Hair Styling Tools

For those of you who have got to that point in your life where you just don’t want to spend as much time on your hair as you used to, have you ever considered using a hot air brush?  While this won’t necessarily fit the bill for all, there are many of us who as we have gotten older, have continued to shorten our hair and opted for easier  hairstyles.

If you don’t have a ton of hair, and don’t need 1875 watts of power, hot air brushes just might be the answer for you. Using a hot air brush can eliminate the need for use of a round brush and a blow dryer if these are the two tools you are used to using when styling or straightening your hair and blow-drying.  Since the hot air brush is blowing air out from its core  through the bristles of this electric brush, you are essentially able to style and dry at the same time and are using only tool rather than two.  This can be ideal for those women who have arthritic issues and/or issues with holding anything up in the air for any extended period of time.  The hot air brush is lightweight and easy to maneuver.  While not every hot air brush in the marketplace comes with all of the following features, each has their own distinct features and depending on how much you want to spend and what features work best on your particular hair type, this will determine which one you may want to consider.

HOT AIR BRUSH FEATURES:

Barrel sizes that range from 3/4″ to 1 1/2″  (full bodied curls to full curls, waves, and body)

Ceramic, Titanium,  and Aluminum Thermal barrels (seals hair cuticle and eliminates frizz, even heat distribution and corrosion resistant to styling products, and holds heat for faster drying),

Ionic dryer (for stay moist hair cuticles resulting in less brittle hair and quicker drying times)

Tangle-free (easy release features whether it be retractable bristles or a rotating vented barrel)

High/Low or Adjustable heat settings

Range in wattage from 250 watts to a 1000 watts

Two different bristle types (nylon as with most round styling brushes or plastic/rubber with ball-tipped bristles)

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Most manufacturers of hot air brushes are continually updating and improving their features.  Hot Tools just recently came out with the CeramicTi® 1 1/4″ hot air brush.  This model has many of the bells and whistles people are looking for.  This particular brush has retractable bristles  for easy one step drying and styling.  The CeramicTi ® element produces far-infrared heat to seal the hair cuticle and eliminates frizz. Hair is soft, radiant and shiny.  The titanium element provides even heat distribution and durability and is corrosion resistant to styling products. It also has an ionic on/off switch to enable you to use the ionic heating capability.  It has ball-tipped bristles that gently grip the hair.  This hot air brush retails for approximately $35.00.

Brazilian Blowouts have actually been available for close to a year or more now and yet they appear to be a treatment that will not be going away any time soon.  More and more hair stylists are becoming certified to perform this process, whether it be the brand name Brazilian Blowout, or another keratin type process that has been designed to do the same or similar type thing.  As you probably already know, these treatments are not cheap and can range anywhere from $150 to $400+, depending on the area, where you go to get the process, and what kind of special deals might be going on at the time.

If the desired goal of a Brazilian Blowout is to relax super-curly hair, add more shine, make wavy/frizzy hair straight but with a natural look to it, allow you to air-dry hair leaving it looking like a flat wave, and decreasing the amount of time it takes to blow dry and leaving your hair silky-smooth….THEN what do you do and use to hopefully extend the life of this keratin process.

It’s all about the haircare products that are used on your hair after you have had the keratin treatment and when to use them.  If your stylist has performed the brand name Brazilian Blowout keratin treatment on your hair there are no time limit restrictions as to when you can wash your hair.  However, most if not all other brands require that you wait a minimum of 24 hours and in some cases up to 96 hours before you wash your hair.  This is because these other processes need the additional time to settle into your hair and ensure that the process is complete and  successful.  No matter which brand of keratin treatment you have had, it is strongly recommended that you use a shampoo and conditioner that is free of sulfates and sodium chloride.  If you don’t, you will definitely strip your hair of the treatment that you not only spent a great deal of money on, but lose out on the time you invested in getting the process done.

There are several sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners in the marketplace, but not all are sodium-chloride free.  I’ve done my research and my vote is for Potions International (PI) Super Moist Shampoo and Super Moist Conditioner.  They are sulfate-free, sodium-chloride-free, paraben-free and are not only great for keratin processing aftercare but for regular use as well.  PI offers an extensive line of haircare products to include a super serum, a fantastic conditioning cream reconstructor made with pure carrot oil called Power Construct. and a whole host of other varieties of shampoos and conditioners.  All Potions International products are made in the USA!!

So many climates, especially for those of us who live in the midwest, south and east coast regions have to deal with the humid months of the year and its affect on not only our skin but especially with our hair.

What about droopy soggy bangs?  Did you know that dry shampoo can be your newest friend?  For a temporary fix, spritz your bangs with a small amount of dry shampoo and you will see an instant fix.  Or, if you are not opposed to wearing a headband, the really wide headbands will easily hid your limp layers.  For a chic look be sure to push the headband back approximately and inch from your hairline.

