Picture the scene: it’s 2002 and a young Amelia, who dreams of one day becoming a professional hair stylist, is using a gas-powered, cordless Braun Straight & Style to straighten her best mate’s hair ahead of their school photos the next day. It takes two gas cylinders, and by the end of the process she has cramp in her hand from squeezing the hair so hard to smooth it down! Would you believe the Braun Styler is classed as vintage on eBay now? Rude.
Hair tools have evolved a lot since the early 00s, as has my ability to use them! Let’s explore the options together…
Bouncy Blow-dries Forever!
I’m a die-hard fan of the bouncy blow-dry. In my opinion, it’s a look that never goes out of style. My go-to is brand is Parlux. I’ve been using their hairdryers for many, many years and they’ve never let me down. They’re more expensive than the average bit of kit, but they’re worth every penny.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, I’ve used Babyliss in the past and found them to be super powerful. More power equals less heat damage and less drying time. Most hairdryers have two heat settings and a cool setting. Try and stick to the medium heat setting if you can.
Styling Your Hair with Straighteners
Although they were originally popular for creating poker straight locks in the 00s, when I need to create waves or curls for my clients, straighteners are usually the first thing I reach for. I don’t think I’ve used them to straighten anyone’s hair in over a decade!
I can still remember when GHDs launched. They quickly became the biggest hair tool on the market. I recently purchased the GHD Gold, so it’s safe to say they still have my heart. Of course, there are other brands available now. I also own and highly recommend Cloud 9 straighteners. Rumour has it, the brand was created by an ex-GHD employee… but I’m not one to gossip!
Curly Girls
If curls are your thing, you have a couple of options. Curling tongs have a clamp or clip to hold the hair in place. This gives a more defined, uniform curl and some find tongs easier to use because of this feature.
A curling wand requires you to wrap the hair around the wand and hold it in place. It can be tricky at first, but it’s great for creating beach waves, loose curls and ‘natural movement’ in the hair.
Don’t Skip the Heat Protection!
I can’t talk about hair tools without mentioning the importance of heat protection. It’s an absolute must. No curl, no style is worth frying your locks for!
While your hair is still damp, saturate those lengths with a product like GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray or Hot Muk Thermal Protector. If you’re someone who restyles or refreshes their hair with heat between washes, then a dry heat protecting product is essential. Colour Wow Raise the Root is a volumising, root-lifting spray with built in heat protection that can be used on both damp and dry hair.
Find Out More
For more haircare tips and advice, check out the following links:
- The Hair Products I Use and Love in my Bristol and Swindon Salons
- The Amelia Carmela Hair Colour Ethos
- Everything You Need to Know About Caring for Coloured Hair
You can also explore my hair styling services or get in touch to book your next cut and colour.
See you in the salon!
Amelia x
