Because no one needs 12 tools they never use
There was a time when “getting ready” meant a countertop buried under tools—flat iron, curling wand, blow dryer, three different brushes, a drawer of scrunchies, clips, and products you swore you’d use but never did. If you wanted straight hair, that was one tool. Curls? Another. A quick blowout? Add at least 30 extra minutes.
Fast-forward to now: the beauty world has finally caught on to what we’ve been begging for all along—tools that actually work harder and smarter. Instead of a dozen gadgets that collect dust, your hair styling tools set can be lean, chic, and designed to cover everything from sleek ponies to effortless waves. Think multi-use irons that straighten and curl in one pass, heat-protecting sprays that do double duty as shine boosters, and accessories that actually earn their place in your drawer.
The best part? Building a tool set today isn’t about spending thousands or chasing every trend on TikTok. It’s about creating a kit that fits your routine—whether that’s a three-minute refresh before work, a full glam session for nights out, or something in between.
So what belongs in a modern hair styling tools set—and what doesn’t? Let’s cut the clutter and talk about the essentials, the nice-to-haves, and the products you can finally stop hoarding.
The non-negotiables of a hair styling tools set
Girl be for real…most of us have a graveyard of hair tools shoved in a drawer somewhere. Old flat irons that tug, curling wands we never figured out how to use, blow dryers that feel like an arm workout just to get through one side. A good hair styling tool set isn’t about collecting everything—it’s about curating the tools you’ll actually reach for. These are the ride-or-dies you’ll use week after week, the ones that earn their space on your vanity.
1. A multi-use iron that pulls double (or triple) duty
If there’s one tool that deserves MVP status, it’s a multi-use iron. Gone are the days of needing one tool for straight styles, one for curls, and another for waves. A smart iron (like the TYME Iron Pro) makes all of that happen in minutes—sleek, shiny glass hair when you want to look polished, soft bends for brunch, or full curls for a night out. Think of it as your hair’s version of a Swiss Army knife. Not only does it save space in your bathroom (or suitcase), but it also saves time. And if we’re being real, time is just as precious as shine.
2. A lightweight, powerful hair dryer
Drying shouldn’t feel like running a marathon. The best dryers give you power without the bicep burn, and quiet efficiency without sounding like a plane taking off in your bathroom. Look for one with multiple heat and speed settings, so you can customize the airflow based on what your hair actually needs that day. Diffusers are a must for curly babes, while concentrator nozzles make blowouts way smoother for straight styles. Pro tip: don’t underestimate how much your dryer sets the stage—your styling results are only as good as your blow-dry.
3. The brushes that actually matter
If you only have one sad paddle brush in your drawer, it’s time to rethink. You need at least two brushes working as your tag team:
- A detangling brush—your lifesaver for pulling through knots without that dreaded snapping sound. Use it wet, use it dry, but please don’t skip it.
- A round or paddle brush—this is where the styling magic happens. A round brush gives you salon-level volume and bounce; a paddle brush chases sleekness like nobody’s business. Having both means you’re covered for whatever vibe you’re going for that day.
4. A heat protectant that multitasks as hard as you do
Skipping heat protectant is basically begging for split ends. But here’s the thing: it shouldn’t just protect, it should prep. You want something lightweight, hydrating, and smoothing so your iron or dryer can glide instead of drag. A spray like the TYME Heat Protectant + Moisture Spray ticks all those boxes—shielding your hair from heat while making it shiny and frizz-resistant.
At the end of the day, these aren’t “fun extras”—they’re the foundation. Without them, your “hair styling tools set” isn’t really a set at all—it’s just clutter you’ll regret buying.
The extras that earn their keep
Once you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to talk about the extras. You know, the pieces that don’t seem essential at first glance—but once you have them, you wonder how you ever lived without them. These are the finishing touches that take your hair routine from “fine” to “flawless,” no stylist required.
Silk scrunchies and wraps
We’ve all been personally victimized by elastic bands that leave dents and snap strands. Swap them for silk scrunchies, and suddenly your ponytails don’t punish you. Even better? A silk wrap or bonnet for bedtime. It’s not just for protecting blowouts—short, long, straight, or curly, silk helps reduce friction so you wake up with smooth, frizz-free hair instead of tangles that need a 20-minute rescue mission.
Sectioning clips
They don’t get nearly enough credit, but sectioning clips are the secret to styling like a pro. They keep hair neatly divided while you curl, straighten, or blow-dry, which means less chaos and more even results. Plus, they’re usually under $10—proof that glam doesn’t have to break the bank.
A mini straightener or travel-sized tool
Not all heroes are full-sized. A compact iron is a lifesaver for bangs, touch-ups, and on-the-go fixes (hello, post-gym refresh). It’s not your everyday tool, but it earns its space in your set because of how often you’ll reach for it in “I have 5 minutes” moments.
