Hair Product Tools...Are They Worth The Splurge?
When it comes to beauty topics, the one thing I feel very confident in is hair. This may be hard for you to believe if you are new here and only see my hair in a top knot these days, but hey, we are still in phase one over here so not worth washing and styling!! Usually, I love changing things up with my hair and trying out new tips, tricks and tools. This is fun, but can get expensive. I went most of my life not understanding why hair tools had to be so expensive - did it really make a difference? Or were you just paying for the name? Through my research and experience, I found that it’s a little bit of both, but I am here to break it all down for you.
As an average consumer, you don’t need to purchase the top of the line hair styling tools on the market. Those are typically made for hairstylists. Remember, you’re using them once a day - if that - on yourself, not all day every day on a variety of hair types. What you do need to worry about is how to get products that will not only last, but will not damage your hair all while saving you time and energy.
If you don’t have time to read through all sections of this today, click the links below to skip to the section of your choice!
This is the most common of all hair styling tools and, in my opinion, the one worth the biggest splurge. Spending some extra money on a good blow dryer will give you one that lasts longer, dries the hair faster and will leave your hair smoother. So, just remember the cheaper it is the longer it will probably take to dry your hair.
Now you are ready to spend a little money on a blow dryer, what next? If you read up on them, you will hear a lot about ionic technology, ceramic and tourmaline dryers. (These things will come up again when discussing hair straighteners, so pay attention!)
First Ion technology is something I’ve heard thrown around a lot. That is because our hair has both positive and negative ions in it. When the hair is wet it is positive, so how this technology works is when you blow dry the hair, the dryer emits negative ions that help evaporate water faster and gives your hair a sleeker look. If you are fighting frizz, you are going to want to look for a blow dryer with this ion technology.
You will also find ceramic blow dryers. These emit inferred heat which can actually be more gentle on your hair by providing added heat protection.
Then you have tourmaline hairdryers, which use this semi precious mineral for its ability to emit negative ions as well as editing infrared heat. This can reduce drying time by 40%, which means less heat on your hair, which results in healthier hair.
1. Wazor Professional Far Infrared Hair Dryer ($45) - This dryer packs a powerful, but super quiet motor. It claims to generate 100 times more negative ions than any other ionic dryer on the market. So, you are essentially getting softer, healthier hair by using this blow dryer.
WHY I LIKE IT: I have not personally tried this blow dryer, but after all my research I ordered it. I was left thinking the same thing you all are probably thinking - how can this blow dryer be this great and cost under $50? Well, apparently this dryer usually goes for $110 but you can currently get it on Amazon for this low price point! I should also note that the dryer is a bit on the heavy side and the buttons are awkwardly positioned but none of this stopped people from giving it a 5 star rating.
2. SRI Salon Dry Pro Blow Dryer ($149) - This dryer has safe and effective negative ion technology and ceramic-tourmaline air composition.
WHY I LIKE IT: It has multiple temperature settings, a ceramic-tourmaline air outlet, three attachments, is pretty lightweight and has overheating protection. It also has red light therapy, which has a lot of health benefits, but for your hair specifically it has been shown to help stimulate hair growth.
3. T3 Cura Luxe Hair Dryer ($285) - Utilizing digital IonAir technology, this blow dryer delivers precise heat and a wide, gentle airstream that dries hair quickly. There is a similar model on sale at Costco right now, for any of you who are interested!
WHY I LIKE IT: It has 5 heat and 2 speed settings. It has a volume booster switch which claims to “boost texture and volume” which I feel like I notice when I use it. It has an auto pause sensor that pauses airflow when you release the dryer handle. I don’t know why every single blow dryer out there doesn’t have this convenient feature.
4. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($399) - A lightweight hair dryer with air multiplier technology which measures air temperature 20 times a second to prevent overheating. It uses ionic technology to reduce frizz and leaves your hair looking smooth and sleek.
