Hair Styling Tools

After graduating from high school, I was at a loss as to what career path to pursue. Once I had worked the grill at McDonald’s for a few months, I knew that I needed to get some sort of education. That is when I decided to go to beauty school.

Although I took classes on many aspects of beauty and cosmetics, I developed an affinity for hair and styling. In November, I graduated from my training and immediately started looking for a new job. Luckily there was a salon hiring nearby, and after a series of interviews, I landed the job. The best part was that the company gave me a brand new set of styling combs, clippers and brushes when I started.

During my college years, I decided to grow out my hair like many young males. And also like many young males, I neglected my haircare and didn’t utilize the proper products. After a few years, my hair had transformed into an unmanageable mane.

In order to get my tresses under control, I sought out ways of improving the quality of my hair. The first, and most obvious, step was to begin using a conditioner on a regular basis. This made my hair softer and more controllable, eliminating the knots and allowing me to achieve something other than the “bed head” look.

Reading through the all of the popular fashion and women’s magazines I am constantly finding articles written that describe certain hairstyles that are achieved by using different attachments on the hairdryer.  I began to wonder if there were actually very many hair dryers for sale that actually came with the necessary attachments or if they would have to be bought separately.

I narrowed down my research to professional hairdryers and salon style hairdryers as these are typically the most durable and have the most variety of features that I know will help keep my hair healthy.  What I found is that most hair dryers in the $40.00 or more range come with concentrators.  A select few hairdryers in the higher price ranges come with both a concentrator and a diffuser.  That is not to say that all higher price dryers come with diffusers.  I actually found a few lower priced hairdryers that come with a diffuser.  Hot Tools is one of these brands.  One brand that I came across that comes with a diffuser and concentrator is the h2pro brand.  I actually ended up testing one out and was very pleasantly surprised at how powerful and lightweight this blow dryer is. 

The h2pro hairdryer comes in an 1800, 1900, and 2000 watt model.   I especially liked the 1900 watt model for several reasons.  The dryer is actually called The Nano Ultra Light 1900.  This model weighls 25% less than the other models weighing in at 12.65 ounces.  The compact design allows for easy carrying and storage.  One of the features of the dryer is the ceramic tourmaline which helps to seal in moisture while reducing drying time by 50%. There is also a cool shot button to set styles and a turbo button for a little extra boost.   While this dryer is over the $100 price range, I feel it is well worth the money when you take into consideration the features, especially when diffusers are not a cheap attachment.

I am one of those people who try to achieve a passable appearance without spending excessive time and money. With most people, a vast proportion of their cosmetic time and budget goes into their haircare. For men, there is a quick and easy alternative to typical haircuts that save an immense amount of time and money.

A few years ago I bought a hair trimmer and began to cut my own hair about once a week; I also decided to leave my beard the same length of my hair. Now I no longer have to go to the salon, and I spend just 15 minutes a week on my hair. Most mornings all I have to do is rollout of bed and I am good to go.

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.

Bobby pins, what are those?  Or, are they just calling them hair pins these days?  Does anyone actually still use a bobby pin/hair pin?  Well, if you are interested in what current hair stylists and designers are using these days, then yes, the bobby pin still has a function.  And, there is actually a hair pin that looks different from a bobby pin.  Instead of the pin closing together at the end, the hair pin is actually spread apart.

So, how do you incorporate bobby pins and hair pins into an updo style? 

1)  Towel dry your hair and make sure to apply some type of shine serum.

2)  Blow dry your hair.

3)  Pull your hair back as if you were going to put it into a ponytail but instead of putting a hairband around the tail start twisting your hair around into a cinnamon bun affect.

4)  While holding the hair against the back of your head, start using hair pins to make sure the bun holds.  Any stray hairs can be secured with the bobby pins.

Of course the old ponytail method of securing your hair into the tail and then the fun begins.  Why not divide the tail into two separate tails and twist each tail on either side of the back of your head.  You can even leave some of the hair hanging out and use a curling iron to give the end that slinky look.  AND what do you use to hold in place each pony tail to the back of your head?  You got it, hair pins and bobby pins.   Who would have thought that the simplest of the old fashioned hair styling accessories would still be in use today?

Now is the time of year when many of us are traveling to visit relatives or friends for the holidays, or some of us are just traveling to get away from the inclimate weather found in certain parts of the country this time of year.  For many of us this means that we need to take our flat iron or curling iron with us so we have that all-important hair styling tool to make sure we start out our day on the right foot. 

