Bobi

Author Archives: Bobi

September 25, 2011

Clean Your Flat Iron: A How To Video

Hello all,

I will not be taking credit for this idea at all. I will just say that i love it and it is such a cheap way to make sure you flat irons (as well as curling irons, crimpers, etc) stay clean and in tip top shape. Thank you UniQueLeeMade for sharing this with us. What a cool idea.

Here’s the video:


[vsw id=”T7tRdOn3cO8″ source=”youtube” width=”400″ height=”375″ autoplay=”no”]
For those of you at work or somewhere YouTube is blocked…I feel you pain. Here are the steps to what she did:

Step One: Turn your flat iron on the lowest setting.

Step Two: Unplug it after a few seconds just so the flat iron is mildly hot.

Step Three: Dip an applicator brush into a jar of relaxer.

Step Four: Brush the relaxer onto the plates of the iron (as well as the back and sides).

Step Five: The relaxer will begin to slightly sizzle due to the heat of the appliance. Now wipe the appliance clean with a  dry rag. Any residue should come right off.

Step Six: (optional) Finish by pouring a little coconut oil on a rag and wiping the flat iron plates with it.


You are now left with flat irons or hair styling tools that look like new!
Cool idea right. If you don’t clean your hair tools then you should start. Whatever gunk you might see on your flat iron plates could wind up on your hair. I don’t think I have to ask whether or not you want that.  I’m pretty sure you don’t.
If you do clean your flat irons and stuff, what methods do you use? Let me know in the comment section and if you have a neat way of cleaning your hair appliances then I might feature you in a future blog post, so let me know.

Toodles,

July 26, 2011

Flat Iron Review #5: Babyliss Pro Diamond Titanium Flat Iron with Swarovski Crystals

     I am really excited about this flat iron review today ya’ll. The Babyliss Diamond titanium flat iron has awesome reviews (update: not so much anymore…buy with caution) . I mean there are some flat irons that get good reviews and some that get amazing reviews and this hair straightener is one of them. Wait until you see positive user comments. You are going to want to run out right away and get this flat iron.


Babyliss Diamond Pro Features:

  • Durable
  • Ultra-smooth titanium plates
  • Distributes heat evenly
  • Resist scratches
  • Glides effortlessly through hair
  • Decorated with Swarovski Crystals
  • Hat levels up to 419 F in less than 30 seconds
  • Titanium Technology
  • Super hard, smooth surface for snag free styling
  • Negative ions also closes the hair cuticle, which is very good for the health and appearance of the hair
  • Far Infrared Heat – penetrates hair shaft, drying the hair from the inside out so more moisture remains in hair shaft and less damage is done to the hair.
  • Adjustable temperature dials that go up to 450 degrees360
  • 360 swivel cord

The Babyliss is Awesome Because It:

  • Leaves the hair salon silky and shiny
  • Doesn’t snag hair
  • Gives hair volume and movement
  • Leaves coarse hair, in particular, silky and super shiny
  • Leaves curly and thick hair smooth and soft
  • Only needed one or two passes to get users hair completely straight and stayed straight no matter what the weather is like
  • Made hair seemed straighter even after being washed
  • Makes hair looks shiny & healthy
  • Seems to lock out moisture
  • Stays straight even when users got sweaty
  • Has an easy to handle size
  • Was able to straighten hair in half the time of other flat irons
  • Doesn’t get too hot on the tip to where you cannot touch it
  • Kept hair from getting frizzy in humidity
  • Kept hair one user’s hair straight for 3 weeks in humid weather
  • Is lightweight
  • Glides easily
  • Straightened the roots

However The Babyliss Diamond Is Not Perfect Because:

  • For one user it didn’t last for more than a month (hopefully a lemon)
  • It straightened a user’s hair but hair was still frizzy
  • For one user it took more passes to get hair straight

Flat Iron Best For Those With:

  • Curly/Wavy Hair
  • Thick Hair
  • Natural Hair (great reviews from naturals/3c and 4a hair types)
  • Asian Hair
  • Fine Hair

