Hair Styling Tools

When you are shopping for a hair dryer, you will see that most include a hair concentrator attachment, and in some cases there are two.  If you haven’t bought one in a long time, you may not be familiar with the purpose of this attachment. And,  in many cases, you got one with the dryer you bought but you weren’t exactly sure how to use it or what the heck to do with it so you threw it in a drawer.

There really is a purpose for this odd-shaped hair dryer attachment.  The concentrator was designed to focus the air coming out of the nozzle of the dryer to a specific section of your hair.  When you think about it, if you don’t have a concentrator attached to the dryer, the dryer has a tendancy to blow your hair all over the place , especially if you aren’t using a brush and focusing the nozzle in one area. While some stylists claim that the purpose of the concentrator is to aid in the straightening of your hair, generally speaking this is true because the concentrator does aid in drying specific sections of your  while blow drying with a brush.  Depending on the size of the brush, that section of hair will either be straight or  curl in the direction that you have the hair wrapped around the brush.

If you haven’t already noticed, concentrators come in different shapes and sizes.  One of the biggest differences is how wide the slit at the end of the concentrator is.  Obviously the wider the slit allows for more air flow and the thinner the slit is the air flow is more restricted.  Something to keep in mind when using the concentrator is to make sure you have the nozzle of the dryer far enough way to avoid burning your scalp yet close enough to dry the particular section of hair.  Also, don’t keep the heat blowing on one section too long.  If you need to move the nozzle to another area and then return to the one you were working on, this is safer in the long run.

Most of the time I’m in a hurry in the morning and since I wash my hair every other day, I need to be able to dry my hair quickly to make up for lost time.   There are several things to consider to get speedy results and one of them is using ionic hair dryers.  Another consideration is using the right styling hair care products.  

When using an ionic hair dryer, the ionic technology is such that it evaporates the water quickly from your hair.  That coupled with several spritzes of a volumizing spray on fine hair, a dab of flexible-hold gel on curly hair, and a few spritzes of heat-protecting spray on thick hair, and you will see a considerable time savings.  According to hairstylist River Lloyd of the Serge Normant at John Frieda salon in New York City, “the experts don’t even pick up a brush until they’ve removed 95% of hair’s moisture with the dryer.  This allows you to get through the back sections quickly and focus on the pieces that frame your face.” 

Here are some steps as identified in Allure Magazine as to how to achieve a fast blowout:

1)  Towel dry your hair and then apply the right styling product based on whether your hair is fine, curly, or thick.  Remove the nozzel of your ionic hairdryer and set it on the high heat setting and at medium speed.  Lift your hair as you aim the dryer at your roots.  Then, rake your fingers from your roots to  your ends, following each motion with the dryer.  Sweep your hair from side to side until it’s mostly dry and the ends of your hair and the pieces around your face are damp.

2)  Two inches back from your hairline, make a horizontal part and clip up the front.  You are now going to reattach the dryer nozzle and set it on high speed and heat to dry the sides and back of your hair.  Using a round brush, pull three-inch wide sections out to the side and then wrap the ends around the brush while securing with your thumb.  Run the blow dryer up and down the section (with the nozzle pointed down).

3.  Now unclip the front layers.  Start at your forehead and position the brush under the hair and pull each section straight up.  Roll your hair back to the scalp with the brush and hold for a few seconds and then unroll.  You are going to repeat this process until the top section is dry.  After you have finished, blast your hair with a cool shot or use cool setting to dry any damp spots.  As a last finishing touch, smooth your hair with some serum or a spritz of hair spray if your hair is fine.

If you don’t own an ionic hair dryer, now is the time to consider purchasing one or adding it to your wish list for the holidays.  There are some tremendous deals online now with the holidays rapidly approaching.

There are hair dryers that have 600 watts, 1300 watts, 1600 watts, 1875 watts, 1900 watts, and 2000 watts.   And there may be others, but who is counting?  The more important question is how much wattage does one actually need to dry their hair.  And, does it make a difference as to how much or how little hair you have?

Wattage in hair dryers is actually referring to the amount of power that is being output.  Consequently, an 1875 watt blow dryer is less powerful than a 2000 watt dryer, a 1600 watt dryer is less than an 1875 watt dryer, etc.  Knowing this, then the question is what works best on any particular type of hair or amount of hair?

FINE, THIN, DAMAGED, or FRAGILE  CURLY HAIR: If your hair type falls under any one of these descriptions then a hair dryer with 1200 to 1500 watts is all that you really need.  You might also want to consider towel blotting your hair to remove any excess moisture and then when drying to use the slowest and coolest setting to prevent further damage.

MEDIUM STRAIGHT or TEXTURED HAIR: If you have either  of these types of hair and it is neither fine nor damaged, you can dry your hair with any wattage range depending on the speed that you are using or the desired style.

THICK or WAVY HAIR: Or, if your hair takes a long time to dry, a minimum of 1875 watts should be used.

