Overview
You want your hair to look its best, right? Before you head to the store and stock up on creams and serums -- and who knows what else -- to tame frizz and dry hair, you should start with the right tools. Back in the day heat tools like hot rollers were just hot metal that did nothing but cause damage to your locks while they curled. Thankfully, ionic technology has helped change that.
Ion Info
What is an ion anyway? Well, It's a molecule floating in the air that has an electrical charge. If an ion has more protons than electrons circling it, then it's positively charged. If there are more electrons than protons, you guessed it, it's negative. What this means for your hair is simple. Traditional heat styling creates positive ions that open up your hair's shafts and cuticles. Open shafts equal frizzy, dried-out hair. Negative ions, on the other hand, close up your shaft, heating it from the inside out. Pretty cool. The result is hair that's shiny and healthy looking. If a set of hot rollers is labeled ionic, that means it's made of materials that create negative ions. They tend to be more expensive than other hot roller sets, but worth the cost. You get to cut down on products and, in the long run, your hair is healthier.
Ceramic Info
The next question in the ionic roller mystery is what material creates negative, good-for-your-hair ions? The answer is ceramic. When ceramic gets heated up, negative ions are released. So, don't be surprised you see ion rollers with the word "ceramic" in the description or label. Ceramic isn't only good for creating negative ions. It also heats a lot more evenly than metal. That means you have fewer hot spots and your rollers heat up faster too. FYI, tourmaline and titanium create negative ions too. However, you'll see those materials in flat irons more than hot rollers.
How to Use Hot Rollers
Hot rollers were used all the time in the 1940s and '50s. However, they're less common in the modern girl's hair styling arsenal. If you've never used them before, they create volume and waves. You can get some seriously sexy hair from using ionic hair rollers. Your hair should be clean or a little bit damp, never wet. Separate hair into even sections, allowing the section you plan on rolling to hang limp while the other sections are clipped out of the way. Start the roller at the tip of your loose hair section and roll it up tightly to your scalp. Then use a clip to hold it in place. For soft waves use the bigger rollers in your set and only leave them in for a few minutes. Unroll, without pulling, the curler from your hair and let it bounce back into the wave you made. Move on to the next section of hair and repeat until you've done your whole scalp.
Big, Beautiful Hair Tips
Once you know how to roll and clip, half your battle is done. But, your style isn't totally finished. To make sure your waves hold their volume and shape, spray a flexible, light hold hair spray on your hair before you wrap it in the roller. Use the spray sparingly. After you unroll your hair, use the cool shot on your blow dryer to set the look. At first your waves will look uniform. To achieve a more modern look, use your fingers to separate your hair and make the style look more natural. Just run your digits through your hair like they're a comb. Go ahead and flip your hair over once or twice too, to give maximum lift to your roots.
