Omar Mendez with Studio Nine Salon takes us to “Tool School.”
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TOOL SCHOOL: Blow Dryer + Round Brush
Now days, blow drying and round brushing is one of the most commons ways people style their hair. When using these tools, first make sure you have a adequate blow dryer and the appropriate size round brush. Round brushes come in many different sizes; each size will give you different results. The most common misuse of a round brush is to immediately place the brush right at the scalp. The result is not fun—the brush usually gets stuck and frustration starts to set in. When using this tool, make sure you bring the brush out to the ends and dry that part first, before moving the brush to the scalp area. Hit the cool button (or let the hair cool) for 10 seconds and remove the brush. This helps set the hair and also gives you the result you want. Remember to always use a styling product when styling your hair; this helps maintain your style through out the day.
TOOL SCHOOL: The Curling Iron
Curling irons also come in different shapes and sizes, so that you can achieve different effects or hair styles. Some will also have heat controls, which is a great thing to opt for. Heat controls allow you to directly control the temperature that you apply to your hair. Again, it is important to choose the appropriate size of iron for your style or the length of hair that you have. It is also important to use a thermal spray or serum to help protect your hair, as these tools tend to use a lot more heat than a blow dryer. When curling your hair around the iron, I like to apply hair spray to the section I am about to curl. This will help hold that curl throughout the day. When you curl your hair, make sure to bring the iron all the way out to the end of the hair and then curl upwards, toward the scalp. The most frequent mistake I see involving a curling iron is burn marks on the ear or forehead and, once in awhile, on the back of the neck. Remember to have a comb on hand so that you may place it between you and the iron as you curl it towards you.
TOOL SCHOOL: The Flat Iron
Flat irons have different surfaces to help protect the hair from excessive heat. Some irons have metal surfaces (these are the older type of flat irons).The newer type of iron has a ceramic/ ionic type of coating on the plate of the iron to provide more protection and shine to the hair. It is also important to use a thermal spray or serum to provide the most protection to your hair. Flat irons also come with different heat settings. I believe the curlier the hair, the more heat is required to straighten. I also recommend using a straightening or smoothing cream when flattening the hair, as these products help provide hair shine along with smoothness. I prefer to run the flat iron on a strand of hair with a good amount of tension and at a slower speed. That way I only go over the hair once, rather than running the iron over the same strand of hair 3-4 times. When someone repeatedly runs the iron over the hair, it tends to dry out and the result is damaged hair and split ends. You may also use a flat iron to help curl the hair giving you a different curl pattern then a curling iron.
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Omar Mendez is a professional stylist with Studio Nine Salon.
To schedule an appointment or consultation, contact him at:
Studio Nine
926 E 900 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
(801) 532-2929
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