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Hairstylists Dish on Their Favorite Tools (and How to Use Them at Home)
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1-Inch Flatiron
To achieve gorgeous waves, celebrity hairstylist Orlando Pita uses a 1-inch flatiron. "It produces a less structured look than a curling iron and doesn't leave creases," he says. "It's also a great alternative for someone that is not yet comfortable with using a curling wand."
How to use it like a pro? "Start with a 1-inch section of hair at the crown and curl the hair away from your face," he says. "As you move toward the back of the head, switch up the direction for a more playful look." As for a brand, Pita loves T3. "I love the temperature controls and the rounded edges on the plates — no marks."
T3 SinglePass 2 1" Straightening and Styling Iron, $180 at Sephora
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Wet Brush
And for brushing wet hair, Jennifer Jones recommends the Wet Brush ($9.99), which comes in all kinds of fun prints. "If I had to pick one brush for the rest of my life, it would definitely be [this brush]," she notes. "It's perfect for all hair types and you can use it on wet or dry hair. I have naturally very curly hair and I can brush and detangle my hair with ease! Due to its flexible bristles, you don't have to worry about painfully ripping your hair out when detangling."
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Velcro Rollers
Looking to get awesome, blowout-worthy curls at home? Velcro rollers are a must. "During your blowout process, while your hair is still hot, put a couple of Velcro rollers on the crown of your head," says Jennifer Jones. "Let them cool and you'll have bounce and body all day long."
Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers, $10 at Sephora
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Bio Ionic StyleWinder Rotating Styling Iron 1.25
Steven DeCarlo, a senior stylist at Mizu New York salon, raves about the Bio Ionic StyleWinder Rotating Styling Iron 1.25" ($135). "It's super user-friendly ... [and] very easy to wrap sections," he says. "Half-inch sections will give you tighter waves and 1-inch sections will give you looser waves — and leave about an inch out at the ends, so the ends stay straight. Once you wrap your hair around the wand, I recommend pulling/tugging on the hair immediately when it is still hot — it will stretch the curl out into a wave. Alternate every other section so the waves have dimension and lots of texture."
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Tangle Teezer
Wesley O'Meara, a Honey Artists hairstylist, is a fan of the Tangle Teezer ($15) — and so are we. "A lot of the models and celebrities I work with constantly have their hair styled and often colored," he says. "Naturally, this makes the hair weak and brittle, this little gadget has saved my life when it comes to combing out the hair and also makes my life so much easier if my client has a tender scalp! All around a great buy!"
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Bio Ionic PowerLight Pro Dryer
Yes, it's true. A hair dryer can make or break your 'do. That's why Judy McGuinness, senior stylist at Mizu New York salon, sticks with the tried and true: her Bio Ionic PowerLight Pro Dryer ($240). "It's ionic and super lightweight, so it drys the hair quickly and easily," she relays. "[I] also love that it has a good cool air switch, so I can set my hair and make it shiny at the same time!"
And she has really great tips and tricks for at-home use, too. "Use it with a big round brush to get volume, then set the volume with a stream of cool air," she notes. Or "use it to power dry the hair with your hands — it easily cuts down on frizz because of the ionic technology, so you don't have to work as hard to smooth the hair out with a brush."
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Diffuser
Don't have a diffuser? It's time to invest. Melissa D'Avenio, a senior stylist at Antonio Prieto Salon, relays that a diffuser is essential and even more so during winter "because it allows you to dry your curls without being a frizzy mess." "Apply your hair product and if you want bigger, curlier hair, put your head forward and scoop the curls in the diffuser bowl and bring them right to your scalp. Do this on all angles of your head to get maximum curl and volume. For the least amount of curl and volume, place the diffuser on the surface of your hair, which will dry your curls without blowing them into a frizzy pouf."
Bio Ionic Universal Diffuser, $24 at Sephora
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ghd Platinum Styler
Kenna, esteemed hairstylist and owner of Kennaland in Brooklyn, uses the ghd Platinum Styler ($249) to achieve multiple different styles. "For example, if you skipped the shower in the morning, but need a quick fix, use the flatiron to smooth the bedhead," he notes. "You can use it to curl and wave hair, adding some alternative texture or use it at your roots to get volume by placing it right at the root and beveling the hair up."
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The Marilyn Brush New Yorker Uptown Flat Brush
CJ Dougherty, a top hair designer at Gordon Salon's Lakeview location, keeps The Marilyn Brush New Yorker Uptown Flat Brush ($34) in her styling arsenal at all times. "I use it like I would any paddle brush, but having so many more bristles, the hair gets more tension resulting in a smoother look," she states. "And with the brush having 100 percent natural boar bristles, they give the hair tons of natural shine for that just-left-the-salon look!"
For styling at home, she recommends using the brush as a finishing tool during your blowdrying session. "Just grab the brush when your style is about 85 percent complete and continue to run it through your hair from root to tip until it’s totally dry. Finishing the blowout with a brush like this can give you a result similar to finishing your hair with a flatiron. But the great thing about the boar bristle brush is that it gives a little more body with all the smoothness and shine."
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BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Digital Straightening Iron
For sleek, straight locks, Veluxe hairstylist Jennifer Jones is a huge fan of the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Digital Straightening Iron ($99.95). "Their flatirons are to die for," she says. "It has 50 heating settings and wide plates, which means you can take bigger sections and get the job done faster. I love it for thick, unruly hair."
