hair Straighteners, Curlers and More – The Best Tools of the Trade
Whether you want your hair to be sleek and straight or full and curly, there is a styling tool available to suit every hair type. Nowadays there are such a variety of styling tools available, however with so many options to choose from, making the right long-term decision may be trickier than expected.
Heat styling tools are great for giving your hair a perfect look but remember the downside, as with any heat styling tool – they can leave your hair frizzled and damaged if incorrectly used.
Not sure what to look for in a heat styling tool? Here are some tips to follow when buying the perfect tool suitable to your hair’s DNA and the longevity of your style.
Blow out the bad
Before putting heating irons and curlers on your hair, it’s important to blow out all the frizz. But there is nothing worse than holding a hairdryer above your head for more than half an hour. Opt for a lightweight blow dryer with adjustable temperature control that has added attachments for the specific look you are going for.
It’s also critical to protect your tresses before applying any form of heat. There are many hair care products available to choose from on our online store. And you don’t need to spend a fortune buying the most expensive tools on the market, but you should have a few basic requirements when selecting good tools. Forget spending too much time on a perfect blow-dry and make life a breeze with the help of a few brilliant products that will minimise your time spent blow-drying.
We recommend:
Most importantly, get yourself a good quality round brush to assist in the blowout process. A ceramic brush allows for the retainment of excess heat, allowing your brush to keep the hair warm to ensure easier styling. Just make sure that you use a paddle brush before you proceed with the blow-dry, as this will ensure that the hair is detangled and knot-free.
A few great hairdryers to consider:
- Parlux has a range of dryers to suit everyone’s needs.
- Moyoko offers professional hairdryers as well.
Sleek and straight – iron out the myths and kinks
If you love heat styling tools, you need to learn how to protect your hair and minimize heat damage correctly.
Let quality be your number one priority when buying a straightening iron. According to a recent article by Byrdie, quality hair styling tools will not only last but will protect your hair and prevent further damage. Opting for a ceramic or titanium flat iron will assist in the smoothing out of stubborn strands or ironing out the curls without stripping the hair of its natural oils. Added extras to look out for when choosing a straightening device is a built-in heat and corrosion protectant as well as a device that provides a variety of temperatures.
If you have fine or damaged hair, make sure that you use cooler heat on your hair to avoid further damage. However, if you have thicker hair, opt for a higher heat such as 200 degrees to ditch those unwanted kinks and fluff. According to celebrity stylist, Jenny Cho, in a recent article, regardless of the heat styling activity, a heat protectant is a MUST!
But there are so many different types of irons – what is the difference between ceramic, tourmaline, titanium and copper plates? Simply put, it’s the rate and method by which they heat the hair. Ceramic and tourmaline flat irons take longer to heat up, and they work by heating your hair from within, preventing damage to the cuticle and the outer layer of the hair. This makes it a kinder option to use on your hair, especially for fine and damaged hair. Titanium and copper plates, on the other hand, heat up much faster and reach much higher temperatures than ceramic plates, therefore, heating the hair from the surface of the hair shaft.
It’s all about choosing the right iron for your hair type. So, if your hair is easy to straighten or curl, choose a ceramic straightener, and if your hair is coarse and difficult to work with, choose a titanium straightener.
Here are a few tools and brands we love:
Irons, wands and brushes are all available on our online store with several size choices, to suit your needs. Veaudry’s unique styling tool technology is a semi-precious crystal called tourmaline which when heated produces vital ionic and infrared properties. This locks in moisture and adds shine, heating the hair from within and preventing damage to the outer layers of the hair.
TIGI Straighten Out Cream is thermosetting, helping to keep the hair straight for up to 48 hours, even in 98% humidity. It is also formulated with conditioning agents that defend against frizz, add super shine and calm static hair.
Tips to try:
- Wait until your hair is dry before using a flat iron to straighten or curl your hair.
- Adjust your heat temperature.
- Look for good tools.
- Protect your hair before styling.
- Air dry as much as possible.
Curl your way to perfection
According to Brydie’s hairstyling experts, understanding your hair and its natural curl is crucial when trying to establish the best styling technique. Once this has been achieved, deciding on a curling wand or tong is the next question.
The visible difference is that the tong has a clamp whereby the hair is closed in when the barrel is twirled around the hair to create the curl, unlike the wand that is one barrel that is wrapped in hair to create the ultimate curl. In terms of practical difference, the clamp feature on the tong aims to provide a more finished curl whereas the wand allows you to decide how curly you want the final product to look. At the end of the day, the preference comes with personal use and preference, but if you are new to using curling tools such as these, you may want to opt for a tong to start with as it is easier to twist the hair in place.
Curling tongs and wands like flat irons should have different temperature controls and there are many types available to choose from. But before you use them on a regular basis, you may want to help those curls along with a curl setting cream. A great one to use is INDOLA Setting Curl Cream for great definition curl control – it moisturises the hair, giving it a beautiful bouncy look, with the added benefit of UV-Filter technology that helps to protect your hair against UV-rays.
Another great product we recommend is Schwarzkopf Repair Rescue Nutri-Shield Serum for optimal care on all hair types and protection against heat up to 230 degrees.
As always, the Frizz team is here to assist you with the right styling tools and products to assist you in your hair care journey or answer any questions you might have.
