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free skin care · Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:40 pm

I posted this quasi-review (quoted in blue below) of the BabyLiss Pro 5000 Blowdryer in another thread that I momentarily hijacked Embarassed

so I wanted to post it as a separate thread because I have an update to add for those that struggle with straightening or smoothing their hair every morning:

carekate wrote:

ginnielizz wrote:

2) Carrie, I think we have similar hair texture, so I'd be really curious to know what specific differences you notice with a special hair dryer. I never even really owned one, haha, I inherited my mom's crappy travel one so I used that for a while (since I only blow-dried my hair once in a blue moon), and then my boyfriend's ex-girlfriend had left her really nice Sharper Image ionic one at his place after they broke up, and I kept it once I became a regular fixture. Bad Grin

But I don't know if it's a "special" one.

I was skeptical at first about spending that kind of money on a hair dryer -- I truly thought it was some Hollywood gimmick to separate gullible women from their hard-earned money like most of the other beauty “wonders” that movie stars, models and celebu-tards swear by, but now I’m a believer! It wasn’t until I tested my pricey new dryer in a head-to-head test with my good old-fashioned hair dryer that I was truly able to appreciate the difference.

If you use a traditional hair dryer to dry one side of your head and a ionic hair dryer to dry the other side, you’ll immediately see the difference. The ionic-side dried much quicker and the hair is softer, shinier and smoother while the other side is dry, frizzy and frazzled looking. Until you’ve used one of these dryers for yourself, you can’t truly appreciate the difference it will make in the health of your hair.

Here’s a little bit about the technical mumbo-jumbo that explains how these dryers work:

Tourmaline is a natural source of negative ions and far-infrared heat. Negative ions are able to break apart water molecules on the hair, which results in faster drying time with less damage which helps eliminate frizz and close the hair cuticle to create smooth, shiny hair while far-infrared heat penetrates the hair cuticle to dry the hair shaft from within, resulting in faster drying time with less damage. In addition, negative ions collide with the positive ions on the hair to reduce static electricity and flyaways.

This is the seller (SavingWizCom) from which I ordered my Conair BabyLiss Pro TT Tourmaline Ionic 5000 hair dryer: http://stores.ebay.com/savingwizcom_Beauty-Tools_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ4893443QQftidZ2QQtZkm I used the “buy it now” option and paid about $70USD plus S&H for mine -- I ordered it on a Friday night and it was here on Monday morning!

Not only is the price great, but the hair dryer comes with a great little travel/train-carrying case to store it in. The BabyLiss Pro TT 5000 dryer is extremely light-weight and has three heat settings (hot, warm, cool) and two speeds (high, low) and a cool-shot button, along with a long power cord that has (so far) remained blissfully tangle-free.

I know you can find cheaper ionic hair dryers at Walmart or beauty supply stores and such from brands like Vidal Sasson or Conair (plain Conair, “BabyLiss“ is their professional line), but I don’t know if they are as effective so I’d check out the product reviews on MUA, Folica or Drugstore.com before I bought one.

Bottom line: if you usually rough-dry and let your hair dry naturally, then an ionic hair dryer isn’t a necessity, but if you have to heat-style your hair on a daily basis and you’ve got thick hair that is coarse and/or dense in texture and prone to frizziness, you need to invest in one of these tools!

Okay, now on to the second part of my secret:

I usually wear my hair in a very short, cropped Halle Berry style but I started to let my hair grow out after I resigned from my “day job” because I couldn’t afford to get it trimmed every month after that. Right now, I’m rocking a jaw-length, heavily razored bob that I can wear “piecy” or blow dry it smooth. Unfortunately, when I try to wear it smooth, I have this one little section of hair that INSISTS on misbehaving and flicking up and out. Usually, I have to flat-iron that section into submission after blowdrying my hair and then shellacking it with hairspray if I want to wear it smooth that day and -- even though I used a thermal protectant/shine enhancer, that section of hair always looked “parched” after I flat-ironed it. It just looked dry and crunchy. Confused

Things got a little better once I started using my BabyLiss hair dryer, but that one section of hair still gave me trouble…

That is until, on a whim -- so I could qualify for free S&H -- I ordered a brush from Drugstore.com that allegedly had the same ionic/tourmaline technology as my BabyLiss dryer. Of course, I was skeptical that this new round brush would be any better than my crappy old Goody round vent brush that I’d been using for years but now I’m a believer!

