Blow Me Over: Understanding Hair Dryers

Most women (and some men) have a blow dryer in their bathroom. It’s one of those tools appliances that most people tend to take for granted. Everyday, you get out of the shower, your hair sopping wet and start blowing it dry.  But have you ever thought about your blow dryer and questioned whether you have the right one for your needs? Not many people do.

 

Because your blow dryer is one of the most frequently used hair tools you have. You owe it to yourself, and your hair, to give it a little bit of thought. Choosing the correct blow dryer will help you create the beautiful hair styles that you crave. But you have to do your research and find the right dryer for your needs.

 

So where do you begin? If you’re like most people, you haven’t given your blow dryer much consideration. Maybe you chose the dryer that was on sale, or the smallest one to fit in your drawer. Or maybe you have the same old hair dryer that you’ve had since you were in high school! However you chose your hair dryer, it’s time for you to start choosing for the all right reasons.

 

The first thing that you need to understand is wattage. Each blow dryer has a certain wattage which determines how strong it is and ultimately how much heat it puts out. If you are the type of person who is always in a hurry and you want to get your hair dry in a hurry, you will want a dryer with 2000 watts or higher. Going with something slightly less powerful, such as an 1800 watt dryer, will also get the job done in a reasonable time. If you have short or fine hair that doesn’t take long to dry, maybe wattage isn’t a big factor. However if you have long thick hair, this should be an important factor for you.

 

If it’s possible you should try out a hair dryer before you buy it. It isn’t always possible to try them before buying, but if it is, try to take advantage of it. It’s good to get a feel for the weight of a dryer, and how easy it is to maneuver and if the cord gets wrapped up and in your way. These details may seem small, but if you are making an investment, these are the little things that will make the difference.

 

You may think that hair dryers damage your hair because of the intense heat that they use, but this doesn’t have to be true. There are now negative ion dryers that utilize ionic technology. These dryers blow negative ions over the hair which not only dries your hair in half the time as a conventional dryer, but also help to keep your hair looking soft, shiny and healthy. Negative ion energy actually works by closing the hair shaft which protects the hair resulting in healthy, healthier hair.

 

Some people like to choose blow dryers that come with a great deal of attachments. For some – more is better. Be sure that whatever attachments a hair dryer comes with, they are useful for your type of hair. You will want a nozzle on your dryer as you can get a bit closer to your hair without damaging it. Some dryers come with a diffuser attachment. This type of attachment is great for professional hair stylists, or people with curly hair that need a diffused heat to dry their hair.

 

Ultimately when you choose a hair dryer, price will also be an issue for many people. However, when it comes to an investment that will last you for years remember that a quality dryer will save you time and money in the long run, not to mention that a quality dryer will protect the health of your hair as well!

Thinning Thick Hair For Better Style

Having a hair style with many layers is a great way to thin hair which very thick and heavy which will allow the beautiful natural waves in the hair appear more full of life. Too often those with very thick hair complain about the lack of bounce in their hair and wonder what they can do to get their hair to be not only full but vibrant as well. Using Kamisori thinning shears to create layers in this thick hair will help lighten the weight placed on the hair and allow it to be bouncier and healthier.

Effectively Drying Really Thick Hair

If you have very thick hair sometimes getting it completely dry so you can start styling it with your hair irons takes way too long, especially in the mornings when you need to get to work. The perfect solution for you if your hair is like this is one of the ionic blow dryers available on the market now. These dryers are proven to dry hair fifty percent quicker than just an average blow dryer, and in a way that is much healthier for your hair. These dryers do cost a little more up front, but they will last longer and are much better on your hair so you will soon wonder why it took you so long to get one.

Using Hair Thinning Scissors

Women with extremely thick hair sometimes have a harder time getting that hair under control and applying styles such as the popular straight looks that are so in demand. Ask any stylist and they will suggest that these women thin their hair to help it not only achieve these styles but to give it more life as well. Of course this is accomplished with hair thinning scissors that many women can easily learn to use on their very own hair. Why head to the salon when you do not need a full cut when you can just thin your locks at home with a quality pair of thinning shears.

Adjustable Temperature Settings On Curling Irons

It has been said many times but can never be said enough that if you are looking for a curling iron then you really need one with an adjustable temperature setting. Generic curling irons use a one temperature fits all approach which works some of the time but for fine hair or really thick hair this will not get the style you are looking for since the temperature setting is not the right one for your hair type. High quality hair curling irons will have this temperature adjustment which will let you use just the right one for your hair type to get the absolute best curls in your hair.

Working With Thick Hair

If your hair is very thick it may tend to dry out under lots of styling products and the heat from styling tools. Not rinsing hair well, curling irons, and blow dryers all play a role in making your locks dry and this can potentially damage it making it appear less than healthy and beautiful.  If your thick hair is already dried out then there are things you can do to put it back onto the road to being the hair you truly want to have.

