Hair straightening at home can be done quickly and easily using a flat hair straightener. Ceramic flat irons are generally considered better because they cause less damage to the hair. Professional ceramic straightening irons emit negative ions and infrared heat, which retains moisture in hair while straightening. By using the right straightening technique and the right hair products before and after straightening, you can keep your hair straight all day long and protect it from heat damage. Follow our tips to learn how to properly straighten your hair from start to finish.
Steps
Part 1
Preparing hair for heat treatment- The air flow from the hair dryer should be directed downward when drying hair. Air movement away from the roots helps hair dry straight.
- Set the hair dryer to the lowest temperature. If you have particularly curly, frizzy hair, dry it for longer at a low temperature to prevent it from becoming frizzy during the drying process.
-
Connect the iron to the mains and press the power button. Next to the power button on the iron there should be a regulator that allows you to set the desired heating temperature. The thicker and curlier the hair, the higher the temperature should be. If your hair is thin and brittle, use the lowest temperature possible to avoid damaging it.
Divide your hair into sections. The number of strands depends on the thickness of your hair. The main thing is to take strands 2.5–5 cm wide, which can easily pass through the straightening iron.
- While you straighten a single strand, pin the rest with pins or a hair clip so that they do not interfere.
- An easy way to keep your locks in place is to pin them up or behind your back. Then pull individual strands forward and straighten.
-
Place the straightening iron as close to the roots as possible without getting burned. Typically, the distance between the scalp and the iron should be about 2.5 cm.
Press the iron so that the heated flaps close together and the hair is between them. Don't squeeze the iron too hard as this will create a kink where you started straightening. Also, do not keep the iron in one place for a long time: this also leads to the appearance of kinks in the hair.
Run the iron down the entire length of the strand. The movement should be smooth and even from roots to tips. The most important part of proper technique is not to leave the iron in one place too long. This can damage your hair and create unwanted kinks.
-
Run the iron over the strand several times until it is completely straight. Depending on the thickness of your hair, you may need to do this once or more.
- The ironing temperature setting also affects how many times you have to iron each individual strand.
- The lower the temperature, the more times you will need to run the iron through the hair strand.
- Don't worry if you notice steam coming from the iron. The steam comes from the contact of hot ceramics and residual moisture in your hair. If you smell your hair burning, immediately turn your iron to a lower temperature.
-
Move the straightened strand aside and release the next one for straightening. It's usually easier to go from one side of your head to the other rather than picking strands at random, which makes it easier to separate the treated strands from the untreated strands. If a strand gets tangled while pinned, it will need to be combed before straightening.
- If your hair tends to get frizzy, apply hairspray or setting serum to each strand immediately after straightening.
- Do not apply any products to your hair before straightening. This may interfere with the straightening process, damaging the hair or the iron.
- Use a comb. When straightening the strand, run a wide-tooth comb over it a couple of centimeters in front of the iron as it moves down.
- Before using the straightener, your hair should be clean, dry and combed.
- Try not to touch your hair too much, as there is usually a lot of oil on your fingers.
- Before using the iron, check the temperature conditions. While it was turned off, you could accidentally move the switch.
- To prevent frizz, use a leave-in conditioner before drying and straightening.
- Brush your hair slowly and thoroughly to avoid leaving tangled strands.
- Don't straighten your hair every day: it's harmful.
- When you straighten your hair, don't immediately put the straightener in a box or closet. Place it on the counter and let it cool. This way you will avoid the risk of fire.
- Do not bring the iron too close to the skin to avoid getting burned.
- Set your iron to the temperature that suits your hair. Don't make it too high to avoid burning your hair. However, if you have curly hair, don't set the temperature too low or it won't straighten.
Use shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for straightening or smoothing hair. You don't have to buy expensive products: any you can find in your nearest cosmetic store, supermarket or pharmacy will do. Just choose products that are designed to straighten and/or moisturize.
After washing, dry your hair with a towel. Use a towel to remove excess water from your hair by gently squeezing it out strand by strand. Do not roughly rub or ruffle your hair. Drying your hair with a towel will help you cope with the excessive tendency of your hair to become frizzy and frizzy after a shower.
