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Every tool you will use has several different types, from your combs to your curling irons. All the different types have a different purpose, and you will collect several. You are only as good as the tools you use.

Your tools should make your job easier, turn out better, and in faster time frame. By this, I don’t mean that what you use is no good unless you have spent a fortune on them. It’s more about the function than the name. I personally, have some non-name brand tools that I prefer hands down to any high-end expensive item.

Combs:

Combs come in many different sizes, lengths, colors, styles, and materials.

1. Styling Combs – These are pretty standard, usually plastic, and should have numbered inches on one side. Those numbered inches are another tool that you should be using too. *This link is a pack of multi-colored, but you can find them in all one color.
2. Rat Tail Combs – Typically used for dry styling, parting, and backcombing (ratting, teasing, etc.) *This link is also a multi-colored pack.
3. Pin Tail or Foiling Combs – These are a plastic or carbon comb with teeth, usually close together, like a fine-tooth comb, but have a metal tail. Used primarily for foiling and comes in standard length or extra-long. *This link is for the long tail, great for foiling.
4. Carbon Combs – These are used for heat styling. They don’t melt when you place them under a hot curling iron. Also, use it when flat ironing because the teeth won’t warp. They come in tail comb style and extra wide full comb style. You can find different brands that can have different colors. The most common are creme or dark gray. *This link is a 6-piece variety pack for you to explore your favorite style.

Scissors:

Sheers are made from different types of metals, usually stainless steel. They can be combined with other alloys like cobalt or titanium. Where they are forged makes a difference too. There is a difference between German and Japanese. Some grades of metals stay sharper longer. Others are softer and need to be sharpened and eventually replaced more often.

1. Your Standard Go To Daily Use Sheer – Sheers come in different lengths and are personal preference. I do a lot of Point Cutting and prefer a shorter sheer, 4 1/2″ if I can, otherwise 5″. Standard usually runs at about 6″, but you can get longer, like 7″. They also come in different handle styles: straight off-set, swivel, double swivel, and slider.
2. Blending Sheers – Blending sheers are often just a longer version of your straight edge sheer. Most stylists like to have the same handle style and their daily sheer.
3. Thinning Sheers – Thinners have teeth, like a comb, but sharp and cutty. Some will have teeth on both blades and some only have teeth on one side with a straight edge on the other. The more teeth, the smaller the teeth usually are and the less hair they take out leaving a very subtle blend.
4. Texturizing Sheers – Similar to thinning sheers, texturizers have teeth but will come in varying sizes. The fewer teeth, usually the bigger the teeth are. The bigger the teeth, the more hair they take out. Sometimes referred to as Chunking Sheers.
5. Razor –

Personally, I use the Shark Fin Sliders in 5″. Here is an 11-piece kit that includes a straight sheer, a thinning sheer, and a carving comb-style razor; even better, they are a pretty blue. Hair Cutting Kit

First the Cut, Then the Styling

Hot Tools:

Hot tools come in all kinds of different styles, sizes, and brands. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are less for using a standard brand of any product if you feel it works as good or better than some of the professional brands. Sometimes standard brands will have features that you will have a hard time finding in a professional brand.

Hot Tools is a great brand, even among professionals, from curling irons to hairdryers. Compared to some professional brands they are also affordable for their longevity and durability in a commercial setting.

Your tools should make what you do faster and easier

1. Flat Iron, of varying widths – From 1″ (and they come smaller) to 3″, some have detangling pins or an edge comb, some don’t. Steel, Titanium, Ceramic, and Teflon are just some of the plates you can have. I highly recommend you use one that has a digital display for the heat setting. Sometimes you need to know the exact temperature and a simple on/off switch just won’t do. By the way, you can curl your hair with a flat iron.
2. Curling Irons, of varying sizes (sm, med, lg) – Barrels range from 1/4″ – 2″, and you can probably get bigger, but good luck finding one smaller. Different size barrel, different size curl. They come in spring iron style or Marcel style (no plastic tip on the end to hang on to) Marcel style is considered professional style and they are built for speed, but they do take practice to wield them well.
3. Specialty Tools, like a Crimper, Waver, or Hot Comb – These are what they are named. They usually don’t have multi-task ability.
4. Blow Dryer, with various aspects – Blow Dryers, not to be confused with Hood dryers, can have many attributes: number of heat settings, multiple speed settings, touch screen, ceramic, tourmaline, infrared, weight, noise volume in decibels (how quiet it is), length of cord, and attachments, not to mention price points.

The dryer I currently use and love. but it is not cheap SRI DryQ. The one I used before I found that one was the T3 Tourmaline, also not cheap, but the technology is great. As a professional, I look for Light, Quiet, Negative Ion generating, Tourmaline and/or Infrared technology for fast drying with smooth, shiny results.

Clips:

Different clips for different purposes. Holding thick hair, fine hair, even sectioning.

1. Gator Clips – The big teeth kind that bend over a twist of hair. Great for thick hair.
2. Roller Set Clips – Small metal clips, come in a box. Single prong or Double prong.
3. Duck Bill Clips – Come metal or plastic but long and slender, like the gator clips, but don’t bend. Great for extension installation.
4. Butterfly clips – Triangle-style clips with teeth.

Brushes:

1. Paddle Brush, vented or not – Typically used for drying.
2. Round brush, or Blow Out brush, of various characteristics – Used for dry styling to create volume and bend. Can be made of various materials, plastics, and metal. Comes in different size barrels. Here is a variety pack all in one for the convenience of not having to buy 4 separate brushes. Round Brush Set
3. Standard Vented brush – Various uses from detangling to dry styling, think of this one as the happy medium between a paddle brush and a round brush.
4. Wet Brush – Similar to a vented paddle brush but with softer tines, intended for detangling long, compromised hair.

Remember that hair is always stronger when dry than when it’s wet. Be gentle and start from the ends and work your way up. If it stretches and snaps you are causing damage to your hair.

Other Items Just As Important

Fabric Tools and Apparel:

1. Capes – You have Cutting Capes, typically made of nylon and not water or chemical-proof. Chemical Capes, are made of a waterproof material like plastic. They come in many different colors and prints. Black is great for doing color, you can’t see the staining. Also comes with snaps or Velcro closure at the neck.
2. Aprons – What the Stylist wears to protect their clothes from cut hair and product slops.
3. Processing Caps – Plastic lunch-lady or cheap shower caps for holding in moisture, like when bleaching.
4. Towels – To dry hair after shampooing, and for draping under and/or over the cape on a client. Comes in all kinds of colors. Black hides color stains the best.
5. Bibs – Plastic, typically used when perming or to protect a client that doesn’t fit well in the neck of the shampoo bowl from getting their shirt wet.

Another article on things you’ll use, like hair care and styling products: Product Knowledge

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