Category Archives for "Uncategorized"

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!

 

October 1, 2011

15 Reasons Why You Should Know About Flat Iron Experts

You  know, 

I really don’t know what it is about that site that makes me like it so much.  I don’t know if it’s the colors they used (I love the color scheme of hot pink and gray together). Maybe its the way that the website looks busy enough for you to know that this site has a lot going on but clean enough to still look elegant and professional. Maybe its because it provides me with so much information for my own blog. Maybe its all of that and more…


Oh, I’m sorry, what did you say…what site am I rambling on about?

I’m talking about Flat Iron Experts!

Have ya’ll ever been on that site…?
Say what!
You haven’t heard of Flat Iron Experts, the company who is truly passionate about helping you find the perfect hair straightener.
What’s up with that?
This obviously won’t work…You’ve got to go there and take a look…
No you say???
Would you go there if I gave you a really good reason?
Well, what if I gave you 15 good reasons?
Are you down?
Yes…
Great
Read on… 🙂

 

15 Reasons Why You Should Know About Flat Iron Experts…If You Haven’t Already

 

1) Flat Iron Experts has a great customer service record. I haven’t been able to find many bad reviews about this website but I have found plenty of good ones. Check out the links below:
Amazon

Ebay BBB SiteJabber ThriftyGirl

 


2) No more paying $5.95 just to get a product sent to you…They have free shipping for orders over $50 and seeing how most flat irons are more than $50 anyway, this shouldn’t be an issue.

 


3) Their site features YouTube hair gurus…I don’t know about you but I have come to look for and trust the reviews of those who make Youtube videos. They are usually using the product right before our very eyes and we know they did not edit the video to make their hair look better. They tell it to us straight and I love that. You can trust them.

4) They have a list of their best-selling products on the homepage so you can see right up front what their best products are.

5) They have an active online presence with Twitter and Facebook pages which makes them easy to interact with.

6) They feature many of the top brands and even some brands that Folica.com doesn’t carry (KQC for example).

7) It is an easy to navigate website with categories by brand and flat iron type (steam, mini, wet to dry).

8) The descriptions of the features and specifications of each flat iron gives the user in depth knowledge which in turns helps them make better decisions about which flat iron to buy.

9) Their products come with a 30 day money back guarantee.

10) For many of their flat irons they show before and after pictures so you can see a comparison of how effective the flat iron is.

11) And of course, they also have plenty of user reviews.

12)They have recommended product accessories so you can make sure to get everything you need in one go…no more saying “I wish I had known that I needed that…:”

13) In addition to product reviews, some of the flat irons have video tutorials.

14) Many times, if you spend a certain amount, you get free products with your purchase (for example:  If you buy a KQC x-heat flat iron, you get a free KQC shine product with it)

15) And last but certainly not least, they honor all manufacturers warranties and they do it without hassle.  Not even Amazon can always claim that unfortunately.  Plus you do not have to pay to get the flat iron sent back to you. Sa-weet!

Okay, so I’ve given you 15 reasons…no 15 benefits of this website and what it has to offer you.If you haven’t been yet, I do encourage you to visit Flat Iron Experts and get a feel of it yourself and see if you like it as much as I do. Then I would love for you to come back and tell me what you think in the comment section below, good or bad.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for reading,

September 29, 2011

A Top Rated Flat Iron Reviews Tip: Don’t Use Water Based Products…


Well, I don’t mean like never ever use them but…well just read on…

In case you didn’t know, I read so much about flat irons and hair care related stuff its not even funny. However, even when you are not looking for specific information about flat irons you still might come across a rare special gem that reveals to you the secret to eternally straight hair (or something like that).

So, right now I am in the process of finding new hair products after my discovery that:


A) my hair hates coconut oil and ALL coconut based ingredients

and

B) almost ALL hair products in the store (and many online) contain some form of coconut. Needless to say, this has been a very frustrating journey.

Anywhoo, I was reading about a product from the Myhoneychild line that was supposed to be good to use for many things like moisture etc as well as flat ironing your hair. However, one reviewer made a very good point that I hadn’t thought about before.

