Hair Styling Tools

Did you know that if you have an oval shaped faced then you are the lucky one.  Why?  Well, an oval shaped face is the most versatile one to work with and you can wear almost any hairstyle while using the proper hair styling tools and some ingenuity.  You don’t even have to worry about evening out the proportions of your hair.  In fact, most oval shaped faces can afford to go short, or even super short as evidenced by the following picture of Rihanna.

Regardless of what length cut you have, the best look is with layering near your cheekbones, lips or chin, or whatever features you want to highlight.  

Some simple rules for selecting the right hair style are:

1. Stay current with your hairstyle.
2. Stick with your natural texture of hair.  You can use a hair straightener if your hair is curly, or you can check out a new style that is strictly for curly hair. 
3. If your hair is thin, don’t try to grow it out beyond your shoulders as it will only end up looking flatter and lifeless, no matter how many haircare products you use.  Consider having your hair cut in layers while keeping the length of your hair above the shoulders.
4. If your hair is long, consider tossing gentle waves over your shoulders while pulling the sides of the hair back.  Or, pull your hair back behind your ears while the bottom half of your hair is pulled forward over the shoulders.  This can add depth to your eyes and smile.
5. If your hair is medium length try slightly teasing and tossing your hair on the sides with the right teasing brush.  If you have bangs let them hang gently upon the forehead.  This particular style will draw attention to the mouth area on the face.
6. Lastly, if you already have short hair, try a spiky look as this is the best way to bring out your best facial features.  If you can, try to keep the bangs off of your face.

Bald can truly be beautiful and easy to do if you have the right hair clippers.  In the past men would shave their head to achieve that shiny noggin but now thanks to the Wahl 5-Star Balding Clipper you can achieve the same result with a lot less muss and fuss.  After reading numerous positive reviews online, and seeing how there are still so many women still trying to figure out what to buy for their man, I felt it was a product worth sharing, especially if your man is bald or going bald, or just likes the bald look.

While Wahl developed the “5-Star Series” of clippers and trimmers to meet the unique professional grooming needs of African-American clients,  Caucasians and other ethnic groups alike are praising the Wahl Company for developing this new clipper, which allows for full head balding and tight fades due to the adjustable taper and high-precision zero-overlap blades.  I have even talked with a man who bought one to shave the hair off his back.  From what I read online, this clipper gets a 4.5 out of 5 rating  You can’t go wrong with that.

The difference in the Wahl Balding Clipper is the finer teeth.  As you can see by the picture  of the two blades, the one on the left is the Balding Clipper Blade and the one on the right is from some standard clippers.  As one gentlemen put it, “the clippers leave you with the look of one day’s growth,” which, apparently is just how he likes it.  He went on to say that these clippers shave the head more quickly and with less irritation than anything else he had used.  So, if you are considering purchasing some clippers to achieve that “bald” look, just take note of the features and what the set includes below, and then you be the judge.  Of course, if you have found something else that you feel is better, we would love to hear back from you.  

FEATURES:

•Super charged V5000 motor for extra power 
•Zero overlap fine tooth surgical blades 
•Super close-cutting single-cut vibrator clipper 
•Twice the speed of pivot motor clippers 
•Includes: barber comb, pre-shave brush, blade guard, oil, cleaning brush 
•Instructions in both English and Spanish

If you haven’t already decided on what you want to be for Halloween, there are a couple of ideas where using a hair crimper will add to the overall completion of your Halloween costume.

So for starters, how about dressing up as the bride of Frankenstein?  It may not be that easy of a task, but it could be a very dramatic look, and who knows, you may really enjoy the outcome.  To create the bride of Frankenstein hairdo be aware that you will be being doing a lot of teasing of your hair.  While this style can work well with a variety of hair lengths and hair types, shoulder-length hair works best.  If you hair is longer, it might be more of a challenge.  Are you ready to see what is needed, well here goes…

ITEMS NEEDED:  Crimping iron, ultra maximum hold hairspray, teasing brush or comb, hair pins, white colored temporary spray color to add streaks to the style.