Holy crap!!! With this brush, I can quickly and EASILY dry my hair into a pin-straight, Vidal Sasson circa 1960s edgy, geometric-style bob USING ABSOLUTELY NO STYLING PRODUCTS WHATSOEVER and my hair stayed that way all day and was so shiny that I could almost see my reflection in the gloss of my hair! Shock

I recommend this brush to everyone that struggles to straighten their hair each morning. All you have to do is wrap a section of hair LOOSELY around the brush and direct your dryer onto that area while simultaneously slowly “twirling” the brush thru that section of hair (like that scary hair styling tool from those “Revo-styler” infomercials that were all the rage a few years back -- those scared that crap out of me because I was always afraid it would get tangled in the hair like what happened to me as a little girl using a round brush for the 1st time!). Once it’s dry, go on to the next section and repeat. After you’re done drying all your hair, you’ll be SHOCKED by the results.

For those that would rather use a flat styling brush instead of a round one, I think they also have flat tourmaline brush as well.

Here’s the link to my new HG styling brush: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=159671&catid=83750 and here’s the other varieties that they offer from the same brand: http://www.drugstore.com/search/search_results.asp?srchtree=8&N=0&Ntt=iTech+brush&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial

If you just bought one of the BabyLiss dryers, you’ve GOT to get one of these brushes to go with it!!

free skin care · Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:18 pm

Thank you for the info!!! That price is not so impossible.

Smile

free skin care · Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:33 pm

Thanks Carrie. I have an ionic hair dryer, but it is a cheaper Conair model and it really doesn't give me the results I had hoped for. Usually after I dry my hair it looks all dry and frizzy and I have to run a straightner through it to smooth it out. Maybe the ionic brush in addition to the dryer will give me sleek and shiny hair. Smile

free skin care · Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:44 pm

I am going to find the brush in the store. I am using a similar looking brush now but I don't know if the one Carrie recommend will give me better results. Given the reasonable price, it's worth trying out.

Thanks for sharing Carrie.

free skin care · Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:20 pm

I've wanted and researched tourmaline hair dryers - I was thinking of a different brand than the Babyliss but this price is so good. MUA has lots of reviews.

And the brush is a must. I checked and saw that it is available in a bigger barrel size for those of us with longer hair.

free skin care · Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:54 am

Carrie, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this review. How on earth did you know I'm looking for a new hair brush???????? I looked at the Pearson Mason one and it was like $100 or more. It was crazy. There is no way I would spend $100 on a hairbrush. I'm so glad you are telling me about this brush. I will definitely get it on my next shopping trip to drugstore.com. I usually get my GNC vitamins from there. Thanks again Very Happy

You made me one happy camper.

free skin care · Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:26 am

bkkgirl wrote:

Carrie, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this review. How on earth did you know I'm looking for a new hair brush???????? I looked at the Pearson Mason one and it was like $100 or more. It was crazy. There is no way I would spend $100 on a hairbrush. I'm so glad you are telling me about this brush. I will definitely get it on my next shopping trip to drugstore.com. I usually get my GNC vitamins from there. Thanks again Very Happy

You made me one happy camper.

Yeah, I had to give a pass to the Mason Pearson brushes right now, too.

This is the other brush I purchased from drugstore.com just for general brushing/styling and it's quite nice with it's mix of boar's bristles and nylon bristles like the MP brush and it's 1/10th the price: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=161180&catid=83750 I love this brush, but it may be because I've never had a real MP so I probably don't know what I'm missing!

Anyway, for general grooming purposes -- if you can't quite afford a real MP -- then get this brush and for heat-styling your hair, get the Itech ionic/tourmaline round brush I recommended above and you can have some great hair tools without breaking the bank.

free skin care · Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:34 am

carekate wrote:

bkkgirl wrote:

Carrie, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this review. How on earth did you know I'm looking for a new hair brush???????? I looked at the Pearson Mason one and it was like $100 or more. It was crazy. There is no way I would spend $100 on a hairbrush. I'm so glad you are telling me about this brush. I will definitely get it on my next shopping trip to drugstore.com. I usually get my GNC vitamins from there. Thanks again Very Happy

You made me one happy camper.

Yeah, I had to give a pass to the Mason Pearson brushes right now, too.

This is the other brush I purchased from drugstore.com just for general brushing/styling and it's quite nice with it's mix of boar's bristles and nylon bristles like the MP brush and it's 1/10th the price: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=161180&catid=83750 I love this brush, but it may be because I've never had a real MP so I probably don't know what I'm missing!

Anyway, for general grooming purposes -- if you can't quite afford a real MP -- then get this brush and for heat-styling your hair, get the Itech ionic/tourmaline round brush I recommended above and you can have some great hair tools without breaking the bank.

Woohoo...thanks, Carrie! I bought a tourmaline/ionic hair brush from Korea Town in LA a while back, and it performed great UNTIL I used it while blowdrying my hair. Then the bristles got all crooked like they got melted by the heat. So I learned my lesson that not all hair brushes can be used in styling. lol I will buy this one and the other one you recommended. What do you think of the iTech flat padded brush? I wonder if it would be any good.

free skin care · Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:21 am

bkkgirl wrote:

What do you think of the iTech flat padded brush?

