Hair Styling Tools

So you have created a wavy look and the last thing you want it to do is fall out while you are still getting ready to go.   So what do you do?  Take sections of your hair and twist them up using a clip or bobby pin.  Lightly mist with some hair spray. Go ahead and put your makeup on and get dressed.  Then take the pins out letting the sections fall.  Lightly rake your fingers through the waves and your set.

Keeping your wavy hairstyle in tact for the next day can sometimes be a challenge.  Many hairstylists will recommend that if you sleep on a satin pillowcase, this will help to keep your hair from getting frizzy, matted, and /or tangled.  Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase can more easily rough up your hair due to the coarser texture of the cotton.

Sometimes haircare products can make all the difference in creating that lasting wavy style.  If your hair tends to be somewhat curly already and you are looking for a more relaxed wavy look, spritz on a leave-in conditioner throughout your hair to prevent any damage or breakage.  Take two inch sections of your hair and wrap them with hot rollers back away from your face.  This will help to create volume.  Spritz on a setting spray and wait approximately five to ten minutes. Undo the rollers and apply the tiniest amount of shine serum through your hair to soften the curls into bouncy waves.

If you are looking for a durable, professional grade, quality hair dryer, then the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Portofino 6600 is the one for you.  This dryer has so many features and extras it is hard to believe it doesn’t cost more.  This versatile dryer can be used on almost all hair types from fine, thin hair, and normal to thick and coarse hair.  And, by taking advantage of the 6 heat/speed settings you will certainly be able to find just  the right setting combination for your particular type of hair.  You can also expect this dryer to be in your possession for a long time to come since it is made in Italy using a powerful long-life Italian AC Motor.

Since hair stylists are blow drying a variety of hair types throughout the day, you can understand why so many stylists enjoy the use of this 2000 watt hairdryer.  High intense air pressure in combination with a high outlet temperature delivers optimum results quickly.  So, if you have long or thick hair, you are not going to be standing there drying your hair for an extended period of time.  With the combined effects of the built-in ionic generator and the nano titanium technology, your hair will feel soft and conditioned and you will enjoy the added shine.

What I really like about this fabulous BaByliss hair dryer is the fact that it is lightweight, it feels balanced, and it has an ergonomic handle.  It comes with a diffuser attachment and three, yes three ultra-thin concentrator nozzles for complete sectional drying of the hair.  And yes, there is more.  You will find a cool shot button to lock in your style, a 9 foot cord,  and a removable stainless steel filter for ease in cleaning,  Most BaByliss hair dryers come with extended warranties and this is no exception with a limited 4 year warranty.  What more could you ask for?  IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK.

AVAILABLE IN BOTH BLACK AND BLUE

Did you know that in your 4o’s and 50′s your hair starts to feel coarse and lose some of its shine?  As with most anything these days, there are products that will take care of this and we are so very fortunate that this is the case.  It’s hard enough to face the aging process as it is, but with a little help here and there it just seems to make the transition easier.

As for haircare products to handle that lackluster looking hair, I definitely would recommend two products.  The first is Potions International Power Construct.  This moisture rich creamy conditioner has some amazing natural ingredients that result in exceptional looking hair.  Pure Carrot oil, purified essential oils from the Mango and Olive butter, along with other vitamins and marine extracts all work together to recondition the skin of the scalp, hair and body through oxygenation and stimulation.  And, the icing on the cake is that the beta keratin oil ingredients strengthen any weak hair.  When used on a weekly basis, you will start seeing results in no time.

So what can you use on a daily basis?  Once again, Potions International is the answer.  They have a super product that coincidentally is called Super Serum.  Suffice it to say that this product blows other serums and oils right out of the water.  Not only does it control frizz but it repairs your hair, provides heat protection, creates shine, has UV protection, and is alcohol and paraben free.  This product is enriched with organic Argan oil and simply penetrates and absorbs almost instantly into the hair.  This does not leave your hair feeling greasy and has a wonderful fresh scent.  As with all of Potions International products, they are made in the USA.

If you already own a boar bristle hair brush, then you know that most of them are made with wooden backing and handles.  And, if you understand the purpose of using boar hair brushes, you will understand that it is important that the cleaning of this type of brush is somewhat different than the cleaning you would do on a regular nylon bristle brush.

When using a boar hair brush, the bristles naturally latch on to sebum, which is that oily substance that is produced by your scalp.  Sebum can clump near the roots of your hair and clog the pores.  This results in giving your hair that greasy, dirty, unwashed look.  As you brush through your hair with a boar bristle brush, you are actually spreading the sebum that has collected at the roots of your hair down the length of your hair .  What this does is coat and protect your hair.  In time, sebum becomes your natural hair conditioner and helps to make your hair shine and stay moisturized.  So, what does this have to do with the cleaning or caring for a boar bristle hair brush?

The key to caring for your boar bristle hair brush is that you really don’t want to get it wet.  You will read articles online that say to use a mild detergent or shampoo and to let it air dry.  If you want your boar bristle brush to last, I strongly suggest that you don’t do this.  Think of your boar bristle brush as you would a fine piece of clothing that has to be “dry-cleaned”.  After all, boar bristle brushes generally cost more than nylon bristle brushes and I look at the purchase of one as a small investment to keeping healthy looking, shiny, hair.  All you really need to do is to purchase a brush cleaner that is made for removing hair from the bristles of your brush and one that has what I call the “mini dust broom”  on the alternate end of the brush cleaner.  In fact, Denman brushes makes just the type I am describing and have pictured here in this article.  The mini dust broom on the brush cleaner is designed to brush out the lint and dust that collects in between the bristles.  If you use this brush cleaner on your boar bristle brush on either a daily or every other day basis, you will be keeping the brush clean enough for continued use.