Apply a heat protection serum or other protectant to damp hair. You should apply the product to damp hair: this will make it easier for you to distribute it evenly throughout your hair, without allowing the product to accumulate in certain places. After applying the product, comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb.
Blow dry your hair. To straighten, your hair must be completely dry. This will not only allow you to use the iron more efficiently, but will also prevent you from burning your hair.
Part 2
Correct techniquePart 3
Keeping your hair straightNot every girl can boast of straight and silky hair - nature, unfortunately, is selective.
That is why, especially for those who want to quickly stretch their hair, remove frizz and add shine, a special straightening iron was invented (professional hairdressers call it styler).
But as experts note, the straightening procedure with an iron has its own nuances that must be taken into account to achieve the desired effect.
The hair structure includes a special layer - cortex, consisting of special hydrogen bonds. It is these connections that are responsible for what our strands will be - straight or curly.
Under the influence of high temperature, the hydrogen bonds of the cortex are destroyed and the curls take on a straight shape.
Tools Overview
At first, after straightening, the hair lies perfectly, but as soon as the humidity level increases (for example, it starts to rain), the hairstyle loses its ideal shape and immediately turns into the same curly, unruly head.
Experts have found a way to preserve hairstyles - cosmetic products that are designed to facilitate the styling process, as well as maintain the smoothness and shine of long hair for a long time.
These include sprays and lotions with nourishing and moisturizing properties.
Before installation Apply lotion or spray to damp hair, distribute it over the entire length using a comb. Wait a few minutes until completely absorbed, and then use a massage brush to give the strands the desired shape.
After straightening with an iron, you can apply a little gel or conditioner - this will additionally fix the hairstyle.
Serum- an innovative product designed for very curly locks that are difficult to style. Due to its high efficiency, the serum is used in a more gentle styling procedure than heat treatment, since interaction with high temperatures can lead to unexpected consequences.
Learning to use a styler
Frequent heating and overheating of hair can negatively affect its structure and health. Therefore, it is important to be able to properly stretch your curls so that the styling remains for a long time.
Instructions:
- Apply a small amount of cosmetic product with thermal protection to clean, damp hair;
- dry with a hairdryer (they should become dry);
- divide into several parts, separate the upper part from the lower;
- start pulling with an iron from the bottom, gradually moving to the top;
- try to pull out the strands with one movement of the styler
Some tips.
To straighten your hair well and correctly with an iron, do not hold it for a long time on any area - this will help to avoid overheating of individual strands.
If you want to maintain natural volume, then when straightening, keep the strands at right angles to the roots. Additionally, you can use a volume product.
After the procedure, comb your hair and fix the style with gel, wax or varnish.
Video instruction
This video will clearly show how to properly and quickly straighten your hair with an iron and master all the secrets of chic styling.
What should you not do during styling?
Ironing has some nuances.
For example, you should not use a hot iron on wet hair, as it may overheat and become scorched.
Also, do not straighten strands that are heavily lubricated with gel or spray. There should be a small amount of cosmetic product, and it should be evenly distributed along the entire length of the hair.
Do not forget about the inadmissibility of frequent use of a styler for straightening. Otherwise, you will damage the hair structure, making it more unruly.
You should not straighten hair that has already been stretched out with an iron. with serum!
Women are fickle and contradictory natures, for example, owners of straight hair would dream of being born with cute curls, and owners of those same notorious waves would sell their souls for thick, but perfectly straight and smooth curls. And if the former can achieve the desired result easily, and just as easily part with them, the latter have to try very hard to make their dream come true.
Types of combs for styling
Only use a straight iron on clean hair, as dirt and grease harden when exposed to high temperatures. It is recommended to use a special straightening agent when washing. shampoo . Before you start directly styling with an iron, dry your hair with a hair dryer with brushing (preferably made from natural bristles - approx. author).
Flat brushes are ideal for short hair and medium-length hair. It is recommended to straighten long curls with a round comb. In addition, when styling, you will need a comb, which can be used to conveniently divide your hair into strands.
Heat protectants
Keep in mind that you should not straighten your hair with a flat iron if it is wet, otherwise you will cause serious damage to your hair. While your hair is still wet, apply a heat-protective styling product to protect your locks from the harmful effects of high temperatures by covering them with a protective shell. However, do not overdo it with the amount, otherwise your hair will appear dirty after styling.
