Two new hair-styling tools to check out

For most of us, hair styling is as essential to our daily routine as brushing our teeth—and the right tools can make or break your look. A year after splurging on the Dyson blow dryer I still haven’t felt a pang of buyer’s remorse, and I’m sure it will be with me for years to come. I can’t even remember when I got my CHI flat iron, but it’s still going strong so I hadn’t even thought of replacing it until yesterday. (Keep reading to see why.) 

I do not curl my hair (although I have a cheap curling iron tacked away in my bathroom linen closet in case the mood ever strikes), but I know I’m in the minority—and kudos to all of you who take the extra time to add loose waves to your longer-than-mine locks. But if you ever have the need to touch up on the go (when there isn’t an outlet in sight), you might need Lunata Beauty’s Cordless Convertible Curling Iron and Wand. This battery-powered, rechargeable tool can be used as a traditional curling iron with a clip or a clipless wand depending on your preference, and it heats up to 450 degrees for up to 45 minutes. The battery is also removable so you can pop in a spare if you need more curl-time than that.

In other exciting news (that got me all fired up yesterday), Dyson has introduced the Corrale hair straightener—and it might have taken the top spot on my splurge wish list. Unlike every other flat iron out there, this one has flexible manganese copper plates that gather each section of hair as you straighten. This means you can get the same result with less heat—and in turn less hair damage. It’s also cordless and offers 30 minutes of styling time on a full charge (although it can be used corded as well), and it comes with a charging dock that takes up very little space. The only downside is the price tag, which as you would guess is $499. I’m not ready to pull the trigger just yet, but this one is going to be hard to resist.