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What Kind of Curling Iron Is Best for Your Hair?
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  • Article author: Kristine Benglyan
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What Kind of Curling Iron Is Best for Your Hair?
The world of hair care supplies is a large and sometimes overwhelming one. There is no shortage of options when it comes to finding tools to style one’s hair, and each tool can come in its own subcategory of sizes, materials, technologies, etc. Because of the specific hair care needs of each person and their particular hair type, it is of the highest importance that you understand exactly what each tool does and what makes one particularly better suited for your hair than another tool.When it comes to this world of too many options, the curling iron is no exception. While they may seem like a very straightforward tool, curling irons can come in all sorts of sizes, materials, and heating technologies, not to mention different clamp designs and handle fixtures. Read below to help cut through the clutter and find the perfect curling iron for you!What Size Curling Iron?To start, you should determine which specific size curling iron is best for your hair type. Curling irons typically come in 19mm, 25mm, and 32mm sizes, with each size best suited for specific hair lengths and styles. 19mm is best for short hair or for creating tight curls, while 25mm is a good middle-ground size for all hair lengths, while 32mm is best for long hair types or for creating massive, bouncy curls. Outside of these three primary sizes, there are also curlers built with three large barrels in one, making them the perfect option for creating massive, bouncy waves, or for creating that “mermaid hair” look.What Design to Choose?Curling irons come in several different designs, each one best suited for a particular function or use.  Most curling irons today are designed as clipless, which allows for more flexibility and lightweight designing for a more versatile function. Traditional curling irons are constructed with a clip, which allows for a more straightforward curling experience that allows you to secure the hair while curling. Lastly, clamp-style triple barrel curling irons allow you to secure large sections of hair to create massive, easy waves.What Material to Choose?Once you’ve determined the correct size and curling iron design, you’ll need to decide upon the type of heating element and material design for you to use. Modern curling irons may include infrared heating technology, which allows for the hair to be heated from the inside out to preserve moisture and prevent breakage of the cuticle.  Ionic technology is another option, which utilizes negative ionic energy to prevent moisture loss and dryness. Lastly, look for devices with heat conductive materials such as titanium, which provide an even, gentle heat, as well as tourmaline, which can help to prevent dryness and direct burning of the hair. Overall, you’ll want to choose a high-quality device with gentle, heat conductive materials that helps preserve your hair’s health while limiting dryness to prevent frizz, flyaways, and split ends.  Best of all, you’ll create long-lasting curls for an all-day look!
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Which is Better: A Ceramic or Titanium Flat Iron?
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  • Article author: Jessica Molloy
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Which is Better: A Ceramic or Titanium Flat Iron?
A flat iron is one of the most indispensable tools one can have in their hair styling arsenal. As we’ve covered before, this quintessential tool is not only capable of straightening practically any hair type into a sleek and smooth masterpiece, but it also doubles as a powerful curling instrument capable of creating tight, defined curls and loose, bouncy waves. Thanks to its lightweight, versatile design, the flat iron is perfectly suited for styling with one hand in a variety of different ways for a variety of different hair types.Part of the effectiveness of the flat iron is the way in which it applies heat directly on the hair strand, as opposed to a blow dryer which is indirectly applying heat via hot air. This direct heat application allows for a more powerful and intense seal of the cuticle, providing you with defined, long lasting hairstyles. However, this same application of direct heat can very easily turn from a positive to a negative. This intense, direct heat can sometimes prove too strong for weakened or dry hair types, and can quickly become a cause of hair damage and breakage.  This can prove especially true in flat irons designed with low quality materials, as these materials can be poor conductors of heat and unevenly heat the hair strand, causing hot spots that damage the cuticle.Thankfully, there are two high quality materials on the market that are not only great conductors of even heat to the hair strand, but they also help to promote hair health and prevent moisture loss. Read below to see which of these two materials, ceramic or titanium, is perfect for your flat iron!The benefits of ceramic flat ironsCeramic is a material that has been used in countless functions throughout human history, mainly due to its excellent heat conductivity skills. Ceramic is able to heat evenly throughout itself as well or better than just about any material, and when applied to your hair strand this means that you’ll be avoiding hot spots and getting even results throughout the entire hair strand. Although ceramic is slow to heat and doesn’t apply as intense of a temperature as other materials, this property is fantastic for those with dry or damaged hair, as ceramic flat irons help to provide the hair with gentle, even heat that helps prevent breakage and moisture loss.The benefits of a titanium flat ironTitanium is a relatively recent material in the world of hair care, but it has very rapidly jumped in popularity due to its remarkable performance when used in heated styling instruments. Titanium is also capable of producing even heat, but it provides a more intense temperature in a much more rapid amount of time, making it perfect for those with thicker, fuller hair or those looking to style their hair quickly. While this may be too much for those with weakened or thin hair, this can be perfect for someone with more coarse or textured hair.
