Flat Iron

The new issue of Glamour has a lovely photo shoot with Nicole Richie, but what really caught my eye was a quote from Nicole: "The best tip I ever got from a hair pro was to curl my hair with a flat iron." Say what? On second thought, I felt like I may have witnessed this backstage during Fashion Week, but not in the hands of a mere hair novice like myself.

So I fired up a Linea Pro C2 flat iron, which is about as narrow as the barrel of the curling iron I use, determined to end up with elusive Nicole Richie-looking hair. The first thing I noticed was that having to continue to clamp the flat iron while twisting my hair around it was harder than expected. And the resulting curls can only be described as trapezoid-y, with my strands bent into some very unnaturally sharp angles. While I can see that a stylist trying this in one fluid movement (think of curling ribbon) could work, I just ended up wishing my flat iron was round and had a clamp . . . uh, like a curling iron. Have any of you made this work?

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According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, you should never set your flat iron to its highest heat. At their Summer Academy Meeting at the end of last month, dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani presented information on the potentially long-term damage caused by even the newest ceramic heat tools. Once you hear what actually happens to your strands when they come in contact with extreme heat, you might embrace your natural curls.

To find out, just read more

These cool hair styling tools are groovy gadgets for teens—or just anyone who loves color. Their hippie style is mod, fun and functional. Plus, they're on sale, so they won't break the bank. Check 'em out.

This Hot Tools Tourmaline Ceramic Ti Mod Flat Iron was originally priced at $149.95 and is now on sale for $79.95. It heats up to 430 degrees and will stay at that temperature throughout the styling process (which is great for consistency).

Additionally, it has rounded edges so that you can also use it it to curl the ends of your hair. The plates are 1-3/4 inches and the slim design makes the tool easy to hold. If you like it, you might want to make your decision quickly, as this is a limited-edition model.

For one more hippie-inspired hair styling tool, read more

Well, we may not have flat irons in public bathrooms like they do the UK, but now, you can straighten your hair just about anywhere else with this awesome purse-sized Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener ($225). This 7-ounce flat iron is great for travel or a long night out, but just because it's small doesn't mean it can't pack a punch.

The high-end tool is made from ceramic, which is much better at smoothing cuticle than metal, and it warms up in under a minute with three different heat settings. It takes about three hours to fully charge and even comes with a car adapter, so you can recharge the battery in your car. Better yet, all this on-the-go straightening is safe: The Professional Cordless Straightener has a sensor to prevent overheating and an automatic shutoff after 30 minutes.

First came condom machines, tampon dispensers, and even perfume spritzers. But the latest bathroom vending trend is just plain weird: coin-operated hair straighteners and curling irons. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip.) Strange, but true: A British company called Beautiful Vending has created a hair-straightening vending machine called Straight Up.

Found in nightclubs, bars, malls, and gyms, these wall-mounted machines offer GHD flat irons for customers who need a quick fix for misbehaving hair. According to the Beautiful Vending web site: "Your customer’s bad hair days are now a thing of the past, and they will thank you once our Beautiful Vending machine is installed."

Now, I can see how this might be a nice feature in a locker room or hotel — much like the ubiquitous hair dryers — but nightclubs? It's hard to imagine women taking dancing breaks to line up and straighten their hair. So please, tell me: Would you use a straightening iron during a night out?

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I love it when stylists I love come out with products that I love! The friendly and fabulous hair guru Ted Gibson has just released a brand-new heated hair-styling tool called the Ted Gibson Professional Flat Iron ($225). This fabulous straightener is worth every penny (and I totally understand this is a lot of pennies)! According to the company's press release, Gibson believes:

"Styling tools are a stylist's life blood; that they are work-horses and they must be maximum quality. And, of course, they are also very important for most women at home as they try to recreate what we do in the chair.”

Ted has been searching for a fab flat iron for quite some time. He was repeatedly let down by the the tools he was testing out and decided that if he wanted the best, he would have to make it himself.

The Ted Gibson Professional Flat Iron is made from ceramic tourmaline and heats anywhere from 140 to 450 degrees. What's great is that the iron includes an automatic sense control system, so that you don't fry your hair. You can now create straight hair or curls, and — this is big — it can be used on damp or dry hair!