By Heather Rae Cheszek of Hairroin Salon
The crimper is BACK! As ladies, we’ve been hailing to the hair
goddesses for all our lives to look current and beautiful but most recently, in
the last few years, tool technology for hair has seen a vast improvement
(especially in our looks). First, we embraced our flat irons to create smooth,
shiny straight hair. Second, effortless beach waves were perfected with the use
of our diffusers and curling wands. And now, in recent months, we are seeing
vast amounts of texture and hairstyles being made with the crimping iron. As a
child of the 80’s I’m embracing this trend all the way and I’m excited to share
with you some of my crimp tips.
For about $40 you can purchase a crimper online or at your
local beauty supply store. Most are spring loaded so getting the desired look
is easy. All you have to do is squeeze! Crimpers now come in a wide range of
sizes and most have interchangeable plates to vary the amount of texture. The
plates can also differ in materials. Ceramic plates heat up quickly and give an
even temperature all the way through so you don’t have to worry about uneven
spots. Tourmaline plates magnify the negative ions in your hair to give your hair
a smooth, shiny crimp. Titanium plates are good for those of you who tend to
get snags or tangles with traditional irons. Now that you know which crimper to
purchase, here’s some tips on how to use one safely.
* Pre-Treat The Hair
Make sure to use a heat protectant spray or lotion that has
moderate hold on damp hair prior to blowdrying. I recommend Oribe Smooth Style
Serum or Sebastian Professional Stylixer.
* Set The Right
Temperature
Most crimping irons have a preset temperature of 350 – 370
degrees with the flick of an on/off switch. For fine hair, use the lower heat
settings on your iron and for coarse, resistant hair dial up the temperature.
For a general rule of thumb, don’t go above 400 degrees.
* Take Small Sections
Brush hair and make sure it’s free of snags and tangles.
Take a small section about 2-3 inches wide and about ½” thick. Spray an
additional heat protector on the section, especially one that features added
shine such as Oribe’s Soft Lacquer Heat Styling Spray or Sebastian’s Shine
Define. Place hair between the plates of
the crimping iron and hold down gently for 2-3 seconds. Start at the top of the
section and move down to your ends crimping as you go. Repeat this method until
all desired sections are crimped.
Don’t be afraid to let that 80’s wild child out when using
your crimper. Just make sure to treat your hair well with extra deep
conditioners weekly if you plan on using your new tool frequently. To stay
inspired or to view more crimped looks, please visit my Pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/_heatherrae/pimp-your-crimp/.
Heather Rae Cheszek
Instagram @hrae_hrae
(all images found on Pinterest)
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