When it comes to the hair care and styling world there have been some big changes in recent years. In the salons a long time ago blow-drying hair took hours to style as it was the only way to get smooth straight hair. However when heat styling at home was made possible with the launch of the first Corning G Glass Cylinder for hair straightening in 2001 hair could then be styled in salon quality hair at home, all while being kind to hair and reducing the damage that heat styling can cause. Today with many advancements in technology of hair styling products hair stylers, hair straighteners and hair curlers for example there are a variety of hair iron styles available on the market today to ensure you are able to style your hair any way you like to create the perfect hair style for any occasion whether that be an everyday hair style to wear to the office or a night out on the town and you can ensure it will last long and look fantastic all long.
1. The Foundation of Great Hair: Understanding Your Hair Texture
Everyone’s hair is different and can have a variety of characteristics. The way hair behaves when it is heated by a hair styler can differ depending on hair type, hair texture, hair density and hair porosity. Some hair types are easier to style than others but all hair can be damaged by heat styling if the wrong hair styling products are used. Before you start styling your hair with any heated hair appliance it’s therefore essential that you have a good understanding of your hair and know its make up. Even if you are using the best hair styling tools available on the market, you won’t get the very best from your hair and you could even end up causing damage if you aren’t using the correct hair styling products for your hair. You can read our guide on understanding hair porosity here to help learn more about your hair and how it works.By following the guide to determine your hair porosity you will be able to understand more about your locks and this will enable you to select hair styling tools which are suitable for your hair, allowing you to achieve great hair and also ensure that your hair will not be damaged by using heat on it.
2. Prepping and Protecting: The Crucial Barrier
For temporary changes to hair’s form, heat styling products are often used in conjunction with heated styling tools. For this reason, it is crucial to apply the best-suited hair styling products before heat styling, as these act as a protective barrier between hair fibers and the heat from the styling tool. This not only protects hair from damage when using heat, but also creates and sets the style.Hair styling products, including straighteners and curling irons, can cause hair that is already damaged by heat from another hair styling product more damage. However, it is not necessary to worry about this type of damage as long as the person is using a heat-protecting hair spray or serum. These products lock the style of the hair that was created by a previous use of a hair styler and can also add volume to hair that is lifeless, create textures within hair that are flat and also smooth out curly hair in order to achieve a straight style for a long period of time.
Essential Pre-Styling Steps:
- Towel Dry Hair Gently: If you have towel dried your hair then use a microfibre towel to squeeze out as much water as possible from you hair. Using a rough and abrasive motion with a towel can cause breakage and create frizz in your hair.
- Detangle Safely: If you have tangled hair before styling, it is always best to detangle your hair with a day or so before, to prevent knots when styling. Use a detangling brush or comb and work from the ends up. Using a wide-tooth comb is best for detangling hair as it has less surface area and therefore puts less pressure on the hair shaft. When using a brush, work slowly through hair section by section working from the bottom of your hair up to prevent knots forming.
- Towel Dry Gently: Use a microfibre towel to dry your hair when it is damp. Avoid rubbing your hair with a regular towel as this can cause breakage and lead to frizz.
- Detangle Safely: Before styling, gently detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb or brush designed for use on wet hair. Work from the ends of your hair up to the roots.
3. Mastering the Techniques
Below we go into detail about three of the most popular hair styles and provide tips on how to complete them using a hair dryer at home to get great results.The Bouncy Blowout
First up is the 90’s style blow-dried hair style. This style can be created by using hair dryers and is perfect for those looking for a style that makes them look like a supermodel. The best time to create this style is when your hair is roughly 80% dry. Start by towel drying your hair and then proceed to rough-dry it with your dryer. Next, section your hair from the back of your head to the front and pull the hair up from the roots whilst brushing the hair with a round brush attachment on your dryer or a regular round brush. Hold the dryer close to the roots of your hair to dry it quickly and create more volume. Once you have styled a section of hair, release it and repeat the process for the rest of your hair. Once you have styled all of your hair, use the cool shot on your dryer to cool down the style and set it in place.Sleek and Glass-Like Straight Hair
After this prep your hair is ready to be styled in your preferred way. Below are three ways that you can use to style your hair to create a smooth sleek look, or bouncy voluminous hair or to create a relaxed beachy look with effortless waves.Effortless Beach Waves
Also, in the article you will learn the styles in this article and how to do them with straightener or curling iron. The Bouncy Blow-Dry and the Sleek and Glass Like Straight Hair Hair Styles, how to do them and more! Also, how to do Effortless Beach Waves Hair Style.4. Temperature Control Guide
Damage to hair can occur due to excessive heat styling. As hair is heated with a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron the moisture in the hair is forced to boil within the hair cortex. As the moisture boils within the hair cortex it will cause the hair to blister and then eventually snap. This type of hair damage can be very costly and is something that most people will want to avoid at all costs.Here is a quick reference guide for safe heat usage for different hair types and their corresponding hair styling temperature guidelines and focus area:
5. Post-Styling Care and Maintenance
After you have styled your hair, the last thing you want to do is have to style it again the next day. In order to keep your style for as long as possible, there are a few things that you can do in order to extend the life of your style.- Don’t touch hair after styling: Natural hand oils penetrate hair fast and will flatten style and make hair greasy very quickly.
- Avoid touching your hair: The oils from your hair can transfer to your hair and flatten it, or make it greasy. Also try to avoid rubbing your hair with a towel as this can create friction and cause your hair to become tangled.
- Tool Maintenance: The filters and plates of your styling tools (such as irons and curling wands) need to be cleaned regularly. Product residue from the previous use of your styling tools can stick to the filters and plates and then be transferred to your hair when you use your styling tools on your freshly washed hair. This can have the effect of flattening your hair or even of weighing it down.
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