Two additional considerations to keep in mind when shopping for a hair dryer is how many heat settings and how many speeds the dryer has.  At a minimum you want a dryer that has at least two heat settings.  If your hair is fine, thin, damaged, or fragile curly, you will benefit from cool or cold settings as these will prevent further heat damage and if you have fine hair, the cool air will plump up any limp strands.  If you has thick strands you should use the full heat settings.  The hot air blowing out of a dryer helps to create a style and the cold air locks the style in.  That is why so many hairdryers come with cold or cool shot buttons so that you have the option to easily press that button once you are ready to lock in a particular section of hair that you are styling with your hair brush while drying.  When it comes to the number of speeds you want in a dryer, you want at least two speeds.  The two speeds will consist of high and low.  If your hair is fine, thin, damaged or fragile, your hair will benefit from the slower speeds.  If your hair is thick or takes longer to dry, the speed needs to be medium to high.

Always take precautions when blow drying your hair.  You don’t want to over-blow your hair which ultimately means that if you are trying to style your hair and you are using the higher wattage along with the higher heat and faster speed, you risk not being able to properly set the style you are working on.  Additionally you are running the risk of overheating your hair.  So to take a couple extra precautionary measures, remember to keep the dryer moving around your hair and don’t hold the dryer extremely close to your hair. Lastly, always use  protective haircare products that you apply to your hair before drying.

Photo used above is courtesy of:  http://www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-photo-girl-blowing-dry-her-hair-rimagefree8108175-resi2740994

Alright it’s time to rethink exactly what you are not doing for yourself in the way of working towards having a healthy head of hair.  If you are like me, you probably can reflect back on the days when it was all about finding the best bargain on a hair dryer and if it meant buying a $10.00 one from Walmart or Target, then that is exactly what we did.  And, unfortunately, many of you who are reading this post, may still be using that heavy, monstrosity, train sounding dryer on your hair.  Even worse, that hair dryer probably doesn’t have any of the new ceramic or ionic technologies that reduce the amount of time it takes to dry your hair and thus, protect your hair from overheat abuse.

Seriously speaking, aren’t you worth spending a little extra money on yourself to help with the betterment of the appearance of your hair?  It goes even further than that.  Why should you have to hold a heavyweight hairdryer in your hand every time you wash your hair and need to blow it dry?  It’s 2010 for heaven sake, and it is all about health issues which include less wear and tear on your body.  Just think you can be drying your hair with a dryer that actually weighs less than one pound and have it take less time, and most importantly, does not dry out your hair.

So I hope I have your attention because there are hairdryers out there that can be bought in the $20.00 to $30.00 range (yes, you are going to have to pay more than $10.00) that blow your archaic dryer (no pun intended) right out of the bathroom.  The brand of dryer I’m referring to is Hot Tools hair dryers.  These dryers range in price from $19.99 up to $100.00 for combination packages that include a flat iron.  Hot Tools hair dryers are known for their Direct ION TECHNOLOGY® , which is an active ion generating system that is in each ionic hairdryer.  This component artificially generates millions of negative ions.  These ions reduce drying time up to 40% and help reduce static, seal the cuticle, and make the hair shiny and soft.  What more could you want from a dryer?

Helen of Troy is a well established manufacturer of professional hair styling tools.  They are widely recognized for their Salon Edition, Connoisseur, Gallery Series and Hot Tools Brands.  They also command a strong and growing position with its consumer products that they sell under the license Vidal Sassoon and Revlon Brand names.

So, if you are looking for travel hair dryers and want something lightweight and inexpensive, you should really consider Helen of Troy Hair Dryers.  They are of a professional grade, and yet they have a lower price point than many others in the marketplace.

In particular, there are two hairdryers that would work great whether you are traveling domestically or internationally.  First there is the Helen of Troy ultra lightweight Mini Tote Travel dryer.  It is 1600 watts and has 2 Speed / Heat Settings.  The added bonus is that it fits into the dual voltage hair dryers category which means all you need is the proper adapter plug for the foreign country you are visiting. 

Now if you are looking for something that has a few more bells and whistles, Helen of Troy has a dual voltage Turbo hairdryer that also has 1600 watts but instead of just 2 heat settings it has 4.  This dryer also has a cool shot button, an airflow concentrator, and a removable lint filter.  It is also more a mid-size dryer.

Both of these dryers price at less than $25.00, which is a real bargain in today’s economy.

If you are in the market for a quality hair dryer, then why not try one of the many that BaByliss has to offer.  They are all of professional grade and with the many features each one has, you will be sure to be able to find one that suits your needs. 

BaByliss hair dryers have a variety of types, sizes, and all are affordable based on what specific features you are looking for.  Whether it be the BaByliss Ionic Hooded Stand Up Dryer for at home stylists, or the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Ionic Dryer, each will provide you with the ionic feature that emits negative ions that eliminate frizz and close the cuticle to create smooth shiny hair.    The Nano Titanium feature yields maximum far-infrared heat, which penetrates the hair from within for faster drying with less damage. Nano Titanium is also an exceptional conductor of heat and maintains stability in ultra-high temperatures.

