Nov 06, 2012 Article in Examiner - Los Angeles Don’t get fried by that flat iron PATTI PIETSCHMANN, LA BEAUTY PRODUCTS EXAMINER – JULY 26, 2011 With all the Brazilian blow-outs and Keratin treaments taking place in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills salons, you might think that Angeleno women are obsessed with long, straight hair. And you might just be right. Not everybody can afford the $300 plus price of hair straightening, so those who can’t rely on their flat irons. Which is why Santa Monica stylist, Barbara Abbasi, the founder of the Ferrum Professional Styler, decided to offer a few tips on how to prevent frying your hair with a flat iron. While the flat iron is the fastest way to straighten hair, if used incorrectly it could also be the most damaging. It allows women who have super curly corkscrew curls or those with just wavy hair to get the stick-straight style that they want. The safe way to use your tool, according to Barbara Abbasi (www.ferrumiron.com) and owner of American Beauty Hair Salon in California is: •First of all, wash your hair properly. Flat irons are less effective on dirty and oily hair. •Do not use any hair spray or gel on your hair after washing. •Dry your hair completely, right from the roots to the tips. •After you hair has been dried, apply a straightening balm to it. This will help eliminate any frizz and also protect your hair. •Since an iron subjects your hair to high heat, it is advisable to use a heat protection spray beforehand. •Heat your flat iron. In most cases, it will reach the desired temperature in a matter of minutes. •Comb your hair properly and remove any tangles. •Divide your hair into four sections, two in the front and two in the back, and hold them together with hair clips. •Straighten sections of hair no more than 1 inch wide. •Once your hair is completely dry, draw thin sections of you hair through the flat iron slowly all the while keeping the iron moving. Be sure to straighten slowly from the root of the hair to the tip. Never keep the flat iron a piece of hair for too long. This can cause severe damage to the hair. •Comb hair smooth after each section of hair is straightened. •Try not to flat iron your hair every day. If you do, before long your hair will start looking fried and your hair will start breaking off easily. •Repeat the procedure with the other sections of your hair. How to Use a Flat Iron Many people end up damaging their hair because they do not know how to use their flat iron properly. Barbara Abbassi offers a few simple tips that will help you to use your flat iron correctly: • Flat irons have been known to cause major drying and frizzing to the hair. Before you blow dry your hair and straighten it, make sure that you apply a frizz control product.. •Before you straighten your hair, make sure that your hair is completely dry. Even slight moisture can result in damaged hair and a damaged flat iron . •Remember that flat irons are very hot and that they should be handled with care. •Once your hair is completely dry, draw thin sections of you hair through the flat iron slowly all the while keeping the iron moving. Never keep the flat iron a piece of hair for too long. •Comb hair smooth after each section of hair is straightened. Achieve optimal results with your flat iron •Straightening balm •Heat protection spray •Comb •Hair clip About Barbara Abbasi: American Beauty Hair Salon owned and operated by expert colorist Barbara Abbasi, is celebrating 23 years in Santa Monica, California. Renowned for her exclusive techniques, Barbara has earned a loyal clientele who trust their hair to her time-tested artistry. Barbara learned the craft at a young age among renowned stylists in Paris. She has since expanded her technique by developing her own innovative system for coloring hair. Though her precise method is a closely guarded secret, Barbara’s meticulous attention to perfecting the base is what sets her apart from other stylists. Remarkably, Barbara was a recent immigrant who spoke no English when she opened the salon more than two decades ago. It’s easy to see why customers flock to the salon: Barbara is a down-to-earth artisan who is genuinely devoted to her work. She has been working to develop the concept of the Ferrum flatiron for the past decade. The idea arose from her dissatisfaction with traditional flat irons which left hair damaged and flat. Her concept was to develop a product that was healthier for the hair and resulted in a look that more closely resembled a professional salon blow dry. Barbara went through several prototypes and sourced over 20 different fabrics until she found the perfect combination of technology that would produce salon perfect results. “Styling hair is an art, not just a job,” she says.
