wet/dry straightener

[jenlindseys]

Does anyone use one? Just curious if it will actually dry your hair completely from soaking wet...seems impossible!

[leenanyc]

I use to use one and it really worked, I think it was a conair wet/dry iron. It completely dried my hair and creates alot of steam doing so. The plates became worn eventually and when I went to shop for a more high-end wet/dry iron I was told that they are terrible for your hair. I didn't notice any negative change in my hair but can say that the plates became worn pretty quickly and it may be because of the hair being wet. Anyways there was one really pricey wet/dry iron that I wanted to buy but the saleswoman went on and on about how I sould at least let my hair air-dry before applying a flatiron. I now use a Farouk Chi and am very happy with it. I still think the wet/dry iron is super cool but I'm worry about frying my hair. Also they work quickly, I have very long hair and I could do my entire head in 30 min (really fast for me). I might invest in one for those unexpected beauty emergencies when something comes up and I have to look great in no time.

[jenlindseys]

hmmm, interesting. I have hair that rests about mid-way between my shoulder blades. It takes about 8 minutes to blow dry...and if I do that, it is completely straight. I hate doing that because it seems blow drying is pretty bad for your hair too...so I usually sleep on it wet then straighten in the morning. So, my hair isn't completely soaked when I want to straighten in, but I was curious for my workout mornings. I usually take a 1 hour workout then 20 minutes to shower, dry hair, clothe myself & put minimal makeup on. Haha, I gotta get to work sometime! So I wanted to speed up the process.

Was this quicker than blow drying for you? i hear there are heat protecting products you can put on before too.

If you can't tell- I'm not much into girlie stuff (makeup, hair, nails...) so I'm clueless.

[NiniBaseema]

Hi... I have tried it out but I wasnt really into it. I like the result best when I first blow dry my hair with a brush like this:

and then afterwards use a roundbrush for the finish. I also have a hair straigthening iron but it takes a bit too long for my personal taste ... To work with roundbrush requires a bit of technique but I think the results are just as good! I suppose a good brush is essential: I use this brush for blowdrying myhair straight:

Also a tip: I think what really makes the trick (no matter if iron or brush) is to let the hair cool down long enough- because only when the hair is really cooled it remains straight - if you stop the hairdo when the hair is still warm or even hot- there is a great possibility that it might frizz again!
Also important- good products to prepare the hair: I personally use L'Oreak Kérastase Oleo, but I know that Tigi or Redken also make great products! :-)

[gypsydanse]

I have shoulder length naturally wavy hair which I straighten with a 2" barrel curling iron, and also have a Revlon flatiron. I let my either hair air dry or go to sleep with it wet before using either one of them. I try to keep the heat to a minimum, since I straighten it. Straightening it wet would essentially fry your hair and I wouldn't attempt it.

How many of you remember laying your long hair on an ironing board and ironing it straight with a regular iron?

[Azhia]

CHI products are amazing! Hairdryers, curling irons or straightening irons.

Ceramic and ionized heat shrink the water molecule, making the hair easier, faster, healthier to dry.

My concern with wet-to-dry tools is that you are forcing water out of the hair at such a fast and hot rate that it could damage the hair from inside out, frying your cortex.

It's best to "rough dry" (tousle the hair with the dryer, no concentrator) 80%-90% before applying any tension with round or paddle brushes. Hair will pull and stretch when it's wet, causing breakage and eventual frizziness/split ends.

Also, before using any heat styling tools, apply a heat protection product, such as Aveda's Damage Control.

Happy Styling!

[elljay]

I have below the shoulder slightly wavy hair, very thick and holds a ton of water. I use Redken "Smooth Down Heat Glide" oil on towel dry hair before blowdrying. I just blow away until just over half the moisture is gone, then comb through and use a flatbrush like Nini illustrated above to straighten. Two or three times a month I use Alberto V05 Hot Oil treatment, to repair.

Not much about myself that I love, but have to say - I got good hair. :)

[Safiyah]

I flatiron every day - I've got thick, wavy hair. DON'T flatiron while wet! It's important to get as much moisture out as possible or you can literally steam your hair from the inside out. Hair will get elastic -- like a rubber band. I believe the term is "bubble hair". I've done this a few times and it's not a good feeling. I wash hair at night, airdry overnight and flatiron in the morning.

Also use a heat protecting spray, I can't remember the name of mine but I get it at the salon.

I use a T3 flatiron but it's getting a little old and I think it may be time to replace. I'll probably get a Chi or Sedu. Ceramic makes a huge difference if you can spring the cash - it heats much more evenly.