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What Size Curling Iron Should I Use?
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  • Article author: Jessica Molloy
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What Size Curling Iron Should I Use?
Curling irons are one of the most popular hair styling tools, and for good reason. Not only is a curling iron fantastic at creating long-lasting, defined curls, but they are also incredibly effective at creating waves and other fun hairstyles. The reason this popular tool is so effective is due to its 360 degree application of direct heat, ensuring every part of the curled hair is applied to direct heat while being held under the appropriate tension. When held for several seconds the direct heat is able to seal the hair into its maneuvered pattern, allowing for those beautiful hairstyles we all yearn for.As with any styling tool, especially one as popular as the curling iron, there are going to be countless variants available on the market in order to fit just about anyone’s hair styling needs for each particular hair type and hair length. When it comes to creating curls and waves in one’s hair, one of the most important things to consider is exactly how big or how small you would like the curling iron to be. Not only do you need to find a curling iron that fits the length and fullness of your particular hair, but you also want to take into consideration what kind of curls and waves you want to create, whether they be large and bouncy or tight and defined.With all these options available, it can feel downright overwhelming trying to find an appropriate curling iron for you. Fortunately for you, we’ve helped simplify this curling iron process to help you find the right curling iron size.  Read below to find a curling iron for your specific hair needs!A small curling iron: ¾” or 19MMTypically, the smallest curling irons come at around three quarters of an inch. These curling irons are smaller in diameter than most curling irons, making them perfect for shorter hairstyles or less full hair types. Additionally, this tight curling iron size is perfect for creating tight, defined curls in the hair, allowing for the ability to create ringlets or tiny curls throughout the hair.A normal sized curling iron: 1” or 25MMFor those with normal hair lengths or typical hair fullness, you’ll want to look for a curling iron that is about 1 inch in diameter. This curling iron size is ideal for creating pretty curls and waves with just about any hair length and hair type, and helps to create a natural, lived in curl pattern as opposed to an overly tight and defined curl pattern or a loose, bouncy curl pattern.A bigger curling iron: 1 ¼” or 32MMThis is the type of curling iron at the bigger end of the spectrum, one that is ideal for long hair types or those with very full hair with lots of body. This larger curling iron not only helps to curl large amounts of hair at once, but it is also perfect at creating those giant, bodacious curls you’ve always dreamt of!
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What is the Best Blow Dryer?
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  • Article author: Jessica Molloy
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What is the Best Blow Dryer?
If you are a hair care enthusiast, we’re willing to bet that you have a blow dryer in your hair care arsenal. The blow dryer is a ubiquitous hair styling tool, so much so that you can find one in practically any hotel room when you travel. While they are mainly designed for drying your hair after being washed, there is so much more that you can do with this time tested wonder tool. From curling your hair to straightening your locks or making beachy waves, the blow dryer is perhaps the most versatile styling tool around. When you factor in the various attachments you can add to your blow dryer such as a diffuser or air concentrator, the only limit to using this tool is your imagination!With all that being said, when a tool is as popular as the blow dryer, there’s bound to be a huge variety in product quality, with as many high quality and expensive blow dryers as there are low quality or cheap blow dryers. Because of this wide disparity in blow dryer choices, it is of the utmost importance that you become knowledgeable about what factors make for a quality hair dryer. Read below to learn more about what to look for in a good blow dryer and maybe you’ll find some ideas for your next blow dryer purchase!Blow dryer quality #1: multiple heat and speed settingsOne of the most important factors in picking a good blow dryer is to find one that has a relatively large selection of various heat and speed settings. Having the ability to fine tune your device for your hair needs or styling requirements is a must for the perfect styling device, especially one that relies on heated air. Different hair styles require different degrees of heat and air output, which is why you’ll want a blow dryer with versatility.Blow dryer quality #2: high quality constructionAs with any other heated styling tool, you’ll want to focus on a blow dryer that is constructed with high quality and advanced technology. This includes technology like infrared heat, which heats the hair from the inside out, which helps to preserve the outer cuticle layer and helps to prevent dryness and potential breakage. Additionally, many blow dryers now utilize ionic heating technology, which involves the use of negative ions to counteract the drying and damaging effects of positive ions in the hair strand, preventing premature dryness.Blow dryer quality #3: lightweight constructionWhen using a blow dryer, you want to make sure it is a lightweight model that is easy to hold and maneuver. Given that many hairstyles involve an extensive amount of styling time, you want to choose a device that won’t weigh your arm down or slow down your styling speed.  Additionally, a lightweight blow dryer makes it that much easier to style your hair with one hand, which will allow for more flexibility when securing the hair with your other free hand.