Since hair styling tools can sometimes be looked at as an investment, based on the fact that many of us are spending more for our tools due to the new technology, why are we not taking better care of them?  Rather than just throwing the hair straighteners or curling irons in our luggage and going, why don’t we put them in something to protect them?  The Hotty Hoody Cool Sleeve is just the product that will solve this dilemma.  Not only will this product protect our flat irons and curling irons, you can even put them in the sleeve while they are hot.    The sleeve can also serve as a holder for your tools wherever you store them in your home.  Whether you leave your styling tools out on the bathroom counter, or put them away in the drawer, you can now use the Hotty Hoody Cool Sleeve  for this purpose.

The Hotty Hoody Cool Sleeve  is made of a specially designed safety silicone that fits over the hot portion of any curling iron, flat iron, crimper, waver, spiral iron, hot brushes and combs to prevent burns.   The sleeve fits nearly every standard size hair appliance and withstands temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This hot styling tools holder also protects equipment from being damaged when dropped.   With what we spend nowadays on our hair styling tools, we need to take good care of them as they can literally be categorized as an investment.

To use the Hotty Hoody you simply insert the styling tool into the sleeve and the electrical cord wraps around the outside of the sleeve and clips to keep it small and neat.  It couldn’t be easier and faster to store and protect.  You won’t have to worry anymore about burning your countertops or have to wait for them to cool down before safely transporting them  as soon as you are finished using them.  This hair tools transporter is great for travelers, after workouts, or anyone on the go!  You can find the Hotty Hoody online and in many of the salons or beauty supply stores that sell hair styling accessories.

To answer the question, “Why are professional hairdryers better?”, one needs to ask the question, “do I want my hair to look like a million bucks or do I want it to look like $9.99?”  Obviously, this is a drastic difference but hopefully you get my point.

When the uninformed consumer starts shopping for hairdryers, typically they start looking by price.  Secondary to that are features.  This makes sense, however, what the consumer forgets to take into consideration is the long term goal.  Do they want to have to replace their hairdryer periodically, or do they want something that is going to last hopefully for several years?  Putting the pricing issue first, many consumers shy away because they just don’t want to spend more than $20.00 or $30.00.  Well, did you know that there are some professional hairdryers   out there in this price range?

Historically, professional hairdryers were created for hair styling experts.  Let’s face it, they are doing hair for a living and need all the help they can get in the hair styling appliance arena.  But, as consumers, we too can take advantage of these professional hair styling tools and should not have to think twice about it.

Let’s talk about what’s important in factoring in whether or not you should buy a professional hairdryer:

HEAT

The heating process of any blow dryer is very important when it comes to the health of your hair.  The traditional dryers or less expensive dryers are made with plastic or metal heating elements.  The affect this has on  your hair is that these elements burn with uncontrollable heat.  After prolonged use your hair will get brittle and break off.   Professional dryers typically are made with ceramic, ionic, and/or tourmaline features. (See Below)  

FEATURES

Probably one of the key features of a professional hair dryer is that it has a durable, strong motor that will last twice as long, if not longer, than the traditional hairdryer. 

EMF: 

An EMF is the electromagnetic field that is produced by the hairdryer.  For environmentalists the lower the EMF the better.  The traditional dryers still produce EMF levels that could be considered potentially dangerous while most of the professional dryers are now manufactured with extremely low EMF levels.  The lower the EMF level, the safer it is for you and our environment.

Ceramic: 

Ceramic technology generates infrared heat, which gently dries your hair from the inside out. Ceramic blow dryers also heat evenly and do not get too hot for the hair. It uses radiant heat which penetrates the individual strand instead of drying the outside of the hair first. Additionally one of the benefits of ceramic is the fact that your hair will dry up to seventy percent faster.

Ionic: 

Ionic technology in a hairdryer means that the tool is releasing negative ions onto wet hair.  The negative ions break apart the water molecules, which make them smaller and more easily absorbed by the hair or dried through evaporation.  This process helps keep the hair shiny and moisturized and also helps reduce hair frizz. The result is shinier and sleeker looking hair.

Tourmaline:

A plus factor for ceramics is that they can be infused with other elements like tourmaline crystals.  The tourmaline nano particles generate far-infrared energy when heated.  This penetrating form of heat passes through the hair cuticle, going directly to the cortex of the hair to dry it first.  The cuticle is not over-dried and resists brittleness and cracking.  This helps hair to maintain its shine and softness.  Tourmaline hairdryers also helps cleanse hair of odors and impurities.

Settings:

Bottom line on this feature is the more settings you have the better it is for you.  It is all about options/choices because we don’t all use our hairdryers just to dry our hair.  And, we all have different types of hair that need to be taken into consideration.  So, if you have fine, thin hair and your hair starts to dry before you even turn on the dryer, you can use a lower setting.  If you have thick, long hair, you obviously are going to want to use the max heat setting on the dryer.  Many of the professional dryers come with a separate Cold Shot button which is used to help set the style.  If you have completely dried one section of the hair with your styling brush, you can then press the cold shot button and it will lock in the style.  

