Not Martha
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thing I like: really small hair straightening iron

I needed a straightening iron, but just for my bangs. I didn’t want to spend a lot because the only circumstances under which I see myself straightening all of my hair are those of being really bored and stuck at home. The inexpensive straightening irons you can find at drugstores were monstrously large, and the smaller Chi models were just more than I wanted to pay for something I’m only going to use on days when I’m too lazy to blow dry my hair. And then I found the perfect thing, the 1/2 inch BaByliss mini iron. The plates are only 1/2 inch wide, and the whole iron is about 6 inches long. The description mentions that it would be good for travel, and that the smaller sized plates allow you to get close to the scalp but let’s face it, this baby is made to do bangs.

This review video on YouTube is very helpful and shows the scale of the iron, though I swear it looks large in her hands. The iron is about 6 inches long, like a very skinny stapler. Amazon gave me a delivery estimate of a few weeks but it arrived in just two days. I’d take a picture of to give you a better idea of scale but my camera, TRAGEDY!!, is broken. Here is the Babyliss on top of a dollar bill:

Related note, I was looking around the house for something that would help me keep the iron perched on the corner of my porcelain vanity and found that a square silicone pot holder like this one (which honestly isn’t much good as a pot holder) works great as a grippy and heat proof surface.

· comments [14] · 09-23-2008 · categories:beauty ·

14 responses so far ↓

  • 1 dawn // Sep 23, 2008 at 9:05 am

    Brilliant use for those pot holders! I don’t think I’ve ever used my set of four as they are intended to be used.

  • 2 suzer // Sep 23, 2008 at 9:11 am

    Seriously? Those are my favorite pot holders in the house. They don’t get hot, can go in the dishwasher if needed, and double as potholder/trivet.

  • 3 greta // Sep 23, 2008 at 9:19 am

    back to the flat iron! can you tell me what the plug is like? i have a tiny bathroom with an awkward plug situation and i hate using my current flat iron because i feel like it’s a constant fire hazard. this would be perfect (since i also only use it for my bangs) and i like the idea of being able to pack it easily for travel but am still not sure whether the plug would be any better. Is it the standard chunky hairdryer type plug?

  • 4 megan // Sep 23, 2008 at 9:29 am

    Greta – It’s just a plug. No convertor box of any sort. Does that help? I’d love to take a photo but (TRAGEDY!!) it’s broken.

  • 5 greta // Sep 23, 2008 at 9:38 am

    yay! that’s exactly what i wanted to hear. just a plug is perfect. thanks SO much!

  • 6 Lisa // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:41 am

    I’ve seen those potholders at the Dollar Tree for a dollar!

  • 7 Christine // Sep 23, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    I also hate those pot holders for their intended use so I use the same one, in black, for my hot glue gun mat. The dry glue peels right off it.

  • 8 Dodi // Sep 23, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Those potholders are lousy. The heat goes right through them. I thought I was somehow using them wrong at first. I finally bought silicone and I hated it. Thankfully I didn’t buy the fancy mitts I was coveting.

    Mostly I use them now to keep plate or bowl from sliding off my lap desk when I eat in my lazy boy :) Didn’t think of them for glue gun mats. Excellent idea.

  • 9 Uyek // Sep 23, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Oh, I have one of those “pot holders” too. Useless!
    I seem to be on the band waggon when it comes to demoting it to a trivet.
    Glad to read here that it is a design issue not a user error.

  • 10 brook Owens // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    that iron works great! the boys love that at the salon!

  • 11 KarWar // Sep 24, 2008 at 3:21 am

    ooh, i’m gonna get a potholder for my curling iron

  • 12 Susan // Sep 25, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    I need to pick up one of those. I only straighten my bangs and I am trying to move away from doing that as they grow out…I’ve gotten lots of tips and ideas at http://www.naturallycurly.com

  • 13 Julie in Houston // Sep 27, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Thats so funny that you said that the silicone sqaure pot holders suck! I bought two green ones that were so cute, but they arejust too stiff or someting and I’m always afraid I’ll burn my hand. They do work as trivets though. I think I need to get one of those other ones that look like a duck bill. LOL, that’s the only way i can describe them. You put your fingers in the tip and thumb in the botton. Whatever!

  • 14 Salty // Oct 13, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Lady I can’t believe you bought that gadget with only 1 review! So brazen! So bold! I admire your tenacity. These days when I search for stuff [I don’t need] on Amazon I white knuckle any purchase that is endorsement-free. Now that it has the NotMartha seal of approval- I may have to put aside my Chi-envy and pony up for this little dandy.
    Thanks!

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