Hair Styling Tools

If you don’t already know what a diffuser is, it is a hair dryer attachment that goes on the nozzle of your dryer.  Many of the models that are now being sold come with them, but there are still those that don’t.  The other thing to take into consideration is that there are several different types of diffusers and it basically boils down to personal preference.  If your blow dryer did not come with a diffuser, it is important to make sure that the shape of the nozzle of your dryer is one that will accommodate those that are being sold as a universal fit.  Typically the universal fit type is one that will fit the basic round nozzle dryer that does not change shape or size in the nozzle area for at least the first three or so inches of the nozzle.  If your dryer is the type that does not have the round circumference on the nozzle, you may want to check with the manufacturer of your dryer to see if they sell diffusers specifically designed for your dryer as an add-on attachment.  Or, there is this handy item called a Hot Sock Diffuser that fits on the end of any dryer and usually costs about $5.00.  It is great for traveling also because it is lightweight and takes up no space at all.  However, since it does not have fingers, the uses are restricted if you have straight hair and are trying to create a style other than straight.

So why would you want to use a diffuser on straight hair?  For one, it can create extra volume.  This is done by moving the section of hair upward with the hair diffuser while you are drying it.  If you want to create some wave or other pattern to your hair, you would simply rotate the diffuser in a circle around the various sections of your head while drying.  These are best achieved by using a diffuser that has the fingers.  And, most of us just thought a diffuser with fingers was only for those who have curly hair.  It is important to note that you don’t want to have your dryer setting on the highest heat because with the close proximity of the dryer to your hair you do not want to risk burning your scalp.

One additional tidbit of information regarding using diffusers is that you can still use a diffuser even if it doesn’t fit the nozzle of your dryer.  If you don’t mind using two hands, hold the diffuser with one hand and place it on the scalp using whichever motion as described above to create the style, while holding the dryer with the other hand as close as you can get it to the opening of the diffuser.  Too often we don’t maximize the use of hair styling tools that we already have on hand, and in this day and age, being as thrifty as possible and dealing with a few minor inconveniences never hurt anyone.

Digital flat irons have become the new and innovative way of straightening hair.  There are many types of digital flat irons but most all professional models will have either the ceramic plates or titanium plates.  These hair straighteners will generally cost more than your traditional dial control because we always start off by paying for technology, but in this case it is the technology as well as the best type of  flat iron plates.  And, many digital flat iron models are now coming out with automatic shutoff features.  So, the first advantage is that a digital flat iron typically will have the best plates and many times the automatic shutoff feature.

Have you looked at all of the different types of dial settings there are on the multitude of hair straighteners available in the marketplace?  They can be identified by actual temperature settings, chronologically increasing numbers, dots, dashes, low, medium, high, etc.  While this is certainly better than just an on and off switch, markings wear off the dial and the iron, and do you really know what temperature you are using on your hair?  The second advantage is that a digital flat iron has a lighted digital numeric temperature readout and if that isn’t clear enough, one might question whether they need their eyes checked? 

Playing devil’s advocate, as long as you have found a comfortable heat setting on your straightener, who cares what the actual temperature is?  The actual temperature may have no bearing on the at home stylist as long as whatever it is, is not resulting in drying out, breaking off, or basically frying your hair.  That is all well and good, but what if that setting is now unreadable and you find yourself rolling the dial back and forth and wasting valuable time trying to find the right temperatue randomly.  The third advantage is that once you have found your correct temperature, you know exactly what number digitally to go to each and every time you need to straighten your hair.

When it comes to professional hair stylists applying keratin treatments to their customer’s hair, there are very specific temperatures that must be used.  Thus, a digital flat iron is a must for these stylists because the success of the keratin treatment depends on the right temperature being used.  I think this is the fourth and final advantage I can share at this point and conclude that there are definitely advantages to using a digital flat iron so be sure to check them out online.

To answer the question, it is best to provide an explanation as to what titanium really is. Titanium as most of us know is a chemical element and is sometimes called the “space age metal”.  It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant metal with a silver color.  So how does this relate to flat irons?

Titanium is an excellent conductor of heat.  It also causes the heat to spread more evenly throughout the plates releasing negative ions that result in added shine to your hair.  Also, chemically speaking, nano titanium oxide will inhibit chemical build-up on your plate which can be good as you should be using a heat protectant on your hair every time you straighten it.  Titanium is a durable metal so this too adds to the longevity of the plates of your iron.  All of these descriptions add up to the fact that a titanium plate flat iron is a good choice.  Whether it is better for your hair than another type literally depends on what type hair you have and what you feel comfortable using.  I don’t believe you can go wrong using a titanium plate flat iron because clearly you are lessening the ability to damage your hair.

Several companies manufacture hair straighteners with titanium plates.  BaByliss, Le Angelique, and the Turbo Ion Croc are all excellent and depending on what extras you might be looking for, will determine which one you might consider purchasing the next time you are in the market for a flat iron.

When you straighten your hair do you start at the bottom and work your way up?  In case you’re wondering, I don’t mean that you should straighten your hair starting at the bottom of your sections of strands and go toward your scalp, although that does sound intriguing.  What I am referring to is that it works best if you section your hair in layers.  Start with the bottom layers or most underneath hairs first and then work up to the layers that lay the highest or most outward on your head.   The reason for this is that too many times we try to straighten too much hair in one pass.  This requires multiple passes and seems to take forever.  By taking smaller sections of hair you really will only need to probably straighten with one or two passes and it actually does go faster.

Do you think that the larger the flat iron plate, the faster the straightening process will go?  This always amazes me because we do not hold a flat iron vertically to straighten our hair.  And if you are holding your straightening iron vertically (upright) the plate width is based on that angle of the plate and not from end to end.  When we straighten our hair we are placing the strands between the two plates of the iron that is being held horizontally and this would be the size that I would be looking at when shopping to purchase a new iron.  There are many sizes of flat irons out there and some of the longer plates are available from BaByliss.  If you are focused on the plate width when buying and then using a straightening iron, the wider widths such as 1 1/4″ to 2 1/2″ plates are only necessary if you have longer hair.  Otherwise, a 3/4″ to 1″ plate width is just fine for short to medium length hair, and even some longer lengths.

How many of you use the highest heat possible on your flat iron?  Unless you have extremely curly hair, or African American hair, the highest heat is not the wisest idea.  Since there are flat irons that go as high as 460 degrees, one must always factor in what temperature is the safest to use on your hair so that there is no danger of damaging or burning your hair.  Most individuals can get by with the highest heat being 400 degrees or less.  Unless the straightener is a turbo straightener and it shoots straight to a certain temperature that is posted on the box or in the instructions, most hair straighteners will have a digital readout or temperature dial.  There are some, however, that do not indicate a temperature on the dial but just a number.  Thus, to test the heat level of your iron, take a piece of tissue paper and mist it with some water.  Place it between the heated plates of your iron.  A proper setting will quickly evaporate the moisture without  making the tissue wrinkly.  If the paper starts to show signs of discoloration or scorching, then lower the heat setting before you start to iron your hair

Lastly, as with any hair styling tool, always be sure to use a heat protectant on the hair before applying the heat to your hair.  You’ll be glad you did.

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.

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!!

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 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.

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.