Better Blow Dryers For Better Hair

The blow dryer has come a long way over the years to a piece of equipment that blew air on your head to dry your hair to a fancy hair styling tool that will not only dry your hair, but help moisturize it as well. In the past hair dryers were large and clunky with the air being blown on your hair being just a slightly heated up version of the air around the dryer. This worked, but was bad to dry hair out, especially if the dryer was used often. This resulted in dried out hair with split ends, which tended to be frizzy and unmanageable.

Newer professional hair dryers are lighter weight and much more efficient at drying hair quickly and effectively without drying out the hair. Ionic hair dryers use negative ions to break down the water in the hair instead of blowing it away with hot air. By not using hot air to blow the hair dry the hair is able to retain its own moisture and thus does not dry out. This means a healthier, shinier head of hair free of split ends and easy to manage and style.

Ionic Hair Dryers

One of the hottest new styling tools available are the ionic hair dyers, which are being, touted as the absolute best way to blow dry your hair. There are those who debate the science behind ionic blow dryers and feel that it is all marketing hype. Yet Consumer Reports independently studied the blow dryers and concluded that they indeed leave hair shiny and healthier looking when used and they dried hair quicker than regular blow dryers. Once you try out this ionic technology you will become a true believer as well in the effectiveness and quality of these blow dryers.

Using the Best Blow Dryers

Many women go to great lengths to buy the best salon quality shampoo and conditioners for their hair so it will look its absolute best. Yet without even thinking about it these same women use cheap drugstore hair dryers to dry their hair after every washing. These blow dryers do get the hair dry, but are very damaging to the hair in the process. One of the best investments that can be made for the overall health and vitality of your hair is a professional blow dryer. Ionic and tourmaline blow dryers are specially designed to dry hair quickly and efficiently leaving it healthier and more radiant.

Thin hair do’s & dont’s

Having fine thin hair almost seems like a curse. You try all the newest shampoos and conditioners that say they will change your hair into luscious thick locks. Well, after 37 years of trying them all I do believe not one of them made my hair thicker but some did in fact add body and or shine.

Things you should not do with thin fine hair:

• Do not shampoo everyday. Shampoo takes away the natural occurring oils that help in protecting thin fine hair.
• Do not blow dry from soaking wet. This will dry out your hair much quicker and your hair will become extremely damaged. After time it will look as though your hair is actually thinning out.
• Do not brush your hair from the top of your head to the bottom.  This will cause breakage. Breakage happens when you rip through your hair, brushing too quickly. The shorter pieces of hair that are not as long as the others are broken hairs.
• Do not use conditioner after each and every shampoo. This will weigh your hair down.
• Do not deep condition too frequently, your hair will always be limp and lifeless.
• Do not color or perm too frequently, causes extreme damage after time.
• Do not use elastics or barrettes that are too tight on your hair, this causes breakage.
• Do not use the highest heating temperature on hair straighteners, or other heating elements. Causes the hair to actually burn.

Thing you should do with fine thin hair:

• Shampoo every second day or third if you can handle it. Your hair will start to get used the non-shampooing everyday and soon you will be able to leave it for 2 days before your next shampoo. The natural occurring oils that your hair produce help to keep it healthy and shiny for a noticeable difference every time you have your first shampoo style after the 2 day waiting period.
• Blow-dry when your hair is almost dry.  Will keep your hair from becoming too dry and porous (porous is hair that is so dry that it has sucked up all the moisture. So although you may have just washed your hair it will be dry to the touch seconds later.)
• Brush from the bottom of your hair working up slowly and making sure to not rip through.
• Use a spray in conditioner (one that does not contain any alcohol) after at least 3 shampoos. This will prevent your hair from being weighed down from use of regular conditioners on  a daily basis.
• Deep condition once MAYBE twice a month. Use a lightweight but effective deep conditioning. This will help to restore your hair’s natural balance and keep hair shiny and healthy in between hair stylist visits.
• If you are a perm /colour user, make sure that you are doing this every 3 months if not more and getting your 6 week trim after perm. So easy to dry out fine thin hair with perms and or colours. Try to maybe see about getting hair extensions as a replacement to this. They are not as expensive as they used to be and now have clip on ones where you can do them yourself.
• Use loose fitting elastics. Prevents breakage
• Always use the lowest temperature on any heating device. You will know which temperature is best for you after some practice, instead of starting with the hottest temperature and burning your hair.

