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If you’re like me, you’re constantly looking for ways to change up your look. One of my go-to tricks is straightening my frizzy, frizzy hair. I go from Ms. Rosey to Mille in just a few hours. Don’t get me wrong; I love my curly hair, but the ability to completely change the way I look is fun every once in a while (and a drastic change drives people nuts).
So, naturally, I’ve had some fun experiments with it. Three months into my last job I decided to straighten my hair, which led to my ex-boss reintroducing himself to the “new hire” — no, still me! All curly girls know this struggle. Endless, “Wow, you look so different,” or, “You’re so beautiful with straight hair,” or even, “I don’t even recognise you” when you try the best hair straightening techniques. If you put a nail, there will be a flood.
Over the years, I’ve gotten better at straightening my hair, but there’s definitely a steep learning curve—especially for girls with tight curls. I would leave the house with sleek, perfectly straight hair and once I stepped out, it would be out of a nightmare – a very horrible dream. To help all my fellow curly-headed girls out, I’ve talked to some of the best hairstylists I know about how to achieve perfectly straight hair at home. Here is what they had to say.
1. Start with completely dry hair.
I’ll never forget the look on my childhood friend’s older sister’s face when she came out of the bathroom with a strand of hair because she tried to straighten her hair when it was wet. horror Always dry your hair completely before straightening. There are always different ways to go about it depending on your hair type. Best Smelling Shampoo
If you have curly hair, it is important to blow dry your hair first.
This is something I always do but it’s not always necessary. I have super tight curls and just one pass of the straightener just won’t do it. Hairstylist Alison Rhea, who is my personal stylist, swears by this trick, especially for her thick-haired clients. “Instead of repeatedly damaging the hair with a straightener, I take out the big kinks with a blow dryer first. I use a concentrator attachment and a paddle brush to get the hair perfectly straight before using my flat iron.” This process is much less time-consuming than you think, and it will actually save you time later.
Invest in a blow dryer with a concertina attachment. This paired with a paddle brush or a round brush can make a killer combo.
Lift a section of hair from the bottom with your brush and apply heat from the top, sandwiching the hair between the two tools.
Move them slowly down the length of your hair with the bristles inside the brush and watch the kinks disappear.
Repeat this again to remove most of the frizz and curl from your hair before you start straightening your hair.
If your hair is straight or slightly wavy, let it air dry.
It’s a different story for girls with naturally straight hair. “I always blow dry so I’m not using extra heat for no reason,” says Shannon Murray, a Long Beach, Calif. hairstylist. There’s no need to add heat, you can wash overnight or with plenty of time to air dry.”
2. Stay away from oil-based thermal protectants.
Is straightening your hair part of your daily routine? You want to stay away from oil-based thermal protectants. “I always start by using a thermal protectant, but nothing with oil. In the long run, using oil to straighten hair damages the hair, even though it looks beautiful on those days,” explains Murray. .
Using a product that’s low in oil but packed with the same thermal protectants is a great option for girls who use their straighteners daily. Try adding Alternate Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray to your hair routine to reduce heat damage.
3. Use hairspray before straightening.
Hairspray isn’t just a post-style product. Spritzing dry hair with a little hairspray before straightening can make it last longer, but professionals recommend keeping it light. Rhea says, “I like to use a light hold hairspray before straightening each section—it keeps frizz at bay and helps the hair stay straight for longer. can and can leave them feeling crisp after flat ironing.” This will help prevent your curls from returning in humid weather and even keep your hair straight for days.
If you’re like me, you probably have a lot of coarse hair sticking to your head after straightening it. Bring back the hairspray and try this fun tip from Murray: A fun tip for straightening at home is to use aerosol hairspray and a pair of pantyhose! Press in place to hold the suckers down.
4. Use a fine-toothed comb when straightening.
This is my go-to trick for making my hair sleek and straight, which I learned from one of my many visits to Rhea. “I start by attaching the comb to one section of hair and go through the straightener to make sure that each section of my hair is perfectly straight, and so, I have to iron several times on each one. The hair won’t be damaged by running. Section,” she explains.
5. Consistency is key.
As with most things, following a consistent technique when straightening your hair will give you the best results. You’ll end up with a different texture on your head. Consistency is key.” Once you find the best technique for your hair type, stick with it. Use the same motions throughout your straightening process to get the best results every time.
