No matter who says it, the main instinct of a woman at all times was the instinct to be beautiful. That is why little girls, barely learning how to walk, enthusiastically examine their reflection in the mirror, and sometimes, imitating their mother, paint their lips with lipstick accidentally left unattended with inept movements. At the same time, every elderly woman, regardless of her life circumstances, at least once a day stops for a minute in front of a mirror, if only to straighten a naughty lock of hair that has pulled out from under a handkerchief.
In different centuries, there were completely different standards of beauty, but well-groomed women with beautiful neat hair were always in fashion. But only in most countries, married women often had to hide their luxurious locks under various headdresses. However, with the beginning of the twentieth century, this tradition gradually began to go out of fashion, and now women needed to devote more time to their hair so that they had the proper look. It was during this time of intricate hair weaving , curling irons and short haircuts that another revolutionary hair device appeared - a straightener.
History of hair straightening devices
The idea of creating a device that can turn curly hair into straight hair has existed for a long time.
However, the first to create a more or less working prototype was Simon Monroe. It was he who in 1906 patented his invention for hair - a straightener. The Monroe prototype was massive and consisted of several metal teeth, with the help of which the hair was combed and straightened in the process.
The next valid version of this device was
Isaac K. Shero rectifier. He was more like a modern one than his predecessor, and consisted of two heating irons, between which hair was clamped.
Over the years, Chero’s invention has improved and reduced in size. Soon, they began to use electricity to heat - this is how an electric hair straightener appeared. And after that, pretty soon, electric household hair straighteners became available to all women in the world.
Compared to European countries, hair straighteners came to Russia relatively recently, but, despite this, pretty soon became incredibly popular, and today every woman’s arsenal will definitely have a hair straightener, or, as they call it, an iron.
How does the hair straightener act
Hair straightening under the effect of ironing is due to the fact that during the heating process, hydrogen molecules evaporate from the hair follicle. However, this effect is not permanent, because after exposure to moisture, the hair returns to its natural form.
Like a permanent wave, there is also a permanent hair straightener. The straightener in this case is a special chemical preparation that penetrates deep into the hair and changes its structure. And although the effect of this procedure is longer than using the iron, it has a number of contraindications, causes serious damage to the hair, can cause allergies and is contraindicated in pregnant women. At the same time, the straightener spares the hair more and with proper use it has no contraindications.
Basic rules for using rectifiers
Any thermal or chemical effect on the hair is traumatic for them, but with proper care serious damage can be avoided. Therefore, before considering the most popular types of rectifiers, it is worth recalling the basic rules when using any such device.
1) Even the most modern hair straightener with excessively frequent use can cause harm to curls. Therefore, you can use it no more than twice a week.
2) Using any heating device for hair - a straightener, curling iron or something else else, you must definitely use specialized thermal protection equipment. It can be various sprays, thermal balms or emulsions. On such products must necessarily be indicated that they are designed to protect hair when using ironing.
3) Those who constantly straighten their hair need to take more care of them: make moisturizing masks, use specialized balms.
4) When straightening for the best effect, the width of the straightened strand should not exceed 3 cm. It is better to start straightening with the hair on the back of the head, gradually moving to the temples.
5) The optimal temperature for straightening hair is 130 degrees, however, at the temples, as a rule, the hair is more rigid, therefore, to smooth them, you can increase the temperature of the device.
6) It is necessary to straighten hair gradually, moving the device along a strand sandwiched between two plates from roots to ends. In this case, it is extremely undesirable to linger on one section of the hair.
7) Dyed and damaged hair is evened out at a lower temperature, about 110 degrees.
8) After the straightening procedure, the hair must be allowed to cool and rest, and only then comb it.
Hair Straightener Babyliss
Today, Babyliss is known worldwide for its high-quality hair care products. Irons of this brand belong to the category of professional.
This is primarily due to the coating. Almost all modern Babyliss models have plates with ceramic or
tourmaline coating (sometimes with an ionizing effect), all this allows you to use them up to four times a week.
Each Babyliss hair straightener is equipped with an adjustable temperature sensor, as well as a convenient rotating cord. In addition, the irons of this company are extremely light, which allows you to not get tired hands in the process of hair straightening.
Some models of Babyliss irons have corrugated nozzles, while others have a unique slightly rounded shape of plates, which allows you to use the Babyliss also for curling without changing the nozzles. Rectifiers of this company can be purchased at a price of 3000 rubles.
Hair straightener Remington
Remington hair straighteners are also very popular among women. First of all, this is facilitated by the functionality of devices of this brand, as well as their reliability. So, once acquired, a hair straightener Remington will serve its mistress for many years.
