OK, well now i'm certain mine is fake after reading this online:
I have been a hairstylist for 11 years, and I worked in a salon which was owned by a member of Farouk's National Artistic Team, and in that time I was able to learn alot about CHI irons. Our CHIs were sent to us directly from Farouk Systems rather than purchased from a distributor. Here is the definitive way to know if your first-generation original CHI is real or a fake:
Authentic CHI irons were manufactured in both the USA and China. If your CHI says made in Korea, it is probably a fake. The plastic of an authentic CHI should be matte black. If the black plastic on your original CHI is shiny, it is a fake. Original CHI irons have 2 prongs on the plug. There are no stickers on an authentic CHI, although there should be a silver-colored ink stamp by the power switch which says LED. Your CHI should also be stamped GLOBAL BEAUTY NETWORK, INC. in silver on the handle.
On authentic CHI irons, the ceramic should not chip or wear off. Cheap knockoffs are made with aluminum plates coated with ceramic. Also, the ceramic plates should "float". Press down on the plate and see if it moves. If the plate moves, or "floats", then you have the real deal.
On the original model, there is an R, not TM, after CHI. If you have the owner's manual, it should say GF-1001 on the cover, with contact info for Farouk Systems at the bottom. The manual should be printed in English and should contain a one-year warranty. On the inside of the handle it should say: Farouk Systems, Inc, and below that should be a certification number (for example, Certified to: CSA-C222). Although newer models are 20-25 watts, older CHIs were 35 watts.
The box your CHI came in should be printed in English, Spanish, and French. On the back of the box it should say: Manufactured for Farouk Systems, Inc. Houston TX 77090.
Unfortunately, many authentic CHI irons do have problems with their cords. Never wrap or wind your cord around the iron, as this can cause stress to the 360-degree swivel, which will lead to electrical problems.
Earlier this year, Farouk founder Farouk Shami issued a press release stating that he will be closing all overseas factories in an attempt to thwart counterfeiting. If you plan on buying a CHI in the future, make sure that it was made in the USA. Fake CHIs are common online, but have also been known to turn up in some salons and beauty supply stores. In order to prevent getting ripped off, take a knowledgeable stylist with you and have them take the CHI out of the box and examine it for you before you buy. A good stylist (hopefully) will be able to know the difference between a real CHI and a fake. Never buy a CHI online, no matter how reputable the seller is. Farouk, like most professional manufacturers, only sells to authorized dealers!
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THis answered all my questions and the iron goes back today! I did take pictures but after reading this piece I don't need further verification and don't feel like cropping and pasting pictures. Unless of course, it would serve to help someone else. Thanks!