WHY I LIKE IT: If you have been a reader for awhile, then you know I love everything Dyson, but beyond the novelty factor this blow dryer packs a punch. While it does not have the tourmaline gem, I find it still blow drys my hair faster and leaves it feeling healthier than competing blow dryers. This is the quietest blow dryer I have come across, which is a nice bonus, plus the motor is in the handle instead of the head which makes its easier to use while styling hair.
I can not talk about hair dryers without discussing volumizing hair dryers. I, like most lazy women out there, love a good blow out that can last them days, if not en entire week. So, if I can get similar results at home, sign me up! I have tried a lot of these in my day and 99% of them fall short, I have only found two that live up to their claims:
5. Revlon One step Hair Dryer and Volumizer ($60) - This dryer seems to be the new hot item and with that price tag it is easy to see why. It delivers exactly what it says. It combines the power of the dryer and the volume of a styler for a quick, easy blowout you can do yourself. Before you add this to your cart, make sure you read all the reviews. In my experience, the metal under the bristles gets very hot and can damage hair with regular use. The dryer also has some negative reviews regarding the quality, I have had mine for about two years and recently noticed it smoking a little with use. WHY I LIKE IT: Now, for $60 I didn’t expect it to last forever, but it would be nice if it did. Overall, it delivers what it claims and I think it is a great option for occasional use.
6. Dyson Airwrap ($500) - It’s called the coanda effect — the phenomenon in which high-velocity air in round objects turns into a powerful vortex (think jet engines). The Dyson Airwrap, however, isn't meant to just dry hair — it's also meant to make the process of curling hair or creating a sleek, voluminous, or a wavy blowout way, way easier. If you have not seen this baby in action, take a second and head over to my “Beauty” highlight on Instagram to see it in action! It’s pretty insane. You may also be thinking the price tag is insane. Could a hair tool really be worth $500? If you are asking me, then the answer is yes. Going back to the fact that I love a good blow out, this Airwrap not only makes that possible and easy, but it doesn’t seem to be damaging to the hair AT ALL - a far cry from the Revlon one step hair dryer! I have to mention, this is a lot more than just a volumizing hair dryer, you can achieve a number of different looks and styles with this one tool (with multiple attachments), which is pretty cool!
WHY I LIKE IT: It is worth mentioning again, it has heat control which prevents heat damage to your hair. Straight curly, wavy, whatever style you want you can achieve it in some way, shape or form with this guy. The pros definitely outweigh the con, but I do have one con - I feel like it doesn’t have the ability to fit into your routine, you have to change your routine to fit with the Airwrap. Before the Airwrap, I was a wash my hair, blow dry at night, then curl and style in the morning type of girl, but with the Airwrap you are blow drying and styling at one time so if I do my usual night time routine then I am going to bed on beautify style hair, which is fine. It still looks great in the morning, but just seems like a waste. So, I now find myself switching up my routine to wash my hair in the morning on the days I plan on using the Airwrap. Another con is that while you can achieve many different styles with this one tool, it didn’t replace all of my hair tools, I still reach for my curling wand and my straightener now and again.
Looking back, I cringe thinking of all the time I spent in grade school with a flat iron trying to get my hair as flat and straight as possible. I gave up the straightener completely for a long time, but recently have brought it back in rotation. I have found that technology has changed a lot, so it was worth a deep internet dive to see on the market these days. What did I find? When shopping for a flat iron, there are three main categories of metals that the plates are made of: ceramic, ceramic tourmaline and titanium. Ceramic is good for smoothing the hair and distributing heat evenly. Ceramic tourmaline plates have the gem tourmaline infused into the ceramic, which neutralizes the ions (yes we are talking about ions again!) and then we have titanium which holds heat the best out of three and this helps lessen the need to pass through the hair multiple times. This is probably a little too much for most hair types. It is recommended to avoid the titanium plates unless you have thick and coarse healthy hair,
Quality Matters- some brands may claim to have ceramic plates, but it might be just a very thin ceramic covering that can prevent heat from being distributed equally. This could chip and damage your hair as time goes on, so not the product to cheap out on.