The paddle brush looks a bit different than the round brushes so this could be WAY off, but IMO the Itech brushes are better for heat styling than what I would want to use just for a gentle, luxorious brushing. The bristles on the Itech (round) brush are a bit stiff and have a lot of "grip" -- which is what you need when heat styling -- but I don't think they'd be comfortable if you put the bristles near the scalp b/c they might feel a bit scratchy.

God, I'm afraid to say that because it might make someone think twice about getting an Itech when it truly is an amazing styling tool.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the Conair tourmaline brush feels better near the scalp when you're using it for general grooming.

Again, I'm basing the comparison with the Itech round version so the Itech paddle brush might be fantastic so....

Hmmm, what's the return policy at Drugstore.com? Maybe you could get all three and test them out and then send one of them back.

You might be able to find the Conair tourmaline boar/nylon bristle brush at Walmart/Target or one of the drugstores -- though I've never seen the Itech brand at any of those places -- so you could check it out in person and see if it's something you'd like....

So, there you go! CareKate's verdict is the Itech brush is better for styling while the Conair brush is better for general grooming purposes.

free skin care · Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:43 am

Carrie, what made you choose the 2 1/8" brush over the 3 1/4" brush? I was wondering how to decide between the circumference sizes. Thank you. (Because of your review, now my coworker wants me to order her one of the round one and one of the paddle one to try, too. lol)

free skin care · Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:13 pm

I have my order page open at drugstore.com, so I thought I'd try to google on how to choose the round brush size.

This is what I got in case someone else needs the info, too:

Quote:

Brush Styles

Some brushes are designed for adding curl and wave. Others are for smoothing the hair. Below is a guide to the most common brushes on the market today:

- Cushion Brushes: Cushion brushes are equipped with a soft rubber panel that holds the bristles. These brushes are gentle on the hair and scalp, and are often recommended for fine or thinning hair. They are also ideal for brushing out roller sets. If you have very thick hair, a cushion brush with strong, nylon ball-tipped bristles can be very good for taming your hair as well.

- Hot Air Brushes: Hot air brushes are designed for use in styling the hair. These electric brushes are great for adding wave, volume, and body to your hair. Hot air brushes with a smaller barrel can be used to shape and curl shorter or straighter hair, while hot air brushes with a larger barrel are better at smoothing and straightening longer hair.

- Paddle Brushes: Paddle brushes are flat and wide, and are best for smoothing and adding body and luster to medium or long hair. Because of their shape, paddle brushes are not recommended for short or very curly hair.

- Round Brushes: Round brushes, with 360-degree bristles, are designed to be used for styling the hair during blow-drying. Choose a barrel size (small, medium, large, or jumbo) according to the length and style of your hair. Choose a smaller barrel for short hair or tighter curls, a medium or large barrel for shoulder-length hair, or a jumbo barrel to smooth or straighten longer hair. To avoid tangles, be careful not to wind the hair too tightly around the brush.

- Styling Brushes: Styling brushes are designed to smooth and shape the hair, and they work best with medium or long styles. They typically feature six or nine rows of bristles, and they are ideal for taming thick and curly hair or adding volume to thinner hair during drying.

- Vented Brushes: Vented brushes have wide-set bristles and holes in the base that allow air to circulate around the hair during styling. They are designed to be used during blow-drying to smooth, shape, and add volume to the hair. The vents also reduce drying time. Vented brushes work best with medium or long hair. Do not use with very short or curly hair.

For a complete article, please check here:

http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/brushrighthair_sltx.htm

free skin care · Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:17 pm

bkkgirl wrote:

Carrie, what made you choose the 2 1/8" brush over the 3 1/4" brush? I was wondering how to decide between the circumference sizes. Thank you. (Because of your review, now my coworker wants me to order her one of the round one and one of the paddle one to try, too. lol)

As per the article you quoted, I chose the 2 1/8" round brush b/c I've got short(er) hair. I've tried ones with an even smaller barrel (not this brand/style of brush, just ordinary round brushes) but I didn't like them because my goal wasn't to add curl to my hair, but to add body and volume.

Anyway, the general rule for round brushes is the longer your hair, the bigger the barrel you should use.

HTH!

free skin care · Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:28 pm

carekate wrote:

bkkgirl wrote:

Carrie, what made you choose the 2 1/8" brush over the 3 1/4" brush? I was wondering how to decide between the circumference sizes. Thank you. (Because of your review, now my coworker wants me to order her one of the round one and one of the paddle one to try, too. lol)

As per the article you quoted, I chose the 2 1/8" round brush b/c I've got short(er) hair. I've tried ones with an even smaller barrel (not this brand/style of brush, just ordinary round brushes) but I didn't like them because my goal wasn't to add curl to my hair, but to add body and volume.

