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Friday, May 30, 2014

Pimp the Crimp


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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