1. Spray your entire head with hairspray lightly.
2. Take your hair and divide into 1 to 3 inch sections and start crimping from the roots down.  Crimp until all sections of hair are done.
3. Tease your hair to the max at the crown and all the way to the roots.  This process is for creating a base.  Spray heavily with hairspray.
4. Tease the surrounding sections of your hair lightly and spray well so you can pin them to the base you have created.
5. Take your hair and work the style into a cone shape.  Tease if necessary and then apply hairspray to the outside sections.
6. Once you have the desired cone shape, spray yet again to make sure the style lasts for whatever amount of time you are going to be partying.
7. The final step is taking the white colored spray and spraying a white line that starts above your ears and continues upward diagonally to the ends of your hair.

Ok, so if you’re not into the Bride of Frankenstein, or if it looks like too much work, how about going as something reminiscent of the 1980′s?  Looking punk, or wearing your tresses crimped will certainly bring some laughs and fun into your style.  The picture below is that of Jody Foster in the 80′s.  If you have short to medium length hair this could work along with wearing the 80′s wardrobe.  This hairstyle only requires crimping each section of your hair with no teasing of the hair or excessive amounts of hairspray.  You simply want to section your hair and pin it up as you crimp each section.

Last but not least, please remember to use haircare products that provide protection for your hair.  Just as with any hair styling tool, using crimpers will not damage your hair when used occasionally, but any time you apply extra heat to your hair, it is always best to treat your hair with respect and do not allow your hair to get overheated or dried out.  On that note, have a Happy Halloween and most of all HAVE FUN!

I ran into a lady the other day that was going to be celebrating her 40th birthday with  friends that were throwing her a 1980′s birthday bash.  She was shopping for crimpers flat irons , or as some call them crimpers curling irons, that she and other friends could use on their hair.  I told her that in actuality, crimpers had made a comeback in the last year or so and she wouldn’t necessarily be investing in it for just use at the party.  Crimping hair can be a lot of fun but also can result in yet another hair style that adds some body to your hair.

Crimpers are just another of many hair styling tools that are being added to an individual’s aresenal of hair styling appliances.  There are several  types of crimpers available in the marketplace and they are manufactured by several different companies.  Hot Tools has one out that comes with a variable heat control that goes up to 430 degrees fahrenheit and has a 2 inch plate.  Belson Gold ‘n Hot also offers a 2 inch plate with 2 heat settings.  BaByliss PRO has even come out with a mini crimper that has a 5/8″ plate and is dual voltage so you can take it with you worldwide.

So, whether you are trying to recreate an 80′s or even a 70′s look, or just looking for an alternative hairstyle from time to time, check out a crimper and style away.

In my last post I indicated that the trends for hairstyles in 2010 were leaning more towards longer hairstyles and that you will see that those of us who have short hair will be starting to let it grow out.  HOWEVER, there are still those of us who just don’t look good with longer hair for all sorts of reasons.  Especially for those of us who have thin or fine hair, shorter styles always make us look like we have more hair.  And, some of us just want the easy way out in starting out our day with less time having to be devoted to our hair.  OR, is it easier?  Actually, shorter haircuts require more trims, and more importantly, because your hair is shorter, you need to keep it in the best shape possible because you don’t have the luxury of hiding it with your longer locks.  Don’t let this steer you away because keeping your hair healthy is easy to do with today’s haircare products.

So, if we have short hair, or are even risking getting it cut like Katharine McPhee (former American Idol contestant) did, it might be helpful to know what the 2010 short hair trends are.  

Pixies, piecey layers, bold color, asymmetry, bowl-shaped cuts, texture, retro, funky bangs, and big hair are what some of the more well known fashion and hair experts are talking about.  I can understand all of them except for the bowl-shaped cut.  Unless you start seeing a lot of people wearing this style, especially in the celebrity mix, this is one I would steer clear of. 

Personally, I like the idea of some funky looking bangs.  If you have been sporting a bob hairstyle, and you already have bangs, get your stylist to show you how to change them up.  It might require some special trimming but don’t we always need to get our bangs trimmed anyway?   I also like the asymmetry and textured layer looks because they are so out there.   If you are new to short hair, then this messy look as displayed in the photo below might be a starting point for you. 