A volumizing or texture spray
You can have all the best tools in the world, but without the right product support, your style can fall flat—literally. A good volumizing or texture spray adds grit and hold, which is the difference between curls that last until happy hour and curls that fall before you’ve even left the house.
Dry shampoo
This one’s a given, but it deserves a mention because it’s basically hair’s magic eraser. Extend your style, add volume at the roots, and keep everything looking (and smelling) fresh. It’s the secret weapon that keeps your hair styling tools set working smarter, not harder.
Together, these extras aren’t fluff—they’re the quiet MVPs that make your styling routine more efficient, less stressful, and way more fun.
The “don’t bother” tools clogging up your drawer
At some point, we’ve all been lured in by a “miracle” gadget on TikTok or a late-night shopping scroll.
The promise? Salon-worthy hair with zero effort. The reality? A one-trick pony that eats up counter space and ends up tangled in cords at the back of your drawer. Your hair styling tools set deserves better.
Here are a few culprits that usually don’t make the cut.
Overly specific curlers
You know the ones—the curling wands that only make one hyper-specific type of curl (too tight, too springy, too uniform). Unless you’re auditioning for a Shirley Temple biopic, you probably don’t need a tool that locks you into one look. Versatility is key, and if a tool can’t flex between waves, curls, and sleek, it’s not earning its keep.
Those automatic hair twisters
They look futuristic, they sound convenient…but they mostly eat your hair. Sure, the videos are mesmerizing, but in real life? Snags, uneven results, and the stress of wondering if you’re about to fry a chunk of your hair off. Hard pass.
Old-school metal round brushes
Once upon a time, they were the thing. But with all the heat-protecting, ceramic-coated, and vented brushes we’ve got now, using a heavy metal one is just asking for breakage and burnt fingers. Retire it, girl.
Weird “as seen on TV” tools
Straightening combs that don’t heat evenly, clunky crimpers, weird plastic “volume makers”—if it didn’t work the first time you tried it, it’s not suddenly going to start now. If it’s been sitting untouched for six months, that’s your sign.
A strong hair styling tools set doesn’t need to be bloated with gimmicks. The best sets are made of multitaskers—the tools that actually get picked up week after week, not just once during a 2 a.m. experiment.
How to build your dream hair styling tool set
We all know that you don’t need a closet bursting with neon tops you wore once in college—you need those ride-or-die pieces that can carry you from work to brunch to nights out without breaking a sweat.
Same deal with your hair tools. The goal? Versatile, reliable, and chic enough that you’ll actually want to use them.
Here’s your no-nonsense capsule collection.
1. The everyday hero: A multitasking hot tool
Instead of juggling a flat iron, a curling wand, and whatever random rod you impulse-bought last year, pick a tool that can do it all. The TYME Iron Pro, for example, creates waves, curls, or sleek straight hair depending on how you angle it.
2. The protector: A good heat protectant spray
Even the fanciest tool won’t save your strands if you’re frying them raw. A lightweight spray is like SPF for your hair—it should be non-negotiable.
3. The prep tool: A solid detangling brush
Don’t sleep on this one. Brushing before styling makes everything smoother and helps products distribute evenly. Plus, it’s way less painful on your scalp (and way kinder to your strands).
4. The finishing touch: clips, elastics, and a strong-but-flexible hairspray
Sectioning clips = clean styling. Good elastics = fewer breakage regrets. And hairspray? Your invisible shield against humidity, frizz, and 3 p.m. flatness.
5. The bonus babes: silk scrunchies + pillowcases
Not technically “tools,” but trust—they keep your style fresher, longer. Overnight frizz protection is the kind of low-effort beauty hack every girl needs in her back pocket.
The secret isn’t buying more. It’s buying smart. A streamlined hair styling tools set means your routine is faster, your bathroom isn’t a cluttered mess, and your hair actually thanks you in shine and longevity.
TYME to build your hair tool set
Stop chasing every shiny gadget and build a hair styling tools set that actually mirrors your life. Think school runs, office days, gym nights, date hair. You don’t need a drawer that jams. You need a tiny roster that earns its spot.
Do a two-minute edit:
- What’s your everyday finish—sleek, wavy, curly, or air-dried with polish?
- How much time do you realistically give styling on a weekday vs weekend?
- What does your texture ask for to behave—heat protection, hold, frizz control?
If you keep it minimal, anchor your kit with a multi-tasker that straightens and curls, a heat protectant that adds slip, one great brush, a few section clips, and a finishing spray. If you love options, add a diffuser or a hot brush and call it complete.
That’s it. No clutter, no overthinking—and your hair tools set is complete.
