Mind Magic. Georgina Fowler

They are quite soft to the touch, as often their bristles are made of a softer material. They are mostly used for helping to dry hair straight, as they are easier for someone to use themselves, as opposed to using a circular brush which can get tangled up in your hair. They may take a while to get used to, however, as they are not used like most brushes which are twisted around whilst drying.

       SOFT BRUSHES

      These brushes are excellent when doing put-ups or dressing hair after back-combing. They smooth over the top of hair and don’t brush right down to the scalp if used correctly. They come in many shapes and sizes, but often the bristles are very soft and flexible, bending and moving slightly.

       SNAPPER BRUSH

      Snapper brushes have become very popular recently, and look like two flat brushes or paddle brushes facing each other and attached at one end. They are easy to control and look much like straightening irons with bristles – and are used in much the same way. To use, you ‘snap’ a section of hair at the root inside the brush, put your blow-dryer on it and pull it down the hair to the end. The bristles of the brushes are cut very short – if they were too long, the brush would not snap together as well.

      dryers and attachments

       Along with scissors, hairdryers and attachments are a vital tool of the trade, especially with the old hood dryers disappearing quickly. Having the right dryer and attachments can make a huge difference to your finished look.

      Hairdryers

      Hairdryers have come on in leaps and bounds since they were first invented, when they were large, unwieldy contraptions made of metal and wood. These days we have super-light versions with any number of speed and power settings: ultra light turbo, super turbo, 1,600 watts, 1,800 watts and even 2,100 watts, boosting the power you have and the speed at which the hair dries. They come in many different colours, makes and every shape and size to suit the user.

      There is a difference between professional dryers and regular dryers. It used to be the shape, as you could always tell a professional dryer from its long neck, whereas regular hairdryers were short and stubby. Now even the regular dryers have followed suit, but they don’t have the same power. Check the wattage, which will tell you how strong it is – professional dryers are usually 1,800 watts and above.

      Professional hairdryers just used personally at home will last for many years, but of course in a salon using them day in and day out, blow-dry after blow-dry, you will find that the lifespan is not as long. From my personal experience I would say that they last about one to two years before they burn out.

      To prolong a hairdryer’s life, it helps if you clean the filter regularly and try not to drop it too often! Also have the wiring checked every now and again – in a salon, the salon owner should by law have all electrical equipment tested regularly, at least once a year.

      Attachments

       NOZZLES

      Most professional stylists like to use a nozzle on their dryer. Some don’t, and the choice is yours, but bear in mind that with a nozzle you can direct the air from the dryer into certain places on a brush or on to hair for more precise drying.

       DIFFUSERS

      This is a large, circular disk that attaches to the end of the hairdryer. It softens the airflow, so when directed at the hair it does not blow it everywhere. It is mainly used for curly hair, as it allows the curl to dry almost naturally.

      heated equipment

       Heated appliances are extremely popular these days, particularly straighteners and curling tongs, depending on whether the fashion is for poker-straight hair or soft waves. There are also other heated tools that will finish a style after blow-drying.

      Heated rollers

      Often used after a blow-dry or before a put-up, heated rollers help to boost the hair’s volume and give bouncy curl. They are normally purchased in a box that heats up by plugging into the mains. The rollers stand on rows of metal sticks and heat from the inside out. Some more expensive brands have a temperature gauge and will automatically light up when ready to use; more old-fashioned rollers have a little dot on the top that changes colour when hot.

      The rollers are pinned into the hair with a special pin-type prong that slides over the roller to hold it in place. Some versions have different clips to hold them, such as snapper clips.

      As with all heated equipment, treat with caution and make sure the wiring is tested on a regular basis.

      Straightening irons

      Straighteners have enjoyed a surge of popularity in recent years, and they are used extensively both in salons and in homes. Don’t allow their popularity to prevent you from learning how to dry hair correctly, however – it is still vital for a professional to learn this skill. To use, slide them down the already blow-dried hair from root to tip – you are essentially ironing the hair with intense heat.

      Always remember that straighteners can heat up to very high temperatures and can be dangerous if left unattended. Make sure that they are tested regularly and always turn them off after use.

      Tongs

      These are a similar tool to the straightening irons but create curl instead of straightness. They are used for many things, from finishing short blow-dries to curling lengths of long hair into spirals, or even to finish a put-up. They can can get extremely hot and need to be used with care.

      To use, take a small section of hair and put the end of the hair in between the snapping piece of metal and the tong itself. Wind the hair around the tong until just close enough to the scalp without burning and leave for a few seconds before unwinding. A good tip is to slide a comb under the tong, in between the tong and the scalp, in order to prevent you from burning the head.

      Rollers

       VELCRO ROLLERS

      These rollers stick very easily to the hair on their own, with no clips required. They come in different sizes and are coloured according to size. The main drawback with Velcro rollers is that they don’t make a clean, crisp curl, as when removed they tend to pull odd strands of hair with the roller. However, they are very quick and easy to use, and they are versatile –