With our beloved hair salons remaining closed for a while now, a lot of us are longing to be back in our trusted hairdressers chair, after all, the scattered greys and frizz won’t revive themselves. But with appointments likely to be booked up for months when things do eventually reopen, we’ve tested three of the market’s best hair tools to ensure your hair can look stylish and salon worthy, whatever 2021 has in store.
GHD Rise Hot Brush
Most women have GHD, the purveyors of ‘Good Hair Days’ and their iconic hair straightener to thank for taming their tresses back in the noughties. Mine are still a staple in my hair routine, and I’m not sure I could manage without them. However, with the ‘bouncy blow-dry’ still on trend, GHD have once again pulled out all the stops with the GHD Rise Hot Brush, a one-stop-shop to creating the enviable salon blow dry at home.
The cylindrical hot brush has a consistent styling temperature of 185 degrees throughout the barrel allowing all the hair to be styled at the same temperature, enabling optimum styling. The 32mm barrel boasts 5mm nylon bristles which ensure styling from root to tip whilst cleverly offering a ‘cool to touch’ technology. The round barrel allows you to create soft waves or curls by simply adapting the time you hold the hair section you’re styling for. Lightweight and easy to grip, this device is nifty and easy for anyone to use.
Having extremely thick hair that has been bleached for many years, I was dubious whether it would work in my hair, but sure enough, the curls just kept coming. What’s more, I can use the hot brush straight after rough drying my hair, reducing styling time and the amount of heat I’m using on my tresses. For the first time in 20 years, I may no longer have to use my straighteners daily.
Priced at £169, it is an investment but like the GHD original straighteners, it’s one we’d be willing to make over and over again.
CLOUD 9 Curling Wand
CLOUD 9 was launched by professional hairdresser and pioneer Robert Powls in 2009, with the ethos to create products and tools which are inclusive, industry-leading and kinder to hair. Robert noticed that the industry was no longer focusing on the quality of materials, so developed CLOUD 9 using Sericite, a hair healing mineral that can only be found in South Korea. Sericite helps to seal the hair cuticles and to lock in moisture for shinier hair each time you style. This humble brand, which started out in Yorkshire, is now sold globally and after testing out their hair wand, I can see why.
It would be a total understatement to say that I haven’t been able to use hair wands in the past, I’ve barely been able to manage a flick let alone a curl, so after creating a head full of thick bouncy ringlets in one setting, which held position overnight, the CLOUD 9 Curling Wand is quite simply outstanding.
The wand is made to create all kinds of curls and soft waves, and the heat settings range from 125 to 175 degrees. Admittedly, with the amount of hair I have, I used the highest level, but if I take my time to section the hair correctly, I can create a glossy looking salon blow-dry.
I’m blown-away with how incredible this product is and at such an affordable price (£109), now I just want the entire range.
Hot Tools black gold volumizer 2-in-1 brush and dryer
Hot Tools is inspired by hairdressers who demand excellence. With a wide range of products and tools, their 2-in-1 brush and dryer takes all the effort out of blow-drying your hair at home.
The tool has an innovative titanium micro-shine styling surface with charcoal activated bristles to create the smoothest of shines and to naturally soak up excess oils as you ‘blow-out’ your hair.
I have now used this brush a number of times and, from rough drying it to carefully sectioning off my hair, it is brilliant. I have been able to rough dry my hair with a slight flick at the end to create a smooth and frizz free hair style, something I’ve never been able to do with simply blow drying. And what’s more, I haven’t had to straighten my hair afterwards, meaning it cuts down on styling time. Hot Tools sister brand, Neal and Wolf has recently launched their Miracle Mist, which increases blow-dry acceleration by up to 50% as well as boasting anti-frizz and anti-static properties. I really noticed the benefits of using the miracle mist with the volumizer.
This easy-to-use hair tool is priced at £80 and cuts both drying and styling time and, more importantly, it really works.
