PROTECT YOUR HAIR FROM FLAT IRON DAMAGE

Are you in love with straight hair? If you want super-straight hair at home, a flat iron is a way to go. Once you find a hot tool that you like, avoid these big mistakes to protect your hair and perfect your straight style.

• Don’t Skip Heat-Protectant Spray

If you're not putting a heat-protectant spray on your hair before you use your flat iron, it's like asking for damage. (This goes for any heat-styling tool.) On clean, damp hair, spray on a heat protectant to shield your hair from hot-tool harm.

• Don’t Straighten Wet Hair

This is a big mistake and can seriously damage your hair! Occasionally straighteners are marketed for use on wet hair, but we don’t recommend this. If you are in a hurry, use a blow drier to dry your hair thoroughly before you straighten it. Blow-dry it down the strands from the roots, and you can brush it through as you go along.

• Don’t Choose the Wrong Temperature Setting

choosing a heat that is too high for your hair can singe and burn the strands. Choosing a temperature that is too low for your hair type can mean it doesn’t straighten or remain straight for long. Here is our guide for choosing the right temperature, but read the instructions for your own straightener to make sure first:

For fine or damaged hair, choose below 300°F (148°C)

For normal hair choose between 300°F and 380°F (148°C to 193°C)

For coarse hair, choose 350°F to 400°F (176°C to 204°C)

• Don't Forget to Use a Brush

Before you hit it each section with heat, brush out the hair to get any knots out of the way. This will make the straightening process go much more smoothly, so you won't need to go back over certain areas multiple times.

• Don't Stop Cleaning Flat Iron

If you are finding your hair is catching on your flat iron and that it is hard to glide it down your strands of hair, you probably need to give it a clean! Turn it off, wait for it to cool then use some rubbing alcohol to clean off any residue. This is also a good idea to check the plates for chips and other damages that can snag your hair.

• Don't Forget Let Your Hair Cool

While heat style hair, cool air sets the style. So instead of immediately putting straightened hair into a ponytail or clip, allow your hair to cool after you iron it.