Are you using the right blow dryer, curling iron and flat iron?

This year the top ranked beauty product to gift during the holiday season is a Blow-dry Brush followed by the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler, and a 'Smart' Flat Iron. Not only is this time of year great for upgrading your own old tools, but it's a time where you will find some of the best deals on the planet for gift giving as well. Now- how do you make sure you're choosing the best version for the hair type you're shopping for? Let me help you!

One of the top questions clients ask when it comes to styling their own hair is "whats the best blowdryer/flat iron/curling iron to use?" and honestly, I do not have one solid answer. That's because it can vary based off your desired look, and the texture of your natural hair. Someone with finer, fragile hair is going to have a completely different tool belt than someone with coarse, curly or frizzy hair. Here's the facts to take into consideration when narrowing down your choices:

Always go for:

- Automatic shut off feature

- Digital heat settings for flat irons and curling irons

-Multiple heat settings for blow dryers. (cool, high, medium, low)

-Salon length cord (optional- but a super nice thing to have)

Blow Dryers:

Wattage: 1800w and above will be ideal for coarse of thick hair. For fine hair a wattage below 1800 will be plenty.

Ceramic: Generates infrared heat. This means it works to gently dry hair from the inside out and protects it from excess damage. Pros: heats up quickly and evenly.

Ionic: What ionic styling tools do is emit negative ions to attract positive ones and neutralize them. When negative ions neutralize positive ions, they eliminate static electricity. When shopping; know that "Nano-ionic" and "Tourmaline- ionic" are practically the same thing. Pros: Reduce frizz and flyaways and boost overall radiance.

Tourmaline: a semiprecious gemstone that's crushed into a fine powder and built into the internal components of a hair dryer. When this powder is heated, cooled, or pressurized, it generates an electrical charge, emitting both negative ions and far-infrared heat. the far-infrared heat locks in hair's moisture, while the negative ions seal the cuticle. Pros: best for frizz-price hair types. Cons: Beware of "Tourmaline coated" tools vs actual tourmaline. the coating will wear off over time, affecting the longevity of the dryer.

Flat irons/ Curling Irons:

Ceramic- Heats hair from the inside out.

- Heats up gradually.

- Best for use on fine or fragile hair types.

Titanium- Heats hair from the surface of the hair strand

- Heats up almost instantly.

- Offers best smooth end result for coarse and resistant hair types.

***Keep in mind; While titanium flat irons provide a quick heat-up time and conduct heat evenly throughout the iron, if not used properly or with appropriate product, they can cause serious damage to the hair.***

-real quick- I want to address the Dyson Blow Dryer. If you are unaware. Dyson (creators of the blade-less fan and top performing vacuums) has their own line of styling tools. These tools come with excellent claims; increase smoothness by 75%, increase shine by up to 132%, decrease frizz and flyaways by up to 61%. All while preventing damage AND doing it faster than any other dryer out there. But it comes at a price.... of $400. Yup. its high. However, is it worth it?

I've used the Dyson Supersonic Airdryer several times, on different hair types and I am still undecided on whether or not the cost is worth the reward. I will say this- the air dryer is in a category all its own as it uses a novel, brushless digital motor that's much smaller and much lighter than traditional hair dryer motor. Meaning a quieter — but not weaker — airflow that's amplified up to three times, thanks to Dyson's Air Multiplier technology.

Last but not least- taking it back to the top with the mention of the Blow-dry Brush. I'm a big fan! For more on my opinion please visit a video I posted on my Instagram Page where I share some details in the caption (@ashleylantzhair).

Hope this helps you when purchasing your next styling tool! Don't forget your Thermal Protectant!

With Love,

Ashley