What determines the quality of the work of a master of keratin hair straightening? The answer to this question is simple and obvious:

  1. Expertise of the master
  2. High quality formulations
  3. Quality professional equipment and tools

 

Such a tool as a hair straightener is an integral part of the Botox and Keratin procedure. It must have a certain type of coating, accurately keep the set temperature, and also be as convenient as possible for the master. Therefore, the choice of ironing should be approached as responsibly as possible. After all, this is not just a consumable, it is a tool without which the procedure is impossible and, accordingly, it is worth choosing with your head!

Botox and keratin straightening procedures are performed using a similar technology, have a common maximum temperature for the procedure, and therefore the master can safely choose one iron that will be suitable for all types of “hot” procedures.

 

Criteria for choosing a professional hair straightener

1. Iron coating

The coating of the iron is also very important.

  • A metal (aluminum) coating cannot be used with Botox and Keratin, as uncoated metal may react undesirably with the ingredients of the composition. It also has a low maximum heating temperature, approximately, depending on the manufacturer, up to 160-180 degrees, which does not correspond to the temperature regime for the procedure - keratin straightening compositions begin to work at a temperature of at least 200 degrees. Therefore, the use of an aluminum coated straightener is not suitable for Botox and Keratin treatments.
  • The rectifier coating of tourmaline or ceramics will not cause undesirable reactions with the composition due to its properties. And although such coatings have a fairly high heating rate, they still have a significant disadvantage - uneven heating of the plates. That is, the temperature of the center of the plate and its edges may differ in the range of 5 to 30 degrees, which will accordingly affect the quality of the procedure performed and the period of wear.
  • The titanium coating of the straightener is rightfully considered the most perfect and most suitable for Botox and keratin procedures. Titanium is also a metal, but titanium does not react with any cosmetics. Titanium has a light weight, high thermal conductivity, increased strength and wear resistance, as well as resistance to mechanical damage. The titanium coating is smooth and does not have the property of “gluing” or sticking to the hair in the composition when evaporating, so the titanium-coated iron easily glides over the strands without catching individual hairs.

 

2. Ergonomic design

Ergonomic design is responsible for the convenience of work for the master with the iron.

The body of the iron must be made of heat-resistant plastic, which will ensure ease of ironing and comfort for the master during work. Of course, this does not mean that the body of the iron does not heat up at all - of course it heats up, because plates are built into the body, on which a high temperature is maintained for the entire duration of the procedure, however, the heating temperature should not exceed the temperature at which the straightener can be comfortably kept in hands.

Comfort in hand. Let's call this item that way, because depending on the size of the iron itself, the width of its handles, weight, angularity or vice versa streamlining, on the body coating (smooth or rubberized matte), on the presence or presence of a relief on the handle - how much depends on all these parameters. comfortable to hold in hand and comfortable to use.

Keratin masters work for several hours in a row, holding a flat iron in their hand. Therefore, the use of an uncomfortable iron that is not convenient for the hand can lead to:

  • To increased load on the brush.
  • To the clamping of blood vessels and nerve endings in the thumb, index and middle fingers, which bear the load when the iron is clamped.
  • And, as a result, to increased fatigue, pain or numbness of the hand or individual fingers.

 

3. Temperature regime

All modern rectifiers are equipped with a digital display with a light indicator, with which the master sets the temperature at which the procedure will be performed. The indicator allows you to set, save and control the temperature regime with an accuracy of up to a degree throughout the procedure.

Whatever coating you choose, the iron for work should evenly distribute heat over the plates, that is, the heating temperature should be the same both in the center and along all edges of the plate, this is extremely important so that the entire strand is processed at the same temperature, without temperature loss at the edges of the ironing.

The iron should work in a wide temperature range from a minimum limit of 130 degrees to a maximum of 230 degrees. This will allow both to perform Botox and reconstruction procedures in a “warm” technique with minimal heating of the hair sheet, in the case of working with damaged hair, and to perform a keratin hair straightening procedure even with the toughest complex hair at high temperatures.

 

4. Fast heating

Fast heating is a criterion that tells not only how quickly the iron heats up, but also how quickly you can change the set temperature, increase or decrease it during operation.

