Get It Straight

Anyone who has ever spent an hour and a half straightening her wavy/curly/frizzy hair with an arsenal of heat styling tools, only to have her hard work ruined by unexpected rain showers or the humidity of a packed nightclub, is going to want to here about this: the Straight Up vending machine. Entrepreneurs Richard Starrett and Neil Macka patented this hair straightening vending machine and have already installed 500 units in bathrooms of clubs and gyms throughout the United Kingdom. The Beautiful Vending Company installs the coin-operated units, which provide hair straightening flatirons for a quick heat styling touch-up for your carefully coiffed 'do. For about $1.85 you can use the The Straight Up machine's award-winning GHD irons, a popular U.K. brand used in salons, for 90 seconds. Pretty cool. It would be nice to be able to fix a frizz flare up after a tough workout at the gym, or to be able to look a little less insane after shaking your thing on the dance floor for five straight songs. The creators of the Straight Up vending machine have hinted at possible expansion overseas, which means this hair savior could be heading our way soon.

The only thing that might not be so cool about having access to these ultra-hip vending machines in our bar bathrooms is that already overcrowded women's bathrooms will get a lot worse: wait in line for the bathroom, then for the straightener. Oh, and I'm not so sure how well three Red Bull and vokas will mix with a scorching hot flatiron and my head. (I can smell the burnt hair/skin already.) I'm going to need a DHS--designated hair straightener. And imagine how annoying it will be if bathroom attendants start trying to offer you hair straightening in addition to the usual junk that you feel obligated to accept, therefore forking over even more cash. (Why can't they just leave us alone--I can pump my own soap, thanks.) At least we'll all look fabulous...for about 15 seconds, then poof!

--Jessie Bove