As you look around local markets like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target you may not find felt plates on a straightener. That is because these types of flat irons aren’t as common as the ceramic. They have been known to be very popular in the past, but as technology keeps heating up and creations for ceramic and titanium straighteners are becoming more advanced, the felt straighteners haven’t had as much to offer as the other two. It is very rare to find these tools on the market in regular stores such as Wal-Mart. More common places to find them would be online, at a specific salon or at a beauty supply store.

Although these straighteners aren’t as common to find, they do have some benefits to them. When you think of felt rubbing up against your hair, you might think of static and frizz. However, when you add heat into the mix you get a very smooth look in hair. The combination of the soft fabric and the heat of the plates makes it that much easier for you to get a great look each time you straighten. Also, because these plates are covered in felt, they even provide a little extra protection for your hair against heat damage.

The fact that ceramic plates have a higher risk of damaging your ends can be scary when you style with a straightener daily. The excessive heat can begin to dry your hair and make it look more dull the more you straighten your hair. The felt fabric plates serve as a coating for the ceramic plates and protect your hair from being damaged after the use of heat repeatedly. When you use the felt straighteners, you can reduce the heat damage and increase the shine. Felt plates glide easier through the hair and help retain moisture in the hair. Preserve your hair today with a great felt plated straightener.

When it comes to hairstyling, the first thing you should be aware of in the holiday season is the amount of moisture in the air. Winter air doesn’t contain as much humidity and moisture as the summer air does because cold air does not seem to contain as much water in its molecules. Humidity in the summer is created from all the rain that is released from the sky which then creates a “wet” air.

So how can you tell that you have damaged and dry hair? And what causes all the dryness in your hair besides the air surrounding you? First of all, the symptoms are quite easy to catch. Typically we lose 100-150 hairs each day so start paying attention to the lengths of the hairs that fall out. If you notice that some of them appear to be a great amount shorter than others, this means you have dead ends and your hair is excessively dry. You can also tell by the texture, as mentioned above. With dry hair, you can noticeably tell a difference when you run your fingers through the strands. If you feel like your hair doesn’t flow through your fingertips and if your fingers get caught in knots while going through, you have dry hair.

Other than dry air, there are so many causes of dry and damaged hair. After so many mornings of blow-drying and styling with a straightener, your hair has little or no moisture left. This makes it loose its shiny look and silky texture. Also, not eating enough food or drinking enough water is a major cause. Foods with lots of meat and protein are so necessary in your diet because your hair needs protein just as much as any other part of your body so it can grow healthily. They say that drinking eight cups of water each day helps your skin maintain clearness, but it also provides moisture to your hair cuticle as well.

Preventing and/or helping the dryness in your hair is easy to do. All you need to do is invest in some important new ingredients and you’ll have the perfect recipe for new hair. First, you’ll want to purchase a new shampoo, conditioner, and even a leave-in conditioner. The leave-in conditioner is optional but can help at anytime to retain shine and moisture when you don’t have time to shower. Your three hair conditioning tools should be part of a hair line that deals with moisture and/or damaged hair. A great product to use is the Pantene line, specifically the dry to moisturized products. You can also reduce the use of your hair straightener.

If you think about it, chic styles are most in during the winter time. Everyone leaves their hair wavy and sloppy in the summer because it’s hot and it’s pointless to try and straighten it with all the humidity. That is also a good reason for people to bump up the use of their hair straighteners in the winter. It’s definitely okay to use a hair straightener every once in a while (2-3 times a week) but it becomes damaging when you use the straightener every day. If you must use it more often that just a couple times a week, be sure you thoroughly spray your hair with a heat protectant spray and don’t overdo the straightening process.

Once the winter season passes by, the air will become more luscious with moisture and will help you create a great look for your hair. The most important time of year to straighten and style your hair is in the spring because this is when it rains the most and it also begins a time of recreating all of the moist molecules in the air. When there’s more moisture in the air, there’s more moisture in your hair!

There aren’t necessarily good and bad straighteners on the market. They all use heat which is extremely harmful for your hair, therefore all straighteners are bad for you. The way you style is the part of this equation that can be good or bad. If you straighten your hair when it’s already dry and prepared to be styled, you are more than likely going to get less damage than you would if you straightened wet hair.

The Wet 2 Straight iron describes itself by saying it extracts moisture from wet hair and releases steam so your hair can be dry and straight at the same time. This is where the product gets questionable because your hair needs moisture to be healthy. There are shampoos that take dry hair and make it moisturized so your hair can be silky and smooth. If you take all that moisture out, your hair will become dry and frizzy.