When choosing heat-protective cosmetics, pay attention to its composition. It is desirable that it contains useful components, such as silk proteins, elements that maintain the hydrolipid balance of the hair.
If you have dry hair, choose a protectant with keratin and wheat protein. Spray styling is very convenient. There is also a heat-protective glitter fluid on sale. As the name suggests, it gives your hair a brilliant shine.
Products containing silicone , despite their thermal protective effect, are quite harmful - they weigh down the curls and interfere with natural metabolic processes in the scalp. Therefore, you should not give them preference.
Nuances when laying
Divide the hair on the back of the head into small strands. The smaller they are, the smoother your hair will be after the straightening procedure. To make you feel comfortable do styling , secure the strands with a hairpin or mini-crab.
Straighten your hair from roots to ends. If you have bangs, start there. This part of the hair dries quite quickly and will have time to turn into a tight curl if you straighten the main strands first.
After you have styled all the hair at the back of your head, proceed to the crown of your head. Comb your hair thoroughly and fix it with a moderate hold hairspray. You don’t have to use hairspray, but in this case, if there is high humidity or in the rain, your hair will curl again.
Remember that you should not overuse the iron as it dries out your hair. Use this styling tool no more than twice a week.
Ironing
How to straighten your hair correctly
Since it is impossible to do chemical hair straightening at home, this should be done by a professional, and there are several ways to tame unruly curls. One of the most common is using an iron.
When choosing this styling tool, pay attention to models with ceramic plates and a temperature regulator. Modern straightening irons heat up to a temperature high enough to straighten curls in one stroke, so you shouldn't hold the straightener on one area of your hair for too long.
If your curls are too tight, it is better to run the iron over the strand several times, otherwise you may burn the curls. For the same reason, make sure that the iron does not heat above 120 degrees.
Hair dryer straightening
The traditional method of hot blow drying with a round brush is still relevant. As with using a flat iron, section your hair into thin sections. Otherwise, your curls will not completely let the hot air through.
By the way, today there are special hair dryers for straightening hair. They already have an attachment in the form of a kind of comb-iron. Simply insert the curls into this device and after a few turns hair are straightened efficiently.
Wash your hair and dry it slightly with a towel. Then apply a few drops of burdock or olive oil to the strands, leave for 40 minutes and rinse with a special hair straightening shampoo. Your hair will not only acquire a beautiful shine, but will also become smoother.
How do you straighten your hair?
Arevik CHAKHOYAN
Useful tips
Straight hair is stylish, beautiful and comfortable.
However, making hair smooth and perfectly even is not an easy task.
Of course, hair dryers and straightening irons were invented for these purposes.
But, as you know, thermal exposure negatively affects the condition of the hair, it loses moisture and breaks easily.
Over time, regular use of heated styling products can seriously damage your hair, leaving even perfectly styled hair looking dry and lifeless.
How to get beautiful and smooth hair without harm at home?
How to straighten your hair with an iron
The most popular way to quickly straighten your hair is to use a hair straightener.
Although it is easy to achieve perfectly smooth curls, it is not recommended to use this product too often due to the risk of hair damage. They can become brittle, dry and lose their shine.
Here's how to properly straighten your hair with an iron:
Turn on the iron and heat it to about 120 degrees.
Take a small strand (about 2-5 cm wide) and clamp it between the plates. Do not touch the iron close to the hair roots, otherwise it will damage them and may cause burns.
Run the iron along the length of the hair, maintaining medium pressure. If your hair is very fluffy or curly, run the iron several times in jerky motions towards the top and then glide along the remaining length.
Repeat the process with other strands.
How to straighten your hair with an iron: basic rules
Do not use a straightener on wet hair, as this seriously damages the hair and can even cause burns.
It is best to let your hair dry naturally before using the straightener, but you can speed up the process by using a hair dryer.
Use heat protectant to reduce hair damage due to heat exposure.
Do not heat the iron above 180 degrees Celsius if your hair is thick, or above 160 degrees Celsius if your hair is thin.
Do not go over the same strand more than once, it will harm the beauty of your hair.