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What Conditioner Should I Use?
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  • Article author: Jessica Molloy
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What Conditioner Should I Use?
Taking care of your hair’s health is about as important as anything that you can possibly focus on when looking to have your hair look its very best. No matter how good your styling technique is or how expensive your styling tools are, no amount of skill or money can overcome poor hair health. Whether you struggle from dry, brittle hair with damage and breakage or excessively greasy, oily hair that is weighed down and without volume, everything you do in regards to treating your hair needs to be with your specific hair type and hair goals in mind.To that end, few things are more important to ensuring your hair’s optimal health than a proper washing routine. Aside from making sure you aren’t over washing or under washing your hair, you’ll also need to make sure that you are applying the correct conditioner to your hair to suit your hair needs. Too little conditioner can leave your hair becoming quickly stripped, dry, and brittle, while too much conditioner can. Leave greasy, oily residue in your hair and weigh down your hair strands, killing any hopes you have for volume and a perfect hairstyle.To get the best hairstyle possible, you’ll want to make sure you pick the best conditioner possible for your hair type and hair needs. We’ve prepared a guide to help you pick your perfect hair conditioner depending on your own particular hair type and hair needs. Read below and make your pick!You have oily, greasy hairIf you have hair that is excessively oily and contains a lot of excess sebum or oil near the scalp and hair strand, you might think that you should skip conditioner altogether. Wrong! Even the most oily of hair types needs some sort of conditioner to replenish moisture levels after shampooing. The key is to find a shampoo that is lightweight and focuses more on ingredients like humectants, which are lightweight and draw water into the hair strand, as opposed to emollients and occlusives, which coat the cuticle layer and can cause the hair to become easily weighed down. Make sure to avoid thick butters or silicones, as they can easily weigh down your hair.You have normal hairIf your hair is neither excessively greasy nor dry, consider yourself lucky! Practically any shampoo can work for your hair type when used in moderation, but try to steer clear of excessively heavy conditioners as to avoid overwhelming your hair with too much moisture.You have extremely dry hairIf your hair is as dry as the Sahara, you’ll want to find rich, heavier conditioners that are capable of penetrating the hair to provide it with long lasting moisture while also coating the outer cuticle layer to provide more shine and softness. Make sure to always apply conditioner after shampooing, and make sure to let it sit for several minutes for maximum absorption. The ideal oil should be heavy but one that is easily absorbed by the hair strand, like coconut oil or jojoba oil.