Price Range:

  • Department Store $$ ($40-$99)

Videos:

 [vsw id=”JBhVyABE2WE” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

[vsw id=”hF1YXraIJFw” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

My Overall Verdict:


Okay are ya’ll ready for this. I”m giving my first five star flat iron rating! Honestly this flat iron has it all. It’s ceramic and titanium. Straightens all hair types beautifully and the sleekness lasts a long time. No reports of the iron damaging anyone’s hair. It is a great price. It has a money back guarantee and a warranty. And it is a beautiful flat iron to boot. I love the Swarovski Crystal inlaid into it. It really adds something special to it.

 

I would run not walk to go get this flat iron!

 

 

Or

 


I hope you will give the Babyliss Diamond Pro a shot but if you are still wanting to do more research, my next hair straightener review will be about the Sedu’s biggest (and cheaper) rival. Please come back and have a look.

 

Thanks a bunch,

July 16, 2011

The Anatomy of a Flat Iron: Ceramic Plates

 

Ceramic Plates

 

If you are even remotely interested in hair styling tools and flat irons (which I assume you are), then you have indeed heard the word ceramic used in conjunction with them. So what exactly is the big deal about this ceramic material that seemingly 95% (totally made that up) of all flat irons mention it somewhere in its description?

 

Here is the “science” behind ceramic flat irons. Your hair naturally produces positive ions and the ceramic material produces negative ions and when they collide they create all sorts of benefits like:

 

    • Softer Hair
    • Sleeker Hair
    • Shinier Hair
    • More evenly heated plates (with no hot spots)
    • Reduced static in the hair
    • Moisture in sealed into the hair
    • Seal Hair Cuticle

 

Obviously these are all incredible benefits for your hair. However (you knew there was a catch right?), not all ceramic flat irons are created equally. I’m sure you probably knew this but do you know why they aren’t all equal or why some cost more than others? While there are many reasons why some flat irons cost more than others, the reason why all ceramic flat irons aren’t equal is based on how thick the layers of ceramic coating are.

 

For example, have you ever gotten one of those $20 flat irons and after about 6 months of use, the plates start to chip? That’s because those less expensive flat irons only have a thin coating of ceramic. See, the plates are not ceramic but ceramic coated aluminum plates which are the worst material flat irons can be made of.

 

The more expensive the iron, the thicker the layers of ceramic coating should be. There are even a few flat irons that claim to have solid ceramic plates, like:

 

 

If you notice I said claim to have solid ceramic plates. That’s because ceramic is a nonmetallic, inorganic clay type material and there is controversy that a flat iron plate could truly be made of 100% ceramic because the material would be too soft to be effective for hair straightening. Personally, I don’t have a clue which one is true. This is what I do know. The more layers of ceramic the flat iron has, the less damage your hair will incur.
The next part in the Anatomy of a Flat Iron  series will be about Tourmaline Plates so be sure to check back because it is important to know about the different features of a flat iron so that you can make the right decisions when you buy one.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

July 12, 2011

Flat Iron Review #4: The FHI Technique

FHI flat irons are the 2nd most googled flat irons after the Chi. I covered the Runway and the Platform, earlier this week. Now I want to tell you about the FHI Technique. The FHI Technique is lowest grade flat iron out of the three. Consequently, it is also the least expensive and has the lowest ratings/reviews of the three. That is not to say that this is a bad flat iron. Its not. Take a look:

FHI Technique Features:

  • Tourmaline plates that absorb moisture and reduce static
  • Advanced PTC heater/heats quickly and evenly
  • Auto sense control calibrates to heat to your texture
  • Beveled ceramic plates to curl and flip hair
  • Proprietary nano-fuzeion technology for “unmatched” conditioning and shine
  • Far infared heat gentle on hair
  • Low electromagnetic field I” plates
  • Swivel cord
  • Max temp 410°

The FHI Technique Rocks Because:

