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,

Hana Flat Iron Review Part 2: My Brilliant Flat Ironing Idea

So,
If you haven’t already, go ahead and read this post first. Then you will understand the idea that I”m about to share with you.

 

I have been reading flat iron reviews for years. I have seen a million flat iron review videos.  A lot of the time, these videos don’t even show the reviewer using the flat iron. Or that reviewers’ hair is already straight or just barely “wavy” and supposedly very “thick”. Then they show you how that  flat iron magically transforms their “wavy” and “thick” hair to sleek and straight in about 3 or 4 passes.
I’m sorry, that’s not very impressive to me. How hard is it for a flat iron to straighten nearly straight hair when you pass over each section 10 times. Forget that.
This is not really challenging these flat irons. That’s not showing me how well they work. The $10 Conair from Walmart can straighten that type of hair.
But, what if we really put a flat iron to the test? What if we actually made them sing for their supper. It’s time for a flat iron review that really shows you how effective it is.
In other words, its fine to see how well a flat iron does when you do everything right.
But wouldn’t you like to know how well a flat iron does if you do EVERY thing wrong?
So, I decided I was going to do just that. Instead of…
1) Using a straightening shampoo 2) Using a straightening conditioner 3) Blow drying my hair with a straightening serum and… 4) Flat ironing each section of my hair 3 or 4 times
I was going to throw all of the rules out the window. I was going to flat iron my hair in its current condition, no blow drying, no washing or conditioning, no leave-ins, no rollersets…nothing.
It’s just me, my hair, round brush, two sided brush, shine serum/heat protectant, and the flat iron. Nothing else.
Now, let’s see what this flat iron can really do.
Oh and let me explain about my hair. I don’t have “wavy” and “thick” hair. No love. I have THICK, coarse, curly and coily 4a/4b hair (find out what that means here).
It is not easy to get my hair straight at all. In fact, I have claimed the sole title of having the “hardest hair to straighten in the world”. My hair has laughed at many a flat iron and hair relaxer. Has my hair finally met its flat iron match?
To fully appreciate this transformation, you have to see just how coily and thick my hair was before I flat ironed it. Now I only did a few sections because I didn’t want to flat iron all of my hair like that in case it was damaging but you will be able to see the difference:
Before pics

You’ve seen my hair, so let me explain to you the steps I took. There’s not many. This is what i did:
1) I parted my hair 2) I took a small section of my hair and I brushed it gently with the round ionic brush that was sent with the flat iron. 3) I used the Hana shine serum/heat protectant they sent me. 4) Then I flat ironed that section of the hair very slowly, using a two sided brush for the chase method, 1.5 times. (meaning I did one pass very slowly and then did another quick pass to bump the ends of my hair)
Result?


My hair was straighter and silkier than it had ever gotten with ANY other flat iron. No I am not exaggerating. No I am not being melodramatic. No I am not just saying this because I got a free flat iron. I am under no obligation to say I liked it. Fortunately, I loved it. Now, I could have gone over the sections multiple times and made it even sleeker and smoother but I wanted you to see just how straight it could get my hair in one (point five) passes.  And remember this is without really any of my usual flat ironing preparation.  This is about as straight as it gets in less than two passes.
Let me make a little confession. Even though I am a flat iron reviewer extraordinaire (as I like to think) I have personally never used a flat iron that cost more than $100. I’ve come close but no cigar.
This flat iron is $119 on misikko.com and it is worth every penny. I thought it made a difference to get a more expensive flat iron vs one from Sally’s. But now I know for sure.
It makes a huge difference.
This is personally the best flat iron I have ever used. And this is not even the best Hana flat iron they have. I can only imagine how well the others work. This one is more than good enough for me.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this flat iron to anyone. If it worked on my hair type then it will most likely work for yours too. You can get the Hana flat iron at Misikko.com or Hanasalon.com
Have you ever tried any of the Hana brand flat irons? What is your experience? Did you like it as much as I did or did you just have a so so experience with it? I would love to hear from you. Let me know about it in the comment section.
And stay tuned for the flat iron battle posts coming soon.
Thanks for reading,

Update: I have since used the Hana flat iron over all of my hair. While my hair did feel great initially, my hair did quickly revert back to its original state. My hair didn’t maintain its silky look for long. I do think this flat iron would work with some hair types but unfortunately, it didn’t work with mine for long. I do have hope that it would work well for someone with less coarse hair than mine because it was able to make my hair straight for a while just not very long.