If you are a hair straightening professional, choose a straightener with a ceramic coating. Such a device, as a rule, acts more gently and burns hair less often.
If you have more experience and need a more powerful product, you can purchase a straightener with a tourmaline coating, which ionizes the hair, adds shine and reduces frizz.
Don't use the iron every day to preserve the beauty of your hair longer. It is best to use this remedy no more than 2 times a week.
How to straighten your hair with a hairdryer
A more gentle way to straighten hair is to use a hair dryer. To straighten you will need hair dryer, round comb and heat protectant.
Before straightening your hair, comb it to detangle curls. You can also wet them slightly for more effective results.
Divide slightly damp hair into small strands and, starting from the roots, pull them out along the entire length with a round brush.
Direct the hot air downwards to prevent frizz.
Repeat with the remaining strands.
Keratin hair straightening at home
Keratin straightening is a procedure aimed at restoring damaged hair, replacing the proteins that your curls have lost due to chemical exposure. Thanks to the effects of keratin, the hair becomes soft, smooth, shiny, and the hairs themselves do not stick out or frizz.
The procedure, which can be quite expensive and time-consuming, is most often performed in a salon. There are also ways to do keratin straightening at home.
It's worth mentioning right away that when using this method you need to use a flat iron, and if you don't want to expose your hair to hot appliances, you may want to use other products.
You will need:
-
Flat comb
Towel
Gloves
Straightening keratin treatment
How to straighten hair with keratin at home
1. Wash your hair with shampoo
For greater effect, you can choose shampoo with keratin. If you have straight hair, wash your hair twice, but if you have very curly hair, add at least one more wash to this. This is necessary to wash away all remaining styling products, dirt and other foreign substances.
Don't use conditioner, and make sure you rinse your hair thoroughly.
2. Apply keratin treatment
Use a towel to gently pat your hair to remove excess moisture. Apply the keratin treatment to your curls, starting from the ends and up, not reaching a few centimeters to the roots. Gently massage your hair.
3. Leave the product on your hair
Once you have applied the keratin straightening treatment, you need to carefully distribute it through your hair using a wide-tooth comb. Put on a shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes or more depending on recommendations. After the time has passed, rinse the product well under cool water.
4. Dry your hair and straighten it with an iron
Blow dry your hair while combing it. Once dry, separate your hair into individual strands and set the keratin in place by ironing each strand separately. The strands should be small and thin enough to distribute the heat evenly.
5. Next wash after no less than 48 hours
Wait 48 hours before washing your hair next time. This time is necessary for the keratin to penetrate the hair shaft. Do not tie your hair with an elastic band or tuck it behind your ears at all times. It is also not recommended to go to the pool at this time.
How to straighten your hair without a hair dryer and straightener
There are several tricks with which any girl can achieve straight hair without burning it with a hairdryer or straightener. Of course, most of them will be most effective for those with finer, slightly curly locks.
Those with naturally very curly hair will find it difficult to achieve perfectly straight hair, but you can combine several methods to achieve the desired result.
1. Dry your hair with a cold hairdryer
Using hot air from a hair dryer is known to damage the hair shaft, while cool air has the least impact.
If you already know how to achieve straight, smooth hair with hot air drying, try switching to cold air.
Air dry your hair until semi-dry and separate sections as usual. Use cool air while drying, but do not hold the dryer in place, constantly moving it from the roots to the ends of the hair.
Hold the hair dryer approximately 15cm away from your hair.
This method won't take much longer than usual, but you can use a straightening serum or leave-in hair conditioner for greater effectiveness.
2. Wrap your hair around your head
Hair wraps are one of the popular ways to straighten hair without using heat styling.
This method is quite simple and suitable for different hair types and lengths.
You will need:
Invisible
Scarf or head scarf
Comb slightly damp hair with a wide-tooth comb and part it in the center.
Comb the left side of your hair to the right and wrap the hair around your head, pinning it with bobby pins.
Comb the hair on the right side to the left and wrap it around the opposite side of your head.
Let your hair dry. Secure everything with a silk scarf or head turban if you are doing the wrap at night.
3. Curl your hair with large rollers
Oddly enough, but curlers can be used not only for curling, but also for straightening hair. Curlers with a diameter of 4.5 cm or larger are suitable for this purpose.
