Use smoothing, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. We've asked the experts to help break it all down for you. This is especially important if you enjoy straightening your hair often and want it to stay healthy and beautiful. Be sure to check out Stylelist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Let's talk about the flat iron itself. [1] X Research source Optionally, use a shampoo formulated to straighten hair. Invest in your flat iron. “What temperature do you keep it at?” he asked. “What kind of flat iron do you use?” Ryan Tamras, my hairdresser at New York City's Chris Mitchell Studio, asked when trimming off inches of my split ends. Make sure to purchase one that says “ceramic plates,” which will ensure that the heat is evenly distributed. If you're in the habit of always setting your flat iron at the highest possible temperature setting, turn down the heat with an easily adjustable flat iron. Your hair is precious to you and should not be damaged under any circumstance, whatsoever. To diminish damage, Mena suggested applying heat protectant, which can help add moisture and allow for a touch of body without the frizz. By avoiding sulfates you could protect your hair from become frizzy. The first thing I did when I got home was throw away my flat iron, which I realized must have been over six years old. In order to repair the hair and keep it healthy while continuing to use a flat iron, you need to treat and protect your hair. ©2021 Verizon Media. Once your hair is completely dry, section the hair again. This is the least aggressive method to get your perms straight. Raise the roots: As Mena mentioned, ultra-flat hair looks dated. Begin with one of the sections you previously created, next take that section and section it again, while using a small tooth in front of the flat iron you will begin straightening your hair. Before taking the iron to your hair, add volume to the roots with a few spritzes of volumizing spray equipped with heat protectant. How to straighten hair (even curly hair) at home perfectly with a straightener, flat iron, or naturally without heat to lessen the risk of damaging hair. Ensure combing through it while allowing your flat iron to heat up. First, start off with dry hair for excellent results. But if you misuse those tools or have the wrong ones, your hair may look like it's ready for a lengthy stint in hair rehab. Start from the root. We've asked the experts to help break it all down for you. Check your device's guidelines to find the best heat setting for your hair type. “You can change the temperature?” I responded. Hair needs to be washed first to get it ready to add a good straightening conditioner on it. 11 Simple steps for flat iron hair without damage. Spend your money on this Ghd flat iron, which takes 20 seconds to heat up to its max of 365 degrees (aka the highest, optimum heat for straightening your hair without completely damaging it). You should divide your hair into small sections, no bigger than 1.5 centimeters, and pass the flat iron over each one, applying soft pressure. Start at a lower level and increase as needed. Heat has the potential to damage the hair to some extent, but you can reduce the damage by following these tips: Utilize a Heat Protectant. “Ummm….” I couldn’t even think of the brand name. A quality flat iron should last up to 10 years. Don’t press your hair too hard; it can damage your hair. That’s because using a flat iron damages your strands. Before you straighten, take steps to protect keep your locks healthy. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. I had to rule out some options like the Remington Style Pink 1'’ Ceramic Flat Iron, as although I liked the bright packaging I couldn’t adjust the temperature and the auto setting was too hot for my hair. Straighten at an angle: It may feel instinctive to pull the straightener directly downward after clamping a section of hair, but as Mena pointed out, this creates an overly weighted look. Flat ironing your hair can be a tedious process, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be easy. To get the new straight look right—without frying hair—Mena offered these pro tips. By this point Ryan had realized that I was clearly clueless when it came to straightening my own hair, something I have done on a regular basis for close to a decade. Never skip this step, because flat-ironing wet hair may cause irreparable damage. As I have fine, wavy (and supposedly damaged) hair, Ryan suggested that my first step to recovery was to clean up the split ends and cut a bit of length. Normal hair can be ironed at 300-380 and thick, coarse or extra curly hair at 350-400. This is a big one. But that's not a very modern way to do straight. Nobody wants the "frizzies". Getting your hair to look sleek, straight, and healthy can feel like solving a difficult math equation. The second step to straighten hair naturally is to use a flat iron. Without being able to control how hot your iron is, you won't be able to adjust heat according to your hair's specific needs. “It will only get worse,” he instructed, showing how my disgusting habit of picking at my split ends had caused the bottom four inches of my hair to resemble a rat’s nest. Part of HuffPost Style & Beauty. Anyone can hold a flat iron to his or her head and straighten hair to 2D proportions. Fight