Most of the models of this brand, in addition to the traditional adjustable temperature sensor, are equipped with automatic shutdown, which makes them not only safer for the hair, but also indispensable for those who tend to forget to unplug the devices from the outlet.
Remington modern irons have a ceramic coating, although some models are coated with Teflon, which perfectly protects hair from damage. The cost of these devices starts from 4 thousand rubles.
Philips Hair Straightener
The famous manufacturer of household appliances Philips also has a range of diverse irons.
It is worth noting that this company produces both household hair straighteners and professional ones.
Among Philips products, there are four types of devices for smoothing hair:
- Philips hair straightener with Moisture Protect. This is one of the newest types of irons of this company.
- Professional hair straighteners. Usually they are more expensive than household ones, since their plates are titanium coated, which allows them to retain their advantages even with frequent use.
- Irons with ionization.
- Rectifiers with ceramic coating plates.
A nice feature of most irons of this manufacturer is the equipment with their special covers with thermal coating inside, which allows you to put in it even not completely cooled device. The price of the models of this manufacturer is from 2 thousand rubles.
Comb hair straightener
More recently, another device has appeared - this is a hair straightener comb. Despite its youth, this device is rapidly gaining popularity among customers.
Therefore, most eminent manufacturers of hair care devices, like unknown Chinese firms, actively include it in their product lines.
By itself, this device is quite simple. This is an
electric comb with metal teeth, on the ends of which are protective rubber bands. The hair straightener, as well as the iron, is equipped with a sensor and a temperature regulator. Using it is quite easy: you need to connect the device to the network, set the desired temperature and, combing the hair, straighten them. Those who have already tried this device, note that it perfectly straightens the hair, at the same time combing them. But this applies only to slightly curly hair. And for a more magnificent hair, this comb-straightener, unfortunately, can do a little. In any case, this device has already proved its practicality, and also found and continues to find its adherents.
Hybrid Hair Straighteners
It is also worth noting that almost every manufacturer of hair straighteners has so-called hybrid models. They can be used both for straightening hair, and for winding, and to create smooth elegant waves.
Usually, all hybrid irons can be divided into two types:
1. Rectifier with interchangeable nozzles.
2. Rectifier with the function of creating curls.
A hybrid rectifier is convenient for those beauties who do not like to have many devices, preferring to have one multifunctional.
The most common types of surface coatings for hair straighteners
The first hair straighteners were heated using fire, which is why their active plates were made of metal, which pretty much damaged the hair. Now, thanks to the achievements of science, metal plates are a relic of the past.
Today, the coverage of hair straighteners can be almost anything. Ceramic is most often used, it is safe, relatively inexpensive and perfectly shows itself in budget models of irons. More expensive or professional rectifiers (intended for permanent use) most often have a different coating, it can be Teflon, titanium, tourmaline or even marble. Plates with a similar coating are safer for hair, durable and more durable, but they require more careful care than ceramic.
Prices for hair straighteners and reviews
Today on the market there are a huge number of the most diverse hair straighteners. Those who want to purchase them have not only a huge selection of models and types of coverage, but also various prices. Very often, more well-known firms overstate the cost of their products. Having searched a little, you can find a similar hair straightener from a lesser-known and advertised manufacturer, the price of which will be significantly lower. However, it should be borne in mind that if the price difference is too large, then the product is an outright fake, which may not have all the declared qualities.
In any case, it is worth buying hair straighteners only from trusted manufacturers, because only in this case you can be sure of the quality of the goods. In addition, almost every serious company has budget models that are not inferior in quality to expensive ones, but having more modest characteristics.
Most women who regularly use hair straighteners have their own preferences. They all agree that if finances allow, then it is worthwhile to get the irons of such well-known companies with many years of experience as Philips, Remington, Babyliss, Braun or Rowenta. The products of these companies have proven themselves for many years.
There are also lesser-known manufacturers, such as Vitek, Gama, Scarlett. Their rectifiers are cheaper, but only many customers say that they are not always as good as the irons of famous brands with the same characteristics.
For those who forget the old saying "avaricious pays twice", there are rectifiers of Chinese companies, which can be ordered from China at a very low price. According to the opinions of those who took a chance, the rectifiers of these manufacturers can be of acceptable quality or frankly bad, in a word, how lucky.
Only a few decades ago in our country, few people knew what kind of device for hair - a straightener. Fortunately, this is all in the distant past, and now this convenient and practical device is included in the must-have list of every woman who watches herself.