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How to Use a Blowout Brush
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  • Article author: Brianna Mills
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How to Use a Blowout Brush
There are so many different unique and advanced tools being released in the hair care market each day, but you could argue that there isn’t a single tool that is more unique than the blowout brush. This nifty tool combines the hair volumizing benefits of both a high-powered blow dryer and a large round brush for a styling experience unlike any other.One of the biggest benefits in using a blowout brush is that this 2-in-1 functionality allows you more freedom and maneuverability when styling. Rather than having to use one hand to hold your hair with a brush and the other hand to hold and aim your blow-dryer, a blowout brush lets you direct the heat exactly where you want it to go while you have more freedom and control over how you want to brush and or curl your hair.  This unique styling experience allows for volume benefits and can give you long lasting results!Read below to learn how to best utilize a blowout brush and maybe you’ll find some ways you can incorporate this tool into your styling routine!Basic drying and volume boostThe most straightforward way to use a blowout brush is to simply turn the brush onto a low or medium heat setting and gently brush your hair after you’ve washed and air dried your hair.  Simply section off 2-3 inch sections of hair, work the brush from root to tip, and repeat until you’ve brushed and dried the entirety of your hair. This simple method is a quick and easy way to dry and straighten your hair while adding a nice boost of volume.Create curlsIf you want to take things up a notch and create some fun, bouncy curls in your hair, you’ll be amazed at how simple yet effective a blowout brush is at achieving your results. Start with dry hair and apply a heat protectant if available. Turn the heat setting on to your desired setting, with high being ideal for massive, bouncy curls. With your hair sectioned off into 2-3 inch sections, work the bristles of the brush into the hair at the ends and begin rotating the brush towards you, wrapping the hair around the barrel of the brush until you reach the roots. Hold the brush in place for a few seconds to seal in the curls, then slowly unravel the hair and roll it back down. Repeat this process with the remaining sections of your hair and seal everything in with hairspray!Simple straightening routineLastly, the blowout brush can be a great tool for straightening the hair as well! Apply a heat protectant to dry hair and separate the hair into 2-3 inch sections. Turn your blowout brush on to a low or medium heat setting and begin slowly brushing the hair from the root to the tip. Make sure to work as slowly as possible so that you ensure that each inch of the hair strand is smoothed with heat from the brush.
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How to Take Care of Oily Hair
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  • Article author: Kristine Benglyan
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How to Take Care of Oily Hair
We spend a lot of time talking about dry hair types and dealing with hair damage, but what about the other end of the spectrum? Many of us are born with oily and greasy hair types, yet there is little information out there regarding how to best care for and treat it. With so many products out there catering to dry hair types, it can be frustrating to try and find a product that doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down and greasy.Although greasy hair can be a pain and a bit of extra maintenance, there are certainly tips and tricks that can help you manage this hair type and have it looking in tip top shape. Read below for a guide on how to care for greasy hair and the best products to use!Why does hair get greasy?Much like the skin on our face, our scalp and hair follicles produce sebum, a natural substance that keeps the skin and hair hydrated and healthy. Without sebum, our skin and hair would be dry and flaky, making it a very important and natural part of our skin and hair health.  Unfortunately, some people are genetically predisposed to produce too much sebum, sometimes due to hormones or conditions like stress or environmental changes, which causes the hair to become weighed down and greasy. This leads to the hair being difficult to style and create volume, along with creating the potential for scalp conditions like dandruff and dermatitis.How to care for greasy hairWhen it comes to greasy hair types, you’ll focus on keeping your hair clean and residue free in order to help your hair have more volume without being weighed down. At minimum, try to wash your hair at least every other day, and for extra greasy hair types you can even wash your hair once a day. Although you should never forego using a conditioner after you wash your hair, look for a conditioner that is ultra light and contains humectants like glycerin and panthenol, instead of heavy, greasy oils and silicones. Too much extra oil and silicone can create even more buildup on your hair and further exacerbate your issue, which makes it key to avoid them as much as possible.Products to use on greasy hairOnce you solidify your hair care routine, you’ll want to focus on products specifically designed for greasy hair. This means lightweight conditioners and styling products that leave as little residue in your hair as possible. Additionally, look for stronger conditioners that can remove all the extra grease and oil on your hair and scalp. A good option for a weekly hair treatment is using a detoxifying or exfoliating hair mask that can help you remove dead skin cells from the scalp, which helps to reduce oil and grease buildup. Additionally, aim to use a clarifying shampoo once a week to completely remove any product buildup from your hair strands, which will allow your hair to better absorb any conditioner you use.