heat damage with heat protectant products. Buy the Right Flat Iron . Getting your hair to look beautiful and stylish without any frizzes can sometimes feel quite difficult. My hair should only be ironed at a low setting, below 300 degrees, as it is fine and damaged (the same goes for chemically treated hair). I blankly stared back at his shear-wielding stature. © 2021 E! Second, use heat protectants on your locks and other sections of your hair to help protect it from heat damage. Be sure to check out Stylelist on, Remington Style Pink 1'’ Ceramic Flat Iron. Biology aside, there is still a way to safely straighten your hair without having to deal with a ton of heat damage. Take your flat iron and put a small strand of hair in the middle. If you've already washed … 1. Use the hair flat iron for gorgeous straight hair. Make sure to purchase one that says “ceramic plates,” which will ensure that the heat is evenly distributed. Therefore, you should know how to straighten your hair without a flat iron. Hopefully, you read my advice on how to prepare hair before you straighten. “Trimming your ends more regularly will actually make your hair grow,” he claims. With this kind of product, a little bit goes a long way. Lightweight, simple and ceramic, the FHI flat iron also had the option to adjust the temperature. Going out of the way would help you find the best shampoo for your hair. They diffuse heat better and won't damage hair as much as metal. This is because flat iron works best on dry hair. Press your flat iron around the hair and move slowly to the bottom while pressing. (I'll address this in another post). Biology aside, there is still a way to safely straighten your hair without having to deal with a ton of heat damage. When you use tools like flat irons, or chemical straighteners, it can deprive your hair of moisture, which leads to breakage. Products labeled “smoothing” provide lots of moisture to your hair and prepare it for straightening. Ultimately, the best way to flat iron your hair is to simply be methodical and take your time. For fine hair, use MoroccanOil Light. At best, we loved the silky straight hair. With our Beauty Editor Dana Oliver's help, I found some Kerastase Nectar Thermique and MoroccanOil Light. A quality flat iron should definitely use negative ions: Preserve and lock in moisture inside the shafts; Causes less damage to hair cuticles; Prevent scalp infections; Add volume and fullness In fact – most of the modern straighteners use negative ions in order to prevent hair damage. Some of the symptoms of flat iron damage are breakage, split ends, and flyaway frizzy hair. Step One. How to straighten African American Hair without Heat !! Put a drop on your hands, rub your hands together and then apply from the bottom up, as if your fingers are a comb. How To Straighten Hair With A Flat Iron? "Today's straight hair is not so flat to the head like it was in the past," explained Marc Mena, an E! Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! You will find it best for your hair in the long-term to buy an iron with a ceramic, not a metal plate. In addition to my Living Proof “Restore” shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioning treatment, I was ready to flat iron. By following the steps above, you can achieve perfectly straightened hair without too much damage. How to Flat Iron Natural Hair Without Causing Heat Damage. Flat Iron Natural Hair Pictures: Not only have I received compliments on my super-straight hair since I got it cut almost two months ago, but I have noticed a significant improvement in my hair quality: it's softer, smoother, shinier and appears to be growing faster. “I bought it at a drug store?”. At worst, we hate the thinning and breakage aftermath from heat abuse, and currently are deathly afraid of ruining transitioner progress made to natural hair. Ryan recommended MoroccanOil. If you haven't been using a flat iron with adjustable temperature controls, get your hands on one before the next time you intend to straighten your hair. Start with freshly washed, slightly damp hair. "Then set the blow-dryer to medium heat, while keeping the … Don’t skimp on the purchase, it will cause more damage … While shampoo and conditioner alone won’t straighten your hair, there are few types to look for that are good for keeping straightened hair healthy. Using hot styling tools to straighten hair can strip your hair of moisture, causing breakage. It does require some skill to properly straighten your hair with a flat iron, since there is a risk that you can be burned or damage your hair. Heat straightening hair is a sore spot for many transitioning from heat damage. As per Ryan’s recommendation, I tried the FHI Platform. Fight the effect by using a straightening shampoo and conditioner, which can not only reduce frizz, but create high-shine strands as well. Ah, I have heard this before, but have always been skeptical. All rights reserved. I recommend that you start straightening the pieces closest to the base of the head. PHOTOS: Celebs' eco beauty product all-stars. you add to the hair, the better. And since it's been a few months since I last saw Ryan, it's about time I schedule another trim. His how-to-have-healthy-heat-styled-hair rules below: 1) Invest in your flat iron. This will help give ends a swingy movement. It's a good idea to deep condition because the less product (moisturizer/oil/etc.) Remember to use sulfate free hair products while washing your hair. At the very least, I won't have to have quite so much hair cut off at my next trim. An at-home blow-out is a surefire way to create a straight hairstyle. Will getting my hair cut more regularly make it grow faster? 