Hair Styling Tools

When my friend first told me about wet to dry flat irons, I thought it was too good to be true. This may not sound like an earth-shattering development to some people, but that’s probably because you don’t have to straighten your hair everyday. For over 15 years I’ve spent…actually, I don’t even want to think about how much time I’ve wasted blowing drying my hair before I straightened it.

Now with wet to dry flat irons, I can pop out of the shower and immediately begin straightening my hair. Not only does blowing drying take time, the excess heat wreaks havoc on your hair, so in the past I’ve had to invest in an array of conditioners and other products to maintain its healthy sheen. Those days are long gone and my morning routine only takes a fraction of the time.

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.

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.

Forgotten flat irons are notorious for causing burns and starting small fires, which has deterred many people from using this pragmatic beauty tool. In addition, many flat irons dry out hair and create a frizzled appearance. Now you can achieve straight, gorgeous hair without worrying about setting your house on fire thanks to digital flat irons.

Unlike traditional flat irons, the digital models have an auto shutoff mechanism to prevent overheating and mitigate fire risks. Achieve your ideal flattening temperature with precision using the digital control panel. You can even curl up or flip out the ends of your hair to add a little personality to your style.

First of all how many of you know what a styler hair dryer is?  There are several companies that make these but you don’t always hear alot about them. 

The styler hair dryer is not your typical looking dryer.  It was designed to use with attachments that come with the dryer.  These attachments usually include a fine tooth comb, a wide tooth comb and a finishing brush.  Sometimes there are a couple of different types of finishing brushes that are included.  One of them has bristles that are set far apart and the other looks like a regular square shaped brush.  These interchangeable parts are attached to the side of the dryer where the airflow of the dryer blows through the attachment onto your hair.

There is a definite population of individuals who have curly hair and like to wear it straight.  They prefer to not use flat irons and feel that the only way to properly manage their curl is to use a styler dryer.  Of course, each person has their own way of straightening or styling their hair with this dryer, but as a general rule, the following steps can be used. Also, I suggest putting the on/off control on the outside of the handle, rather than inside, as someone like me, who uses the brush attachment to straighten my hair when wet, uses it underhand. Thus I keep hitting the control and shutting the unit off accidently. If the brush would stay on better, I’d rate the unit a 5.

1. Wash and condition your hair and then towel dry by blotting.  Comb through your hair using a detangling comb or brush.
2. Apply either a leave-in conditioner or styling cream to the ends of your hair.
3. Attach the finishing brush to the dryer and start drying your hair in sections.  The heat setting and speed setting will depend on the density of your hair and how quickly you want to dry your hair.  
4. After each section of hair is dry it is best to clip it off to the side so it is easier to move to the next section.
5. For increased volume lift your hair up and brush from underneath with the dryer.
6. Once your hair is completely dry and styled, apply your favorite anti-frizz serum.   

Belson Gold ‘N Hot Hair Dryers are one of several manufacturers of a styler dryer.  Most of these dryers can be found with either 1600 watts or 1875 watts.  Some are dual voltage and can be used internationally.  They range in price from $25.00 to $40.00.

Any world traveler has inevitably experienced the headaches and logistical difficulties of coping with the differing voltages between countries. Overlooking the necessity of packing the proper attachments for your cell phone or laptop can foil your journey in a foreign country. Thanks to recent innovations, however, these headaches are quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Dual voltage flat irons, radios and other electronic are becoming readily available, eliminating the need for converters. These appliances will operate on 110/125v as well as 220/250v. Thanks to this new technology, when you travel abroad from now on you’ll have one less thing to remember.

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.

Have you noticed more and more celebs are wearing bangs these days?  For some it definitely adds to their already youthful looking appearance but others are wearing them because believe it or not, bangs can make a statement.

When deciding whether to wear bangs or not, it is always important to take into account the shape of your face.  if your face is long an oval, a straight, blunt cut works.  If your face is round, square, or heart-shaped, it is recommended that the sides of the bangs be tapered to frame the face, resulting in a more flattering appearance.

The fun thing about having bangs is that there are multiple options in how they can be worn and styled.  If you can find a style that matches your personality that’s even better.  Some of the 2010 trends include choosing from extra short bangs to the long choppy ones. 

 If you are looking for elegant styled bangs or that professional look  and your hair is long, medium, or short, go for a side swept bang look or longer bangs to hide your eyebrows.   If your bangs are curling up on you and you want them to stay longer looking,  mini flat irons are the way to go.  You just simply straighten them as you would the rest of your hair with a flat iron but what is so great about a mini flat iron is that you can get close to your scalp and straighten this smaller section of hair without the concern of burning your forehead or face.  The other cool thing about having longer bangs is that they can be changed up with almost any style haircut.  So, whether it be for the office or formal affair, or to wanting to fulfill that wild and crazy party personality, all you have to do is use some haircare products that will pump up the volume and/or add extra texture to your hair.

What about layering your bangs?  Some of the new looks for 2010 are the choppy asymmetrical edgy hairstyles so why not add that look to the bangs as well?  If you have a large forehead you can get away with that uneven eyebrow sweeping bang cut.

Lastly, if you have a small forehead you can definitely get away with the more extreme bang cuts.  These include anything from straight shaped to the asymmetrical choppy layered bangs with extreme edges.

It seems that no matter how together we feel when we leave the house for work, school, hanging out with friends, or wherever we are going, our hair is subject to the elements outside.  Whether it be the rain, the wind, humidity, the cold, the heat, all can wreak havoc on our hair.

 The thing that is most annoying to me is the time it takes to straighten my hair and then if it is the least bit damp out there are certain hairs that decide to frizz out or curl back up. 

I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do is to haul around my flat iron.  Even if I have a big purse, the weight of the flat iron that I use  can add to what is already bordering on exceeding luggage limits.  To remedy the situation I went out and bought a mini flat iron.  It was probably the best thing I have ever treated myself to.  This little mini flat iron weighs next to nothing and fits conveniently in the zipper pouch inside my purse.   

The mini flat irons come in both 1/2 inch and 1 inch plate sizes and usually are no longer than 6 inches in length.  They all come with ceramic technology and some have additional features such as nano titanium plates, ceramic tourmaline plates as well as  ionic technology.  They usually range in price from$25.00 to $40.00 with some pricier brands costing more.