Choosing Flat Irons Got You Flustered? Rosebud to the Rescue (Video)

  What up my peeps!
In addition to awesome article on how to choose a flat iron which you should go ahead and read right now, there are also some videos on YouTube that give you super helpful tips on how you can find your flat iron.

  See finding a flat iron should be fun. But because there are so many hair straighteners to choose from and its like a major chore. Don’t get bogged down in all of the superlatives that these companies claim their flat irons have. If you read my how to choose a flat iron article then I will you show you exactly how to choose a flat iron.
In the meantime, you can watch this video that YouTube personality Rosebud created.
[vsw id=”NW2wQjQmwMA” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]
Next up: Solia vs Sedu Battle: Who’s gonna come out on top?
Don’t miss it,

Flat Iron Review Battle #1: The Sedu Pro Ionic (Beautiful Hair for Under $150)

In this corner,

 

We have the Sedu Pro Ionic Flat Iron that is battling against the Solia (which I will discuss in the next post). Yesterday I talked about the “battle” between the Sedu and the Solia so I’m putting them both to the test. I want to know which flat iron is really the best.  I want to know if the Solia can kick the Sedu’s butt even being $40 less. I mean, is there really even any competition between them or does one just blow the other out of the water?

 

 

I don’t know but I’m fixing to find out…

 

What’s The Big Deal About The Sedu Anyway?

 

  I jacked this quote straight from Folica.com “Rated the best hair straightener on the market…”. It also won Totalbeauty.com’s 2010 Editor’s choice for best straightener. Now I don’t know who rated it the best hair straightener in the world but someone did so that’s plus one for the Sedu…

 

The Sedu’s Specs

Full Name: Sedu Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron Hair Straightener 1.5 Inch

The Sedu’s Claim to fame: “Ultra smooth ceramic and tourmaline plates guarantee smooth straightening motion without pulling or breaking of hair”

Have you ever used a flat iron that:

a) You could actually hear it as you were swiping sections of your hair because the plates were that rough

And/Or

b) Yanked individual strands of your hair out?

I have had both of these things happen and both of them disturbed me down to my product junkie soul. So, I love the idea of the plates gliding silently  across each section of your hair while not plucking any hairs out of your scalp. So far so good.

Reduces static and frizz- Yea! Because there is nothing cute about looking like you just rubbed a balloon all over your head.

1.5” plates– This is good if you have longer hair because you can do wider sections of hair and finish faster…however, this is not so good if you want to curl your hair.

2 Year Warranty– This is good. Many only give you a one year warranty and don’t manufacture them to last much longer than that.

“Exclusive” Infrared heat– Hmmmm…okay then…whatever. If you read my email series Five Flat Iron Fairy Tales then you will know that there is nothing exclusive about infrared heat. All flat irons with a ceramic heating unit have one http://www.misikko.com/true-flat-iron.html… Next

Exclusive heat optimization technology– I don’t really know what this means except that it is supposed to help protect your hair from heat damage which is great but I don’t know how exclusive it is…I found another flat iron that claims the same technology…maybe they are made by the same company or something.

Ergonomic and light weight– Yeeesss….some flat irons get so heavy especially when you have tons of hair like I do and it takes 2 hours get finished….that last hour can really do your arms in so having these features are a major plus for me.

Adjustable temperature 240- 410 degrees– This is great but pretty standard. Only flat irons like the original chi and older models don’t give you this option.

Faster heat times– Sweet!

Professional grade cord and length 9 Feet– This is good because I hate companies that skimp on the cord. It is tre annoying. It is also good that it is durable because that can be a fire hazard.   Price Range- Designer: $100-350)

So we’ve heard what the company has to say but what about the people. . .Do the users thinkthis is the best flat iron on the market or are they equally unimpressed?

