So you need a new hairstraightener? A friend recently had this dilemma for a while not knowing how to choose a new pair. I gave her a few pointers,
recommended a few models and suggested she run on over to Ebay to see if there were any hairstraighteners on there which would fit the bill. I told her to make sure she chose a hairstraightener which would suit her hair type. She never realised that there were different hairstraighteners available to suit different hair types. This is one time when one size certainly doesn't fit all! List at the ready she took a look on Ebay and found the perfect pair and the price was good too!
Hot tip: Research the type of hairstraighteners suitable for your personal hair type and short list a few pairs that fit the bill. Head on over to Ebay and bag that bargain!
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Everything you thought you knew about hairstraighteners or were too afraid to ask!.
Choosing and Using Hair Straighteners
When choosing your hairstraightener make sure to choose the correct one for your hair type. There are various different models and ranges on the market which are designed to work best with a particular hair type. If you have thick, very long, or very curly hair you will need to choose a straightener with a wider plate surface and a wider range of temperature settings. For fine hair, hair that is wavy, or very short hair, you will need a narrow plate straightener that includes lower temperature settings. You will find the better quality brands tend to have a much quicker heat-up time too and with temperatures now hitting around 450°F it does pay to try and afford the best you can.
Many brands have a variation on a theme of 'Ceramic', ' Tourmaline', ' Titanium' and other such trade names. They all do a similar job. They tend to have a much smoother plate finish than a plain aluminium so therefore do not tend to snag or grab at the hair strands thus alleviating any potential for damage.
When using hair straighteners for the first time it makes for a good technique not to linger too long on the hair as this can cause untold damage to the strands. It is much better to experiment with a small bunch and then make a steady sweep from head to tip in about 2-4 secs depending on the length. Experiment with increasing the temperature till you reach a good setting for your hair. It is better to make 1 or 2 sweeps and learn what works for you rather than try to go for the one hit fix and get it wrong and do more harm than good.
Thermal Protection For Your Hair
One thing that is often overlooked is the damage that can be done to hair from using hair straighteners. We all know how hairdryers can damage hair if used incorrectly so it is wise to use precaution when using your hair straighteners. There are various options available on the market one is the GHD Hair oil.
This is an ‘oilfree’ preparation which comes in an attractive pump action bottle. Yes I know it’s Oilfree and it is called ‘Hair Oil’! Interestingly enough its main ingredient is Aqua. I suppose it’s just a ‘marketing thing’.
Now I have heard both good things and not so good things about it. Some say that it can make hair feel greasy while others say that it works just great with no greasiness whatsoever. My advice would be that it will all depend on your hair type and to try it and see how you get on with it.
It can be used on either wet or dry hair and at nearly £14/US$20 a bottle it does seem a bit pricey but I have it on good authority that it lasts for ages. Just a light misting from arms length should do the job and avoid getting it in your eyes as always!
Once again Ebay is a good starting place to look for it get it for nothing like the retail price!
There are other type of Thermal/Heat protection for hair available such as: Hask Straight Solution, Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum, Lanza Strait-Line Thermal Defence Heat Protector, Maxius Beyond Straight and CHI Straight Guard Smoothing Styling Cream to name a few and availability would depend in which country you live. Remember you can always ask your stylist for impartial advice with choosing a protector before using your hair straighteners.