Many useful articles have been written about the peculiarities of performing keratin hair straightening and Botox. We touched superficially the list of tools for keratinizing in some of them.
Many of these accessories can be neglected, but it is not possible to carry out procedures without a flat iron (styler, curling iron). Brasil-Prof experts fully disclose the topic of straighteners so that after reading you do not have any questions.
Curling iron for keratin straightening is the most important tool. It is used in professional salon treatments. However, for restorative services, a different, cold straightener is used.
How to choose a keratin straightener. Hot and cold straightener
Straighteners in the keratin area are commonly divided into two groups:
- Hot. They are used for keratin, nanoplastic and botox. They work on the principle of thermal effect. After the composition is applied, it should be "sealed" into the hair. This function is performed by a hot tool. Under the influence of high temperatures, the applied composition is sealed into the hair. The main effect takes place - smoothing.
- Cold. Infrared ultrasound, used for restorative procedures in cold techniques. Outwardly, the infrared device practically does not differ from the usual straightener. It has a familiar shape and two plates. The main difference is in the principle of operation.
To activate the applied composition, the first plate, emitting ultrasound, splits the cosmetic agent into tiny particles to the vapor state.
This allows the product to penetrate deep into the skin and act more effectively. The second one serves to seal the composition under the action of pressure and infrared rays.
Therefore, it is optimal to use such an infrared recovery iron and cold Botox. The main difference between cold Botox and classic Botox is that it is not affected by high temperatures.
It is noteworthy that you can not be afraid to touch such a straightener, it does not heat up and does not hold the temperature, hence the name - cold. But it is necessary to be careful with the hot one, because you can get burned. It is not possible to smooth out curly strands with such a device. Therefore, for keratin, nano-plastic and standard Botox technique should use a hot iron.
Specialists recommend using a straightener with infrared rays:
- To nourish the hair with components useful for its appearance and condition;
- To smooth the keratin flakes;
- To moisturize the hair, making it soft and dense;
- To give shine and elasticity.
Types of coating. Types of plates in rectifiers
We found out, the cold rectifier has infrared and ultrasonic plates. But as for its counterpart, there are more options. And not all of them are suitable for straightening and hair reconstruction services. To achieve a quality effect from keratinizing, it is important that the hot straightener is made from the right materials.
Metal
Steel is the most common and logical element in the technique, but in the current realities, it is outdated and a thing of the past in the hairdressing industry. It is the easiest and most budget-friendly type and should be used no more than once every 30 days with lots of heat protection cosmetics.
In most cases, the steel does more harm than good. It doesn't warm up evenly. There is not enough heat in the areas that need it, and where there is a need for gentle pulling and warming there is a burnout.
Aluminum
Aluminum is also used in the manufacture of plates. In their usual form, they are not particularly different from iron. There is a variant with an anodized coating. An additional protective film of oxide is created on top. But there is still aluminum underneath. Because of insufficiently even heating, this kind is not suitable for keratin straightening and similar services.
More often, this material is used in household stylers and curling irons. At home, it is better to use it with thermal protection - a special cosmetic product in the form of a spray or lotion. This will partially protect the curls with regular use.
Teflon
Teflon is associated with the notorious frying pans. It prevents burning and improves gliding. That's the kind of iron that glides better. It would seem - the perfect solution! But Teflon coating tends to wear off, and underneath is the same steel. That would be a good solution, but the service life and other features do not allow for its productive use in the professional sphere.
Titanium
Let's get to the right tool for our type of activity. Titanium in irons is lightning fast. It is a lightweight metal with a high thermal conductivity index. Plates made of it have an increased level of reliability and a long service life.
Due to the smoothness of the material, hair does not stick during the vaporization phase of the composition. The material has no problems with uneven heating, is hypoallergenic and has excellent sliding properties. In contact with cosmetics, titanium does not enter into unwanted chemical reactions.
Such advantages are appreciated by professional masters and you will often find these devices in beauty salons. A popular model is the BRP-516 iron. It is a universal iron for keratin straightening and hot services maintaining temperature up to 250 degrees Celsius. Suitable for unruly, curly curls and strong curl. It is also suitable for normal hair if the temperature is maintained.
Ceramic
The ceramic surface is also welcomed in the professional environment. Unlike titanium, it smoothes curls more gently. Suitable for bleached, dry, blonde and weakened hair. It is better to work with them at temperatures up to 170-180 degrees with a small amount of stretching so as not to damage the already "tired" strands even more.
Tourmaline
A good, natural material with the right characteristics. Tourmaline (stone) is ground into fine crumbs to flour. It is then applied to a ceramic surface. It is also called ceramic tourmaline. It is notable for the fact that it has an ionization function, gently pulls through, has an antistatic effect, and prevents electrification of strands.
Types of surfaces by function:
Fixed. Static, motionless. Not a remarkable option. Such an iron for keratin can be used with an eye to the pressure exerted and avoid clacking, so as not to overdo it.
Floating 3D. This is an advanced type of surface. It is capable of shifting sideways and helps prevent breakage when pulled through. It allows you not to tear out your hair and increases the quality and comfort of the procedure.
The size of the work area on keratin irons:
1. Wide. Varies from 3 cm and larger. Designed for straightening thick, thick, voluminous hair. The bigger the size, the faster the procedure will be done.
