Hair Styling Tools

Just as with clothing, trends with hairstyles come and go.  I like to call it recycling.  Why not?  We are definitely in a world where recycling is so very important.  What is so amazing is that if you hold on to things long enough, whatever it is, it will resurface once again.  Such as is with parting your hair on the side.  For how many years now have females been parting their hair down the middle?

What seems to be coming back into fashion now as displayed by many of the celebs, is that sultry hairdo that is swept to one side.  Mostly you see the part on the side with a slight wave or slight curl to the hair.  This particular style is actually very easy to achieve.

1)  Wash your hair with your favorite shampoo and then blow-dry your hair.

2)  Part your hair with a styling comb on whatever side seems to work best for you. 

3)  Take no more than a 2 inch section of hair and using a larger diameter curling iron wrap your hair around it and hold for approximately 5 to 10 seconds.  Continue to do this around your head till you reach the other side.

4)  Flip your head over and shake out the curls.  If necessary, take a brush to help loosen some of the curls that may not want to fall free.

5)  Spray your favorite shine spray.

6)  If you are feeling nostalgic, pull out an old hair barrette or clip that you haven’t worn in awhile and pin back one of the sides of your hair.  Or, you can put your hair behind your ear on one side. 

Lastly, apply the makeup, spray on your favorite perfume and you are ready to party!!!!!

Growing up I never paid that much attention to how much time my mother would take to get ready to go out anywhere.  I remember just looking at her and seeing what I thought was one of the most beautiful women around.  A bit biased I know, but truly I don’t recall ever seeing her spending all that much time in the bathroom getting ready. 

Now, fast forward to today and trust me, if it takes me anything less than an hour to get ready to leave the house, then I’ve left something off or undone.  Perhaps it is the makeup that I wear that adds on that extra time, but let me tell you, I won’t leave home without it.

Thank goodness for makeup brushes.  I remember a time when I would use cotton swabs to put on my eye shadow because the flimsy little applicator that came with the shadow fell apart after a couple of uses or the eye shadow didn’t come with any type of applicator.  A makeup brush is a must have in my household.  I use various types and many of them I wash out to reuse and they are as good as new.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I am one of those people who try to achieve a passable appearance without spending excessive time and money. With most people, a vast proportion of their cosmetic time and budget goes into their haircare. For men, there is a quick and easy alternative to typical haircuts that save an immense amount of time and money.

A few years ago I bought a hair trimmer and began to cut my own hair about once a week; I also decided to leave my beard the same length of my hair. Now I no longer have to go to the salon, and I spend just 15 minutes a week on my hair. Most mornings all I have to do is rollout of bed and I am good to go.

With the holiday season behind us and the New Year well under way, for many of us January can be a very depressing month.  The parties have taken a dramatic drop-off and the weather can be at its bleakest.  New Year resolutions are in place but are we sticking to them?   

I say that sometimes the simplest change can make a huge difference in one’s outlook.  What about a new hairdo?  It doesn’t have to be as drastic as cutting off your long locks.   So, instead of just looking at your collection of styling combs and styling brushes, use them to create that new look.  It actually could be as simple as changing the part that you wear on the left side of your head to the right side of your head.  Or, perhaps you always wear your hair straight.   Take your curling iron or your hot rollers out and curl away.  And, if you have curls, there are these hair styling tools called hair straighteners (lol) that you can use to straighten away.  What about wearing hair styling accessories such as beautiful barrettes?  Lastly, if your hair is long and you always wear it down, why not pin it up?

While these are not monumental ideas, it doesn’t always take money to make a change.  Just look in your bathroom or dressing area and see what is already there that you can use to make that simple change to your current hairstyle.  You  just might receive some unsolicited compliments and it certainly will bring a smile to that face of yours.

With so many professional styling brushes to choose from, what makes a boar brush stand out?  They tend to be more expensive and yet I see people spending the money for them.  What do they do for your hair that makes it worthwhile to pay the extra cost?   