The design of professional irons includes a PTC element, which is responsible for the rapid heating of the plates to a predetermined temperature from 40 to 60 seconds, changing the temperature to increase or decrease within 10 to 30 seconds. And also it ensures continuous correct operation of the rectifier during a long service life, that is, it is responsible for maintaining the set temperature accurately.

 

5. Insert size

Of course, there is a plate size that is considered to be universal - it is 33 by 90 mm. It allows the master to carry out the procedure with hair of any length. However, for long or thick hair, it is much more convenient to work with an iron, which has larger plates - 40 by 95 mm. For short hair, it is convenient to use an iron with narrow plates of approximately 25 by 80 mm. Depending on the manufacturer, the size of the plates in millimeters can vary, which gives the masters a large selection of straighteners.

The set of tools for a keratin hair straightener master must have two flat irons, one with wide plates for basic work with long strands and fast processing of large volumes when working with thick hair, the second with narrow plates that will allow you to carefully work out short hair or bangs. Also, the presence of two irons will insure you in case one of them suddenly fails due to a breakdown or physical damage.

Of course, for the first time, a novice master is allowed to purchase only one straightening iron , but being a professional and as the amount of work grows, you should be well aware that one iron is not enough for you to work and you must be prepared not only for hair of different lengths, but also in various force majeure situations.

 

6. Plate mobility

Such a function as movable or “floating” plates appeared quite recently and is a cool “trick” of professional irons for keratin hair straighteners.

The plates in such irons are fixed from the inside using special springs, which ensures the mobility of the plate when pressed on it. This feature allows the plates to be tightly pressed together when the iron is closed. Floating plates allow you to tightly grab and squeeze a strand of hair between working surfaces, while applying much less effort than conventional plates. Equipping the straightener with movable plates can significantly reduce the load on the working hand and fingers of the master and, accordingly, makes the work easier and more comfortable.

 

7. Quality power cord

No matter how insignificant this criterion may seem, the quality of the power cord is also of great importance.

  • The cord should be tight, in a good, high-quality, flexible insulating braid. This will ensure its durability. The cord will not break when twisted, which means that the wires that pass through it from the inside will not bend or break.
  • The length of the cord is very important, especially if you are working from home. After all, the client may not have an extension cord at home, and the sockets may be located in places that are inconvenient for your work and the length of the cord may not be enough. Therefore, we recommend that you choose the maximum cord length.
  • The 360-degree swivel cord built into the ironing handle will allow you to work with the straightener in the most comfortable way. The cord will not twist and, depending on your movements, you will not have to spend extra time unscrewing it to its original state.

 

8. Self-shutoff function

Not all irons have automatic shut off. Of course, there is a sense in it - if you suddenly forget to turn off the iron, then the self-off function works after 60 minutes and your iron will turn off by itself. Let's judge, 60 minutes is still enough from overspending on electricity and from worrying if you turned off the device. But when working with an iron in your hands, you do not always pay attention to the indicator light, so you can, without noticing the moment the iron auto-shuts off, spend 5-10 extra minutes working with hair with a cooled iron and then spend even more time to figure it out. Where else do you need to refine the strands. Therefore, you need a self- shutdown function or not, it's up to you to choose.

 

9. Additional attachments and features

You don’t have to lose your head when you see a set of additional ironing attachments, such as corrugated or nozzles of different diameters for winding hair like a curling iron. Of course, in the pre-purchase moment, additional bonus baits may seem like a wonderful option. But do not forget for what purpose you are purchasing an iron. The curling iron should remain a curling iron, and you need an iron for keratin and botox . Therefore, the 10 in 1 option is not suitable for you. And don't overpay for gadgets you don't need.

We recommend you before buying an iron:

  • Compare the prices of irons you are interested in in different stores.
  • Compare the description of the ironing model in different stores, because sellers can present the same model with different characteristics.
  • Read customer reviews about the model you are interested in.
  • Go to the store and personally hold the models of straighteners you are interested in in order to understand how convenient it will be for you to work with it in terms of weight and, in general, the sensations in your hand.