2. Narrow. From 1.5 cm to 3 cm. For clients with short haircuts or hard-to-reach areas, around the ears and bangs.
Standard size, which is considered optimal, is 33x90 mm. With these parameters, the specialist is more comfortable to manipulate different lengths. Experienced masters know that for processing long and thick curls it is better to give preference to plates 40x95 mm, and for short, choose a device with narrower, for example, 25x80 mm.
Parameters and characteristics that you should pay attention to when buying
- Availability and method of adjusting the temperature mode;
- Power;
- Ergonomics and ease of use;
- Additional nozzles and capabilities.
Thermoregulation
A factor that affects the quality of keratin or Botox service is the presence of a thermoregulation function and the way the temperature mode is set. It should be stipulated that the highest temperature setting for heating the plates should not be less than 230°. At a lower rate the desired effect for an afro and a dense, thick locks can not be achieved. Hair quality will directly depend on the heating temperature:
- For bleached or naturally damaged hair, a heating temperature of no more than 170° is required;
- For natural porous or curly hair index t ° coating should range from 200 ° to 220 °. It is also worth noting that at the maximum rate of 230 ° work only true masters of their craft with experience.
According to the criterion of the temperature there are the following types of devices:
- Without the ability to regulate the thermal mode (not suitable for our tasks);
- With a mechanical temperature control;
- With electronic setting of the temperature mode without the memory function;
- With electronic temperature control with the ability to memorize.
Important! Despite the attractive price of the device without the thermoregulation option, it is not suitable for professional use. Failure to comply with the specified norms, even a few degrees, can lead to irreversible consequences. Hair will literally burn and become dry and brittle. Therefore it is best to buy an iron with a screen, which always shows how many degrees the device is heated.
The peculiarity of the mechanical thermostat is that by choosing a suitable mode once the user does not have to adjust the device every time. Models with an electronic thermostat allow the user to always choose the exact temperature, but each time the desired mode has to be chosen anew. However, these models of irons are the most optimal for professional quality work. Some of them are equipped with a function to remember the previous mode, which makes their use even more convenient.
Power
It is important to keep in mind the power of the tool. The higher the power rating, the faster the iron heats up. Masters of keratin hair straightening prefer devices with a power of 40-50 W, because the desired temperature mode will be reached for 30 seconds.
One more important criterion when choosing an iron is the rapid heating of the device. This refers not only to how quickly the device heats up when turned on. It is important to be able to quickly change temperature during use.
The peculiarity of professional irons is the presence of a PTC element, thanks to which it is possible to heat the plate to the desired temperature within 30-60 seconds, and to change this figure within 10-30 seconds. In addition, this element is responsible for the trouble-free operation of the device for a long time.
Ergonomic and comfortable
No matter how powerful and multifunctional the iron is, it will be most uncomfortable to interact with it if it is too bulky, weighs a lot and does not feel comfortable in the hand of a specialist. Therefore, when choosing, you should focus on the following factors.
Convenience. The device should lie comfortably in the palm of the master, because the keratin procedure lasts not one hour. It is unacceptable that the wrong shape of the device will lead to an excessive load on the hand, constriction of vessels and pinched nerves in the palm, increased fatigue and pain in the hand.
It is mandatory to take into account such characteristics as the size of the keratin and botox iron, the size of the handles, the total weight of the device, the coating of the handles (smooth/rubberized), the presence of relief application on the body, etc. Only an ideal combination of all these characteristics will allow the handyman to do his work qualitatively and quickly. Determine the best option for yourself can only be done in a practical way, by holding the tool in your hands for a while.
A quality power cord. Only at first glance it may seem that this part of the device has nothing to do with the straightening procedure. However, before you choose, carefully inspect its cord. Evaluate the following points:
- The braid should be strong and sturdy, but elastic. This will ensure that there are no kinks in the kinks, which means a long lifespan;
- The length of the wire should be as long as possible, especially if you have to provide a straightening service out of the workplace. There is no telling what hard-to-reach places power sources might be in an unfamiliar location;
- The cord at the connection to the handle should rotate 360 degrees. This will save the owner from constant twisting of the cord and therefore the time spent periodically unwinding it.
The self-timer function
Another point - the function of automatic shutdown. Not all devices have this feature. In this case, the self-timer is necessary if for some reason the master will forget to turn off the device. After 1 hour, it will automatically shut off, preventing not only a possible fire, but also overconsumption of electricity. In addition, it will save the nerves of the technician, who will not have to worry about whether he turned off the rectifier.
Extra attachments
Newcomers in the beauty industry may be confused when they see a set of straightener attachments, such as corrugators, for curling hair, etc. However, the device is purchased to provide highly specialized services, and for this purpose high-quality flat plates made of the right material are important. Therefore, sets with ten nozzles are not necessary for those who are engaged in this particular work. This is just an unnecessary waste of money.
What is the best straightener for keratin? Conclusions
If you as a top master budget allows you to buy several devices, it is worth doing just that. In the arsenal of real professionals there are always several options that differ from each other.
Beginning masters, by the way, also quite quickly realize that they cannot do without one device, because they have to work not only with different lengths of hair, but also to face other unforeseen cases. And in general, the best keratin iron is the one that one knows how to handle properly. If your finances are limited, buy a titanium iron. It is more versatile and will solve most problems.
Company Brazil Prof offers not only professional cosmetics, but also the necessary tools to make your hair beautiful, and your curls really straight, healthy and protected from temperature changes and any other negative effects. You just choose what you really need and enjoy using it.