What about puffy hair caused by humidity?  Definitely using haircare products that are specifically designed to resist humidity and frizz are initial considerations in dealing with these hair conditions.   Whether it be a serum, shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, or even the hairspray that you use, may all contribute to either solving the problem or add to the problem.  That is why it is extremely important to see what the product is designed to do.  While humidity can be around for several months out of the year, changing your regiment during this timeframe  may be something you will be doing on a routine basis.

An important thing to remember, however, is that humidity can actually be quite healthy for your hair.  The extra moisture that humidity provides is actually hydrating your hair and giving it extra curls for those who already have curly  hair as well as some extra bounce.  A layered style may also be a consideration for the curly head of hair as it will accentuate the curls.

Another option is the now very popular keratin hair straightening treatments for professionally straightened hair.  This process will also dramatically cut back on the frizz and puffiness that humidity can cause.

If wearing your hair longer during humid months appeals to you, the extra weight will help contibute to keeping your hair from puffing out.

Obviously, the most common practice nowadays is to use a flat iron on your hair to achieve the optimum results.  Of course, using a straightening iron could potentially be damaging to your hair if you do not use it properly and also if you are not using one that has been manufactured with all of the new modern technology that has been designed to provide the least amount of damage to your hair.

If you don’t already have a flat iron, or are in the market to replace one, make absolutely sure that the plates are 100% ceramic.  One of the most important reasons for this is that the ceramic technology allows for a more even heat distribution across the plate so that when you are gliding the plates through your hair you are not getting hot spots in certain areas, thus resulting in damage to overheating of those strands of hair.  In your search for flat irons if you can also find a ceramic plate that has been infused with tourmaline, the quality of the flat iron is even better.  The reason for this is that tourmaline is a crystal that when ground into a fine powder, and then infused onto the plates of a flat iron, will also product negative ions that ultimately results in shinier and smoother hair.

So now that you have the proper hair straightener I recommend that you follow what I call my ”Be Smart” straightening guidelines.

1)  Straighten your hair only when it is completely dry, unless you are using a specific “wet to dry” hair straightener.

2)  Unless you are African American or have thick, course hair, you should not have to use a temperature setting of more than 400 degrees.  If the flat iron has fixed heat settings they generally have been calibrated for normal-to-thick hair.  Therefore, if your hair is fine or damaged, or even chemically treated, try to resist the higher temperatures.

3)  Do not straighten your hair more than 2-3 times per week.

4)  Be kind to your hair by using haircare products that contain moisturizing ingredients not only in the shampoo but in the conditioner as well.

5)  Use a heat protectant spray or creme on your hair prior to straightening.

6)  If your hair is already straight or wavy, you need only pass the iron once through each section of your hair.  Move the iron slowly down the section of hair and don’t use the iron as if you were trying to iron a garment.  If your hair is thick, course, or curly, the hair can withstand a second pass through.

Yes, the warm days of summer have already hit some of us and for others it is just around the corner.  So that you are not looking back after summer is gone and asking yourself what went wrong, start thinking about what is needed to keep your hair healthy and protect it from the sun and other elements.

For all hair types the summer is the best time to try to cut back on the use of all hair styling appliances if at all possible.  I know some of you are saying that you absolutely have to blow dry your hair or you won’t get the volume you need or the style without using your styling brushes and hair dryers.  Believe me, I understand this.  However, many of us who are in the workforce don’t work 24/7 and there are days that you can compromise.  I have thin fine hair and rather than wash and condition my hair daily, I wear regular off-the-shelf  hair rollers on those inbetween days and my hair works out great.  Yes, I wear the hair rollers to bed.  If your hair is either extremely short or if you have longer hair, allow for extra time in the morning and let your hair air dry.  To get that extra volume that you might need if you let your hair air dry, try skipping conditioner more often during the summer or only apply it to your ends.  Also try using a clarifying shampoo at least once a week as this will rid your hair of all of the haircare products that you have been using and that have been building up in your hair.  These tend to weight your hair down.

Hair must stay hydrated.  Obviously, thirsty strands of hair are going to absorb water from the air.  To do this avoid over washing your hair.  If you can get by shampooing only once a week, do so.  On other days, condition only.  However, if you tend to have frizzy hair or live in a more humid climate where tendancies for frizzy hair run rampant, don’t forget to always  apply your frizz-controlling products while your hair is still damp.

Traveling light is the name of the game and also having the right hair dryer along with you is equally as important.  Most of the time when you are staying in a hotel, hair dryers are provided but they usually don’t have the bells and whistles that we are all looking for.

If you know anything about hair styling tools the name Hot Tools comes up over and over again.  Hot Tools, a division of the Helen of Troy company, has a multitude of hair styling tools to accomodate almost every type of styling that you are interested in.  So, it goes without saying, if you are traveling, then Hot Tools hair dryers are something you should definitely consider.