Size Matters - flat irons can come in all different sizes. A skinny one (less than 1”) is good for short hair or to get close to the scalp, like if you have really curly hair. I actually have pretty curly hair, so I keep a little travel straighter to just use near the scalp around my face. If you have longer hair, I would look for one that is larger than 1”.
7. HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flat Iron ($39) - You probably won’t see such a good quality/price balance in any other flat iron. It has ceramic ion plates infused with tourmaline, which means doing your hair will take less time and will leave you with sleek, frizz-free hair. The temperature ranges from 240 t0 410 degrees.
WHY I LIKE IT: For this price point, and the reviews it is worth a try!
8. T3 Lucea Flatiron ($150) - A smart microchip actively monitors and adjusts heat fluctuations to ensure consistent heat delivery during styling. Long CeraGloss ceramic plates paired with a precision control hinge ensure flat styling with great control.
WHY I LIKE IT: With 9 heat settings, it’s easy to adjust to any hair type without damaging your hair. It is light, easy to use and good quality, so your hair is not going to get snagged in the plates. The plates are curved, so if you are looking to use the flat iron to curl your hair, this guy will do the trick. PLUS, it automatically shuts off after an hour! So, if you have been in a cab half way across the Champlain bridge and had it turn around because you were not positive you shut off your flat iron, then welcome to your new favorite hair tool.
9. Harry Josh Pro Tools Ceramic Flat Styling Iron 1.25 inch ($200) - This one makes the list, well because it had to. This seems to be the flat iron of the stars and checks all the boxes, It also comes with the hour auto off feature, which we can hope that one day all hair tools will!
10. Dyson Corrale Flat Iron ($500)- Just when I was understanding all the different types of flat irons, Dyson shakes things up by coming out with a flat iron with plates made of manganese copper alloy, which are broken up into 15 small segments to mold to your hair. The flexing plates gather every strand of hair to prevent the need to pass the tool over your hair multiple times.
WHY I LIKE IT: I have not personally used this flat iron, but Dyson seems to nail every other hair product and I would have a hard time believing they didn’t do it again with this flat iron. I only use flat irons on occasion and usually just around the face, so this splurge is not worth it to me, but if you are one who uses a flat iron on the regular this one would be worth considering.
You definitely do not need an actual curling iron to curl you hair. Many people use flat irons, wands or a curling brush. I have used them all, but personally find a curling wand easiest for me to use, so that is what I stick to. It is important to find what is easiest for you. This will play a part in the decision on what size barrel you use if you are going with a curling iron or wand. Styling tools always have pictures of what curl you can achieve with what size barrel, but I really don’t find that very accurate. I find the best way is trial and error, which is a bummer, but maybe your girlfriends have different sized curling irons you can try out before deciding (or following your favorite Instagram influencer that has similar hair as you, haha!)
The one rule that always works though is: the bigger the iron size, the larger and looser the curl will be. I also feel like that can be manipulated a lot depending on the amount of hair you are curling at one time, the temperature being used and the amount of time you leave it in your hair.
You are ready to get a new curling iron/wand, now what? First off, just accept that there is not going to be a curling iron out there that doesn’t damage your hair. Reducing the amount of damage is the goal. The most common iron material is ceramic, which is great for dispersing heat evenly and smoothing the hair. Then we have tourmaline curling irons that emit negative ions. Next, here is a new one for you, gold plated curling irons! These are able to tolerate high heat settings for long periods of time, not really necessary for the average user unless you have very thick or coarse hair. Lastly, titanium which is also able to hold high heat setting for a longer period and again good for thick hair types.
11. Hot Tools Curling Iron ($50) - Before making the switch to NUME, Hot Tools were my jam. So I know they are decent quality and will get the job done. They come in ceramic, gold plated, and even black gold (which I am still unclear how it differs from the regular gold plated but hey, it looks cool!) They offer a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can be sure to get what you need from this brand.
WHY I LIKE IT: The price point is great so if you like to have a variety of sizes and don’t mind having multiple tools, you can purchase multiple irons. Or, if you just want a really large or very small size for special occasions, it’s not worth spending big bucks on it, so this is a good option. They have auto shut off after 2 hours and I love that you can pick these up pretty much anywhere.
