We describe a hair styling apparatus and method of heating a ceramic heater in a hair styling apparatus, the ceramic heater comprising a ceramic layer and a heating element thermally coupled to said ceramic layer, the method comprising: heating the ceramic layer in at least two successive phases, wherein in a first phase the ceramic layer is heated at a first rate of heating to a first temperature; pausing the heating of said ceramic layer at the first temperature; and wherein in a second phase the ceramic layer is heated at a second rate of heating from the first temperature to a second temperature.