Her observation was…Is it a good idea to use a waterbased styling product on your hair right before you flat iron? Her conclusion was no and I have to emphatically agree. I never thought about it but when you flat iron we are trying to keep the the moisture out of our hair. If we use a water based or humectant based product in our hair (meaning a product that we won’t be washing out leave in/ serum, etc)  right before or after we flat iron then then surely this will cause two things to happen:

1) A quasi semi-straight result that will… 2) be pouffy, frizzy, and curly again at the first sign of humidity

Now I don’t know about you, but I do not spend two hours in a hot bathroom straightening my hair just so it can get frizzy again in 2 seconds. I realize now, that I many times will use a product on my hair that is water based and low and behold about one hour after flat ironing, my hair is reverting back and I am PO.

Are you experiencing this? Is your hair puffy and frizzy a few hours after you flat iron? Check your hair products….they may have water or humectants in them a and that could be the cause of your straight hair troubles.

If you find that you are using water based or humectant products, then switch to a silicone based product. You might even want to use a product that repells moisture and humidity, like Sabino Lok and Blok so that you hair stays sleek as long as possible.

If you are confused as to which products to use on your hair before flat ironing then here are some suggestions:

 

Heat Protectant-  Tresemme Heat Tamer Style Spray

Heat Protectant and Straightening Serum in One– Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide

Leave-In- CHI Silk Infusion Leave-In Treatment

Flat Iron For Those With Frizzy Hair- Remington Shine Therapy Frizz Control, Humidity Resistant Ceramic Flat Hairstyling Iron

 

Well I tell you , you never know where flat iron inspiration might strike. I hope this has helped ya’ll figure out how to get sleek and shiny hair. Let all frizz, whether our hair is curly or straight be banished forever…


Okay and on that melodramatic note lol, I’m out.


Peace,


October 14, 2011

Flat Iron Mini Review: Can the Remington Shine and Frizz Control Flat Iron Eliminate Frizz for 15 Hours?

 

 

Quick Question,

 

Okay so does anyone actually like flat ironing their hair for 2 hours, only for it to frizz up again in 1? I know I don’t and I’ve heard the complaints around the internet about the drastic effect stepping outside can have on your hair. You put all that work into getting sleek hair only for the humidity to undo it all in about 5 minutes.

 

Obviously that’s not cool. That’s why the Remington Shine Therapy and Frizz Control flat iron is such a find. It promises frizz free hair for 15 hours. I’ll take 15 hours over 5 minutes any day.

 

A girl on Yahoo Answers had a question about trying to find this particular hair straightener and she seemed desperate to find it. It appears that she loved that flat iron and wasn’t willing to just go out and buy any other straightener. That’s true loyalty. Makes you want to see what the big deal is.

 

Anyway, I was pretty sure that was the one that she was talking about so I answered her question. See the question and answer below.

Casper from Yahoo Asked:

 

I doubt anyone will answer this.

Back in 2005-2006 I used this grey flat iron by Remington. It had purple buttons. I think it was bought from K Mart. I think it was a one and a half inch straightener. Does it sound familiar to anyone? Does anyone know a link to it?

 

My Answer to Casper’s Yahoo Question:

Hey Casper,

I believe the flat iron you are looking for is the Remington Shine Therapy Flat Iron. It is grey with purple buttons. If this is not the one you are looking for then I suggest you look into it if you can’t find the specific one you mentioned.

Here’s why: The Remington Shine Therapy Frizz Control Flat Iron, for a flat iron that costs under $50, has incredible reviews. And it really does protect your hair against frizz. It seems to be a great buy according to its users.

 

How the Frizz Control Flat Iron Faired with Users

 

– Got a user’s natural African-American hair as straight as a relaxer with no additional products

– Kept a user’s hair straight in a steamy bathroom – Performed 100% in a test conducted by Good Housekeeping. What they did was put hair samples in a steamy/humidified room. Part of the hair samples were flat ironed with the Remington flat and no product. They compared this to hair samples that were flat ironed with another straightener and treated with an anti-frizz product. Apparently the winner was the Remington hair samples, hands down.

– Straightened better than the Chi for one user – Straightened better than the Sedu for another user

If you’ve been struggling with frizzy hair 15 minutes after you’ve flat ironed then the Remington Shine Therapy Flat Iron is the one you need to get. It is great for anyone, especially those on a budget. Check it out to be on your way to shiny and frizz free hair.

 

And if your still unsure then check out my post How To Choose A Flat Iron.

Thanks for reading and subscribing,

 

 

P.S. What is your favorite frizz fighting flat iron that you’ve found? (try saying that 3 times fast lol!) Let me know in the comments.