With their help, your hair will be straight and voluminous, and will gain a healthy shine without the use of hot tools.
Divide slightly damp hair into sections the size of the width of the curlers and wrap the strands around the curlers, pulling them slightly.
You can secure them with bobby pins or clips on each side
Once dry, remove the curlers and comb your hair
4. Use hair straightening products
Now you can find a variety of products, starting with shampoos, leave-in conditioners, and hair sprays to make your curls perfectly smooth. Try using products designed for straight hair or to make styling easier.
All straightening products can be divided into several types:
Serums and creams, as a rule, used after washing hair. Smoothing keratin serums coat hair strands, adding light weight and straightening curls. After application, hair can be dried with or without a hairdryer.
Sprays Apply to both washed and dry hair. Many smoothing sprays also have the additional effect of thermal protection, protecting against hot hair dryers and irons.
Oil for straightening hair, they not only straighten the hair, but also restore its structure, nourish and give it shine.
5. Comb wet hair until dry.
After you've washed your hair, leave your hair to air dry, but continue to brush it every 5 minutes. Gently pull and hold each strand for a few seconds to help them straighten better.
This method is more labor intensive, but if you want to avoid exposure to hot air, you can try it.
6. Tie your hair into ponytails
For this method, the hair should also be slightly damp. You can also use a little hair oil, such as argan or tea tree oil, to moisturize.
Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb to remove any tangles.
Divide slightly damp hair into two parts in the middle.
Tie two low ponytails with soft elastic bands, but not too tight. Do not use regular elastic bands with metal parts, latex or other elastics made from hard materials.
Comb each ponytail again. Along the length of the ponytail, tie additional elastic bands at a distance of every 2-3 cm. This will hold the ponytails in place and prevent them from curling at night.
In the morning, remove the elastic bands and comb your hair with a comb.
7. Tie your hair into a bun
If you have fairly manageable and generally straight hair, this method will work best for you.
Make a high ponytail from slightly damp hair and twist it like a rope.
Wrap the rope around itself to create a bun and secure with an elastic band.
Let dry and comb.
If you go to bed with wet hair, try sleeping on a satin pillowcase. This will reduce friction with your hair and give your hair more smoothness.
Hair straightening masks at home
In order to achieve smoothness of your curls, try to pamper them with masks that you can make at home.
Hair masks restore hair proteins, making wavy hair straighter and strands become smooth and shiny.
These homemade masks contain natural substances and, in addition to straightening, have a positive effect on the entire hair structure.
Olive oil and eggs
You can straighten wavy hair overnight with this simple mask.
Mix half a cup of olive oil with 1 egg and mix the ingredients.
Divide your hair into strands and apply the mask to each strand.
Cover your hair with an old T-shirt or shower cap and leave overnight.
In the morning, rinse off the mask with cool water and shampoo and you will get gorgeous straight and silky hair.
Repeat the procedure every two weeks.
Milk and starch
Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and mix it with 3 tablespoons of starch. Stir to remove any lumps.
In a small saucepan, heat the milk and olive oil over medium heat until creamy.
Add the lemon and starch mixture to it and stir quickly until it thickens to a creamy consistency.
Cool the cream and keep it in a clear jar in the refrigerator.
Divide your hair into strands and apply cream to each strand. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave for 2 hours. Wash off with a mild shampoo.
Repeat this procedure once a month to consolidate the effect.
This mask not only straightens hair naturally, but eliminates split ends and makes hair soft, shiny and eliminates frizz.
Aloe Vera Gel and Coconut Oil
Aloe vera is also great for naturally straightening hair. This plant is rich in enzymes that make hair smooth and soft while promoting hair growth. The ingredient penetrates the hair shaft, moisturizing and smoothing it.
Mix a quarter cup of aloe vera gel and coconut oil.
Apply to hair and leave the mask on for 40 minutes or overnight.
Wash off the mask with a mild shampoo and cool water.
Milk
You can also straighten your hair easily with regular milk. Pour some milk into a spray bottle and apply to hair, leaving for 2 hours. After this, wash your hair.
This method will help you keep your hair smooth in between using masks, which you apply once a month.
