Hair Styling Tools

If you are in the market for professional hair dryers or flat irons, one of the top selling companies that offers their products at affordable prices is BaByliss.

The BaByliss company now in partnership with Conair,  has several lines of hair styling tools that offer a multitude of options for all of us to select from.  The tools include hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, specialty irons and hairsetters (hot rollers).  The product lines include BaByliss®PRO, BaBylissPRO TT® Tourmaline Series, Ceramic Tools™, GT Gold Titanium™, Nano Titanium™, and Porcelain Ceramic™.

BaByliss product lines have something unique to offer in each of their product categories and are reasonably priced.  You can buy BaByliss hair dryers for under $40.00.  In particular, the BaByliss Pro Ceramix Hair Dryer that falls in this price range gets reviews such as “Once you use this there is no way you would ever want one of the discount store ones.  With the Babyliss there is no frizzy or dried out hair”.  Their professional curling irons start at under $35.00 and flat irons (straightening irons) from under $25.00.  BaByliss’ hairsetters can be bought for under $25.00.  Naturally, these are the low end prices and each category of styling tools have ranges that are obviously higher depending on how many bells and whistles you want on your tool.  However, given the quality and also that many of their tools come with a 4 year warranty, you are not overpaying for these excellent hair styling tools.

So let me give you a brief rundown on each of the product lines:

The BaByliss®PRO line offers a complete line of appliances and salon essentials that are the most technologically advanced products on the market. Ionic hair dryers and hairsetters with ceramic cores keep the at home user and salons running at top speed.  Customer Review: A comment recently made on the web regarding this product stated, “Babyliss Pro works on all hair types and straightens even the thickest curly hair quickly.  It is an excellent product, all my friends love it as well, it’s big so it does more hair quicker and leaves my hair smooth.  It can get quite hot so use caution when using”.

BaBylissPRO TT® fuses pure tourmaline and ceramic technologies to promote smooth, shiny hair and eliminate frizz. Tourmaline produces far-infrared heat that delivers faster styling times and releases natural ions to combat static and frizz. Combined with ceramic technology that ensures maximum heat efficiency, these two innovations unite to deliver unprecedented styling performance in a beautifully styled tool. Customer Review: This PRO TT hairdryer is amazing, it takes me 10 minutes to do my hair now! All I have to do is toss my head upside down, or, if I make two sections, I don’t even have to use my flat iron, and my hair is spirally curly. I don’t use it on its highest setting either because it gets incredibly hot. I’ve also noticed that my hair is healthier and shinier and I never want to be without it”.

Ceramic Tools™ style with uncommon ease and commanding efficiency because it utilizes the advantages of ceramic technology. Barrels and plates heat evenly and quickly, while natural ions reduce static for frizz-free styling. Far-infrared heat allows faster styling time and reduces the stress on hair. Wrap up smooth, sexy curls or slide through the hair from root to tip for pin-straight styles.

These high-tech GT Gold Titanium™ tools offer quick, smart solutions to challenging hair. Combining 24k gold with high-performance titanium technology, this line provides bold, healthy styling possibilities for thick, brittle, coarse, and chemically treated hair. Both gold and titanium deliver superior heat conductivity while sustaining even temperatures. And titanium has the strength of steel but only 60% of the weight, creating the ideal lightweight styling tool.  One of the more interesting hair styling tools under this line is the specialty iron that is the GT Root Straight Iron/Comb.  This iron straightens the roots from the scalp while adding body and lift.  It is great for use on very curly, frizzy hair, and African-American hair.  Another newer product in this line is the GT mini crimper.  With a 5/8″ plate this crimper is excellent for travel and fits conveniently in your purse.