 

User Reviews

So I’ve read through a lot of the reviews for the Sedu and I’ve done two things. I’ve paraphrased comments about the flat iron that stood out to me whether positive or negative and I’ve always come up with a ratings system. I’ll explain later how it works. For now here are what the users think of the Sedu…

 

Positive Comments About The Sedu

-The Sedu gave many users soft and straight hair that stays straight even in humidity. This is very significant because many flat irons can give you straight hair for an hour or two but can then quickly revert back at the first sign of moisture. This shows that the flat iron can protect against the elements.

– One user said the flat iron gave her results better than a Dominican blow out. I don’t know if you have see a Dominican blow out but the results are amazing. They can take the curliest hair and make it soft and bouncy. Here is a video:

 

[vsw id=”2JtyB-HrEHg” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

– One user said it changed their life. Trust me girl, I understand.

-Some claim it is better than the Chi which is saying a lot because the Chi is also considered to be one of the best on the market

– One said that the Sedu does not make her hair staticy (full of static)

– One said they had tried the  Chi, the GHD, the GVP, the Croc, and the Sedu was far and away the best.

– A woman with 4b natural hair said that she only had to pass over each section twice and it was super straight.

read more

Negatives Comments About The Sedu

– Some users found that it took much longer to straighten their hair using the Sedu so that must mean she had to do a lot of passes on each section.

–  One user had several complaints of burnt fingers, straightness that didn’t last and eventually become puffy and frizzy. She also said that you can’t get to the roots. Then the iron broke on the same day she got it. Not a good experience. Hopefully a lemon. – Some users said it made her hair dull and did not last in humidity after about an hour.

– One said it made their hair too soft and staticy. Weird.

– Others said the iron didn’t last longer than a year.

My New Flat Iron Ratings System Explained

Now the ratings system I’m using is of my own making. What I did was go to websites like Amazon, Ulta, Flat Iron Experts, etc. I added all of the 4 and 5 star ratings from these sites together and counted them as “likes”. The 3 star ratings are neutrals. And the 1 and 2 star ratings are counted as dislikes.

The Sedu’s Rating

 

This is how the Sedu fared:

Likes- 1,773
Neutrals-27
Dislikes- 30
Total- 1,830

 

Before and After Videos

 

This is my personal opinion but the Sedu before and after pictures that I saw were like so amazing. I was hating on them so bad lol. They really did look like they had gotten their hair done at a salon. Most of the b&a pics I saw had really shiny hair.  Just look at these videos…

[vsw id=”CTZtFfr1zmg” source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

[vsw id=”LLadZB7TTr0″ source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

 

Final Thoughts

 

 This is going to be a tough flat iron for the Solia to beat. For there to be only 30 dislikes and 27 neutrals out of 1,830 reviews is amazing and unheard of. The Sedu Ionic Pro is an amazing flat iron that gives you shiny salon like results. It truly is at least one of the best flat irons on the market (not sure if it is the very best but a case could be made for it).

 

And the price? You can spend $200 going to the beauty salon once you’ve gotten your washed, cut, colored, and styled (and don’t forget the tip). Why not spend the money on a good hair straightener and have it at home where you can use it anytime you want?

It’s almost a no brainer but if you are still not sold be sure to come back a see what the Solia is all about.

Tomorrow I will review the Solia to see if it has a fighting chance against the Sedu.

Don’t miss it,

Flat Iron Review Battle #1: Sedu vs Solia (Who’s Coming Out On Top?)

Let’s Get Ready To Rumble,
Okay perhaps we are not going to engage in fisticuffs (said in my best English accent) but it seems like the Sedu and the Solia would  (if they had fisticuffs…). For some reason these two flat irons have been pitted against each other like two pit bulls in a dog fight.  The thing is,  I can’t find any true connection between the two of them…not really. This is what I’ve come up with so far.

1) They both have plates made up of ceramic and tourmaline which produces more ions than either material alone…But so does the HSI , Izunami,Infiniti Conair. So What?