  • It makes hair soft, for naturals
  • It’s good for thick hair
  • It seems to last a long time
  • It makes hair silky
  • It creates long lasting curls

But It Sucks Because It:

  • Didn’t straighten well for some users
  • Has a fixed temp
  • It gets too hot for some hair types and temp is not adjustable
  • The customer service not so great
  • It is damaging to the hair over time

 Price Range:

  • Department Store $$ ($40-$99)

My Final Word on the FHI Technique

A big fat no! Sorry…This is an okay flat iron but I really hate fixed temperature settings. You want to have control of how hot the flat iron gets, period. Now, there may be some of the Techniques that have variable settings. I think maybe the newer ones have this feature but make sure you check first. This is not a flat iron I would get. It seems to be worth the money to get the FHI Platform.

Overall I give it a low 3 stars (maybe 2.9).

 

I would go with the Chi over the FHI Technique for flat irons in that price range ($50 to $90). But if you are still interested you can buy the FHI Technique.

 

My next flat iron review will be about a flat iron encrusted with beautiful Swarvoski crystals. And the reviews are awesome so be sure to check it out.

 

See you Soon,


July 11, 2011

Flat Iron Review #3: FHI Platform

 

The FHI Platformis the the FHI Runway’s younger sister. It hasn’t quite developed all of the features of the Runway but it is still a formidable flat iron in its own right. And it is a lot cheaper, costing less than $100, which I know is always a plus. The Platform flat iron is a great choice for those who want a quality flat iron for what I call department store prices. Just look at all of the features pros of this hair straightener, as well as the short list of cons:

 

FHI Platform Features:

  • 3 layers of baked ceramic plates
  • Variable heat settings
  • Can be used on damp or dry hair
  • Floating plates
  • Protects color and fading
  • Heats up to 450°
  • Nano-Fuzeion

Users Love This Flat Iron Because It:

  • Smoothes hair
  • Makes hair feel silky
  • Is effective on natural hair
  • Is durable
  • Makes hair “healthier” (no flat iron makes hair healthier but it can make it feel healthier)
  • Takes away frizz
  • Makes hair swing
  • Gets its users compliments after styling
  • Has a 10 year warranty (depending on where you buy it)
  • Salon Results
  • Lightweight
  • Takes less time to straighten than other iron

But Unfortunately it:

  • Burns the scalp if you get too close
  • Snags hair for some people
  • Dried some people’s hair out

Price Range:

Best Flat Iron For People With:

  • Curly/Wavy Hair
  • Relaxed/Natural Hair
  • Frizzy Hair
  • Thick Hair

Users Ratings:

  • Consistent 4 star ratings from several websites

Videos

 

[vsw id=”TtQOLqdMupc” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

[vsw id=”IkPxZBiFBes” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]



My Overall Opinion of the FHI Platform

 

Take a long look at the looong list of superlatives this flat iron got and the very short list of cons this flat iron got. Need I say more?
Okay I will say more :). I give the FHI Platform a 4 out of 5 stars. Why? It has very thick and solid plates. The thicker the plate the more protection your hair will have against the iron’s heat.

 

Because a majority of the users were very positive about it. It seems very popular with Black women who are natural. And if it gives gorgeous results to women with all different textures then it is highly likely that it will work for your hair texture.

 

This would also be the perfect iron for someone who was going to start getting Brazilian Keratin Treatments because the heat goes up to 450.

 

I highly recommend this flat iron, especially if you maybe thought of getting the FHI Runway. This will save you a lot of money. I’m especially not sure if the features of the Runway are that much better than the Platform.

 

Take it from me. If you want to try the FHI brand, start off with the Platform hair straightener first as it is the right combination of features and price.


We are on a roll now so I might as well review the next FHI flat iron next. See you there!

July 11, 2011

Flat Iron Review #2: The FHI Runway

FHI Runway Flat Iron

What do you think of when you hear the word runway? Glamor, fashion, models, flat irons? Yep, flat irons. The FHI Runway flat iron looks glamorous with its sleek black body suit and silver accessories. And the cost is just as posh being priced at more than $350. No that’s not a typo.

