Weird, But Amazing Hair Tools That Really Work
By Lindsay Colameo and Lauren Swanson. Photos courtesy of vendors.
I get shampoo, lotion, and lipstick delivered to my desk on a daily basis, but it's not every day that I open a package to find a beeping, morphing, motorized hair tool. Over time, I've amassed a little collection and I decided to see if these bizarre-looking devices actually work. I was skeptical about them at first, but the results were actually pretty impressive.
1. Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret
At first glance, this thing (top, above) looks like Thor's hammer and navigating it for the first time is just as intimidating — there is a squeeze-activated rotating motor that feeds hair around a heated barrel within an internal heating chamber (scared yet?). Basically what this means is that the device does all the curl work for you — no twisting and no finger or forehead burns. After a seemingly eternal eight to twelve seconds in this heat chamber (depending on desired curl shape), tightly spiraled curls are released (I like to brush them out a little for looser wave). You do have to keep your curl sections small (no more than an inch) and tangle-free, or the internal safety features will stop the motor to prevent hair from getting caught. Once I got the hang of it, it was a scald-free way to achieve uniform curls.
$100 (Shop Now)
A conditioning flatiron may sound like an oxymoron but the Agave Vapor claims to be just that. The 1.25 inch iron has a removable cartridge that you fill with their Vapor Smooth Conditioner before each use. The iron actually straightens hair while infusing it with conditioning oil, all thanks to their steam-powered plates. I was worried I'd be left with a head drenched in grease but to my surprise, my hair was noticeably smoother, shiner, and frizz-free. My hair actually looked conditioned, instead of dried and fried, which it often does after I use my traditional flat iron. I might use this one for when my hair feels extra dry.
$149 (Shop Now)
3. Amika 5P Interchangeable Barrel Curler.
Similar to football, curling hair is a game of inches — ok that was a stretch, but seriously, every inch counts when it comes to the size of the barrel and desired curl shape. That's why this five-in-one interchangeable curling barrel (it's the one on the bottom, above) is kinda genius. At $325, it's not cheap, but it's way more efficient and economical than buying five different curling rods. The set contains five titanium heads, including a 19mm, 25mm, and 32mm barrel, a tapered wand (25-18mm), and a root-lifter head, all of which can be clipped on to the handle. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who isn't used to a curling iron, but the convenience and range of spirals and waves this one gave me were totally impressive.
$220 (Shop Now)
In October 2012, Allure named this unusual system a Best of Beauty Breakthrough and almost a year later we are still singing its praises for healthier heat styling (it's the middle one shown above). While most irons heat to temperatures upwards of 400 degrees, this iron doesn't go above 299 degrees and delivers the same straight results when used with the Transform Mist. An internal scanner actually measures your hair's moisture content and the humidity in the air to determine the lowest temperature that will work for styling — at least for that day. Once the temperature is set, you spray your hair with the styling mist and slowly move the iron over small sections of hair. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, you really have to wet your hair with the styling mist (about 20 pumps for medium length hair), but this thing really works. I'm not surprised it received Allure's most prestigious honor.
$84 (Shop Now)
5. Amika The Dazzler Hair Iron
This is more than just a hair straightener. With over 3,000 hand-placed pink Swarovski crystals, this flatiron gives a whole new meaning to the word "extra." But don't worry about the hair tool being all about looks because it also will give you super shiny and sleek hair in minutes, begging the question: "which is shinier, your hair or the straightener?" The price tag for this more-than-novelty item is pretty steep at $950. But if you're devoted to the fab life, it may be worth the investment.
$950 (Shop Now)
Straight from the swamp, it's this tourmaline blow dryer with two attachments. You'll feel like a true crocodile hunter every time you use this hair tool.
$50 (Shop Now)
This story originally appeared on Allure.
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