First of all, boar bristles are natural bristles and are not manufactured like plastic and nylon bristles.  This automatically adds to the cost.  More importantly, however, using a boar bristle brush does so much for your hair.  When using a boar bristle brush you are actually helping to clean your hair.  These brushes also help to redistribute the oils that are produced by your scalp.  And, if you are looking for a brush to help massage your scalp, the boar bristle is the one.  It even seals the cuticles of your hair resulting in shiny hair.

What’s not to like about a boar bristle brush?  They even come in various types and should be selected based on your hair type.  If you have really long hair I would suggest using a paddle brush.  If you have thin or fine hair, try using a brush where the bristles are widely spaced.  If you are styling your hair and are shooting for body or more volume, try a boar bristle round brush.

How many of you out there are just wanting the straight hair you worked so hard to obtain to last more than a day?  For those of us who have curly or wavy hair and want it straight,  it is a process, and to have to go through this on a daily basis is just too much.   Keeping it straight more than a day can be a challenge. 

If you don’t care about how you look when  you go to bed, have you thought of wearing a thick shower cap to bed?  Believe it or not, it works.  It is like wearing a hairnet but for some reason it works better.  I think it’s because you are sealing in moisture.  Or, what about sleeping on a silk scarf or slip, or even a silk pillowcase?  Using one of these also helps hair from riding up the head.  And, lastly, as you are getting ready for your day, consider using the cool shot button on your hairdryer as it also seems to tame any frizz that might have been created during your sleep.

Try out these helpful hints and if you have any of your own, PLEASE SHARE!!

Bangs go in and out of style and if you are skeptical about chopping off any length from your hair, perhaps just getting some bangs might be all you need for a hair style transformation.  As we know, bangs come in all lengths and styles and one certainly has much to choose from.

So now that I have suggested that all you might need is adding bangs, what is the best way to style them and what is the proper care?

First and foremost, I recommend that you have your bangs professionally cut.  The reason I say this is that there are so many things one must consider before starting to style them.  Each person’s hair type is unique and the manner in which your hair grows on your head is an important factor in how the bangs should be cut.  In terms of the length there are things to consider such as shrinkage after the hair is dried.  This definitely pertains to hair that is naturally curly or wavy.  Even if you don’t have curly or wavy hair, your hair will shrink up when dried and again depending on the way it grows from the scalp, you might have a cowlick that needs to be addressed.

Ok, you have washed your hair and you are ready to blow it dry.  When styling bangs it is usually best to dry the rest of your hair and save the bangs for last.  You will want your bangs to be damp so if they have dried while the rest of your hair was blown dry, spray some water on the bangs.  The next step is to apply haircare products such as an extra or super hold gel.  Now you need a small round brush so that you can dry your bangs from the roots to the ends.  Dry upward and forward until the bangs are dry.  Make sure that you keep the brush moving while you are drying and don’t spend all your time on one section.  You don’t want to end up with dried out looking bangs.   The end result for this drying technique is  that your bangs will have that curved look that can be seen from the side of your face.  This bang style is good for those of us who have large noses and want to have the attention drawn away from this.  Keep the brush moving while drying and don’t concentrate on one area too long. Doing so can make your hair look dried out and damaged.

What about having your bangs styled to one side?  Again, starting with damp hair, apply the gel and then taking your hairdryer, blow dry the bangs to one side using a paddle brush.

Or, what about if your bangs are a little longer and you want to create a somewhat more stylish bang that has a wavy curled back look?  Once again make sure your bangs are damp and apply that styling gel or whatever product you choose.  Place your paddle brush on the top of your head right behind your bangs and slowly blow dry your bangs from the roots to the ends in a backwards motion.  Sometime using hair straighteners becomes necessary if  you are having some difficulty getting the hold you want.  Be sure to use the flat iron on dry hair only unless you have a wet to dry flat iron.   

When using flat irons to aid in styling your bangs, I recommend using a mini flat iron which is actually a 1/2 inch plate size.  This enables you to get as close to the roots as possible and there is less possibility of burning yourself while styling.

