GK Hair's Four in One Styler is more than just a single barrel wonder « advicesisters.com for life, love and happiness

Waves and curls are in, but not everyone can manage movie star quality looks with an old curling iron and a lot of luck. First, there’s the quality of your hair. If it’s thick, coarse, thin, super-straight, a single barrel on a single curling iron might not be the one that works best with your hair and the size of wave or curl you want. But who has the money and storage space for four different sizes to make curls from tight to loose?

Luckily, there is one particular heat styler that can do it all, no matter what the style, the texture of hair, or even, the humidity. It’s the new 4 In One iron from GKhair (Srp. $140.00). With interchangeable heads that plug in and out, on one digitally-controlled heating base, you can make any style for any hair type, any time.

Inside an hard-sided, impressive looking box, is the tool I’ve been dreaming of for many years. This Global Keratin (now branded simply as “GK Hair”) 4-in-1 Curling Set contains the four inter-changeable barrel heads come in sizes 1/2′, 3/4′, 1 1/4″ and 1 1/2″. You are also supposed to get a heat resistant glove which my editor’s sample lacked, but that is essential for safety (more on that in a moment).

GK Hair has plenty of other stylers, if the four in one isn’t your style or isn’t in your budget. But this 4 in 1 really does answer the prayers of stylists and those who like to DIY at home, and who want the ease and speed of a unique heat styler. But if there is a downside (for me personally), it is the clip-less style. The good thing about it is that without a clamp on the curling iron, your stay stays smooth and you wont’ get crimps in your hair. But it takes a little getting used to, since your hair has to be held in place by your fingers. As I wrapped my hair around the barrel for the first time, the side of my hand slipped and made brief contact with the white-hot, heated barrel that adjust from 190 degrees up to 410F/230C (that’s hot!!). As a result of that briefest of contacts, I still got a nasty burn!! You’ve got to be super careful not to touch that iron when wrapping and holding your hair, or better yet, always use the heat glove that your styler comes with. It’s common sense, and the only way to safely and confidently use a clip-less styler.

That being said, this is really a styler for pros. It is costly, but then again, it would cost even more if you purchased four different curling irons of different barrel sizes. The heads are Ceramic/Tourmaline and the barrels feature Negative Ions that help produce smoother, silkier hair. Far-Infared Technology and high quality ceramic are gentler on hair than conventional flat irons. The ceramic plates that radiate far–infrared heat help preserve moisture in your hair shaft, protecting the hair cuticle from damage. And since it is a great heat conductor and maintains an even temperature, you will be able to style faster, avoiding extra passes on your hair that might damage it. Other good points are dual voltage, a very easy to read, light up digital display, with easy to use up and down buttons for the heat settings, a simple on/off button, a hooked end if you want to hang the styler (but the three other barrels have to be stored in the box, or as I did, in a soft bag), a one year warranty, and a long, sturdy swivel cord to prevent tangling, and more potential to burn yourself!

If there is a downside, it might be that the clipless style can be tricky for beginners, and downright dangerous if you are not careful. I should have been wearing a heat glove (one is included with the styler). On the plus side, a clip-less styler means no crimps in your hair, but it also means you have to wrap and hold it with your fingers. As I wrapped my hair around the first barrel I tested, my hand very briefly made contact with the hot barrel (it heats up from 190 degrees to 41o degrees). As a result, I got a nasty burn. However, on the plus side, it was super-easy to create everything from soft, beachy waves, to much tighter curls. How your hair responds to a heat styler is a personal matter, but on my thick, long hair, on a high heat, held for 15-20 seconds each (small) chunk of hair, I got the looks I expected, easily and quickly.

Naturally, this would be an impressive holiday gift for the hair-obsessed and a little luxury for yourself that will pay dividends for many years to come.

GK Hair has tons of styling products for the pros and the do-it-yourself-er as well. GKhair’s signature Hair Taming System with Juvexin, as well as its aftercare products and styling tools are used and recommended by top hair professionals in the finest salons throughout the world. I will be reviewing some of these in future columns, but here’s a rundown on the types of products you can get through Folica.com, and learn more on the GK Hair WebSite.