For most of us, when we think of pixie haircuts, we think of Halle Berry.  Considering she is in every magazine we pick up, whatever she wears always looks good.  Halle is not the only one out there with pixie cuts and you too may want to consider going extremely short because there are some very unique and sexy styles that can be created with extremely short hair.   Not everyone can wear their hair this short, but if you can, then you go girl.

The hottest new trend for all lengths of hair is retro waves.  Apparently, for these hairstyles, the curling irons are no longer being used and the switch is being made to hot rollers.     

Short hairstyles are being worn by all ages and walks of life.  You can be a chic professional or the girl next door.  Whatever you feel comfortable in is what is going to make you the happiest.  Don’t be shy and if you are ready to explore some new avenues then be sure to check out all of the latest short styles either online or in your favorite magazines.

Just as with clothing, trends with hairstyles come and go.  I like to call it recycling.  Why not?  We are definitely in a world where recycling is so very important.  What is so amazing is that if you hold on to things long enough, whatever it is, it will resurface once again.  Such as is with parting your hair on the side.  For how many years now have females been parting their hair down the middle?

What seems to be coming back into fashion now as displayed by many of the celebs, is that sultry hairdo that is swept to one side.  Mostly you see the part on the side with a slight wave or slight curl to the hair.  This particular style is actually very easy to achieve.

1)  Wash your hair with your favorite shampoo and then blow-dry your hair.

2)  Part your hair with a styling comb on whatever side seems to work best for you. 

3)  Take no more than a 2 inch section of hair and using a larger diameter curling iron wrap your hair around it and hold for approximately 5 to 10 seconds.  Continue to do this around your head till you reach the other side.

4)  Flip your head over and shake out the curls.  If necessary, take a brush to help loosen some of the curls that may not want to fall free.

5)  Spray your favorite shine spray.

6)  If you are feeling nostalgic, pull out an old hair barrette or clip that you haven’t worn in awhile and pin back one of the sides of your hair.  Or, you can put your hair behind your ear on one side. 

Lastly, apply the makeup, spray on your favorite perfume and you are ready to party!!!!!

With the holiday season behind us and the New Year well under way, for many of us January can be a very depressing month.  The parties have taken a dramatic drop-off and the weather can be at its bleakest.  New Year resolutions are in place but are we sticking to them?   

I say that sometimes the simplest change can make a huge difference in one’s outlook.  What about a new hairdo?  It doesn’t have to be as drastic as cutting off your long locks.   So, instead of just looking at your collection of styling combs and styling brushes, use them to create that new look.  It actually could be as simple as changing the part that you wear on the left side of your head to the right side of your head.  Or, perhaps you always wear your hair straight.   Take your curling iron or your hot rollers out and curl away.  And, if you have curls, there are these hair styling tools called hair straighteners (lol) that you can use to straighten away.  What about wearing hair styling accessories such as beautiful barrettes?  Lastly, if your hair is long and you always wear it down, why not pin it up?

While these are not monumental ideas, it doesn’t always take money to make a change.  Just look in your bathroom or dressing area and see what is already there that you can use to make that simple change to your current hairstyle.  You  just might receive some unsolicited compliments and it certainly will bring a smile to that face of yours.

Have you ever thought about where the comb came from?  Who invented it and when?  After a little research I found that historians report that combs have been around for at least the last 5000 years.  Plenty of time to improve on such a vital hair styling tool, wouldn’t  you say?  Combs were actually carved out of wood and bone.  Pretty resourceful!!  Ivory and tortoise shell were also used.  Another interesting fact is that in some cultures, combs were worn in the hair to display a certain social status. 

Well back to the 21st century.  As we all know, the majority of combs are made out of plastic.  There are still some wooden combs around and then there are high-end combs that can be made of gold, platinum or steel.  There are styling combs, decorative combs, detangling combs, and even flea combs.  Let’s not go there.