There are no rules when it comes to straightening your hair but if you want to contain your shine and healthy look, you would be causing less heat damage by blow drying your hair and then straightening it. Although it seems more harmful, you aren’t necessarily drying out your hair by using a blow dryer because it doesn’t take any moisture from the cuticle of the hair.  If you do decide to use the Wet 2 Straight straighteners, be sure to use plenty of thermal spray and hair moisturizer. These are your essential styling tools when it comes to straightening your hair.

Ideally, you would take yourself and your son to a professional hair dresser to fix these problems, but you keep putting it off until the problem can no longer be ignored. This is when it’s important for you to take measures to make changes!  You grab your hair scissors and go after every head of hair in your household. Before you go too crazy, be sure that you’ve got the right tools for the job.

1.) Water bottle: Dry hair can prove difficult to cut evenly and cleanly. By wetting down the area that needs to be trimmed, the hair will be matted down and easier to see the line you wish to cut or trim.

2.) Professional hair scissors: Just because you use the same scissors in the kitchen as you do in the office doesn’t mean you can also use it on your kids’ heads. Investing in a quality pair of hair scissors will come in handy when your mane has grown out of control and just needs a few quick snips to bring it back into shape. These hair shears should be extremely sharp and knick-free.  Be sure to keep them in a safe dry place when not in use. You can find professional hair scissors at a variety of prices and in drug stores as well as professional hair product stores.

3.) Fine-toothed comb: To gather the hair into one area, in a smooth formation, a fine-toothed comb will do the trick.  Combs with wider gaps between the teeth will not provide as smooth of a surface in which to snip. Fine tooth combs also range in price and can be found at drugstores as well as professional hair product stores.

4.) Mirror: This may seem like a no brainer, but always cut hair in front of a large mirror, such as the mirror in your bathroom. Don’t think you’re skilled enough to do this without a mirror unless you’re professionally trained.

5.) Non-carpeted area: A non-carpeted area will be easier to sweep excess hair from, rather than dragging out your vacuum cleaner after you have finished.  Even after you have vacuumed, fine pieces of hair will cling to your rug, so it is best to cut hair on linoleum, tiled or hardwood floors.

6.) Cape or towel with clip: Like they do at the hair salon, you will want to cover yourself or your subject with a cape or a towel to keep pieces of fine hair from getting down your back an into your clothes.

There are many other products which are helpful to do-it-yourself hair cutting or trimming, but using the essentials of water bottle, hair scissors, a fine-toothed comb, mirror, a non-carpeted area and a cape/towel, your hair cutting experience will be on its way to successful.

The least expensive hair dryers tent to use a metal or plastic heating element and this leads to a very intense, very uneven heat.  It essentially “cooks” the hair by boiling the water out of it.  Higher standard dryers are typically made with a ceramic drying element; similar to what is used in space heaters or other home heating technology.

You may have seen a hair drying boasting that it is an “ionic dryer.” On a cheap hair dryer (that’s not ionic), the heat will diffuse positive ions, and because hair cuticles are naturally neutral, this causes them to open and result in frizzy and poofy hair.  A high quality ionic dryer will  produce negative ions which “flatten” the neutral cuticle and trap moisture in so the hair stay sleek and shiny.

Just like in straightening irons, the settings on a hair dryer can be very beneficial.  Many come with a “high” or “low” option but it is also important to look for a “hot” or “cool” setting. Recently, dryers have been made with a “cool shot” or “cool blast” option.  This is perfect for finishing touches or to dry any finishing sprays or products.

A recent addition to hair dryers are all of the attachment options.  A person with thick, curly hair can avoid and hint of frizz with a diffuser.  This attachment diffuses hair between the ringlets to dry it faster, but more gently.  And using a nozzle or air stream tool is great for those who dry their hair with a brush.

The last important factor when buying hair dryer is the warranty.  Just like everything else, the warranty sometimes comes from the manufacturer and sometimes from the retailer.  The more expensive brands tend to have the better return, refund and repair options available so be sure to check it out before you invest in a dryer

Wash your hair with a sleek and shine inducing shampoo and condition and blow dry straight.  Hold the hair dryer above your head and dry straight down while combing your tresses straight.  Use a thermal protection spray on your hair and wait for it to dry completely.  Then straighten your hair with a tourmaline hair straightener (try the Karmin G3) for a silky straight look.  This hair style is professional enough for the office, but sexy enough to keep you stylish.

When you’re ready to go out with your girls, pull your hair back into a high pony tail at the crown of your head and secure with an elastic.  Pull a small section of hair from the bottom of the pony, twist it and wrap it around the pony tail to hide the elastic .  Add an extra sheen with a shine serum to complete the look.