Beer
Use beer shampoo or regular beer to wash your hair. Beer contains substances that not only straighten hair, but also give it volume and silkiness, and also enhance hair growth and improve its condition.
To get rid of the specific smell of beer, add a few drops of essential oils, such as lemon, almond, lavender.
To rinse your hair, mix room temperature beer (60 ml) with an equal amount of water and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to get rid of odor.
This product should be used no more than once a week, as the alcohol in beer can dry out your hair.
Honey, milk and banana
Mash a ripe banana and mix it with a little honey and milk to avoid any lumps. Apply the mask to your hair and leave for 2-3 hours.
Then rinse with warm water and enjoy smooth and beautiful hair.
Mayonnaise and shampoo
Another way to straighten your hair naturally.
First, wash your hair to get rid of excess oil.
Mix 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and 2-3 teaspoons of anti-dandruff shampoo.
Apply the mask to damp hair and leave for 2 hours, covering your hair with a shower cap.
Rinse everything off with warm water, comb your hair and dry as usual.
Your hair will gain shine and become smoother and more manageable.
Hair straightening with gelatin
To achieve the effect of shiny and smooth hair, many women visit beauty salons. But if you have neither the time nor the opportunity to undergo this rather lengthy procedure, you can use a gelatin hair mask.
Gelatin contains collagen, which completely envelops the surface of each hair, forming a protective film. Thanks to this, the hair becomes thicker and longer. In addition, gelatin perfectly moisturizes and nourishes your curls.
In order to achieve the desired effect, at least 3 procedures must be performed. It is best to apply this mask while washing your hair. Remember that the straightening and lamination effect is cumulative, and as a reward you will get silky and smooth hair with a unique shine.
You will need:
- Packaging of gelatin (any)
- Water boiled and cooled to room temperature
- Any mask or hair balm
- Hair cap
Take any container and mix 1 tablespoon of gelatin with 3 tablespoons of water. If you have long hair, triple the amount of ingredients. Mix everything thoroughly.
Cover the container with a lid and leave the gelatin to swell for about 15 minutes.
Wash your hair and apply conditioner as usual, then rinse. Dry your hair with a towel until slightly damp.
Check the gelatin mixture. Gelatin should completely dissolve. If there are lumps in the water, slightly warm the mixture in a water bath, stirring.
Add half a tablespoon of balm or hair mask to the gelatin mixture until the consistency of thick sour cream.
Apply the mixture to slightly damp hair, moving a few centimeters away from the hair roots.
Put on a hair cap and a towel on top and leave the gelatin mask on for 15 to 45 minutes.
After this, rinse off the gelatin mixture with warm water without shampoo.
After several procedures, you will notice that your hair has become smoother and softer.
How to straighten your hair with an iron? Every girl who wants to become the owner of luxurious hair consisting of perfectly smooth strands should know about this.
In contact with
This procedure is used not only to straighten very curly or curly hair. It is often performed in order to prevent tangling of strands, since under the influence of an iron and special styling products they acquire the ideal smoothness and texture of flowing silk.
How does a hair straightening iron work?
What is the effect of a hair straightener? Modern devices called straightening irons promote intense evaporation of excess moisture contained in the hair. This occurs by heating the strands to a certain temperature.
It's no secret that with high air humidity, many people's hair begins to curl. This is a consequence of the penetration of water molecules into the hair structure itself.
As a result of the thermal effect of the iron, the strands straighten, losing excess liquid.
Types of modern hair straightening irons
In any home appliance store, hair straightening irons are presented in a fairly wide assortment. How can models of different brands differ?
To choose a suitable iron, you must first know what material the thermal plates of this household appliance are made of.
Types of irons depending on plate coating
Heated plates of straightening devices can be:
Which iron should you choose? Much, of course, depends on the thickness of the wallet: devices with metal plates are the cheapest, but is the risk of saying goodbye to the health of your curls worth such savings? It is best to purchase a more expensive, but high-quality device from a reliable manufacturer.
Heating plate width can be different.
- Straighteners with narrow plates are convenient for styling and curling not too thick curls.