One of the most popular Hot Tools hair dryers is still the Anti-Static Ionic Travel Hair Dryer.  It seems to have been around forever and yet still is going strong.  This lightweight dryer has 1875 watts of power, which is typically more than you will ever get with the hotel dryer.  The fact that it has ionic features is a definite plus because not only will it dry your hair fast but the negative ions that the dryer emits helps to reduce the size of the water droplets on your hair.  This process allows more water to be absored which in turn helps condition, soften, and make your hair shinier while adding volume.  What more could you ask for? 

There is more.  This dryer folds up and fits conveniently in your luggage.  A real space saver.  And, this dryer can be found for roughly $30 – $35 online and in some cases less.  Lastly, if you are traveling internationally, this also has dual voltage so all you need to do is buy an adapter plug that is suited for the country you are visiting.  What’s stopping you from buying it for your next trip, and the trip after that…..Happy traveling and with the peace of mind that your hair will not be neglected.

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.

For those of you who already use a flat iron, did you know that there are ones that you can use while your hair is wet or damp?  With all of the modern technology that keeps infusing itself into hair appliances, why not?

After doing some further research, there are several wet to dry flat irons in the marketplace and basically the feedback is that by using a wet to dry flat iron you are avoiding prolonged heat exposure and friction from first drying your hair and then straightening it.   Thus, applying high heat to your hair only once does minimize the heat damage.  This actually makes some sense.

So exactly how does this type of straightener work?   The flat iron is manufactured with excess moisture extracting channels and holes that squeeze out unwanted moisture.   In particular, Turbo Ion’s Croc Titanium Wet to Dry Flat Iron features a patent pending, built-in turbo ion generator which emits 5 million negative ions per square centimeter.   The Croc’s titanium coated plates provide superior distribution of heat along with a negative ion boost.  Choosing from their 1″ or 1 1/2″ plate models provides you with the option that best suits your particular head of hair.

As previously mentioned, steam vents that are built into the plates allow moisture to escape safely from your wet hair while styling.  This in addition to the fact that a built-in turbo ion generator that generates six times more negative ions than regular irons, seals the cuticles of your hair to prevent split ends, reduce frizz, and retain your hair’s natural moisture, oil, and color, is a no brainer.

To think that the entire process of  washing your hair, towel drying, and then going right to straightening your hair  and your done, will actually save a  huge amount of time for those of us who have long and thick hair.  It is definitely something that should be checked out by those of you who need that extra time in the morning or whenever it is that you do your hair.

If you are in the market for a new hair dryer and are ready to spend a little more to not only keep your hair healthy, but are in need of a hairdryer that will dry your hair quickly, you should definitely consider looking at the Turbo Ion Croc Dryers.

Turbo Ion, the manufacturer of the extremely popular Croc flat iron, has created two dryers that are top of the line.  Each have their own unique features and are not only great for the professional stylist but for at home use as well.

When talking with people about their hair dryers, many are always complaining that their dryer just doesn’t do the job.  Comments such as “my dryer takes forever to dry my hair,” or “my dryer completely dries my hair out,” are statements I hear over and over again.    Let’s face it, most of us are always in a hurry, and we do care about how our hair looks.  Shiny, healthy looking hair is what everyone wants and it starts with using a quality hair dryer.

So, why an ionic hairdryer?  Ionic hair dryers emit millions of charged ions in the airflow that comes out of your dryer and land on your individual hair strands.  The ions break down the water droplets while enabling each hair strand to more easily absorb any remaining moisture.  This results in your hair looking like it has more body and volume while at the same time keeping the hair well hydrated.  You will not find this in your conventional non-ionic dryers.

The ionic process is actually reducing the amount of time it takes to dry your hair and thus reducing any damage from the heat from the hairdryer.  Ultimately, you will see a remarkable reduction in split ends, no frizz, and a healthy looking head of hair.

Check out the two CROC hairdryers below and see if one of these will satisfy your requirements.

The CROC Designer Dryer

• 100% ceramic balls and an ionic generator strategically built into the dryer  results in maximum ionic benefits.  The ceramic balls filter the air containing carbondioxide to a combination of pure oxygen and negative ions that help to purify and repair the hair.
• This dryer has been built with a double housing structure, which makes it the most durable well constructed dryer in the marketplace.  As a result of the dual housing, the heat is also not transferred to the handle and outer body shell of the dryer.  This enables the dryer to provide ultra hot temperatures for lightening quick finishes, while the body of the dryer remains cool to the touch.
• A specially designed channeled end cap and blade help to reduce noise and produce better air flow.
• Easy to handle lightweight, ergonomic design.
• 1875 Watts and available in Red or Black
• Made in Korea

The CROC  TID 2500 Dryer

• This ultra powerful dryer reaches wattage up to 2500 watts.
• Super quiet dryer at 65 decibels.
• This dryer too has been built using an ergonomic design that prevents stress on the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.
• The compact size of this dryer also makes it easy to handle along with the anti-sliding heat dispersing stripes for improved handling.
• The switches on this dryer are copper-beryllium for intense use and prevention of accidental switching.
• The nozzle on the dryer is fast cooling and the cool shot button is soft and easily accessible.
• Made in Italy

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.