If easier hair styling is on your – or a loved one's – Christmas wish list this year you're in luck, as here's our guide to the best hair tools for 2022.
Most of us will admit that we love to make a little bit more effort with our hair and make-up for the festivities, but this year’s high-tech tools are taking any fuss out of the “getting ready” affair.
From TikTok-trending hot brushes to the best hair curlers, these are the tools of the moment to know about. Race you to the checkout…
Best hair tools of 2022
The multi-tasker
Shark FlexStyle, £299.99
What is it? Shark’s answer to the Dyson Airwrap, the FlexStyle is a sleek, compact hair dryer with five stylish attachments. Arguably the main attraction is two curling wands, which suck the hair around them to create shape without using intense heat (sound familiar…?).
Beauty editor Laura says: “I’m highly incompetent at styling my hair, but even I could get the hang of this – and I’m really impressed. The hair dryer delivers a powerful blast for its small size, getting right into the roots. The curlers take all the arm manoeuvres out of creating bouncy waves, while the round brush is great for shaping my grown-out fringe.
"In truth, I need the intense heat of a straightener or a tong and some super-strength styling products to hold my long, fine, poker-straight hair in a curl for any length of time, but it definitely gave me a more 'done' look – and more quickly than my usual endeavours." Check out Laura's full review and video here.
Thanks to the huge amount of hype around it since it launched – especially on TikTok – the FlexStyle is currently out of stock online, but more stock is due on the Shark website on 19 December. In the meantime, it's worth keeping an eye on other retailers such as Boots, Amazon and Argos.
The learning curve
Remington PROluxe You Adaptive Wand, currently £49.99 here
This has built-in sensors that “learn” your hair type and adapt the temperature for maximum results with minimum damage. It can store two different user profiles, ideal if you’re planning on sharing this with someone else in your household.
Laura says: “I thought a wand would require more skill than I have, but I was actually really surprised at how easily – and quickly – I was able to create really nice loose, beachy curls. Unlike using straighteners or a tong, there’s no figuring out what angle to hold it or which direction to turn your wrist – simply point the tip downwards, wrap a section of hair around it (no precision needed) and hold for a few seconds.
"To be honest I didn’t notice that the heat-adapting technology made much of a difference, but it’s good to know that it’s working at a temperature that’s healthiest for your hair.”
The no-skill waver
BaByliss Wave Secret Air, £150 here
What is it? Effortless hair, made truly effortless. This promises to give you tousled cool girl glam (think Kate Moss on her A-game) but with zero skill. All you need to do is place a section of hair into the styler and let the gadget automatically draw it in and whirl it around the inner barrel. A few seconds later, your newly formed wave is ready to be released and set with a cooling burst of air.
Beauty director Lynne says: “I am the clumsiest person on the planet and even I can use this. Honestly, the only skill is finding the courage to dispatch your hair into the unseen abyss of the curling barrel. (PS: it’s FINE!) I’ve used the excellent original Curl Secret too, which uses similar tech, and this new version actually feels less scary because the heat turns off after a few beeps, and the cooling air jet kicks in. BaByliss reckons you can feed in bigger chunks of hair, but personally I got best results prepping liberally with heat spray then working in smaller sections, even though my hair is fine. The result is a fairly loose wave, so be aware of that if you’re wanting anything more defined, but I really liked that done-yet-undone look."
The TikTok favourite
Revlon One-Step Volumiser Plus, £45 here
It’s already a US best-seller, but this 2-in-1 dryer/styler has truly cemented its place on the hot tools hot list by going viral on TikTok. It promises a salon blow-dry effect in half the time AND with more shine than using a hairdryer and separate hairbrush.
Lynne says: “I reckon nothing can ever replicate the gleam of a salon pro tugging your hair taut and blasting it with a nozzle. However if you just want your hair to dry quickly and end up nicely swingy and smooth, this will do the trick. I got a bit of lift into my roots by wrapping sections although I think I’ll need more practice and more tutorial viewings to get the best from it. If you’re the kind of person who’s tempted to shell out for the Dyson Airwrap but know, in your heart, you’ll only really use the smooth-dry brush, this would be a great alternative.”
The steamy smoother
L’Oréal Professionnel SteamPod 4.0, currently £279.99 here
The original “steam your hair into submission” gadget is back with a v.4 update. As well as looking as sleek as the finish it creates, this new ergonomic version boasts it’s three times faster at straightening than a regular iron. It’s also got wider plates which get closer to the roots, and has three combs to give even steam diffusion on any hair type.
Lynne says: “Of all the 90s beauty trends making a comeback, it’s super-shiny straight hair that I’m happiest about. And if you can’t get it with a SteamPod, you might as well give up and sob into your S Club 7 CDs. Smoothing the plates through your hair as steam whooshes out is weirdly addictive, and the glossy finish is impressive. I regularly use irons to curl my hair too, and while the SteamPod is still bigger and clunkier than my adored ghds, it does create very, very shiny waves too.”
READ MORE:
- Click here for today's top showbiz news
- 10 best Christmas nail art ideas to get you in the festive mood
- Aldi Lacura has a £7.99 dupe of the £700 La Prairie gold face cream
- 20 stocking filler and Secret Santa gift ideas under £20 for men and women
- Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter
Source: Read Full Article