2. An essential daily guide to achieving the good life, Want more? You want dry, clean, and nourished hair before straightening. Clean hair makes the whole straightening process better. If you didn’t, read my section just above this one. If you haven’t got time to wash your hair, even a dry shampoo can be used. Ensure washing your hair two hours before straightening it with a flat iron. A quality flat iron should last up to 10 years. With a new, shorter style (about 4 inches), Ryan began instructing me on how to maintain my healthier locks, starting with a boot camp in flat irons. Don’t skimp on the purchase, it will cause more damage in the long run. Getting your hair wet is the first step to straightening it, so start by washing and conditioning your hair. How to Straighten Natural Hair. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and ​celebrity gossip. In 2015, covetable straight hair (like seen on Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Joan Smalls) doesn't hang lifeless from the head—instead, roots are aerated. Remember additional effort is always worth the magic. No more worrying I left my flat iron on after leaving the house. This will add shine as a starter. This method smooths the hair and ends prior to the iron touching them, resulting in incredibly sleek locks. 3) Make sure the temperature is right for your hair. It's as simple as running a fine-toothed comb or boar bristle brush down the length of each section, right in front of the iron. Add shine: The heat from a flat iron often reduces shine. I one of the quickest ways to achieve shiny and uniform locks, but it can be quite damaging to hair over time. Never attempt to use a flat-iron on wet or even damp hair. Take a look at some of our favorite straight hair looks below: Want more? 2) A heat protector is a must! The Best Way to Flat Iron Your Hair. Heated styling tools, such as a flat iron, can dry out and damage your hair. Avoid applying any heat protector 2 1/2 -3 inches from the scalp because they contain oil, which will make your hair look greasy. To improve hair moisture and prevent frizzing, use a deep conditioner, or leave your regular conditioner in your hair for an extra two or three minutes. The chemicals within heat protectants minimize damage caused by heat to the hair strand. “No wonder your hair is so fried,” Ryan said, as he pulled out a notebook and proceeded to give me instructions on how to care for my sad strands. Later, heated combs and flattened irons were used to straighten naturally curly or wavy hair. Flat Iron Tips: How To Straighten Your Hair Without Damage. After cutting off the thin and most frayed portion of my hair, he suggested that I step up my bi-annual haircut to every three months. Your blow dryer, flat iron, and curling iron can make your hair look great. Those with naturally frizzy or textured hair know what it's like to reach for a flat iron day in and day out for a smooth finish. Step 1: Start with Dry, Nourished Hair. Using a flat iron can seriously dry and damage your hair. To begin, you'll want to start off by shampooing and deep conditioning the hair. If your hair is fine, less heat is needed, while coarse hair requires more heat, Mena noted. Although a flat iron is rather costly, the cost is much less than going to the beauty salon regularly for the same purpose. Step 1, Wash and condition your hair. Set your curly hair straightener on the lowest heat setting possible; remember, the goal is to only have one or two swipes of the flat-iron straighten each section of hair. I had a winner. Once your hot tool is ready, run the plates of the flat iron over your strands. Flat Iron Styling While hairstyling techniques have been found from every culture in recorded history, the latter part of the nineteenth century brought us the development of thermal styling techniques, beginning with Marcel Grateau's heated rods for curling the hair. Protect strands: It's hard not to fry hair with frequent ironing. Straightening your hair to get the perfect texture and style may enhance your appearance, but it can wreak havoc on your delicate strands. Straighten only a few strands of hair at a time, whatever can fit in the flat iron. It will be easier to use some hair clips or clamps to separate sections of your hair. "There's more body and movement instead of the hair being stick straight.". Flat Iron Tips: How To Not Let Your Straightener Ruin Your Hair ... the hair strands are dead once they come out of the scalp, so once damaged, it's not really possible to fully fix without cutting." Alcoholic shampoos li… Style Collective member and celebrity hairstylist. All rights reserved. I also liked the CHI Auto Digital Iron which was similarly lightweight, offered different temperatures and additionally had a timer to automatically shut off. Set the right temp: Not all hair types should use the same heat settings. 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Irons, or chemical straighteners, it 's hard not to fry hair frequent.