Straight hair is quick and easy to get from the comfort of your home using a hair straightening iron. Ceramic straighteners are generally considered the best material that will cause the least amount of damage to your hair. Professional grade ceramic straightening irons produce negative ions and infrared heat that locks in moisture when you straighten your hair. By using the right straightening technique and applying the right hair care before and after the straightening process, you can keep your hair straight all day and protect your hair from heat damage. Follow the steps below to learn how to properly straighten your hair with a straightening iron from start to finish.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing Your Hair for the Heat
Step 1. Use shampoo and conditioner products specially formulated to make hair straight or smooth
You don't need to buy expensive hair products, any product you can find at your local drugstore or beauty store will work just fine. Look for products designed for straightening and/or moisturizing.
Step 2. Dry your hair after bathing
Use a towel to absorb water from your hair by gently squeezing the hair in sections rather than ruffling it roughly to dry it. Patting your hair helps prevent the messy hair that occurs after a shower.
Step 3. Use a heat protection serum or heat treatment when your hair is wet
You should apply it when your hair is wet as this will allow you to spread the serum evenly over your hair without clumping. Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb after brushing it.
- Products containing Obliphica Berry, argon nut oil, Moroccan oil, or coconut oil are known to help keep hair straight throughout the day.
- Products containing silicone will also help keep your hair straight.
Step 4. Dry your hair with a hairdryer
Your hair should be as dry as possible when straightening. Not only will the straightening iron work better, it will also prevent your hair from being shocked by the heat and damaging it.
- Point the hairdryer down while blowing the wind on the hair in the drying process. This downward motion will push the hair straight as it dries.
- Set your hairdryer on the lowest heat setting. If you have very frizzy hair, drying your hair on a lower heat setting for a longer period of time will prevent your hair from bouncing when finished drying.
Part 2 of 3: Learning the Technique
Step 1. Insert the plug of the hair iron and slide the switch to the "on" position
"There will also be a heat setting near the "on" switch that you can adjust to your desired heat level. The thicker and curlier your hair, the higher the heat level you should choose. If your hair is very thin and brittle, make sure you set it to the lowest heat level to avoid damaging the hair.
Step 2. Separate the hair into sections
The number of sections will depend on the thickness of your hair. The point is to make sections 2.5-5 cm thick so they can pass through the straightener easily.
- Pin or pin the sections of hair that you haven't worked on as you straighten each section of hair.
- An easy way to do this is to pin any unworked pieces over your head or behind your shoulders. Then take one section in front of your shoulder to straighten.
Step 3. Place the straightener as close as possible to the hair roots without burning the scalp
Usually your straightener will start at a distance of about 2.5 cm from your scalp.
Step 4. Pinch the straightener so that the hot sides are touching each other and your hair is in between
Make sure not to pinch it too tightly, as this will create a mound above the section of hair where you started. Also, make sure not to hold the straightener in the same place for too long, as that will also cause bumps to form on your hair.
Step 5. Use the straightener along the length of your hair
Your movement should be a continuous, flowing stroke from the roots to the tips of the hair. The most important part of this technique is that you don't hold the straightener in one place for too long. Doing so can damage your hair and create unwanted creases.
Step 6. Run the straightener on the section of hair several times until it is completely straight
Depending on the thickness of your hair, you may only need to do this once, or you may have to run the straightener through sections of hair several times.
- The strength of your straightening iron will also determine how many times you have to run it on a particular section of hair.
- The lower the heat setting on the straightening iron, the more often you will have to run your straightener on specific sections of hair.
- Don't be alarmed if you see steam coming out of the straightener. Steam occurs as a result of the hot ceramic coming into contact with the remaining moisture in your hair. However, if you start to smell burning hair, immediately reduce the heat setting on the straightening iron.
Step 7. Set aside the straightened section of hair and remove the new section
Generally, the easiest way is to move around your head from side to side instead of working random sections of hair so you can easily separate the straightened from the unstraightened sections. You may need to brush each section before straightening if your hair gets tangled when you pin it.
- If your hair tends to be frizzy, apply styling spray or serum to each section as soon as you straighten it.
- Avoid applying any product to sections of hair that you haven't straightened. Hair products can negatively interfere with the straightening process, causing damage to your hair or your straightening iron.
Part 3 of 3: Keeping Your Hair Straight
Step 1. Set your hair dryer on the lowest airflow setting and on a cool temperature
Dry your hair for a minute carefully to set the hair you just straightened. You can use a thick hairbrush to guide your hair in a straight motion if you like.
Step 2. Spray styling spray, post straightening product, or styling spray to keep your hair straight all day long
An anti-mess serum containing silicone is very effective in keeping hair straight after straightening.
Step 3. Take an umbrella with you when you travel
If you live in a climate prone to erratic humidity, take an umbrella with you in case it starts to rain or becomes foggy. The humidity outside will cause your hair to curl again.
Tips
- Use a comb. When straightening a section of hair, run a fine-toothed comb 1 cm below the straightener as you straighten the section.
- Make sure your hair is clean, dry, and combed before straightening.
- Try not to touch your hair too much; your fingers produce a lot of oil in the hair.
- Make sure you check the heat setting before you start, sometimes the straightening iron setting can change when placed.
- Apply leave-in conditioner before blow-drying and straightening your hair for frizz-free hair.
- Brush your hair slowly and thoroughly, making sure you don't leave any clumps in your hair.
Warning
- Be careful when using the hair iron near the neck and ears, as you can burn the skin easily.
- Do not hold the straightener in one place on your hair. Keep moving it in a downward motion from root to tip to avoid breakage.
- Always turn off your straightening iron after use as a safety precaution. Straightening irons left on can become damaged or have the potential to cause a fire.
- Brushing your hair while it's still wet can cause split ends and damage your hair.
- The hair straightening iron is very hot. Make sure this appliance is kept out of reach of children and pets.
