BellaSugar

Here's Why You Should Never Heat Your Flat Iron All the Way Up

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:16:00 PST

My flat iron at home lets me heat it up to all kinds of ultrahot temperatures, but according to trichologist Iain Sallis, you should never heat an iron up above 180 degrees Celsius (or 356 degrees Fahrenheit). Beyond that you can potentially damage your hair's cuticle. Cuticle damage roughens your hair, frizzes it out, and exposes the hair shaft's internal structure, leading to split ends and eventual breakage. But keeping your iron low isn't the only way to save your hair. Want to see more clever tips from Sallis and other professionals for keeping your hair in good condition when you're straightening? Then just keep reading.

Word of the Day: Glunge (and How to Get It)

Jaime Richards — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:05:38 PST

Last year, we took a look at beauty-related portmanteaus - aka two words joined together to form a whole new word. For instance, breakfast + lunch = brunch and long + bob = lob. You get the point. But now, there's a new beauty portmanteau in town: glunge. Glunge, a combination of glamour and grunge, is the idea of contrasting textures within the hair, explains Redken education artistic director, Sam Villa.

To get the look, Villa suggests combining one to two thermal techniques for unexpected, multidimensional texture. Use a texturizing iron, like the Textur iron ($230) from Villa's eponymous line, to change the surface area of the hair and to build the foundation for additional texture. Use a flat iron, like his brand's Sleekr iron ($230) for sleekness, and also to add wave and curl. "Playing with the direction of how hair is coiled around a curling iron, as well as the wrapping technique and angle, can yield endless versions of texture," Villa adds.

From Vena Cava to Araks (both pictured above), we saw a lot of chic, grungy looks at Fall 2011 New York Fashion Week. Me thinks Villa is on to something here with this newly-coined word. Do you?

Jonathan Antin Gets a Hot New Deal With Conair

Jaime Richards — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:52:00 PST

You might remember him for his passionate personality in Blow Out, and now celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Antin has a hot new gig in the works. He's just been announced as the first professional spokesman for Conair's line of blow dryers, straightening irons, and more.

"I finally connected with a great line of styling tools," Jonathan told WWD. "[Now], when I'm doing hair I'm not just using my hair care line and someone else's tools," he added. Jonathan also has a few other projects in the works, including a new salon, the debut of his new hair care line in September, and the development of two TV programs.

As for Conair, though, there's talk he could eventually launch his own line of products within the brand. I've always found Jonathan to be highly entertaining, and with his feisty manner and entrepreneurial spirit, his collaboration with Conair seems perfectly fitting. What say you about this deal?

How to Texturize Your Hair With a Flat Iron and Hair Spray

Jaime Richards — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:00:32 PST

Whether your hair is straight, curly, short, or long, here's a quick and easy way to give your style extra volume and texture. All you need is some hair spray, a flat iron, and about nine minutes of your time. Check out my how-to now.

Top Five Makeup Must Haves For Fall

BellaTV — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Our BellaSugar editors have picked the five best beauty items for Fall, and here they are: the limited edition Revlon Top Coat nail polish in Star, the Target exclusive Remington Flat Iron, the top drugstore mascara of the moment - L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, Kiehl's Photo-Age High Potency Spot Treatment, and Fall's top beauty trend: a red lip, courtesy of Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Vesuvio.

Hot Tip: Use Your Flat Iron on Your Clothes

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Your flat iron may double as a curling iron, and it can also be used to make beachy waves. But that's not all this multifunctional hair tool can do.

When in a pinch, use your flat iron as a makeshift iron to smooth out wrinkles in your clothes. This can come in especially handy during travel or if you're living in a small space and don't have room for an iron or ironing board. Burners beware: Start off with a low temperature and adjust as needed in order to avoid scorching your favorite ivory blazer or colorblock frock.

5 Beauty Products That Are Worth the Investment

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Some beauty items, like drugstore lip glosses and certain types of mascara, work so well that there's no need to spend more than a few bucks on them. However, there are certain products on the market that perform so amazingly well, they're worth the investment. Check out what we at Team Bella think about what five upscale beauty items warrant the purchase.

We Found Cute, Affordable, Tiny Hair Tools

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:58:09 PST

When it comes to beauty products, mini anything always seems to be a crowd-pleaser. And while not every single person can benefit from Conair's MiniPro 1" Ceramic Curling Iron ($18) and MiniPro You Style 2-in-1 Ceramic Styler ($21), these diminutive styling tools can come in handy. Plus, they're just plain cute. Find out the pros and cons of these no-frills products when you read more.

Reader Review of the Day: Revlon Perfect Heat Professional Ceramic Straightener

BellaSugar — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:00:00 PST

Reader clarkbar9 didn't get what she bargained for after using the Perfect Heat Professional Ceramic Straightener ($30) from Revlon, and here's what she had to say:

I purchased this because I had read a review that said it was a great value straightener. I used to have a much more expensive one, so I figured, why not save the money? Well, now I know why. It just doesn't flatten the hair as smoothly as more expensive products that I've used. I used to be able to use my straightener to twist my hair to give it texture, or to create crimpy curls, but this simply isn't strong enough. Even just using it regularly, I have to take twice as much time to go over each section of hair. It's worth investing in a better product.

Got a suggestion for an impressive low-cost straightener? Tell us all about it on the Product Reviews pages, where you can sort through over 50,000 beauty items to get other reader's opinions. We love to hear your input.

Reader Review of the Day: Remington T/Studio Ceramic Digital Flat Iron

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:20 PST

When it comes to flat irons, sometimes you score big with an amazing bargain, while other times, the deal fizzles out flat. Reader kayecouture tried out Remington T/Studio Ceramic Digital Flat Iron ($40) and got burned. Here's why:

This flat iron is a piece of crap. It doesn't get that hot, and it has arrows to push to control the temperature, but the temperature always jumps down without you pushing the button. Do not buy.

Does your flat iron excel, or would you rather find a place for it in the trash? Tell us your opinions on the Product Reviews pages. There are more than 50,000 products from which to choose, so there's bound to be something you'll want to share with all of us.