Hair straightening is not difficult if you pay due attention and proceed with due calm. Remember that if you make a simple mistake, you can risk burning your skin or hair, or your hair becoming frizzy and curled rather than smooth and soft. You can avoid these problems with careful preparation, which includes using a heat protection product to protect your hair from the intense heat of the straightener.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Hair
Step 1. After shampooing, dry your hair until it's just damp
Wash them as usual, then blow dry them or let them air dry until they are only slightly damp. Using a hairdryer helps to make them smoother, saving you some time later.
Step 2. Comb or brush your hair.
Carefully untie all knots. You will be able to distribute the heat protection serum more evenly on freshly combed hair. There shouldn't be even a knot when you start using the straightener, otherwise your hair will end up wrinkling and damaged.
Step 3. Apply the heat protection product
Apply it all over your hair, then comb it briefly a second time to distribute it evenly.
- When wet, hair absorbs cosmetic products better. However, nothing prevents you from applying the heat protection serum even when they are dry.
- If you prefer to use a natural product to protect your hair from heat, try argan oil or another oil with similar properties. In this case, however, set the soleplate to a low temperature to avoid damaging them, as the oils are less effective than the chemicals contained in cosmetic products.
Step 4. Dry your hair completely
Use a hair dryer or wait for them to dry naturally. Never use the straightener on hair that is still damp as it could damage or burn it.
Step 5. Wait for the plate to heat up
Plug the griddle plug into the electrical outlet, turn it on and let it warm up for 4-5 minutes as you prepare to practice the next step. Set the temperature according to the characteristics of your hair:
- If they are fine, use the lowest heat available.
- If they are of medium thickness, use normal heat (about 150-175 ºC).
- If they are thick, use a high temperature (200-230 ºC). To be safe, it is best to start with a medium heat setting and gradually increase the temperature until you can straighten your hair with a single pass of the plate.
- If you haven't used the heat protector, set the lowest temperature available. Better to be careful because hair can be damaged or burned very easily.
Step 6. Divide the hair into several sections
The thicker or thicker they are, the greater the number of sections should be. If, on the other hand, you have very fine hair, you can skip this step or divide it into just 2 or 4 large strands. Either way, secure the sections with barrettes and bobby pins, except for the one closest to the nape of the neck.
- You will only need to straighten a small section of hair at a time, approximately 3-5 cm wide. Each section can therefore include numerous strands, as long as you can separate and grip them easily.
- Part the hair on the top of the head by lifting it up and gathering it into a ponytail or bun. It is important to be able to easily access the lower layers.
Part 2 of 2: Using the Plate
Step 1. Separate a section of hair
Starting with those closest to the nape of the neck, divide a section of hair about 3 to 5 cm wide. It should be small enough for you to easily grasp it with the straightener and straighten your hair in one stroke.
Step 2. Start ironing the strand from the roots
Place the plate a few centimeters away from the scalp (2-7 cm), then close it so that the parts with the metal or ceramic coating are in contact with the strand of hair. Do not bring the straightener too close to your head or you will risk burning your skin or burning the roots of your hair.
- Do not tighten the plate too hard or you will create a visible parting line between the straightened hair and the hair at the roots. The same will happen if you leave the plate in the same position for too long.
- If a large part of the strand falls out of the grip of the straightener, open it and try again with a less consistent section of hair.
Step 3. Slide the plate over the lengths
Gently pull it down to reach the ends of the hair. Try to maintain constant pressure and do not rotate or move the plate horizontally; otherwise, you will end up curling your hair further rather than making it straight.
- It is normal to see steam emanating from the hair and straightener. It does not mean that they are burning, it is simply a small part of the heat protection serum that evaporates.
- If the amount of steam is large or you smell burnt hair, run the straightener more quickly.
- If you have very curly or frizzy hair, straighten it only a few inches at a time, gradually working towards the ends.
Step 4. Repeat the operation if you deem it necessary
If the section in question is still not smooth enough after the first stroke, make a second one. If the problem recurs, it is better to proceed with finer strands or raise the temperature of the plate.
Numerous passes with the low temperature soleplate can do more damage than a single pass with high heat
Step 5. Repeat with all other strands
When you have completed the first section of hair, untie a second one and repeat the steps. Start with those closest to the nape of the neck and gradually work your way up to the top of the head.
Pay special attention to the hair on the back of the head. Given the poor visibility, you are more likely to leave behind some unsightly ripples
Step 6. Adopt electrical hair remedies (optional)
If at the end of the job you notice that there is hair fluttering around your head, try to tame it with one of the following techniques:
- Massage a few drops of taming oil into your hair;
- Apply a veil of spray hair where needed and comb unruly hair down. If you prefer, you can use it all over your head to protect your hair from wind and humidity. Hold the dispensing spout about 30-40cm away.
Step 7. Finished
Advice
- If you have bangs, iron it in the opposite direction to give it more volume. For example, if you like to bring it to the left side of your face, pull it to the right as you pass the plate, then return it to its normal position when you're done.
- Be patient, it takes time to do a good job. You will be rewarded with a perfect style that will last for a long time.
Warnings
- Be careful when you grab the plate and when you bring it closer to the scalp. You may burn yourself and feel a lot of pain.
- Leave at least two days between ironing. No matter how much conditioner or heat protection serum you use, your hair will still be damaged in the long run.