Getting that hair thinned out can be a big step toward getting body back into your hair and reviving the strands for new hairstyles. This will lighten the hair making it easier to have big full body styles. Also use professional styling tools such as tourmaline hair dryers to not only dry your hair more effectively but also help it retain its own moisture for more health. Another added benefit of this extra body will be less time will need spent with a curling iron trying to pump up the volume of that heavily weighed down hair. A great cut goes a long way to getting a great look out of your thick hair.

Using Professional Hair Irons on Curly Hair

Women with very thick curly hair who try and use cheap drugstore hair straighteners usually end up discouraged and feel that these irons are a waste of money. In reality if they had first gave slightly more expensive professional hair straighteners a try then they would have had much better results and would have enjoyed the experience so much more. Professional hair irons heat up quicker and more evenly making them more effective at actually straightening very curly thick hair. Don’t just use a cheap iron and get discouraged by its ineffectiveness instead ask your stylist to try hers on your hair and then buy that same model for your home use. It may cost a little more, but it will be a better hair iron that will style your hair more effectively than those cheap drugstore models.

How do I know if I am using a Hair Straightener Right?

Using a hair straightener varies from hair type to hair type. If you have the kind of hair that no matter what you do it always looks healthy and shiny then go ahead, straighten, perm, color, it simply wont matter….YOU ARE LUCKY! If you have thin fine hair, never ever use a hair iron on full temperature, or any other heating product for that matter, you will burn your hair. Also, never use any kind of heating element on your hair until it is fully dry. Your hair will melt, and you will see smoke coming up from the iron.

From my findings, only very VERY thick course hair, “ethnic” hair, or that exquisite type of hair where it just doesn’t matter what they do, can use the highest temperature. Also, with this type of hair a hair straightener can be used on damp hair. ( Some reviews I have read will state that this is the only way to, in the long run, straighten their hair)

It is simply trial and error, but there is one strain of hair that absolutely, positively, cannot endure the risks of too much heat or having your hair still damp during hot iron use. That is thin….fine….hair!. It’s sad, I know, but fine thin hair is always the one you have to be wary of, well there are the “over permed, colored, frizzy types of hair also! They too have to be careful and use low settings and have their hair completely dry before attacking it with the heat. Excessive blow drying along with the use of any heating product is going to cause damage. Always start small and climb! Better to have used the lowest setting and not have to toss that burnt chunk of hair in your trash bin!

Till next time Good Luck,

Niki

How to Find a Hair Stylist

When I was about 19, I went to this hairdresser in “a small town” I hadn’t noticed the smell of alcohol on her breath till my hair was half done. When she was finally finished, I cried, and cried and cried. I was so upset that when I got home, my mom only had to look at me to know that I had been scalped by a drunken hairstylist. She was more upset than me, she dialed the salon asked for the “drunken hairstylist” and told her how awful my hair looked and that she was sending me back to get it fixed. What? sending me back? Oh, please mom, noooo. Well needless to say I always get up close and personal now when choosing a new hairstylist.

A good stylist is in fact easy to find. I mean all you have to do is go into a salon and watch them work. Look at how many different types of hair they can work on, leaving a satisfied customer in the works. Can they do short hair, long hair, thick hair, thin hair, can they color?

If you see a hairstyle you like on someone, don’t be afraid to ask them where they got their hair done. When scouting out a salon, stay long enough to see the outcome of a clients hair. Is she happy? Did she get what she asked for? Don’t forget that not all hairtypes can do the same thing, you may want a hairstyle that just wont work with your type of hair. Tell the stylist what type of hair you have and if they are good they will be able to tell you if your hair can do that or not. See if they have a portfolio, check out the styles and cuts inside, are they good? Do the clients look happy?

Chances are if they are smiling they are happy and this could be a possible hair stylist for you, if they don’t look so happy, move on to the next salon and do your detective work once again!

Till next time Good Luck,

Niki

Hair Straightening Tips

Getting sleek shiny straight hair with an ceramic hair iron, takes a little practice but once you master some simple techniques you can quickly and easily master the straight hair look, which is so popular currently.

• Use the lowest heat setting necessary on the hair straightening tool for your hair type – Professional hair tools have variable temperature adjustments which will allow you to choose the settings which is just right for your hair. Thin or damaged hair should stay in the lower temps while very thick hair will need higher settings to optimally straightener the hair. While most hair types will use the middle temperature settings on the ceramic hair straightener to get the curl out.
• Comb your hair out before attempting to straightener your hair with a flattening iron – Tangles in your hair will not straighten properly with a ceramic hair iron, so comb out your hair thoroughly to get the absolute smoothest straightening of your hair possible.
• Straighten you hair in sections – It is easiest to divide your hair into small manageable areas to straighten. This makes the heat from the ceramic hair iron more effective on the area that you are currently working on.
• Work from root to tip – Slowly run the hair straightening tool you are using from the root of the current section you are working to the tip in a smooth gliding motion.

With a little time and practice you can become as good as a professional stylist at straightening your hair with a hair straightening tool.

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