I recently got shipped a
HANA 1.5 professional titanium hair straightener to try out from the folks over at
Misikko.
Misikko is an online retailer of
professional hair straighteners and other hair and beauty products. They also carry other professional brands like the famous
Chi straightener. They currently have a coupon for $10 off purchases over $100 - useful since these pretty little products are not exactly a cheap investment.
I don't exactly pride myself on my knowledge of hair tools, but
HANA was actually one of the few brands that I had heard good things about so I was excited to try it. I've all but abandoned straightening my hair on a regular basis due to both laziness and impatience. I embarrassingly admit that I've never owned a high-end straightener but have been using a random one from Shoppers Drug Mart for years. It did the job (I suppose) but it took forever because the maximum temperature was so low and was too awkwardly shaped to curl or do anything fun with. Hence why I was so excited to actually get a chance to see what a professional iron could do. Reviewed using Photo Booth because I am awful and slow at self-portraits with a tripod. Note: I'm not being paid to do this review and I am definitely no expert on flat irons - just a regular gal who has regular battles when straightening her hair.
![]()
My hair's natural state: wavy, frizzy and at times untameable. My hair is not only thick but I have a lot of it. Although it used to be the bane of my existence when all I wanted was thin, straight hair like all the other Asian girls, I've come to love its wild texture and body. Since I get quite a few questions about my hair I'll just answer them now: I used good old Herbal Essences Body Envy shampoo and conditioner every other day, Dove Heat Defence spray before I blow dry it, and Lush's R&B leave-in treatment to tame my frizz.
![]()
![]()
HANA's Shine Shield and flat iron (and my noob mirrored photos but you get the idea). My old iron was 1.5" as well, which I find to be a perfect size. Again, I'm super lazy and get bored easily when it comes to this hair stuff so anything thinner wouldn't do. The Shine Shield is similar to the Frizz Ease serum I used to use and the smell isn't overbearing (so key!).
![]()
Separated my hair with alligator clips and got to straightening. The temperatures on the HANA range from 140-450 (I set it on 370). Right away it did a better job than my drugstore brand one (surprise surprise). Not only did it straighten faster but so much better. It glided more smoothly and I didn't have to go over the same piece of hair multiple times in order to straighten it properly.
![]()
I am serious but this hair straightening business.
![]()
Final result: pin-straight hair in 5 minutes! Huzzzah!
![]()
Thanks for this exponentially better flat iron,
Misikko (and a bunch of other gifts in the package including this uh...sleep mask?)! Maybe now JD won't have to hopelessly beg me to straighten my hair anymore. Hope you enjoyed this awkward low-budget review as much as I enjoyed procrastinating to put it together :)
London Fashion Week always trumps New York Fashion Week for me hands down. There's an absurd amount of incredible digital prints in London this season, perhaps as a homage to the late great McQueen and his insane Plato's Atlantis collection last spring. Christopher Kane continues to be one of my absolute favourites. Asian-inspired prints and embroidery with fluorescent details - I love this man.