As we all know, there are hundreds of different type combs in the marketplace and each type has its function.  Depending on what you are looking for, there are usually several brands and variations to each type comb.  While combs are very important hair styling tools, the decorative comb has become very popular over the years in creating sophisticated and chic updos.  In fact, decorative combs can be found in many arts and crafts faires as artisans have become very creative in designing unique and one-of-a-kind hair combs.  The comb has truly become a member of the hair styling accessories club.

Whatever type comb you use, the most important thing to remember is to keep it clean.  As we all know, hair product can build up on the comb as well as any dirt, dust, dandruff and other particles attach to the product on the comb and need to be removed to keep your hair healthy and clean.

While many of us are always concerned with keeping our clothes up to date and wearing the latest fashions, it appears that hair styling appliances are now making a fashion statement.

It isn’t just the technology anymore that calls our attention to new items in the marketplace.  If an item appears sleeker, shinier, or even more colorful, the consumer is attracted to it like bees are to honey.  This isn’t a bad thing.  In fact, it makes sense.  Change is good and why not take advantage of the fact that many of us like to try something different.

So, what is out there in the hair appliance world that will catch the eye of the fashion conscious?  Le Angelique hair straighteners have a wonderful assortment of animal prints, camouflage, and even a tattoo print for those who like a little style while their styling their hair.  While Le Angelique offers the traditional black flat iron, they also have pink, lavendar, fuchsia, a zebra print, a tiger print, a gold leopard print, a white leopard print, and a red leopard print.

For those who don’t know anything about the Le Angelique hair straighteners, you really should check them out.  They offer a 3/4″ turbo styler which has tourmaline plates.  This iron is also dual voltage and can be taken internationally as long as you buy the adaptor for it.  The 1 inch professional model comes with advanced ceramic heat technology.  This tool also straightens, flips, and curls.  The extra added bonus to purchasing a Le Angelique straightening iron is that they offer a lifetime warranty.  Both flat irons are extremely affordable and available online.

It has always appeared that when you see someone wearing a ponytail, it is someone who has longer hair.  Well, don’t fret because there are ways to pull short hair into a ponytail aka “deertail” due to the shortness of the tail.  You can also create a ponytail style using the currently popular hair extensions.

If you can pull your hair back and secure it with an elastic band, you will instantly have a ponytail.  The problem with short hair, however, is that you may have a lot of strands that just aren’t long enough to pull back into the band and that is what needs to be dealt with.  Thank goodness for the multitude of haircare products available in the marketplace.  The two items that are needed the most are bobbie pins or barrettes, and some firm holding mousse or gel.   However, if you want to leave out the short side hairs of your haircut and only pull back the back of your hair into the tail as shown in the picture above, this too works and actually looks pretty good.

After you have washed and towel dried your hair, the mousse or gel is applied.  You will probably want to apply more to the sides of your hair before you actually blow dry your hair.  This extra added product will enable you to tame the sides of your hair more as it is pulled back into the tail.   You can also use stylish bobbie pins or barrettes on both sides of your head to help hold down the loose hairs.

As for the rest of the style, it is an open book of choices.  You may want some of the side hairs that grow in front of your ears to hang down to add a little volume closest to your face.  If the strands are not too short, you can use a very small barrel curling iron to create a curl that can be spread apart with your fingers after curling so that you don’t have that ringlet look. 

To finish off the style, you will definitely want to use a strong holding hairspray and/or shine spray to give it the hold that is needed as well as that polished shiny look.

For those of you who don’t want to have the “deertail” type ponytail, but have short hair, why not try a hair extension or synthetic add-on ponytail?  Most hair extensions are easy to use and usually just clip right on to your existing hair.  You will want to make sure that you use a color that is compatible with yours or has the look that you want to achieve. 

When using a hair extension or add-on, it is best that you start out with clean hair.  Select the spot that you want to secure the extension and make sure that you have enough of your own hair to pull over the extension so that the appearance is seamless.  You may want to also use some type of jeweled pin or barrette to help camouflage where your hair and the extension merge.  Once the styling is complete, apply a light hairspray and you are ready to go.