Guys, I feel like we’re pretty good friends now, and I’ve got to level with you. This is the truth. I don’t have good hair. Seriously. I’ve got thick, sometimes curly, sometimes wavy, and always frizzy hair. Yes, it’s true. My hair may look like this by the time the pictures get to you:
but the truth is, before I’m done in the morning, it looks like this:
sad.
gross.
The worst part is, this isn’t my air-dried hair. This is what my hair looks like after I have a 30 minute date with a blow-dryer and a round-brush.
When I was in high-school and before I learned what to do with this mop-that’s-called-hair on the top of my head, everyday was spent in a veritable state of embarrassment. I had about 8 too many bad haircuts and all I had to tame this beast was a blow-dryer (see above for how effective that was) and a curling iron. So yeah, not much.
And then I discovered straighteners.
What? You mean there’s an iron that WON’T make my hair bigger and more curly?! Sold.
Except not.
Because the straighteners that they used to make, the ones I used to buy, were garbage. I mean, they were okay, and I was really excited to spend my 30 dollars on my gold-plated Helen of Troy. But they didn’t really straighten my hair all that well. Better? Sure. But it was still frizzy. They were great if you already had straight-ish, non-frizzy hair, but for someone with a rats nest like me, they were nothing more than a band-aid. And hair this big, needs something better than a band-aid.
Plus they broke like every five minutes, and because I’m cheap I would use my broken straightener until it was (literally) hanging on by a wire.
So, so sad.
So, I have this sister, and she’s kind of like my beauty guru. She knows all. She’s got the hook-up on clothing, hair, make-up. (Seriously, ask me about my make-up sometime).
And a few years ago while she was down visiting she let me use her straightener. And like, whoa.
My life changed.
Now you guys know I’m not a big spender. I mean I post where I get all my clothes from on here. And they’re not fancy. I love a good deal, and I really hate to spend a lot on anything.
But if you want your hair to look good, you have to invest in the right tools.
Yes, I said invest.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions (ironically) about my hair, how I fix it, what products I use, etc. And here’s the truth.
I don’t use fancy shampoo, I don’t put fancy product in my hair, and I almost never use hairspray (it doesn’t hold my mop up anyway).
I have a good straightener. That’s it.
That is my secret to fabulous hair.
So when I got an email from Misikko a few weeks ago, asking if I would try out one of their HANA straighteners, I thought, heck yeah.
Cause you know, I’m a big fan a good straighteners.
To give you a little background: I have been using a Chi straightener for the last 3 years, and it is an amazing straightener. The thing is solid, it gets super hot and it works wonders on my hair.
In other words, I’ve been working with the Cadillac of hair straighteners, Miss HANA had a lot to live up to.
But when I got this in the mail I was pretty much stoked to try her out.
To start: I washed and dried my hair, with my very intense hair product regimen.
Pantene Pro-V and Frizz-ease hair serum.
I know, fancy.
Then I heat up the straightener.
They send you this great little silicone mat so you don’t fry your counter. Very useful.
Then I divide my hair in half.
And begin straightening my hair in 1-2 inch sections. (depending on how patient I am).
half-done. wahoo.
I take down my hair.
And straighten the top out.
I like to angle the straightener in on the ends so the hair turns under just slightly at the bottom.
This is how you reach the back pieces if you’ve got short arms and holy-long hair.
A little touch- up on the front.
And we’re done.
The Verdict:
Cori loves this straightener.
Okay so, obviously I am a huge fan of the HANA straightener.
Side by side with the Chi it wins every time.
Let me break down what I love most:
1. It has a temperature control on it. It goes up to 450 degrees (which, ahem, some of us need) but you can turn it down if you don’t need that much heat.
2. It’s half an inch wider than the Chi which gives you a little more coverage, but it’s still compact enough to be maneuverable and easy to work with.
3. I feel like it gets my hair straighter and smoother, and it stays smooth all day. It really locks out the moisture and prevents that horrible mid-afternoon frizz.
4. It has a normal plug, not the boxy GFI kind that cover all your plugs and trip the breaker.
and,
5. It takes my hair from looking like this:
to looking like this.
fabulous.
You really should go over and check Misikko out. If you are ready to invest in great hair products, (which you should) they are the way to go.
They have fantastic prices, a great selection (even if you want to go with a
Chi, which by the way is still a fantastic straightener) of
flatirons,
professional hair-dryers, and pretty much anything else you could possibly want in the hair department.
Plus, and this is my personal favorite, they have all these fantastic
video tutorials and tips, for using and caring for your products. It drives me bananas when companies don’t provide any support for using their product.
I could seriously spend all day just watching the different styling videos, and getting tips.
If you are in the market for a new styling tool, or if you, like me have bad hair and need some serious help.
You will not be sorry.
ps. if you want to purchase your very own 1.5 inch Hana flat-iron just like the one you saw here. Go
here.
*this product was provided to me by Misikko, but all opinions on this fabulous hair straightener and Misikko in general were absolutely 100% my own.
Hey I have the same issue with my hair, but I do have a chi and love it. I have had it for 4 years now and I think it may be time to invest in a new straightener. I will look into the Hana. Thanks for the post :)
It sounds like we have the same hair! I just haven’t invested in a good straightener. Thanks for the recommendation!
You make me thankful for my hair. :)
nice review – and lucky you on the new beauty tool!
this was a great post! maybe that’s why my hair is still frizzy even after I use a straight iron. I will have to look into it :) Your hair always looks fabulous and i’ve got to say, it still looks great even when its not straight :)
WOW… you have FANTASTIC hair.
Thanks for the motivation to actually DO mine…
I have super frizzy hair! I also have a Chi that I love but I don’t know if it’s me or the straightner but my hair won’t stay nice and straight all day anymore :/ I would love to try out the misikko one!
The funny thing is that I don’t think your pre-straightened hair or your “frizzy” hair look bad at all!!! This is coming from a gal who has bunk hair. Think thin, fine, and stick straight without an ounce of volume. I have to blow dry and straighten and product-ize my hair every day. And wash daily. Humidity is my arch-enemy, as well.
Anyway, i am curious about this straightener, since you’re the second person to blog about it.
As a side note, have you ever checked out http://www.naturallycurly.com/ ? I have friends w/ hair like yours who have learned how to deal w/ their natural wave and make it look gorgeous.
Cori, please tell us about your makeup routine! Especially about your eyebrows, because they are sooo nice! And I NEED an eyebrow makeover right now, I’ve been letting them grow out so I can start over.
Seriously, even the pic of your “frizzy” hair looks better than mine any day! LOL
The straightener made it look awesome and shiny! So pretty.
great review (and btw your before hair still looks better than some peoples’ afters lol)
i have a chi that is about the size of your hana and i do love it, but i am curious about the hana because i’ve never even heard of that brand! i do agree that investing in good products is key. i spend a little bit more on the spray and serums and things that i use, but in the long run it keeps my hair healthier and gives me more tim in between hair cuts.
Cori, I love your hair with frizz and all :)
Your “before” hair looks so much better than my “after” hair that it hurts my “after” hair’s feelings.
You after hair is simply amazing!
Maybe it’s time for me to invest in a flat iron.
This is how we get our huge biceps…working the flat iron! You look amazing before and after though! Check out my hair and what I have to battle when I want to go straight at http://www.thepreppygirlinpink.com. I’d love for you to check out my new & very rough blog. I’m trying to learn through you and Little Miss Momma. Your blogs always speak to me!
you are beautiful :)