The Nano Titanium™ line fuses advanced technology, elite design, and powerful performance to create a truly groundbreaking set of products. Utilizing nano technology and harnessing the high-heat conductivity of titanium, the dryers dry hair quicker and the irons straighten faster, with longer-lasting results.  The temperature controls are well positioned and have a heat indicator that enables you to view the temperature setting before proceeding with styling your hair and adjust it during its use as needed.  Sleek, soft metallic-toned Ryton® housings withstand ultra-high temperatures, and the well-balanced, ergonomic design ensures sustained comfort while styling.  A comment made on one of the many other blogs on the internet somewhat tells you just exactly how the nano titanium products work:  ”Being a Woman of Color, the flat iron is my best friend and enemy. A frenemie if you will. I love love LOVE the results of a flat iron and could use it every single day. And herein lies the problem; flat irons essential tool/weapon is its heat factor. And we all know we aren’t supposed to use heat on our hair daily no matter who you are or what your hair type is. That is why it is so important to find a flat iron that is so good you don’t need to use it every day. And that’s where the BaByliss Pro Titanium comes in”.

Porcelain Ceramic™ is the innovative breakthrough fusing porcelain ceramic performance with ionic technology  that creates a set of tools equipped with unlimited styling advantages. Commercial-grade porcelain ceramic within the heating surfaces of the irons and dryers enhances heat distribution and optimizes far-infrared heat and ion production. This delivers extraordinary benefits to your clients’ hair, leaving it silky, shiny and healthy. Customer Review:  My normal curling iron is the Conair Instant Heat, which I LOVE but I have to say using the Babyliss Pro Porcelain Ceramic curling iron — my hair does feel a LOT softer and I have less frizz Yes, I would buy babyliss again, I’m waiting for my order of the 3/4″ & 1 ” curling iron to arrive

Obviously, if you are not already a customer of BaByliss products, I would definitely suggest that the next time you need a hair styling tool, check them out.

Marcel curling irons are not typically what the at-home user doing their own hair is accustomed to using to curl their hair. As pictured on the right, most of us are working with a spring curling iron. This is the type curling iron that has a spring loaded mechanism that requires the styler to constantly apply pressure on the handle with their thumb so that the hair stays curled around the barrel

Marcel curling irons actually come in a couple of different varieties.  There is the  type that has a lever that comes with a locking and unlocking device that holds the hair around the barrel.  So, instead of having to hold on to the lever as when using the spring curling iron, you are rotating the lever to open the iron.  You then insert the section of hair for curling and then rotating the lever again the close the iron.  This is not an easy task to do on your own hair, especially if you are an at-home user and not a professional stylist.  This type of marcel curling iron was initially designed for professional hair stylists to use and you still see many old-school stylists using them when styling hair.  Apparently, they give the stylist more flexibility and gives them the opportunity to be more creative.  In my mind the professional stylists should have exclusivity to using this type of curling iron.

The second type of marcel curling iron is the type that is not plugged in because the heat is generated from a specially designed stove that the iron is heated in.  The irons actually come in round versions and flat versions for either straightening or curling hair.  This particular type of marcel iron is more favorably used on African American hair as these irons get extremely hot and work best on very course and thick hair.  Due to the ability for them to get so hot it is important  to test the heat on a stove before applying to the hair.  You can also spritz some water on the iron and if it bubbles up it is usually ok to use.  Typically, straightening black hair with a marcel iron is faster than ceramic irons.  This is in part due to the heavier weight of the iron and oven used for heating.  These irons are used by gripping the section of hair that is to be either straightened or curled between the barrels of the irons.  There is no clamp to this device and it only takes squeezing the barrels together with the handles for it to work.   It is always advised that the right haircare products are used with these irons for ease in styling as well as for protection of the hair.  This type of marcel styling iron is also designed for use by professional stylists.

So many of us are out looking for jobs and because there just aren’t as many jobs available as there are people seeking them, it is understandable that we want to look our best.  Not only does that include what we wear, but also our appearance.  Appearance includes our hair.  So you ask, “what could be so important in how someone wears their hair?”