For many young women in today’s world, they have never experienced a life of getting up and getting ready for work or school and not had the luxury of being able to straighten their hair before they step foot out their door.  Straightening irons can probably be found in almost 75% of the households where a female resides.  And, let’s not forget the males.  There are many men who use flat irons to help with their hair styling needs as well.

There are obviously many benefits to owning a hair straightener.  Probably the most important one for those who want straight hair is the fact that they can straighten their hair anytime.  It doesn’t have to be just after you have washed and dried your hair, or even just after washing it (if you use a wet/dry model flat iron).  If it’s not time to wash your hair and you are tired of the curly style from the past day or two, all you have to do is plug in your iron, spray on some hair product and straighten away.  There are no chemical processes to use to achieve the end result, and if you use a quality professional flat iron, your hair will look shiny and there should be no traces of waves or curls once you are done.  I do want to point out that if really is important to use a quality hair straightener and at a minimum be sure it is a ceramic one.  You can actually purchase a ceramic flat iron for as little as $25 – $30.  While it may not have all of the bells and whistles that a more expensive professional model might have, at least you will not be ruining your hair.  Using a ceramic flat iron means that you will be getting even heat distribution across the plates so that there will be no hot spots to damage your hair. You will also find that they heat up quickly and are lightweight.

Straightening irons are available in a variety of sizes and finishes.  You can buy one with a plate size of 1/2″ all the way to 2 1/2″.  There are ceramic, tourmaline,  and titanium plates all of which are the best for your hair.  You can even buy them in animal and other assorted prints.  Some hair straighteners now offer the capability of curling your hair because they have rounded edges to the plates or the plate wraps around the edges of the iron.  When using the proper technique you can flip or curl under your hair.  In this case, your hair straightener becomes a multi-use tool.  Ah……the benefits of living in the 21st century.

Making that decision to finally take the plunge and let that gray shine on through is never easy.  Yes, it is an admittance that you are getting older (I didn’t say old), but on the other hand you can save some time and money by not having to color your hair every 4-8 weeks.  And, perhaps it’s time to take on that more dignified look anyway.  Who says you can’t have gray hair and be as well as look sexy?  In fact, just look at Jamie Lee Curtis!   So, just exactly what are the steps to growing out the gray?

First of all, it is important to know that it takes about a year to grow out your grays.  So, it is not an overnight process and there still will be some coloring costs involved in the interim.  Secondly, the recommendation by most hair stylists is that you consider going with a shorter hairstyle .  Marie Robinson, color director at Clairol suggests you “get lowlights to make the transition easier.”  As we all know, gray strands of hair tend to grow out coarse and porous, and a result make our hair look more dingy.  This is where haircare products come to the rescue.  By using a gloss that helps to boost shine to your hair ( I recommend Potions International Super Serum), and a violet-tinted shampoo (I recommend Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo), the yellow tones to your hair will disappear.

It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and if you are interested in supporting the cause, BaByliss’ Ceramic Tools has introduced the Pro Pink 1″ flat iron.  This pink encased flat iron comes with ceramic plates and 200 watts of ceramic pulse heat.  The variable temperature dial has 25 different heat settings with the temperature reaching up to 450 degrees.  This is definitely more than enough heat for all hair types.  The on/off switch comes with an indicator light so you will know if you have left it on by the red light.  The soft grip handle makes it easy to hold and use.  Lastly, the floating plate design allows for snag-free styling and more flexibility in styling.

As with all Ceramic Tools Flat Irons by BaByliss Pro, the professional quality of their products can also be found in this hair straightener.  The ceramic technology of the plates emits negative ions that smooth and relax the hair.  The heat is distributed evenly to create silky hair while eliminating frizz.  The far-infrared heat helps to protect the hair’s luster.  One additional nice feature of this particular iron is that it comes with dual voltage so if you are planning on traveling internationally, then this can go with you as long as you have the right adapter plug for the particular country you are visiting.

So, whether you are a supporter of the breast cancer movement, or just like pink hair styling tools, then now might be the time to buy one of these irons.  With the holidays just around the corner, this would also make a great gift for an economical price.  These won’t last long as they are limited editions!!

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.

Black hair is extremely fragile and as such, extra care must be taken to avoid hair breakage, hair loss, and splitting of ends.  Two very important ways to address these issues are to make sure that you own a wide tooth comb as well as a natural boar brush.  The wide tooth comb will not get caught up in your hair.  A natural boar brush pulls the sebum from your scalp through your hair and coats the strands.  This results in providing a protective barrier and adds shine and fewer split ends.  Think in terms of a boar brush as an aid to providing your hair with a natural conditioner.

Conditioning black hair is of the utmost importance.  Keeping the hair moisturized is key.  When shopping for haircare products, finding the right kind of conditioner is important, such as a leave-in conditioner for routine usage.  A once-a-week conditioning treatment can also be something to do on a regular basis, especially during those times of the year when your hair has more tendancies to dry out.  Lastly, because the texture of black hair requires more oil, a serum that contains natural oils that can be used on a daily basis is also highly recommended.

If you haven’t already heard of Potions International (PI) haircare products, then now is the time to check them out.  They manufacture a Rinse-Free Hair Moisturizer that has organic aloe vera juice and coconut oil just to name a few of the many natural ingredients.  Their product called Power Construct is a a Beta Keratin Oil treatment that is rich in natural ingredients to include almond oil, aloe vera gel, olive butter and even mango butter.  Use this at least once a week and you will see improvement in your hair after even the first use.  And, PI’s Super Serum with Organic Argan oil will instantly penetrate and absorb into your hair and reduce the frizz, repair the hair, protect the hair from heat, create shine, and provide UV protection.  This serum smells amazingly fresh and you will find yourself dabbing it on yourself in areas besides just your hair.

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!!