Ever been this woman?  Not anymore! There are several easy and inexpensive precautions you can take to ensure that every day is a good hair day and you never again have to leave the house in a sloppy pony tail or old hat.

The first step starts long before that fateful morning when nothing works right.  Always, always wash your hair with a quality shampoo.  There are shampoos available for thick hair, thin hair, curly hair, color treated hair and many more.  You should never struggle to find a shampoo that is right for your hair.

When you dry your hair, don’t forget that this is an important step in the styling process.  The way you dry your hair can drastically affect the way your hair lays and looks during the rest of the day.  To add volume, flip your head upside down and dry your hair starting at the nape of your neck and working you way outward with a brush.

For a super sleek and straight finish, part the hair and hold the dryer above the hair pointing straight down.  Use a flat brush to pull the hair from root to tip as your follow it with the heat of the dryer.  If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, consider using a diffuser to prevent any poofiness or frizziness.

Whether you are straightening or curling the hair, work section by section, spraying each part with a styling spray before you apply the heat.  After you are finished, DO NOT brush the hair again; simply spray the hair with a setting hair spray and comb through it

The Triple Braid

This is perfect for work or going out for lunch with the girls; plus it’s super easy to do!  After washing and drying your hair, spray it with a volumizing spray.  Pull it back into a low pony tail, making sure that the top of your hair is loose and voluminous.  Split the pony into three sections and braid each individually.  Then braid each of the three together and secure with a clear plastic band.  This oversize braid will give you a fun and focused look for any day of the week.

Side Pony

To get this look, pull your hair into a low, loose side pony and spray it with a thermal protection spray.  Use a double barrel curling iron to get some tousled waves by wrapping 3-inch sections around the barrels and letting them heat just enough for a subtle wave.  To add a little extra flair, wrap a section of hair around the elastic band and pin it down or fluff up your bangs and pin them back into a little poof.

A Big Bun

This daring look is perfect for date night or going out on the town with your best girlfriends.  Spritz your dry hair with a flexible hold hairspray and tease it all over to give it some volume.  Pull your hair into a high pony on the top of you head and secure with a strong elastic band.  Wrap your whole pony tail around itself and pin the ends down to create a big, loose bun.  Pull out random sections for a bit more daring and messy-on-purpose effect.

Below are some tips to follow while trimming your own hair

It is more convenient to cut wet hair than dry hair. First shampoo your hair properly, dry it with a drier and make it tangle-free. Keep a spray bottle filled with water close by to use if your hair starts to dry. Make sure that the hair cutting shears you are using are very sharp as this will prevent hair shears from pulling your hair. If you intent to cut your hair at home often, it is worthwhile to purchase professional hair cutting shears, clippers, a razor and thinning hair shears.

Read the following to help understand how to use your hair shears and achieve your desired cut.

Normal Straight cut

There is nothing better than simple hair styles. Moreover, it is much easier to achieve a simple hair cut at home.. The easiest among all hair styles is the single-length hair cut.

Determine the length you want and cut your hair accordingly. Once you find a length that is especially flatter, it is suggested that you measure your hair for future reference. Starting small, grab a piece of hair between your index and middle finger. Measure the hair to the determined length and snip off the extra carefully using your hair shears. Repeat this process until you have trimmed all of your hair. You can use this technique with a variety of hair cutting shears and on men’s and women’s hair. Keep in mind that the length of hair may vary from very short to below the shoulders.

Professional Cut

Perhaps you would prefer a more professional or complicated hair style. If this is the case, you may want to start with a professional cut and then just snip off about the same amount of hair from all parts of your head on regular basis, using your own professional hair cutting shears and maintain the style. Generally, hair on different parts of the head grow at different rates. If you decide to follow this technique, it is recommended that you occasionally consult a hair stylist to prevent your hair from becoming uneven.

Another stylish hair-cut

Another idea for a very simple, but attractive hair-cut is to lean over and comb your damp hair straight forward. Smooth our your hair with your fingers and use very sharp hair shears to cut a line straight across. Make sure that you work in small sections and do it from one side to another. After you finish, check to be sure that the hair cut is even. Part your hair directly in the middle of your head. Measure small sections of your hair using your thumb and index finger to check for any long pieces. If there are long pieces, use your hair cutting shears to carefully cut them off.

As you get more practice cutting your own hair at home, you might want to try some complicated yet stylish hair-cuts at home. It is recommended that you purchase a hair cutting video that provides detailed instructions and allows the viewer to replay the video to help him or her learn.