WATTAGE:

Most consumers think that the higher the wattage of a dryer, the faster your hair will dry.  While this is a true statement, it is still important to take a look at what type hair you are going to be styling or drying.  The higher end wattage dryers (1875 and above) are basically designed for people who have thick, course, and longer hair.  For fine, thin, and short hair that is not necessarily thick, a lower wattage dryer from 1300 watts up to 1875 would be appropriate.   

WEIGHT:

While it makes sense for the professional hair stylist who is blowing out hair all day long to have a lighter weight dryer, there are those of us at home stylists who also prefer the lighter weight models.  The nice thing about professional dryers is that there are many in the marketplace that are lightweight and have all of the features that we are looking for.  Additionally, the lighter weight dryers provide much more flexibility for the user in terms of being able to easily maneuver the dryer in the styling process. 

ATTACHMENTS:

The attachments that accompany a professional hair dryer typically include a concentrator.  This is used to focus in on specific areas of your hair while drying with a styling brush.  They are great to have because it gives you better control over your hair and restricts the dryer from blowing hair that you are not yet ready to style.  Another attachment that comes with some of the professional dryers is the diffuser.  A diffuser is great to have as it helps in creating more volume and waves.  If you have curly hair it is almost a neccessity to have a diffuser if you are blow drying your hair.  The diffuser helps with the volume but also provides more control over the hair and keeps the curls intact with less frizz.  Some dryers even come with an additional bonus attachment, which is the styling pik.  This attachment lifts, shapes, and smooths curly hair while drying.

In summary, take a look at all of the options that a professional hairdryer has to offer.  Check out prices and you will find that they will be all over the board.  However, there is one that will catch your eye that you will be able to afford and inevitably once you have used a professional dryer that will be all you will want to use going forward.

Who would have thought that there would be a hairdryer invented  that simply by pushing a button you would automatically set the heat at the right temperature based on the type of hair you have?  Well, now there is one.  The Belson Gold ‘N Hot  Elite Smart Heat™  Professional Ionic Dryer does exactly what I’ve described.

This latest innovative technology that has been applied to this professional hairdryer  lets you select from five different buttons that identify five different hair types.  If you have coarse, medium, thin, very fine, or even if you need to dry a synthetic or natural hair extension, this dryer will meet your needs.  The dryer is lightweight and its perfectly balanced body style makes it extremely easy to handle and use.  Additionally, as an extra added bonus, the dryer comes with a hair concentrator, diffuser, and double pik!!

The ionic technology used by Smart Heat ™ is designed to maintain the body, moisture and luster of each hair type without overdrying or overstyling.  It is a win-win on this professional hairdryer and Belson Gold ‘N Hot didn’t stop there.  You can also find their Smart Heat™ technology in four different sizes of curling irons and a one inch flat iron.  Way to go Belson Gold ‘n Hot!!!

If you are like most of us who need to add some height or extra oomph to their hair, back combing or teasing our hair is definitely an option.  I know I have always used combs to accomplish this and never really thought about styling brushes.  However,  I was just recently introduced to a brush by my hairdresser that worked so well on teasing my hair that I decided I needed to write about it.

For those of you who haven’t already seen this brush, it is called Spornette’s Little Wonder Brush.  This little brush is approximately 9 inches in length, but more importantly, the tail handle measures approximately 4 1/2 inches, which is just ideal for picking up hair sections.   The bristles on this brush are both tourmaline enhanced nylon bristles with adjacent rows of boar bristles.  The combination of these bristles easily pick up the section of hair that needs to be teased.  The density of the bristles lend itself to making this task a simple one.  All you have to do is hold up the section that you have selected to be teased.  Take the brush and starting several inches from the scalp brush against the hair in a downward motion toward the scalp.  You will see that you are instantly creating small tangles, which is what creates the volume and holds the hair in place.  Be careful as you do not want to make the tangles so tight that the hair ends up breaking off because you had to use force in brushing or combing it out.  Once you have teased the hair to your satisfaction, you can then smooth over the areas of hair that will cover the teasing,  apply some hair spray and you are done.

Spornette’s Little Wonder Brush comes in three different bristle colors.  You have your choice of blue, pink, and yellow.  It is a fun little brush that packs a big punch.  It will fit very easily in a purse and can be taken with you anywhere.  It is also a  very affordable brush so you just might want to buy a couple to have on hand or be able to tote around with you.