Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The "Hair Straightner"

Getting the Best Hair Straightener for your hair

Once you have realised that using a hair straightener is the best hair straightening method - if used properly it does not cause much damage, it does not cost a lot, it is easy to use and provides the desired hair structure in no time, now the crucial part is selecting the right hair straightener.

There are several great hair straightener available in the market (though your options are limited if you are buying in India) – Morphy Richards, Nicky Clarke, Remington, Babyliss, Revlon, Vidal Sasoon, Sedu, FHI, T3, Maxiglide. But amongst all GHD Hair Straightener is our top pick. I have used quite many straighteners, but no comparison with GHD.

I would recommend GHD Professional Ceramic Hair Straightener to all.
They are fabulous. GHD styling irons are unbelievably more efficient than the cheaper varieties. With GHD’s your hair last straight longer, you don’t need to do each strand again and again just run it once or twice and your hair are straight and non-frizzy. It leaves the hair soft and shiny and of course perfectly straight (I have been using them for four years now and they are fab).

The GHD technology is also renowned for looking after your hair, as opposed to burning the life out of it. But frequent use of any straightener will damage your hair, so avoid the use as much as possible.






They score on safety features too. If they are plugged in but are inactive for a certain amount of time they automatically turn off to prevent fires. Their hair straighteners have a built in microprocessor which is totally unique and regulates the temperature 5 times a second, which is shown by the flashing LED. The new straighteners beep when they are hot enough to use, so you don’t forget they are on.

You can also create curl, waves or flicks with the new style GHDs due to the curved edges and create gorgeous ringlets.

They are expensive but totally worth it. They are a good investment – their good quality ensures they last longer than the cheap ones and give much better results.


How much do they cost?

Their prices start from about £109 (you can find good deals online). In India I think the price range is from Rs 10,000.


GHD Too expensive?
Read the guide below on selecting a straightener.

What to look for when buying a Hair Straightener

You may not be want to shell out an exorbitant sum of money for a straightner. In that case here are some important facts and features that you will need to take into consideration when buying a hair straightening iron (styling iron).


Plate Type - The first thing that you should look at is the ceramic plates. Your straightener must have ceramic plates. Don't go for aluminium plates.

Width - Does the ceramic hair straightening iron you are considering buying have different widths? A mini-styler is best for short or men’s hair. Wider plates enable you to quickly work through larger sections of hair making it ideal for thicker or heavier hair (GHD IV Salon Styler).

Weight - the lighter the better as it will be easier to use.

Heating time - How long does the hair straightening iron take to heat up? It is important that your straightener does not take too long to heat up. When in hurry this feature will be crucial. The GHD Styler’s plates heat up fast.

Safety - Are there any safety features? Like the irons should turn off automatically or beep if inactive for long.

Price - Well you should definitely not compromise on quality and buy a cheap bad quality product. After all it is your hair. You must remember that purchasing a hair straightener is a one time investment which will improve your life style for years. Within a good brand itself you can find range of options. Decide which one will be best for you and be light on your budget.


Where to find them?

GHD in India
The only place I have come across that sells GHD Styling Irons is Toni and Guy in Mumbai. You can also find them on eBay, but I will still prefer buying in a store.
Toni and Guy: 207-208 Allied Bungalow, Ground Floor, St. John’s Road, Pali Naka, Bandra (W), Mumbai. Phone: 022-26400163/169

GHD in United Kingdom
You can buy them online from GHD’s website. There are other websites that sell GHD but be sure of the product authenticity. If you want to see the product and then buy, many good hair salons stock GHD


But Remember

Ceramic flat irons cause considerably less damage to hair than less expensive flat irons that use metal or plastic heating elements (or have less ceramic on their plates). But the hard truth is this: regular, prolonged exposure to heat – especially if your hair is already damaged, chemically treated or thin – will cause some stress to your hair structure.

The impact of heat styling can be lessened by using conditioners daily – and if you notice tress stress, try deep conditioning once a week (even with home remedies like curd, avocado or olive oil hair treatments). Before heat styling, use heat treatments to prepare your hair for the process (let dry completely before styling). Make sure your hair is as clean and dry as can be - damp hair in a flat iron will sustain more damage than dry hair and could instantly frizz up. Unless, of course, you use a wet-to-dry - safe for use on damp hair, with the added benefit of eliminating the need for blow drying (you’ll still need to towel dry thoroughly and comb your hair out before ironing). And if you’re still using a traditional metal heated hair dryer, upgrade to one that uses ceramic elements as well – any professional hair dryer uses negative ionic heating to help protect hair, and dries much quicker so heat exposure is lessened.

One final tip: give your hair a break from heat styling on days when you don’t really need it! It’ll look that much better when it’s time to shine.


Disclaimer: Sedu Hair Straighteners are also considered one of the best in the world, but I did not yet get a chance to try them and amongst all the others, GHD straighteners are the best.


Related Posts and Articles:
Flat Iron Buying Guide 101
The Encyclopedia of Lip Balms
Ten Best Perfumes For Winter
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