Oddly enough, hairstyles can reflect an image.  And, sometimes a first impression can be a lasting impression and send signals to someone that may be totally not indicative of who we really are.  Thus, depending on what image you are trying to portray, you just may want to consider some of the following information.

Kerestase celebrity colorist and stylist Ashley Javier says, “Straight hair reflects more shine than curly hair, feels more groomed, and can be slimming.  In the workplace, women with straight hair are often perceived as being more serious than those with curls.”  However, it is important to keep in mind that when using flat irons, one might come across as “too hard” says Della Grazia. “Curly haired women are thought to be carefree and approachable.”  Della goes on to say “while those that have sleek strands might convey steadfast efficiency, women with curly hair are seen as risk takers—people who are prepared to go out on a limb for the company.”

Wheneven one has curly hair, it is always best to keep it under control.  Don’t let the curls overwhelm your appearance and what you have to offer.  If the position you are seeking is of the office type, the more well groomed you look, including your hair, the better chance you may have for that second interview.  However, no matter how the prospective employer may look upon your hairstyle, the most important thing to remember is that the hairstyle that you feel the most comfortable and confident in, is ultimately the one that truly reflects who you are and what reveals your true personality.

Are you looking for some new ways to style shoulder length hair, or perhaps some easy ways to freshen up a hairdo or shorten the time spent?   If the answer is yes, then the following ideas may be of some help or give you some additional options to how you are styling your hair.

TOOLS AND HAIRCARE PRODUCTS NEEDED:

Medium to large size barrel curling irons ( 1 to 1/2 inch barrel)

Vent Brush

Styling Brushes (2 to 3 inch barrel)

Beachy or Enzyme Rich Spray

Shine Serum

Aerosol Hair Spray

Small to Large Claw Clip

The first style gives you those free flowing waves that give you a more natural look.  All you need to do is wash and blow dry your hair straight as usual till it is about 95% dry.  Whether you have bangs or not, take the hairs that frame the sides of your face and wrap the ends around your styling brush as you continue to dry your hair so that you get a definite wave at the bottom of these sections of hair.  Once your hair is completely dry, and you find that the ends are not waving as much as you would like,  take the large barrel curling iron and curl under for a very short period of time so that the curl/wave is swooping down into that free wave look you are going for.

What if your hair is naturally curly and you are going out for the evening but don’t have the time to go to a lot of trouble?  Spritz your hair with some beachy  or enzyme rich spray.  Next take the front sides of your hair on both sides and rake them back with your fingers so that you can create some lift to your hair and fasten loosely with a claw clip at the back of your head.

How about layered hair that you want to give some focus to and have the layers stand out?   Taking your freshly washed hair, coat the layers that are closest to your face and coat them with shine serum.   Now dry these coated sections with your hairdryer so that they fall  naturally.  Take a vent brush and dab more shine serum on it to brush through the remainder of your hair and let it air dry.   Finally, toss your head over and spray with hair spray and then toss your head back into the upright position and you are done.  This is great for the summer while the air temperatures are warmer and hair has the ability to dry a little faster when wet.

Are you interested in having a hairstyle that looks like you have waves of ringlets all over your head?  Well if the answer is yes, then the spiral curling iron is just the right hair styling tool for you.  Before you decide to do something like this, know that this is not a fast process and that like anything else, the more you practice the easier it becomes.  In my mind, it is well worth the time spent because the end result is really nice.  In fact, this is a great look for school formals, proms, wedding parties, etc. if you have medium to longer length hair.  You can also put your hair up with these spiral curls.

Hot Tools curling irons has just recently introduced the Blue Ice Titanium Spiral Iron which is a great addition to their popular line of curling iron appliances products.  What is nice about this particular spiral iron is the titanium qualities.  The titanium surface allows for maximum heat distribution and snag-free styling.  The spiral iron itself in its unalloyed condition weighs 45% less than other metals but is just as strong. Other nice features of this new iron is that it has an extra long cool tip as well as an extra long thumb grip for easier handling.  This particular iron is selling for about $45.00

Using a spiral iron is relatively easy, but as I mentioned previously, it just takes time.  The best way to get the results you want is to start with a clean head of hair.  After shampooing and conditioning, it is best to use a gel on your hair before you blow dry it so that when you start curling the curls will hold better. 