12. T3 curling Irons and Wands ($100-$300) - I didn’t get on the T3 band wagon until just a couple of years ago, because frankly the price tag deterred me. So many people claimed this wand to be the holy grail of curling irons, so I finally broke down and got one and holy smokes they were right! If you have been around for awhile, you may remember me supporting NUME wands, but a few years ago they must have switched suppliers or something because in no way, shape or form are their curling wands the same as they used to be. I would never recommend them now and they are more expensive now, too - go figure.
WHY I LIKE IT: it gets hot and holds the heat. I have thicker hair, so I need an iron that is going to get the job done. If you ask my hair stylist, he might say this is actually a con not a pro, because I like to use the super high heat setting to get the curl done quickly. However, it does have adjustable heat settings, custom been ceramic surface, interchangeable design and the lovely one hour auto off. If you want to see how I use this one, check out my loose curl tutorial here.
Who doesn’t love beach waves?
13. Bed Head Deep Waver ($40) / 14. Alure 3 Barrel Waver ($40) - I put these together because they are the same price point, same quality, same results and both seem to be pretty popular.
WHY I LIKE IT: I don’t think you could go wrong with either of these, though I personally feel like I can create better beach waves with a 1 inch curling wand. This is definitely an easier/faster option, so if you like the little 80’s vibe on occasion either of these will do you good. I use my a few times a year (more during the summer) so I the price point of these are justified.
15. AMIKA High Tide Deep Wave Crimper ($120) - If you are hitting up the waver on the constant then it might be worth splurging a bit and if so this is the one you want. It has tourmaline ceramic barrels, which will leave your hair looking smoother and probably cause less damage than the other who wavers. WHY I LIKE IT: Because of the tourmaline barrels you are going to get better quality waves, meaning a little less 80’s look. You are going to for sure be happier this is product than the cheaper alternatives, just depends how often you plan on using it if you can justify the price tag.
If you are looking for soft waves this could be a good option for you. I love hot rollers because it essentially cuts your curling time in at least half. Throw your hair in the rollers, then do your make up. When your make up is done, BOOM, so is your hair. It’s easy peasy. Again, like with your curling irons, you want to look for the barrel size that fits your needs. I personally would go for a set that comes with a variety of sizes.
You can get dry or wet rollers. Wet rollers use steam to heat and help curl the hair. I prefer dry rollers, because they are more versatile, forgiving, easy to use and are able to deliver those wonderful negative ions that help smooth the hair.
16. Conair Infiniti Pro ($48) - 20 flock rollers in size large, medium and small really allow for a variety of hair styles or to try the different sizes to see what better works for your hair. It has 12 different heat settings and the rollers heat up in just 2 minutes.
WHY I LIKE IT: I think this is a great starter kit to see how you like hot rollers. While it doesn’t come with enough large or any XL rollers, it does give you the option to try the different sizes. Your are not going to get a lot of the negative ions released with this product, but it will still leave your hair looking pretty smooth and silky.
17. T3 Volumizing Hot Rollers ($120) - Featuring new T3 HeatCore technology, the Volumizing Hot Rollers LUXE heat up fast and ensure optimum, balanced heat transfer for lasting volume, body, and shine. Dual temperature settings ensure long-lasting style for all hair types.
WHY I LIKE IT: Again, if this is something I am going to use on the regular, I am going to splurge a little to be sure to get quality and I have used enough T3 products in my day to know I can trust this brand. One con though is that they claim their hair clips will not leave creases, but my hair creases sooooooo easily and they definitely creased my hair. Not a huge deal though, because I am just more careful when placing them, but it is something to note. These also only comes with 8 rollers, a lot of other sets you see on the market come with significantly more.
Are you still there? Haha! That was a lot of information to read in one sitting. If you sat and read through it all, kudos to you! Don’t worry, I will always have this post on my website and will mention it periodically for you to come back to reference when you are ready to make a new hair tool purchase. If I missed anything or you have further questions, comment on my matching Instagram post and I will be happy to answer!
Much Love,