A flat iron has to be pretty darn amazing to command a price like that. Is the FHI Runway’s walk fierce enough to demand a fee of over $350?

 

Let’s look at the stats…

 

FHI Runway Features:

  • “Patented I.C.H.S. Technology (Integrated Ceramic Heating System) with Instantaneous heat recovery system “
  • “Wide temperature ranges adjusts from 140° to 450°”
  • “Tourmaline treated plates produce maximum shine and conditioning of the hair”
  • “Solid beveled ceramic plates with 3 baked layers that can flip, twist, straighten and curl”
  • “Damp to dry versatility. Protects hair color and retards color fading”

 

Users Love the FHI Runway Because:

  • It gives straightening results similar to those of Japanese thermal reconditioning without the chemicals
  • It gives salon results
  • It makes natural hair look relaxed
  • It Doesn’t create many split ends
  • It makes your hair bouncy
  • Presses last for two weeks or longer as opposed to 4 days with other irons
  • Many only needed one pass to get hair straight
  • Shortens straightening time
  • Makes hair look healthy
  • In long run, saves you money from going to the hair dresser

 

But They Didn’t Love That It Is :

  • Fragile
  • Not very durable for price
  • Quits working after a short period of time
  • The white plates stain easily

 

Flat Iron Best For Those With:

  • Any Hair Type

 

Price Range:

  • Haute Couture $$$$ ($351- Sky)

 

Please Watch This Very Informative Video on the FHI Runway!

[vsw id=”thVDtPulMOI” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

 

My Overall Verdict

 

4 Stars out of 5

This is a great flat iron. It really is. But I took off one star because of the price. Saying that it costs $380 is being conservative. If you want to get it with a valid warranty (and trust me you do) it could cost $450. And to pay $450 for a flat iron it, to borrow a phrase from the South, needs to be might near perfect. And it’s not. So I wouldn’t really recommend it even though it is a great flat iron. You can find a flat iron for a lower price that is probably as good as this.

However, if you have your heart set on this flat iron and you have the cash, go ahead and buy the FHI Runway!


FHI Runway Alternative


The GHD flat iron is a great flat iron and a relative steal in comparison to the Runway. If you have a flexible budget this is one of the best flat irons you can buy. I will try to do a review on it at some point. For now I think I will continue going through the FHI line and review the FHI Platform flat iron next.

 

Stay tuned!

July 11, 2011

The Anatomy of a Flat Iron: Stay Away From Metal Plated Flat Irons!

   Flat Iron Reviews  

 

Wait! Before your eyes start to glaze over from the seemingly academic heading, hear me out. It is a necessity for you to know the anatomy of a flat iron before you can buy the perfect one. Why? Because if you don’t, you can easily bamboozled and dazzled by terms like nano-silver and far infared lasers. This next section will tell you what terms should impress you and which terms are all hype.

 

 

 

 

Metal Flat Iron Plates

 

Flat irons have come a long way since it was first patented in the early 1900s. Not to mention how far they’ve come since the 90s. They were so big and clunky. And the plates were metal. Aluminum, actually, and usually coated “gold” as to disguise what was really hiding underneath. Unfortunately, even with all the technology and improvements made since then, there are still some flat irons that are made out of metal.
Please avoid any flat irons that don’t at least say they are ceramic or ionic. These are the lowest vilest forms of flat irons. They are the most damaging type of flat iron because the aluminum plates do not have the technology to make sure the flat iron stays at an even temperature like a ceramic/tourmaline iron. And if that wasn’t bad enough, they can have the tendency to snag the hair which leads to hair breakage. Please, if you happen across one of these in the store, run the other way. Your hair will thank you.