 

 

November 11, 2011

Babyliss Flat Iron Giveaway

 

Hey Everyone,
Just a quick reminder that we have a flat iron giveaway going on at this blog as we speak. If you have always wanted to try a Babyliss flat iron now is your chance to get one for free. The Babyliss Pro Diamond Titanium gets stellar reviews and now you could win the chance to own it free of charge. Go on and read the reviews and tell me you don’t want one: BaByliss Pro Diamond Titanium Straightening Iron, Black, 1 Inch

 

The mandatory giveaway entry is dead simple. Fill out the subscription form to the right (with the makeup brushes), check your email and confirm your subscription and you are entered into the contest. That’s it. And if you want additional entries you can read about that here: Top Rated Flat Iron Reviews Giveaway.
Okay that’s all for now. I’m excited about all the stuff that is coming next so stay tuned. In the meantime you can read our latest flat iron review about the HSI.
Adios,

December 10, 2011

Hana Flat Iron Review Part 1: An Unexpected but Welcome Gift


  Hello All,

This is my absolute favorite time of year. The decorations are beautiful (and sometimes beautifully gaudy), the food is rich and cheesy and buttery and chocolately (not necessarily the same dish). The presents that you give and receive are over the top expensive and lavish. It’s decadently wonderful.


And we are barely in the middle of Christmas season and already I have received an unexpected gift.  I set up a new email account some months ago (contactme@toprateflatironreviews.com) hoping to get an email from a reader, a hater of me or this blog, ANYONE…I mean I would take spam at this point.


Then one day, I got an email from some guy named John with the subject Product Review. My ears perked up and  my eyes got wide.  I’m telling you. If you are only going to get one email, this is the one to get.  I was super excited.
He introduced himself as John from the flat iron website Misikko.com and asked me if I was interested in reviewing one of their flat irons (hmmm, let me think??).  Needless to say, I readily agreed as I was always a big fan of Misikko.com anyway. Their website has a look and feel to it that I’ve always loved.
We exchanged a few more emails and before long I was notified that my flat iron was on its way. The flat iron that he sent was the  Hana flat iron, which is their site’s biggest seller. And it got to my house VERY quickly. It was mailed on the 14th and it was delivered on the 17th  of November.
When I got it, I didn’t open it for a few days because I was busy.  So when I opened it on a Saturday just to see what the flat iron looked like I got a bit of a surprise.
OMG!
I was not expecting everything that I saw when I opened that box. The way it was arranged was so adorable. And the freebies…there were tons. I felt like I had gotten a swag bag backstage at the Grammys or something.
I had to take pictures so ya’ll could see it. I only had my iphone at the time to take a pictures of the box. Trust me, it doesn’t do it justice but you’ll get the idea.


This is a breakdown of everything that I got:
1) a Hana  VIP Card 2) A Ionic round brush 3)Lip gloss 4) Mascara 5) Sleep Eye Mask 6) Silicone mat 7) Leather Storage Case 8) Bottle of Hana Shine Serum/Heat Protectant 9) Hana flat iron storage tin. 10) 2 carrying cases
And a Hana Professional flat iron, of course.
Can you say “Dang Gina”? That is a whole lot of free stuff. And the packaging came in my favorite color too (purple). I emailed John to thank him for everything and asked him if they usually package everything like that and he said they did so be prepared to get your own swag when you order a Hana flat iron from Misikko.
But as nice as all that is, it means nothing if the actual flat iron isn’t good. I still hadn’t even used it but I was already in love. I had to calm myself down and actually try the product and soon.
Then, one day later that week,  I came up with a brilliant idea. A devilishly wickedly brilliant idea (as wicked and devilish an idea about flat irons can be).
But ya’ll have to come back tomorrow to see what my idea was b/c this post is already quite long. So I shall see you on the morrow when I will reveal this brilliant idea with all of you.
Prepare for possible amazement,

December 3, 2011

And The Winner Is…..

 


Hey Ya’ll,
I know it’s late but don’t worry. I didn’t forget. You know it pays to do extra entries BECAUSE the winner is…..

Pakou Yang!!!!


YEAH!
I’m so excited for you. You did those extra entries and it really paid off.
I want to thank you Pakou and everyone who participated in this giveaway. Everyone who subscribed  or liked the blog on Facebook or whatever you did, that is invaluable to me and I appreciate it so much.
Pakou, email me at contactme@topratedflatironreviews.com with your contact info and I will send you your new Babyliss Pro Diamond flat iron.
I hope you love it.
More to come ya’ll,