Lastly, if you are looking for a blunt bangs look,  set your straightener on a medium heat setting and start as close to the root as you feel you can.  Quickly move the straightener to the ends of your hair.  Take a fine-tooth comb and comb your hair into place.

Whatever type hair you have or whatever style you are comfortable with, be bold and create that new style with bangs!

Have you ever thought about your eyebrows as an attraction feature?  I never really did until I started noticing that as some people age, their eyebrows start thinning out and actually start losing color.  By that I mean that they don’t automatically turn gray or silver just because their hair does, but that the actual color just seems to fade away.  So where am I going with all of this? 

So, what does one do to get that eyebrow color back to what you were once accustomed to?  The first response would be to ask your hair stylist to put some dye on them the next time you go in for color on your hair.  I’ve done that, but it didn’t last as long as I would have liked for it to.  So, what is the backup plan?   How about checking out makeup brushes online or in  your favorite beauty supply location?  Let’s face it, everyone’s brows need some TLC and it might be that they need more than just color.  Shaping of the eyebrows as well as filling is a very important aspect of brow beauty care. 

If you don’t want to dye your eyebrows, I suggest that you purchase some eyebrow powder.  There are many types and colors available so you can have some fun choosing one to try.  Allure magazine suggests that if you are a blonde or redhead, you should use a color that’s one shade darker than your brows.  And, if you are a brunette, you should go with one shade lighter.  The key to applying the powder to the brow is to use an angled brush.  Once applied you should then run a spooly brush through the eyebrow to soften the use of the powder.  Just as an FYI, many of the eyebrow brushes available in the marketplace have dual usage.  On one end is the slanted brush to apply the powder and on the other end sis the spooly brush that can be used on your eyelashes and/or the brow. 

Have you ever thought about where the comb came from?  Who invented it and when?  After a little research I found that historians report that combs have been around for at least the last 5000 years.  Plenty of time to improve on such a vital hair styling tool, wouldn’t  you say?  Combs were actually carved out of wood and bone.  Pretty resourceful!!  Ivory and tortoise shell were also used.  Another interesting fact is that in some cultures, combs were worn in the hair to display a certain social status. 

Well back to the 21st century.  As we all know, the majority of combs are made out of plastic.  There are still some wooden combs around and then there are high-end combs that can be made of gold, platinum or steel.  There are styling combs, decorative combs, detangling combs, and even flea combs.  Let’s not go there.

As we all know, there are hundreds of different type combs in the marketplace and each type has its function.  Depending on what you are looking for, there are usually several brands and variations to each type comb.  While combs are very important hair styling tools, the decorative comb has become very popular over the years in creating sophisticated and chic updos.  In fact, decorative combs can be found in many arts and crafts faires as artisans have become very creative in designing unique and one-of-a-kind hair combs.  The comb has truly become a member of the hair styling accessories club.

Whatever type comb you use, the most important thing to remember is to keep it clean.  As we all know, hair product can build up on the comb as well as any dirt, dust, dandruff and other particles attach to the product on the comb and need to be removed to keep your hair healthy and clean.

Your hair, just like your skin, responds to its environment. So as the winter months settle in, your hair is going to react to the colder weather, the rain, wind, and snow. All these external factors can leave your hair dry and prone to damage.

But there are lots of easy, at-home products you can use to keep your hair looking shiny and sleek. The first step to healthy, hydrated hair is using high-quality hydrating shampoos. Also, most people do not need to shampoo their hair every day. Every other day will actually keep the hair healthier.

Beyond that; try using jasmine, fruit extracts or Shea Butter on your hair. All of these items will bring out the natural moisture in your hair. Particularly with the Shea Butter, make sure you leave it in your hair long enough to work. This is generally around half an hour. Also, focus on the ends of your hair. They sustain more damage than the roots.

If you’re still having troubles, try setting up a humidifier in your home. The added moisture in the air will help infuse your hair with moisture as well. If you don’t want to invest in a humidifier, a similar effect can be achieved through a large pot of boiling water.

Try one, all, or any combination of these hydrating options until you find the right formula for your hair.