The first thing you are going to do is to take some hair clips and clip up the majority of your hair on the top and sides leaving the underneath layers of hair free.  These are the sections you are going to curl first. 

Taking the spiral iron and placing it so that it is parallel to your head you will take one-inch sections of hair and wrap your hair around the barrel toward the scalp keeping the iron parallel to your head.  The amount of time you need to leave your hair wrapped around the barrel will vary depending on your hair type.  Usually a curl will take anywhere from 15-30 seconds depending on how much hair you have put around the iron.  Once you have held it for the appropriate amount of time (you will determine this after the first couple of curls), release the hair from the iron.  Continue curling the underneath sections and then move to the next sections of hair until you have completed curling the sections you want curled.

Do not comb or brush through the curls as they will come out.  You may want to run your fingers through your hair to apply some finger styling and then lightly spray your hair with whatever finishing spray or hair spray that you like to use.  Do not go overboard with the spray or it will weigh down your style.

If you are looking for that free flowing and what appears to look like almost a natural wave actually takes very little time at all.  However, to be successful means using the right haircare products on your hair.  Using a smoothing shampoo and conditioner and applying them to every strand of your hair, will definitely reduce the amount of time it takes to dry your hair.  That is, of course, if you are also using an ionic hair dryer.

To achieve this flowing natural wavy look, the first step is to apply a dime-size amount of your favorite styling cream to your hair.  You will want to start a few inches below the roots so that you will be able to maintain volume at the crown of your head.  Blow-dry your hair using your fingers instead of a brush.  Next take a curling iron that is 1 1/2″ in diameter and only curl the upper layer of your hair.   If you don’t want to use a curling iron and you have some hot rollers, roll the upper layer of your hair with these and while they are cooling you can be applying your makeup or whatever else you have left to do to get ready.

After the curlers have cooled off, or you have completed curling the sections of hair with the curling iron, run your fingers through the curls.  Lean over and shake your head allowing the hair to flow freely.  Once you have raised your head you may want to run your fingers through your hair again for some final touches.  If you don’t mind that loose free-flowing style then don’t apply any hairspray, otherwise lightly mist your hair with just enough to hold the waves if your hair is so heavy that any curl or wave you have created would simply fall out.

Now you are ready to enjoy that free-spirited style while maintaining a fairly healthy approach to styling.

Spring has sprung and it won’t be long before Summer.  Many of us who take our vacations during this time of year have our trips already planned or are in the process of planning them now.   As you go through your checklist of necessary items to take, make sure that if you are traveling outside the United States or Canada and you use a curling iron, it is important that the curling iron have dual voltage capabilities.

Believe it or not, there are many that travel out of the country and take their curling irons with them only to find out that the plug doesn’t work in the outlet when they go to use it.  There are also those that do know that the outlets require a different adapter plug and bring the right adapter plug along but when they plug in their curling iron it still shorts out, and in some cases shorts out the entire electrical system where they are staying.  So, in order to avoid ruining your curling iron or causing what could be a major inconvenience electrically speaking, it is best that you purchase a dual voltage curling iron for your trip.  

In the United States and Canada,  and perhaps a few other countries, the voltage used is 110 volt/60 hertz electricity.  The rest of the world, including Europe, runs on a 220 volt/50 hertz electrical system.  If your curling iron does not state anywhere that it can accomodate up to 220 volts of electricity, then your curling iron is not considered dual voltage.  You can usually find this information in the informational packet that comes with the curling iron or on an informational panel that is on the body of the curling iron. 

