Hair Styling Tools

Time always seems to be something that most of us don’t have enough of.  It seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything and that includes styling our hair.  The following are just a few tips on some shortcuts that I have uncovered and wanted to pass along.  Allure magazine frequently provides some very helpful tips for the hair styling industry.  Their August 2010 issue featured “13 Hairstyling Shortcuts” and these are some of the tips that I have found to be very helpful and relevant using haircare products and hair tools that you already have and use on a regular basis.

REVITALIZING BOUNCE BACK INTO YOUR HAIR

Your hairstyle has lost its bounce because your hair has fallen and lacks pizazz.   If your hair is at least neck length or longer, all it takes is two simple steps to get that lightness and buoyancy back to your hair.  First plug in your large barrel curling iron.  Flip your head over and spray your hair with a light-hold hair spray.  Flip your head back to the upright position and taking a large section of hair (it should only take six to ten sections of your hair to do) and wrap the section around the curling iron barrel.  Hold for 10 to 15 seconds or slightly longer if curl isn’t taking.  Once you have curled each section, run your fingers through the hair and shake it.  If you want extra fluffiness, you will need to brush out the curls after they have cooled.

FIGHTING FRIZZ FAST (After Washing Hair)

One of the most effective ways to quickly get rid of frizz is to use a blow dryer.  When your hair is not quite dry, take  skinny sections of the outer layers of your hair and wrap each one around a large round hair brush. Using the high heat option, blow-dry with the concentrator attachment.  If your hair is still somewhat frizzy, take a dime-size amount of hair serum (I use Potions International Super Serum) and rub it between your palms.  Next run your palms over the outer layer of your hair and if necessary follow with a flat iron.

FIXING WACKED OUT BANGS

Bangs have a way of sometimes doing their own thing.  To get them back to looking like bangs and not wingdings, wet them at the roots.  Pull on the bangs with your fingers as you are drying them with your hair dryer.  Hair stylist Orlando Pita tugs the bangs from left to right and then right to left.  For those of us who have cowlicks or other areas that create a problem, Mr. Pita says “make sure the roots are dried first in the direction you want the bangs to end up.  Then continue to dry the ends with a small round brush.”  Remember to point the dryer down so as to avoid creating a dorky looking curl.

How long has it been since you tried a curling iron on your hair?  If your anything like me, it’s been forever and a day for actually a lot of reasons.  One, I’ve been wearing my hear shorter for quite some time now, and secondly, I was still shying away from using them as I remember the good old days when I just didn’t want to take the time to use one except for special occasions.  Maybe, there was a third reason and that had to do with the fact that because my hair is on the fine side, I didn’t want to do anything additional that would harm my hair by making it drier than it already was and then breaking off at the ends.

Curling irons have come a long way in the past several years and now with the ability to get hair extensions for those who have short hair, and then for those of us who still worry about damaging our hair, the new technology used in curling irons have created more of a desire to use them.  Not only has curling hair with curling irons become more popular, I see women buying them in multiple sizes for a variety of hair styles they want to try out.   Obviously all of the entertainment shows on television and beauty magazines and blogs alike, are sharing all of the latest hairstyles so that we can decide what we want our hair to look like the next time we go for our salon visit or the next time we want to style our hair.

Most curling irons are now available in sizes from as small as 3/8″ all the way up to a 2″ barrel.  The smaller the barrel the tighter the curl and the larger the barrel the more body or wave will be your end result.  One of the latest features introduced in curling irons is the titanium barrel.  What I like about this one is that when I have demonstrated the titanium barrel curling iron I have found that the surface of the barrel is very smooth and it eliminates any snagging of the hair.   I also noticed that the curl takes faster.  Another great feature is that titanium is a very lightweight metal and the curling iron is extremely lightweight and so much easier to handle.

At a minimum, if you are shopping for a new curling iron, make sure you look at ceramic curling irons.  They cost a little more than the aluminum barrel ones but if you are going to use this more than once a week, the few extra dollars will be definitely worth it in preserving healthy hair.  Most all of the major brands now offer ceramic curling irons and try to get a professional model rather than your run of the mill discount ones at the local drug store or whatever discount store you shop at.

In addition to your traditional curling irons, there are so many different types out now that you can find one for almost any style you want.  Whether it be a spiral, ribbon, coil, triple barrel waver, or even the new curling wands, there is something for everybody.

If you are wanting to know what works better, hot rollers or curling irons, there are a couple of key questions that need to be asked.  Is time an issue and are you styling your entire head of hair or just a section?   

When time is an issue, the fact that both the curling iron and hot rollers take time to heat up, the curling iron generally wins out.  However, if you are looking to curl your entire head or just a section, forget the curling iron and stick with the hot rollers.  Another thing to consider is that once you have your hair set in the hot rollers, you can do other things that are necessary to get ready, whereas with the curling iron you are 100% occupied.

If you are going for a style that requires spiral curls, tight curls, or you just want to curl the ends of your hair, then put a plus in the curling iron column.

If you need to perform your style away from home, the curling iron is easier to transport, however, many hot rollers are coming in convenient travel sets that still take up more space than the curling iron, but do travel well.

If you want a lasting curl and are not overly concerned about really tight curls, the hot rollers tend to be your best bet.

When it boils down to what is better, there is no easy answer.  As with so many things there are so many contingencies to consider and of course, everyone’s hair is slightly different from another.  What might work best for one may not work at all for another.  My suggestion is to definitely give hot rollers and curling irons a test drive before you make your decision as to what is going to work best the next time you have that all important style that needs to be created for that very important event.

I guess it was just a matter of time before aerodynamics entered the hair styling tools arena.  It’s the 21st century so why not?

So just exactly how does aerodynamics fit in with a straightening iron?  To answer that, let’s think about what aeorodynamics really means. Aerodynamics involves both the motion of the object and the reaction of the air.  The best way to explain this is to picture a modern day airplane without its wings.  If you can visualize this then you now know what shape the new Le Angelique Caretin Flat Iron looks like. So what does the appearance of the flat iron have to do with anything?

The round body of the Caretin flat iron helps to achieve beautiful curls.  A straightener that creates beautiful curls? Obviously this is one straightener that fits into the multi-functional category.  The Caretin’s unique form is a one of a kind rarity, allowing for multi-dimensional styles. This aerodynamically modeled straightener allows for obtaining angles of use that one can only obtain using this iron as well as the fact that you can get closer to your scalp with the curved ends.  This is not your traditional flat iron. The smooth rounded body also helps glide through your hair evenly, without pulling or tearing your hair.

Did I mention this flat iron has titanium plates?  The modern Mirror Titanium Plates generate Nano negative ions, which work to seal in the hairs natural moisture leaving hair silky and frizz free.  This hair straightener also comes with a regulated heat dial to help you achieve your own personal temperature, ranging from 170-420°F in only seconds. The 360° swivel cord moves with you and keeps the cord from tangling.  All that’s left now is for you to check this one out the next time you are shopping for a flat iron.  You can’t find a better deal on a unique hair styling tool that offers you more than one option in styling your hair.  This straightener is what sets Le Angelique flat irons miles apart from many of the other professional manufacturers.

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.