If you are going to be traveling, BaByliss also has just reintroduced the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Compact Dryer.  This mini blow dryer is lightweight and compact.  Although this dryer only has 1000 watts, it is an extremely powerful hair dryer and comes with a cool shot button to lock in the style and has 2 heat and speed settings.  Many users with short or fine hair have commented that they don’t need any more of a powerful dryer than this as they use it as their everyday at home dryer in addition to taking it traveling. 

BaByliss is a company that stands behind their products and one of the ways they demonstrate this is by offering more than one year on most of their hair styling tools, which includes curling irons, hair straighteners and even hot rollers.  An example of this is the Company dryer mentioned above comes with a limited 50 month warranty.  This is quite a selling point and I’m sure you will agree that they are definitely worth checking out.

Denman brushes are now used, enjoyed and endorsed by hairdressers in more than 60 countries worldwide.  Did you know that the first Denman hair brush was actually designed and patented in 1938 by Jack Denman Dean?  So, as you can see they’ve been around for many many years and are still going strong.  They are popularly known as the “hairdressers’ hairbrush”.

The Denman brush was initially marketed as an easy-to-clean rubber cushion hairbrush.  In spite of a wealth of new innovative designs, the seven-row D3 remains the cornerstone brush. 

Denman has a variety of styles of brushes to include Classic Styling, Classic Noir, Deluxe Styling, Fragranced Styling (yes they even have hair brushes that smell good), Gentle Styling and Massage, Freeflow Volumizing, Freeflow Vent, Thermoceramic Hot Curl, Thermoceramic Bristle Radial, Thermoceramic Straightener, Head Huggers, Squargonomics, Curling, Paddle, Grooming, and Dress-Out.  How many types again?  Yes, count them, 16 different types of brushes.  That is a lot of creative thinking.

The Freeflow Volumizing brush is a favorite of many who are looking for a styling brush to create volume and movement in their hair for a softer, fuller look.  The widely-spaced smooth nylon pins are set into a half-round rubber pad.

Another very popular Denman styling brush is the Classic Styling brush.   This particular brush comes in five different sizes:

• Pocket (D14) – 5 rows of bristles, ideal for purse, pocket, or gym bag, for styling shorter hair types
• Small (D143) – 5 rows of bristles with an extended handle length (7.5″), for styling shorter hair types
• Medium (D3) – 7 rows of bristles, perfect for styling medium to long hair
• Large (D4) – 9 rows of bristles, perfect for styling long hair
• Deluxe (D5) – 9 rows of bristles with a heavyweight handle to help control the most unruly, long hair

The Denman collection has been endorsed by the world’s foremost hair designers for more than half a century. During this time the brand has developed an unrivaled reputation for exceptional standards of quality, performance and durability. Denman uses the finest materials and components in the evolution of a portfolio of professional products each of which guarantees outstanding results in the demanding environment of the professional salon or at home.  Be sure to check out the rest of their collection and you will be glad you did.

Are you tired of the appliance that you probably use more than any other, ringing loudly in your ears every time you use it?  Let’s face it, the loud sound that permeates the air as we blow dry our hair can really be annoying let alone the fact that the noise can actually be polluting the air.

There is an answer out there and it is the Silence HP hairdryer.  This amazingly quiet hair dryer that is made right here in the United States, is energy efficient and uses less than 650 watts of energy (less than half the wattage used by conventional dryer).  It provides 1650 watts of power and even is made of recycled plastic.  There are two heat settings and a cool shot button.  This dryer comes in two models, the Graphite and the Ionic which features natural energy tourmaline. 

So, if you are looking for a quieter professional hairdryer, why not check out the Silence HP hair dryers and GO GREEN!

If you have been in the marketplace looking for a new styling brush, I’ve stumbled upon one that absolutely works great!!  Oddly enough, these hair brushes have an hourglass shape.  One might wonder how this particular design can actually do the job, but let me tell you that it works.  And, naturally, this particular brush is a Spornette hairbrush and  is called the “Provo”.

The contour of the bristle pattern actually “centers” your hair to securely gather the section of hair you are blow drying.  The tourmaline enhanced boar bristles are excellent for gripping the hair and also minimizes any breakage and splitting of the ends.  The foam gripped contoured core of this brush results in a very lightweight brush and makes it very easy to hold and handle.

To maximize use of this brush you do not need to wind the brush around your hair while drying.  Just take a section that fits comfortable within the bristling area and pull slowly using a professional hair dryer at an angle.   For brushing your hair out, there is no twist involved,  just brush straight through.

AND, if you are a professional hair stylist, I have heard that many salons are now raving that this Provo brush works wonders when doing the Brazilian Blowout or Keratin complex treatments.  Leave it to Spornette to design something that is multi-functional, good quality, and affordable.

It’s no secret that hair dryers can wreak havoc on your hair, but sometimes you simply have to get your hair dry quickly and a hair dryer is your only option. Personally, I let my hair dry naturally whenever I get the change, but on occasion, I do have to pull out the hair dryer. Here are a few tips to ensure your locks beat the heat:

~Always read the instruction manual to ensure you are being safe when using your hair dryer.

~Towel your hair off first to reduce the amount of time you use the dryer.

~Start on a low setting and only increase the heat if you need to.

~Dry from the roots to the ends and use a soft brush when you are combing out your hair.