Dual voltage curling irons are curling irons that have been designed to accomodate two different voltage requirements.  On some curling irons you might find a switch that is designed to regulate which voltage to use.  Most dual voltage curling irons that are now designed to be used universally have been built to accomodate up to the 220 voltage.  Therefore, there is no switch to use and the only thing that you need is the right adapter plug for the country you are visiting. 

Most dual voltage curling irons found in the marketplace are no different than the curling irons you are accustomed to using here in the United States.  Some ceramic curling irons are available with the dual voltage feature and can be found in a variety of sizes.  A decent dual voltage curling iron should cost you no more than $30.00 to $35.00 online.

First of all, what is titanium?   Titanium (, ) is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22.  Sometimes called the “space age metal”, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant (including sea water, aqua regia and chlorine) transition metal with a silver color.

Ok, now that we have established what titanium is, why makes titanium curling irons so great?  For starters, due to its low density, the weight of the curling iron is much less.  This is a great thing for those of us who have issues with our hands and/or wrists.  Secondly, the fact that titanium is corrosion-resistant we don’t have to worry about the surface of the barrel of the curling iron rusting or going bad on us.   Additionally, titanium helps to produce high heat for a firmer curl formation.  And isn’t that the reason we use a curling iron anyway?  We  definitely need for our curls to form and stay in place. 

Another fantastic quality of a titanium curling iron is that it allows for maximum heat distribution and snag-free styling due to the hard, yet smooth surface.  The strength and durability that the titanium element adds to the curling iron makes it one of the best curling irons in the marketplace.  So, if you are in the market for a new curling iron, try a titanium curling iron and I’m confident you will be pleased.

Did you know that steam hairsetters are still around?  The last time I remember using a steam hairsetter was, well come to think of it I don’t really want to tell you how long ago that was.  Believe it or not, steam hairsetters or steam hot rollers,  as some of us still call them,  are prevalent in the marketplace.   Steam hair rollers have actually been deemed to be better for certain hairstyles than the electric rollers that don’t have the steam element.

For those of  you who are not familiar with the steam hairsetters, they are used in the identical manner as the non-steam hairsetters, with the only difference being that you add cold water to a pre-determined fill line on the tank of the hairsetter unit.  You then plug the unit in and wait for it to heat up.  After about 30 seconds or so, the steam starts to form and this is when you place the rollers on the spindles and wait for the steam to penetrate the roller.  This usually takes only about 10 to 15 seconds.  Once the curlers have absorbed the steam you proceed to roll up your hair using the clips that come with the particular unit.  Leave the curlers in your hair for approximately ten minutes and then remove.  You will probably have to experiment some to see exactly how long it takes to form the curl that you want based on the thickness and texture of your hair.  Once the curlers have been removed let your hair cool before styling.

One of the benefits of using today’s steam hair rollers is that ionic technology has been introduced to this hair styling tool.  What this means for you is that the rollers are infused with the maximum number of ions to create strong, long-lasting curls.  This process helps condition, soften, and make your hair look shinier, while adding volume and reducing frizz.  Today’s steam curlers also help with holding the style longer as well as working better for people that have difficult to curl hair.  The gentle steam allows the rollers to be used over and over without damaging the hair.   As with most hairsetters, whether they are steam or not, the curler sizes vary by the unit size and most come in travel size units as well.

As the only guy in a house with three female roommates, I’ve had to adapt to a feminine-dominated living atmosphere. In most areas of the home, it isn’t a big deal, but when it comes to the bathroom, we have had more than our share of disputes. Like most men, I have a propensity to leave the toilet seat up, and we all know the reputation that women have when it comes to getting ready.

I always have to wait at least forty-five minutes until the bathroom is unoccupied, and once I finally get in, it typically looks like a tornado just went through. Long hair is strewn about the sink, and countless brushes, combs, makeup sets and ceramic curling irons litter the counter. While the bathroom is certainly a cause of aggravation for me, the girls atone by cooking me dinner several times a week.