extra money.
On the other hand, avoid any mats under $5. These might look like an amazing deal, but they are not. Most of these cheap generic mats often claim to have a higher maximum temperature than they actually do. So, other than being not very good in terms of grip and durability, these cheap mats can also melt or even catch fire. The couple of dollars you would save by purchasing one of these is not worth so much risk.
