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Hair Straighteners
Bella's BFF on Brazilian Hair Straightening
Longtime readers will remember a post about Brazilian hair straightening. The technique relaxes hair by using a protein-filled solution on hair, then applying a hot iron to it. It's a little controversial, though, because the solution includes formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
It's Japan vs. Brazil in the Hair-Straightening Wars
My best friend has thick, very wavy hair, but you'd never guess it from looking at her. That's because she goes in for Japanese thermal conditioning, a treatment that leaves hair straight for months. Now I have to tell her about a newer process from Brazil called escova progressiva.
Beauty Byte: UK Bars Offering Bathroom Hair Straighteners
First came condom machines, tampon dispensers, and even perfume spritzers. But the latest bathroom vending trend is just plain weird: coin-operated hair straighteners and curling irons. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip.) Strange, but true: A British company called Beautiful Vending has created a hair-straightening vending machine called Straight Up.
New Product Alert: Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener
Well, we may not have flat irons in public bathrooms like they do the UK, but now, you can straighten your hair just about anywhere else with this awesome purse-sized Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener ($225). This 7-ounce flat iron is great for travel or a long night out, but just because it's small doesn't mean it can't pack a punch.
The high-end tool is made from ceramic, which is much better at smoothing cuticle than metal, and it warms up in under a minute with three different heat settings.
Do You Still Straighten Your Hair?
With slightly fluffy, matte hair being on the beauty radar lately, suddenly super-shiny straight hair seems a bit last season. I have to admit that there is something WAG-ish about poker straight locks, especially when they're flat with no volume or bounce.
Having said that, I'm torn.
Hair straightener poisoning
Overview- Definition
- Poisonous Ingredient
- Where Found
- Symptoms
- Home Treatment
- Before Calling Emergency
- Poison Control, or a local emergency number
- What to expect at the emergency room
- Expectations (prognosis)
- Ammonium thioglycolate (found in relaxer/straightener products that do not use lye)
- Guanidine hydroxide (found in relaxer/straightener products that do not use lye)
- Mineral oil
- Polyethylene glycol
- Sodium hydroxide (found in relaxer/straightener products that use lye)
- Various hair straighteners
- Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat
- Loss of vision
- Severe pain in the throat
- Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
- Gastrointestinal
- Blood in the stool
- Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Vomiting blood
- Heart and blood
- Collapse
- Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
- Severe change in blood acid levels -- leads to organ damage
- Lungs
- Breathing difficulty
- Throat swelling (may cause breathing difficulty)
- Skin
- Burn
- Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
- Irritation
October Must Haves: Nourishing Hair Treatments
If your hair is looking somewhat parched post-summer, then this is the perfect time to treat yourself to an intensive at-home hair treatment. I've trawled the high street and the salons to bring you the best hair masks for your hair type, including colour-enhancing treatments for just 99p. There's also the best deep-conditioning masque for afro hair and a treatment specially designed for those of us who are too dependent on our straighteners.
Reader Review of the Day: Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment
Living Proof's Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment for Thick to Coarse Hair ($24) is one of the newest frizz-fighters on the market, and it promises everything from a humidity barrier to the ability to repel dirt and oil so that you can go longer between shampoos. Reader sabriel2 finds that it does deliver in some areas, but still gives it mixed reviews. She says:
I have long, thick, dry hair, so I was pleased with the amount of straightening and control I got when I heat-styled after using this.
Oh, Stormy: 5 Ways to Weather-Proof That Hair
Ugh. The weather over the last week has been crappy, and my hair has totally rolled over into submission. Welcome to the grossest season, I guess.
Good Hair Has a Greater Point
If you've ever felt as though you'll look bad unless you straighten your hair, get highlights, go blonde, get a perm, or cover your grays, you should see Good Hair. If you care about the effects narrow normative beauty ideals have on the people around you and the larger world, you should see it. Heck, if you've ever felt like you "needed" to do anything to be attractive or accepted, you should see it.
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