2) They both begin with the letter S…???
Okay, I’m really stretching it here. These two factors alone do not a battle royale make. Truth is, this is probably a fabricated flat iron battle whose origins no one knows.
Regardless, we are still going to act like this is going to be the war of the roses and put these two flat irons head to head.  Is the Sedu worth the extra money? Are all ceramic/tourmaline flat irons the same? Which flat iron is cuter (hey don’t act like you don’t care) ? Which one produces better before and after pictures? Which company sells their product better? What do the users think?
In the next three posts, we are going to find out all of this and more when I review the Sedu flat iron and the Solia flat iron. If you have been trying to decide between the two of them then you will not want to miss these next three posts where on the third post, I declare a winner.
Stay Tuned,

P.S. If you have ever used either of these flat irons then I definitely want to hear from you. If you have used both of them, then all the better. If one of you has some insight into this “war” that I don’t have I would love to know. And if someone has a killer review, I would definitely want to feature it in a future blog post. Let me hear it!

Flat Iron Review Battle: Sedu vs Solia (Who’s the Winner?)

And the moment you’ve been waiting for, 

 

The winner of the Sedu vs Solia flat iron review battle is….the flat iron that made its user’s hair look like they stepped  out of a salon. It is the flat iron that made its user’s hair look like silk.  It is the flat iron that had the best before and after pictures. It is the flat iron that…okay okay so I’m not quite ready to tell you what it is yet.

 You see, I want ya’ll to guess which one the winner is. I’m going to provide links to before and after pictures for both flat irons. If you can, don’t look at which flat iron is being reviewed. Instead, just look at the pictures and see which links show the users with the shiniest, sleekest, and healthiest looking hair.

Once you’ve looked at the pics and made your decision, come back and see if you agree with me.

Deal?

Flat Iron #1

Flat Iron #2

Well, I’ve got my pick. How’ bout you?

The winner of Top Rated Flat Iron Review’s very first flat iron battle is…

 

The Sedu!

Why is the Sedu flat iron the winner?

 

1) Ratings- Using my ratings system, the Sedu had a 93% positive rating vs the Solia’s 80%.

 

2) Before and After Pics- A pic is worth a thousand words and in this case the Sedu’s after pictures spoke volumes. The Sedu’s “after” pictures showed results shinier, straighter, and sleeker than the Solia.

 

It’s true not everyone loved the Sedu Flat Iron but overall, it is the clear winner. I would recommend it to anyone.

If you are on a tighter budget the Solia is not a bad choice. However, if you are ready to make an investment, the Sedu Flat Iron is the best pick of the two and the winner of our epic battle. Time to get the salon quality hair you’ve always dreamed of.

 

Whew…glad that’s settled. But if you’re still not convinced, take a look at these other popular flat irons:

 

Be sure to come back and read my upcoming review on the GHD flat iron.

 

Thanks for reading and following me on Twitter,

3 Best Curling Wands Under $100

 

Though it might sound crazy, right after you have straightened your hair for 2 hours, you might then decide to put some curls back in your hair. Don’t worry! I completely understand. You want the kind of curls you might see on your favorite actress, those romantic curls that bounce when you walk. If this is the look you are after, then look no further than a curling wand.

 

 

Curling wands are a relatively new kind of hair styling tool. The concept is basically just a regular curling iron without the clamp. I personally hate the clamps on curling irons and I am so glad hair care companies came up with this new design. Trying to use the  curling iron  and the clamp without getting unwanted crimps in my hair was frustrating at best.

 

Eventually, I just stopped using the clamp and just wrapped my hair around the barrel. But that still didn’t work because it didn’t seem to get hot enough to curl my hair. And frankly, that stupid clamp was in the way. Apparently I wasn’t the only one dealing with this issue and now hair care companies have come to the rescue and solved the problem.

 

There are 3 main types of curling wands

1) Regular Clipless Curling Wands

2) Curling Wands with interchangeable heads

3) Curling Wands with Curl Guides

 

I have scoured the internet to find the best curling wands under $100 in each category. Why under $100? Because I really don’t think you have to spend that much on a curling wand to make beautiful curls.

