Glassy bobs, curtain bangs & beachy waves—we’re looking at you.
By Carlene Higgins
Date April 7, 2021
With warm weather on the horizon, hot girl season is quickly approaching and that’s the perfect time to try out all the latest hair trends—from glassy bobs to curtain bangs, to beach waves. Celebrity Hairstylist and Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold Ambassador Kirsten Klontz say you only need one tool to achieve these looks and it’s the same one she uses on her a-list clients such as Kristin Cavallari, Jessie Reyez and Brooke Lynn Hytes. And since we still can’t get to our own salon (thank you, pandemic), we sat down with Klontz *virtually* to find out her secrets to achieving salon-level styling results at home along with all the details on the #FashionForAll Beauty Award-winning flat iron that’s always in her pro kit. (Full disclosure: I was a member of the judging panel for the awards).
You’ve probably used a ton of flat irons in your career. Which one is your favourite?
The Hot Tools Professional® Black Gold Evolve 1” Flat Iron is the one in my kit because it’s the most versatile for a wide range of clients. It’s got curved edges so I can straighten or curl with it, the size is easy to handle, and it has a soft, non-slip grip. The plates are infused with a ceramic micro shine so it gives a really nice, glossy shine, and it won’t catch on the cuticle, so you won’t get any “drag” as it flows through the hair. Plus, the titanium plates won’t chip, which is important when I’ve got them on for 10-hour shoots, and I’m constantly dropping them on cement floors!
There’s been a lot of talk about the return of Y2K fashion, channelling pop princesses such as Christina Aguilera. What is your #1 tip for achieving that iconic, stick-straight hair?
That was me in my early twenties! Don’t try to straighten it all at once—it’s important to section your hair. I like to start at the bottom and work my way up, working in one-inch pieces. That’s what will produce that root-to-end look with a glossy finish.
What if you have wavy or curly hair?
Start building in smoothing products while it’s still wet. Blow it out first, using heat and tension to help stretch the hair. I love the one-step hair dryer with a round brush from Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold Series—you can take big sections of hair and actually get through it really fast. And then go over it with your flat iron overtop, to get that high-shine finish.
What temperature would you recommend for fine hair versus coarse hair, so that you’re not frying it?
Prep with a heat-protective spray to help avoid damage. I would start at around 325 degrees for fine hair, while coarser hair can accommodate higher heat. If you see steam coming off of your hair, turn it down until you don’t see that anymore.
What’s a pro hack for flyaways?
If I’m working on a cover shoot and it has to be super sharp around the part line, I’ll use a little hairspray and then take a curling iron and hold the flyaways down, as close to the root as possible, so they set lying flat.
Another popular pandemic style has been curtain bangs. Would you use a flat iron for that?
Yes! The key to curtain bangs is that they kind of come forward and then kick back around your temple area to frame the eyes. Starting at the root, you just bend the hair to where you want it to go, and then tap the flat iron down, then bend the section the other way and tap, to lock in an “S” shape. Repeat on both sides of your face, and then brush it out.
And you can use a flat iron to achieve beach waves as well?
People are always surprised by how easy it actually is. Grab a wide section, then starting at the root and holding the flat iron horizontally, run the flat iron down a few inches and flick your wrists upwards; hold; go down a few inches and flick your wrists downwards; hold, and repeat that pattern until you reach the bottom. Finish with beach spray. There’s so much you can do with a hot iron, you just need to know the techniques.
Klontz’s beloved Hot Tools Professional Black Gold Evolve 1” Flat Iron was a winner in FASHION’s 20th annual #BeautyForAll Awards. Out of hundreds of entries, 72 winning products were selected between six gender-neutral categories: hair care, body care, skincare, fragrance, clean and cosmetics. The winners were selected by a panel of judges led by FASHION’s Beauty Director Natasha Boateng.
1/5
Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ 1″ Micro-Shine Flat Iron
Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ 1″ Micro-Shine Flat Iron
($112.49, Hot Tools Professional)
2/5
Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ Volumizing Brush
Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ Volumizing Brush
($108.37, Hot Tools Professional )
3/5
Launching Soon: Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ One-Step Detachable Blowout Small Head
4/5
Launching Soon: Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ Adjustable Multi-Waver
5/5
Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ 1 ¼″ Black Gold™ Curling Iron
Hot Tools® Professional Black Gold™ 1 ¼″ Curling Iron
($119.99, Hot Tools Professional )