Hair Styling Tools

In today’s world it’s all about organization.  It can and probably should start in your bathroom or dressing room.  In other words, wherever you are drying or styling your hair, there has got to be an answer for how to either store or display your hair styling tools in such a way that they aren’t just left laying on your counter and causing clutter.

The most common complaint I hear from men is that the female population in the household are notorious for leaving out hairdryers, flat irons, curling irons, etc., on the bathroom counters or vanities (although I know some men who do the very same thing).   Not only does it look cluttered but sometimes the curling irons and flat irons are left on and burn the countertops.

Well, we are all in luck as there are many accessories now online and in the marketplace that actually are designed to hold our hair styling tools and either keep them neatly organized or off the counter entirely.  These tool holders come in a variety of options including those made from stainless steel to other type materials that withstand extremely high temperatures so if you leave an appliance on, it is not the end of the world.  So, the next time you hear that complaint about leaving out your hairdryer, or other hair styling tool, check out what is available and get on the road to getting organized!

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!!

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.

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.

It is always helpful when I read in magazines or online those little nifty tips that people share regarding the application of their makeup, hair styling, and actually just about anything that pertains to our daily lives.  So, from time to time I will share ones that I have been collecting along the way.  These come from a variety of sources and although some you may already know, they always are worth repeating.

LIPS AND LIPSTICK TIPS:

• Want fuller lips? Apply white eyeliner to the center of both your top and bottom lip over your lipstick color.  Next apply a clear lipgloss on top and this will mix the two shades very nicely.
• Tired of wearing your lipstick on your teeth? Before applying your lipstick, stick a tiny bit of Vaseline on your front teeth as it will keep the color off of  your teeth.

MAKEUP BRUSHES TIPS:

• Want your bronzer to look more natural? Using a fluffy makeup brush, dip the brush into your bronzer and draw or outline the number three (3) on your face.  Start at your temple, swoop some on your cheek, and then down to your chin.  Reverse and repeat on the other side of your face.
• Would you like your skin to look luminous? Use a foundation liquid cream brush and dab some creamy highlighter on your cheekbones.

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.

Do you often wake up to raccoon eyes and yesterday’s makeup? You allot ample time to go to work with your makeup brush, and you should do the same when it comes time to remove the makeup. From now on, make your number one skincare priority a commitment to cleanse the face each night before bed – no matter how tired you are.

Start with a gentle, non-irritating eye makeup remover. To cleanse the eye area thoroughly, soak a cotton pad with a small amount of eye makeup remover, and then hold it gently over the closed eyelid and lashes to loosen eye shadow and mascara. To remove mascara completely, soak one end of a cotton-swab in the product and gently rub the lash line to eliminate any leftover pigment. Next, wash the rest of the face with a cleanser specifically tailored to your skin type. Got oily skin? Try a formula designed to help normalize the skin and reduce shine.

Massage a small amount of skin cleansing product between wet hands until foamy and then rub the cleanser carefully onto the skin, avoiding the eye area. Rinse well with warm water, pat dry and follow with appropriate skincare treatments and moisturizer.

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.