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How to Curl Hair with a Wand
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  • Article author: Jessica Molloy
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How to Curl Hair with a Wand
A curling wand is one of the most useful tools any hair care enthusiast can have in their arsenal.  As the name suggests, these wands are the perfect tool for creating defined, long-lasting curls, and their unique design allows for seamless, lightweight styling.Like any tool, you’ll need to learn exactly how to use the tool and what the best hair types are for it before beginning to style. Everyone’s hair is highly unique and specific, meaning that a bit of thought needs to go into the selection of the wand and creating a styling technique.Read below to learn how to pick the right curling wand and how to use it to create the style you’re looking for!Which wand to choose from?When it comes to curling wands, they typically come in three main sizes: 19mm, 25mm and 32mm. Knowing which of these sizes to choose will have a huge impact on the outcome of your final curls, so finding the correct barrel size is key. Longer hair lengths will want the 32mm, as will medium length hair types that want to create big, bouncy curls. 25mm is a perfect length for medium length hair types or for short hair looking for a bit of volume and bounce. Lastly, 19mm is perfect for shorter hair types or for medium hair types looking for tight, defined curls.As with any tool, you’ll want to select a high quality device that is equipped with heat protective materials such as tourmaline or titanium. Look for devices that utilize infrared or ionic heating technologies, as these help to minimize breakage and damage when styling and helps preserve moisture levels to prevent frizz and flyaways.How to styleNow that you have your wand of choice in hand, you can begin the styling process!  First and foremost you’ll want to softly brush your hair with a paddle brush to help detangle and organize your hair.  If your hair is feeling dry or dull, feel free to apply a pre-styling lotion and even a heat protectant product to prevent any damage or moisture loss.Once your hair is fully prepped, begin by one inch section of your hair between your fingers a few inches from the roots of your hair. Hold your iron next to your hair, with the iron facing downwards, and begin curling the hair around the barrel, starting from the handle of the barrel until reaching near the tip, leaving an inch or so of hair hanging off the barrel.With the hair heated by the wand, tilt the wand downward until the hair falls loose from the barrel. You should have natural, beautiful looking curls that last all day without losing shape!Once finished, feel free to set the curls with a very lightweight hairspray and/or work in a light hair oil to tame any frizz or flyaways. The oil will also add a beautiful shine to the curls, making them impossible to miss!
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How to Curl Hair with a Blow Dryer
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  • Article author: Janet Lima
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How to Curl Hair with a Blow Dryer
The blow dryer is perhaps the quintessential hair styling tool, and is by far the most commonly used tool in the entire hair care industry. Thanks to its design that combines forced, powerful air with high temperatures, blow dryers are exceptional at both drying the hair quickly while also adding volume and body to the hair. Perhaps where the tool shines best is in its ability to create and seal long-lasting hairstyles for even the most difficult of hair types.How blow dryers restyle our hair’s natural shapeWhen applied to damp hair, the blow dryer is able to manipulate the hair into completely different shapes and styles than what the hair naturally is like, due to the wet hair breaking the hydrogen bonds of the hair and the hot air allowing for the hair to dry quickly in a new shape, sealing it into place. Think of hair much in the same way as one would think of a piece of clay: when clay is dry, it is hard and immovable, but when it is wet it is able to be shaped and deformed into all sorts of ways. When you take this reshaped piece of wet clay and subject it to extremely hot heat, it is able to harden rapidly and seal itself into its new shape.Because of the way in which the heat from the blow dryer is able to interact with the malleable shape of the wet hair strand, the blow dryer is an excellent tool for creating all manners of hairstyles. While many use a blow dryer to create blowouts or to straighten the hair, a blow dryer is also capable of creating long lasting curls that can be as big or defined as you desire. Even in the straightest and most normal of hair types, a blow dryer is capable of manipulating the hair into beautiful curls.How to use a blow dryer to curl the hairWhile creating curls with a blow dryer isn’t as convenient and easy to do as with a curling iron or curling wand, you can create the same long lasting, beautiful results with just a blow dryer and a round hair brush. To start, you’ll want to select the correct hair brush for your desired curl shape.  For tighter, more defined curls, you’ll want to use a thin round styling brush that lets you curl the hair into tight ringlets. For big, bouncy curls with massive volume, you’ll want to choose a thicker round styling brush with a large barrel size.Once you’ve selected your brush, you’ll want to take a section of the hair and place it on top of the round styling brush. Work the hair into the bristles and begin rolling the brush away from your face until you’ve rolled the brush one full rotation. Holding the curl in place, use your other hand to point the hair dryer at the curled hair and blow a medium to high level of heat directly at the curled section of hair. Hold for a few seconds, then release and you have a curl!
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