Your powered hair devices (blow dryers, styling irons) need care and feeding like everything else; cleaning, charging, testing. But once in a while, they act temperamentally or give up the ghost. So how do you know it’s time to upgrade? West Hollywood hairdresser and haircare whiz Elle Hoppenstedt of West Hollywood’s PLANET SALON offers up some excellent words of wisdom:
Time to upgrade when
- Your device is over 10 years old.
Says Elle: “New technology for home-use hair tools has progressed exponentially in the last few years. It’s more efficient, gentler on the hair and ergonomically easier on the hands, wrists and arms.”
- Your device runs too hot (or flares up) or too cold.
Says Elle: “If your hair is looking damaged, dry, dull and burnt, it could be the fault of your tools (or you’re not using the correct heat protection products) that are flowing too hot. You’re looking for even, predictable temperature control. If your tools don’t heat up at all, they’re cold and gone.”
- If you never use the device.
Says Elle: “There are lots of reasons someone may leave a hair tool unused. A big one for a blow dryer is that it’s too big, heavy or awkward to maneuver. In this case, I suggest giving it (not throwing it away) to a friend who is good at push-ups. Another reason is that it just may take too long to do its job. Or you may not use it simply because you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit your hand or movements. That’s fine too but there’s no sense in keeping it around gathering dust.”
- If your blow dryer starts making weird sounds, loud sounds or worrisome noises.
Says Elle: “Beware of grinding noises from a blow dryer that sounds like it’s a blender making margaritas. Years ago, there was a power surge as I was doing a blowout. Suddenly the dryer was as loud as a leaf blower and flames shot out of the nozzle. Fortunately, no one was hurt but I’ve learned my lesson; if it doesn’t purr, I’m not interested.”
YA-MAN’s SPA STYLER Hair Tools fit the bill perfectly because as sturdy as they are, they’re still lighter weight and easy to move around for accuracy and control. Furthermore, the dryer works fast due but without overheating the hair, taking a fraction of the time to style and dry it.
YA-MAN SPA STYLER® Hair Tools and Hair Products Collections are a series of heated hair styling tools and treatment products developed by YA-MAN Ltd., an innovative Japanese beauty tech company renowned for its device sophistication and formula efficacy.
“New technology for home-use hair tools has progressed exponentially in the last few years. It’s more efficient, gentler on the hair and ergonomically easier on the hands, wrists and arms.”
–– Elle Hoppenstedt
Hairdresser, PLANET SALON
w planetsalon.com
IG @dome_improvement