 

Quick Metal Plate Facts

  • Made of Aluminum
  • Usually coated with Gold
  • Least Healthy for hair (most damaging)
  • Cheapest material used for flat iron plates
  • Cheapest type of flat iron (or should be…if it’s not your being ripped off)
  • Least smooth plates
  • Can snag hair because of its low/cheap quality

 

The Final Verdict on Metal Plated Flat Irons


Obviously I would not recommend getting a flat iron with metal plates. Their is not flat iron that is truly good for your hair but flat irons with metals plates the worst. The cheaper flat irons are usually the ones that have the metal plates. Even if they say “ceramic”, if the flat iron is really cheap then it will probably only have a very thin coating on it so I would be very wary of buying those $15 flat irons.

If you are on a tight budget though here are a few flat irons that get really good reviews from their users and seem to be the leaders of the pack for inexpensive flat irons:
Cortex Platinum Flat Iron Andis 1″ Flat Iron

I’ll leave you with a video review of the Cortex Flat Iron

[vsw id=”jgIN1Xn0FNE” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

And while you’re here, why not read the next part of the Anatomy of the Flat Iron series, Ceramic Plates. Thanks for reading 🙂

 

July 9, 2011

Flat Iron Review #1: The Chi (Original)

 

Hello and Welcome to Top Rated Flat Iron Reviews,

So, I know why you are here…   The Chi flat iron is the most popular flat iron on the market today so its only natural that you would be intrigued by it. You want to know why it is the best selling flat iron Amazon….You want to know why it gets called “the Chi” like it was some superstar diva that only goes by one name like Cher or Madonna. The Chi has in fact reached legendary status in the world of flat irons but does it really live up to the hype… Let’s see…

 

The Chi’s Features

Full Name: Ceramic 1 inch Flat Iron By Chi

Claim to Fame: Most popular flat iron, first ceramic flat iron

 10 Foot Cord:

– Is lightweight

– Heats quickly

– Gives silky and shinier results

– Locks in color and prevent color from fading

– Has fixed temperatures on some models

– Has ceramic plates and coils

– Has ergonomic Design

– Straightens, curls, flips and styles your hair

Users SayThe Chi Rocks Because It:

 

  • Smooths thick, curly, and frizzy hair
  • Creates long lasting styles
  • Heats quickly
  • Straightens hair quickly

But They Hate That

  • It cannot be used with a converter overseas
  • The plates start to chip
  • It turned their black hair brown (heat damage anyone?)
  •  Gave them heat damage because their hair was losing its curl
  • Gave them split ends
  • They received a fake Chi
  • It didn’t straighten their hair
  • Customer service was not great
  • There was a fixed temperature on some models

This Flat Iron Is Best For Those With:

  • Thick Hair
  • Frizzy Hair
  • Curly/Wavy4

My Overall Opinion of the Chi

 

My Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars You’ve read through the claims, the pros, the cons but you still may be torn. That is a long list of cons but could such a mystical flat iron be that bad? The Chi does have its drawbacks, not the least of them being the fixed temperature settings and the possibly phony Chi flat irons being billed as the real thing. However, it is hard to argue with results like these….Peep the videos below:

 

[vsw id=”e0SkvFnQFRc” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

[vsw id=”ck7VHzkZ-5Y” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

 

Also, check out these before and after pictures Chi Before and After #1 Chi Before and After #2 See how enviably beautiful their hair looked after using the Chi? It’s possible that you too could get salon like results like they did. Their hair shone like glass and I’ve seen many other before and afters where the women also had sleek and shiny hair. They really did have that shampoo commercial model look to them except these were real women just like you and me.

  Overall, I give the Chi 3.5 stars out of 5 because of its fixed temperature and customer complaints. But if you can overlook that, then I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a Chi flat iron, The Chi is number on Amazon for a reason after all.   If you are not sold on the original Chi, then check out this more updated Chi flat iron. It has tourmaline plates and is digital and has variable temperatures so it takes care of two of my biggest issues with the original Chi.

 

Buy the Chi Now

 

Thanks for Reading!

1 2 3 4