- Those with luxurious, thick hair should prefer curling iron models with wide plates, since their size allows you to straighten thicker strands and thereby significantly reduce styling time and the risk of thermal damage to your hair.
What do you need to purchase before hair straightening?
When planning to straighten your curls, in addition to a straightening iron, you need to purchase:
- High quality heat protectant, capable of protecting strands from the harmful effects of high temperatures.
There are a huge number of sprays, creams, mousses and serums, which can be selected taking into account the structure, thickness and condition of the hair being straightened.
Some of them (shampoos, masks and balms) must be washed off after use, since their heat-protective properties are ensured by the presence of green tea extract, protein and vitamins B5 and E in their formulation.
Others, which do not require rinsing, are distributed on the curls shortly before the hair straightening procedure. In order not to make a mistake when choosing thermal protection products, you need to find the corresponding manufacturer’s warranty on the packaging.
Girls should know that very curly strands require higher heating of the plates and, therefore, the use of more effective thermal protective agents: masks or serums. To protect less problematic hair, a light spray will be sufficient.
When looking for a suitable brush, you need to choose a product made from natural bristles. When drying the hair, they are pulled down using brushing, while simultaneously directing a warm air stream from a hairdryer onto it.
- A set of small rubber bands or crab clamps: They will be needed to separate the hair into several large strands.
Step-by-step guide to straightening your hair with a straightener at home
How to properly straighten your hair with an iron at home?
- While preparing for the hair straightening procedure, they are washed thoroughly or regular shampoo, or a product that the manufacturer recommends using before heat treatment of hair. If even a small amount of hair care products (wax, hairspray, styling foam) remains on them, this can lead to their hardening directly on the strands treated with an iron, which is very harmful for them.
- After washing your hair, apply a mask or conditioner to it.
- Wrap the hair in a towel for a few minutes and then dry it thoroughly.
Special straightening or heat-protective agents are applied to slightly damp strands.
- Armed with a hairdryer and brushing, the hair is finally dried. It is unacceptable to straighten poorly dried strands: as excess moisture evaporates, it can boil and cause a burn to the skin. The effect of hot steam on the hair itself is just as destructive.
- How to group strands correctly? Taking a simple comb, the entire mass of hair is divided either into two (if the hair is sparse) or into five or six parts, and the division should not be vertical, but horizontal.
- The upper strands are fastened with clips or tied with rubber bands, the lower strands are combed very carefully.
How to straighten your hair with an iron?
- Having separated a narrow strand from the bottom of the hair, run it several times with an iron, the temperature of which does not exceed 120 degrees. This must be done quickly (in the direction from the roots of the hair to the very ends), without holding the device anywhere for a long time. Regarding the number of times the iron passes and the temperature of its heating, there are two diametrically opposed points of view:
- According to one of them, it is believed that the straightener should be passed through the strands only once, and the temperature should be above 150 degrees.
- Proponents of another position argue that too high a temperature of the device harms the hair and it is better not to heat it to too high values, compensating for the lack of temperature by the number of passes of the iron.
- Separating curl by curl, the entire lower tier is processed. Having finished processing it, the straightened strands are tied with an elastic band and the upper tier of hair is unraveled.
- The same actions are performed in relation to the hair of the upper tier.
Sometimes girls who naturally have not too thick hair have to resort to a little trick. They do not straighten the entire mass of hair, but only the strands located on top. In this case, the curls subjected to heat treatment give the hair a well-groomed appearance, and the strands that have retained their normal structure add volume to it.
- To make your hairstyle look perfect, you can fix it with modeling wax or hairspray.
Step-by-step master class on straightening your own hair with an iron - video:
Performing manipulations on your own head is not very convenient, but after several procedures you can acquire a good skill in straightening strands on your own.
Precautionary measures
No matter how hard manufacturers try to improve new models of irons in an effort to make them as gentle as possible for the curls being processed, exposure to high temperatures will certainly affect their condition.
In order for the resulting effect to please the eye for as long as possible, it is necessary to regularly care for your hair using modern high-quality products containing protein and multivitamin complexes, not forgetting the use of thermal protection.Summarizing what has been said, we can state that the use of high-quality hair straightening devices not only helps to style them beautifully, but also improves the appearance of the curls, as it makes them silky, smooth and soft.