Anyway, the general rule for round brushes is the longer your hair, the bigger the barrel you should use.

HTH!

My hair is mid-back length, so I went with the 3 1/4" barrel. I also got the paddle brush. Dang, after I clicked submit, I realized I forgot about the conair brush. Duh! I could have kicked myself. Now I'll have to go to Target and see if they got it.

free skin care · Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:57 pm

I took the plunge and bought the new Babyliss Pro TT 5500 from ebay today. This seller slashed his price down to $40, plus $19 to ship it. It's brand new. I'll update you guys on how I like it. I could not find a review of this hair dryer on the web. I emailed several ebay members who bought the hair dryer, and got one enthusiastic reply - highly recommend. Got one negative (she said it was too heavy). The rest (3 more reviews) were unsure since they got short hair and didn't use the dryer often enough. Anyway I decided to try it since the seller dropped his price from $50 to $40. lol I've been lemming this dryer for at least a month now.

Between the dryer and the iTech hair brushes, my hair should be tamed more easily....or so I hope. Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:18 am

I've looked for this hairdryer in UK but can't find it. Anyone know anywhere or somewhere in US that does cheap shipping to uk?

free skin care · Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:31 am

And in fact the hairbrush! Have found company called avenue you which ships for 35 dollars! Any cheaper? uk?

free skin care · Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:14 pm

pips wrote:

I've looked for this hairdryer in UK but can't find it. Anyone know anywhere or somewhere in US that does cheap shipping to uk? in fact the hairbrush! Have found company called avenue you which ships for 35 dollars! Any cheaper? uk?

Do you know anyone in the U.S. that could order the stuff for you and then forward the parcel/s on to you? Or perhaps you could order it yourself and have it sent to your friend's U.S. address and then s/he could forward it on to you that.

If you don't know anyone, I would be willing to make this custom purchase for you as I've done for many international members over the years....PM me if you'd like to take up the offer.

free skin care · Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:57 am

Hi carekate -- I,ve tried to pm you but not sure it's worked? Would love to sort out sending!

free skin care · Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:41 pm

I received the itech brushes. I love the paddle brush, and the round brush is nice, but a bit big for my hand since I like to hold the brush on the brush itself, not on the handle for more control of my hair. But overall I think these are great hair brushes. Very Happy

Thanks, Carrie, for the recommendation.

Also, I'm super excited that my Babyliss Pro TT 5500 is making its way to me, and I should be getting it today. I can't wait to try it out. My Revlon Tourmaline Ionic Ceramic dryer I got from BB&B for $30 is not the best. It didn't make my hair completely smooth. It's still a bit poofy and frizzy. But at least it gives me a reference point to compare to the Babyliss Pro TT 5500.

Carrie, do you use the hottest setting with a low speed, or hottest and high speed when you dry your hair? Thank you.

free skin care · Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:51 pm

I purchased the Babyliss Pro a few months ago. My delicate hair seems to be in better condition (less drying time). I always got a lot of static to my fine hair....no more. Very Happy

Thanks for the advice Carrie. LOVE IT!!!!!

free skin care · Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:45 am

Winnie wrote:

I purchased the Babyliss Pro a few months ago. My delicate hair seems to be in better condition (less drying time). I always got a lot of static to my fine hair....no more. Very Happy

Thanks for the advice Carrie. LOVE IT!!!!!

YES! Thanks so much, Carrie. Very Happy

Winnie, do you use the itech brush to blowdry, too?

free skin care · Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:39 pm

bkkgirl wrote:

Winnie wrote:

I purchased the Babyliss Pro a few months ago. My delicate hair seems to be in better condition (less drying time). I always got a lot of static to my fine hair....no more. Very Happy

Thanks for the advice Carrie. LOVE IT!!!!!

YES! Thanks so much, Carrie. Very Happy

Winnie, do you use the itech brush to blowdry, too?

I have not tried the itec brush. Must look into that. Smile

free skin care · Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:11 pm

I saw a Babyliss at TJ Maxx, but it wasn't a 5500. Do you know what the difference is? It was a lower number.

free skin care · Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:40 pm

kittyd wrote:

I saw a Babyliss at TJ Maxx, but it wasn't a 5500. Do you know what the difference is? It was a lower number.

I purchased the 5000: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JQWMFQ/105-7588188-2326000

Perhaps the 5500 is a new model Confused

.

free skin care · Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:03 am

Found the Itech brush at Amazon.co.uk and bought it immediately. Very Happy

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