Properly Straightening Your Hair

It always surprises me how many women have trouble getting salon quality results with their hair straightening iron. Really using ceramic hair straighteners is fairly simple and part of the success is in the preparation of your hair in the drying process.

To start drying your hair properly to encourage straight hair blot, do not rub your hair dry. Once you are ready to start blow drying use a soft brush to comb your hair straight as you blow your tresses dry. If you do not already have an ionic hair dryer maybe you should consider one as these will help your hair maintain its moisture which will discourage frizz and curl that results from dry hair.

Once you hair is thoroughly dry then use a professional hair straightener with a ceramic coating to help your hair stay moist and encourage negative ions in your hair. Start at the root and straighten small sections of hair at a time. Clamp the hair iron on a small lock of hair and slowly move it in a gliding motion down your hair from the root to the very tip. Continue this process over your entire head taking care not to expose your hair to excess heat as this will damage it especially if you straighten your hair often.

Professional Blow Dryers

A qood blow dryer can be one of the best investments you ever make for not only for your hair but for yourself as a whole. Professional hair dryers are not only better on your hair than those cheap drugstore models they also are easier for you to use. These dryers are lighter in weight making them easier on the arm. Plus the dryers have a higher wattage rating which makes them blow dry hair faster and more effectively than those cheap off brand dryers. Though they may cost more in the beginning professional hair dryers will outlast the cheap models and in the end be the better bargain.

Get This Look using a Hairstraightener

A Chignon sits lower on the head than a basic bun so be sure to focus on the nape of your neck as you style.

1. Towel-dry your hair and apply a loonie-sixed dollop of mousse evenly throughout to add texture and volume.
2. Blow-dry with a round brush to add bounce and then set with hot rollers or a curling iron. Concentrate curls on the bottom half of your hair,-keep the roots and crown smooth and use a hair straightener for your bang area.
3. Let hair cool and professional hair brush to bring out the shine.
4. Secure hair in a low ponytail at the nape of the neck, swept off to one side. Leave a one-inch-wide piece stray and wrap it around the hair elastic to conceal it. Secure with a bobby pin.
5. To add more texture, backcomb the ponytail. Don’t be afraid of your bun being too messy, this will be the beauty of it-it doesn’t have to look perfect.
6. Pin the hair under in small sections to create the chignon. Don’t go crazy with the hairspray. Instead, make sure it will stay put by anchoring the base with enough bobby pins.

Till Next time Good Luck,

Niki

How to Use a Hair Straightener

I wanted to do a quick post on how to use a hair straightener because I get quite a few emails from customers asking how to get the best results from their Karmin Professional Flat Iron. Also, I occasionally come across someone who has never used a hair straightener before so this is for those of you who want to know how you can use your hair iron to it’s fullest potential and get the best results every time!

*It is important that you know a few things before using your hair straightener, such as having clean hair and using a heat protectant to prevent from heat damage.

Once you know what you need to do before you start, you’re ready to use your flat iron! Turn it on to the desied temperature and as it heats up follow step 1.

Step 1. – Section clean, dry hair and pin up with hair clips.

Step 2. - Taking your flat iron in one hand, grab a 1″ section of hair from the first layer and starting as close to the roots as your are comfortable with, put the section of hair between the plates clamp your iron onto the hair. Slowly glide the iron down the section until you reach the ends of your hair.

Style tip - If you have super curly hair blow dry hair straight before using your flat iron and follow hair straightener on the section of hair with a comb to help smooth hair as you straighten it.

Style tip - If you want a super straight look, keep the iron straight and let the ends come out from the iron. If you want a bit of a flip at the ends twist the iron in a flipping motion either direction when you near the last inch of hair. Twisting the iron out will flip hair out, whereas flipping it in will flip hair under.

Super Straight Hairstyle

How To Flip Hair

Flipping Hair Out

Flipped Under Hairstyle

Flipped Out Hairstyle

Step 3 - Continue Step 2. over the rest of your hair, section by section. After completing one layer, let down the next and so on.

Step 4 - When you have completed your entire head of hair you can touch up any needed areas.

Step 5 - When you have your desired look set hair with an anti-frizz shine serum or flexible hold hairspray.

Style Tip - If this is your first time using a hair straightener and you are a little intimidated, try using the iron with the heat off or very low to get a good feel for the iron.

How to Straighten Curly, Thick, Coarse Hair
How to Curl Your Hair Using a Hair Straightener
How to Get Super Shiny Hair Using a Flat Iron
Cleaning Your Hair Straightener

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