 

 

Best Regular Clipless Curling Wand: BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium ConiCurl

 

 The Babyliss Pro ConiCurl is one of the most popular curling wands. It’s a tapered wand that goes from “1/2 to “1. It heats instantly and goes up to 450 degrees. The barrel is made out of titanium which is my favorite material for my styling tools to be made from. It also has a cool tip so you don’t get burned (hopefully).

 

What do the users of the Babyliss Pro ConiCurl say?

 

They love it! They say the curls look professional. But the biggest claim to fame was that the curls last all day. Some said it even lasted for a few days. The tool is also lightweight so their arms don’t get tired while using it.

 

Of course there are always some cons with any products. One user said that because her hair is so straight it slips off of the barrel. This might be the case with any curling wand so a regular curling iron like the Hot Tools curling iron might work better for this hair type. Some people also didn’t like the tapered feature because they felt it made it harder to use.

 

Overall it got almost 5 stars and at a little under $30 at Amazon, it really is a steal.

 

 

Best Curling Wand with interchangeable heads: FAHRENHEIT 4 in One Curling Iron

 

 The coolest thing about the Fahrenheit (pun intended) 4 in 1 curling is that it has 4 interchangeable heads. This means you can choose between 4 different size barrels to get the look you are going for that day. The head sizes are: 1/2-1 inch, 3/4 inch, 1.25 inch & 1.5 inch. It is also ceramic and tourmaline, both of which help decrease your chances of getting heat damaged hair. And unlike the Babyliss wand, this one comes with a heat resistant glove to protect your hand from being burned. Score!

 

But what do the reviewers of the Fahrenheit 4 in 1 curling wand say?

 

They say that it heats up quickly and allows you to change the temperature to wherever you need it. The glove makes it easier to use and switching to a different head is easy. Most importantly, it creates beautiful, shiny, and soft curls that last and last.

 

However, as you know it wasn’t all good…

 

One user said her’s broke after 2 months so if you get this please be sure to register it so you can get the warranty, just in case. One user complained that the two smallest barrels are the same size except one is tapered and one is not.

 

Despite the complaints, the Fahrenheit 4 in 1 is still the best curling wand with interchangeable heads. And at a cost of $48 many users say that it is cheaper at Amazon than it was at other stores who sold it.

 

Best Curling Wand with Curl Guides: Bed Head Rock ‘n’ Roller

 

The Bed Head Rock’n’Roller is definitely the most unique looking of the three wands. That unique look is what is supposed to make it easier for your to curl your hair. This type of curling wand is probably good for those with really fine hair because the hair has something to grab onto. Another feature is that it is ceramic and tourmaline so it makes your hair feel soft to the touch.

 

So what do the users say about the Bed Head RocknRoller?

 

The users once again so the curls last for hours. Many say that they don’t need to use hair spray and the curls will still sometimes stay overnight. And of course the curls are beautiful and shiny and bouncy as curls should be.

 

But…

 

One user said the Bed Head didn’t curl their hair at all and they had to send it back. Another user said that her’s wouldn’t turn on at all (yikes!). And another reviewer said that the curl wasn’t defined enough and was more like a beach wave.

 

What I would say to that user would be to keep practicing and she may eventually get the curl she wants. It may be a little more difficult to use than the other types which is another con but I don’t think it is terribly difficult or no one would use it.

 

Overall, if you have fine hair or need the built in guides to assist you, then this is the best curling wand for you. You can get it at Amazon for under $30.

 

Curling wands are a newer concept but don’t let that scare you. Any one of these three tools would be easy to use and able to get you the soft beautiful curls you desire…right after you’ve straightened your hair of course!

Flat Iron Review Battle #1: The Solia (Beautiful Hair Under $100)

And in the other corner,

 

 

 

 

 

We have the challenger, the Solia!

This is the second part in the flat iron review battle the Sedu vs the Solia. If you are slightly confused, reference the first flat iron review post and the introduction to this battle.

 

Okay so hopefully you read my Sedu post and let me tell you, it is going to be tough to beat. The Sedu is one bad flat iron so the Solia needs to step it up. Let’s go straight into it…

 

Continue reading