A flat iron can be the ultimate lifesaver and every girl’s best friend, whatever type of hair you may have, but even though it may appear as though every teenager knows their way around a hair straightener, there are far too many bloopers that actually occur when using one. It is not as straightforward as it seems and there are a few important things you need to consider when using one in order to achieve the best-looking results whilst keeping your hair safe and healthy in the process. Today, we are going to share 10 professional tips shared to us by professional Clapham hairdressers and stylists, that will make change the way you straighten your hair at home. Let’s jump right in!
- Always Use a Flat Iron Only on Dry Hair
Do not ever use a hot styling tool like a flat iron on wet or even slightly damp or moist hair. As tempting as it is to save some time and skip the blow dry, doing this would literally burn your hair, causing it severe damage. Furthermore, you are running the risk of electrocuting yourself by using electronic tools on wet hair.
- Only Iron Fresh Hair
You might be wondering what we mean by fresh hair. Your go to hairstyling routine with a flat iron should always consist of these steps in this order: washing, blow drying, and then straightening your hair with a flat iron. It is understandable to think that this is a long and time consuming process, and probably not idea for busy mornings, but if you want to save time, you can try to wash your hair the night before and allow it to air dry. This would also save you a few precious minutes of sleep in the morning.
However, it’s essential to use straighteners only on clean hair. Dirt, sebum (the natural oils produced by your scalp), dry shampoo, and any other products create build-up on the surface of your hair, that would inevitably weigh it down and all your efforts to style it will be worthless.
- Do Not Apply Hair Oils Prior To Straightening
Unless you want to fry your hair with a straightening iron, do not apply any oils or oil based products to your hair directly before using a flat iron. Just like water, oil can quickly heat up to a very high temperature and literally fry your hair between the plates of the flat iron. If you want to live on the safer side, you can always choose to get a professional hair treatment in Clapham and save yourself the trouble and risk.
- Choose the Right Temperature Setting
It is important for you to know that you don’t need a very high temperature to straighten your hair. In fact, even 300 degrees is enough if you have fine hair, and you certainly should never exceed 340 degrees. So if you ever happen to feel guilty for overexposing your hair to too much heat, you can always go for the lowest temperatures, if you decide not to avoid it altogether.
- Use Good Quality Tools
Advanced or premium quality flat irons can come with a hefty price tag, but it is a worthwhile investment for the sake of your hair. Eventually, a flat iron produced by a reputable brand that will perform its task for many years to come may have a much lower cost per use than cheaper high street straighteners, saving you money in the long run.
- Use Heat Protecting Products
Heat protectant products provide a shield against the negative effects of high temperatures. If you search the web for“Keratin treatment salon near me”, you will quickly discover that the top salons in your vicinity out their trust in Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum that can provide excellent protection up to 450 degrees.
- Work in Small Sections
Running the iron through smaller and finer sections will allow you to achieve a smoother and straighter finish. Trying to straighten a thick section of hair to save time will never get the smooth and straight results that you are after. When you book a hairdresser online and show up to your treatment, you will notice that having your hair straightened by a professional takes time. Expecting salon results means that you should take a similar approach at home.
- Maintain Moisturised and Nourished Hair
Healthy hair should always be your top priority, and it is important to remember that heat tools always put a strain on your hair’s health. You can prevent damage by keeping your hair well conditioned and moisturised in your weekly routine.
- Don’t Use The Flat Iron Too Often
You should definitely keep flat ironing down to a minimum despite how much you may enjoy the look of freshly ironed hair. We are not saying you need to ditch straighteners completely, but we encourage you to stick with healthy 1-2 uses a month.
- Help Your Hairstyle Last Longer
To help you minimize the use of the flat iron, you can make an extra effort to make the most out of when you straighten your hair and preserve its shape up until the next wash. Here are some of our tips on how to do it:
- Keep an umbrella in your bag. Rain is the most brutal hairstyle killer, so you need to protect your mane if it happens;
- Use some finishing spray to lock the style in place;
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase – those are great to eliminate tension and keep your hair silky and smooth;
- Try to schedule your most intensive workouts to the other days when your hair doesn’t have to be perfect.
We hope this guide will help to optimise your hair straightening process and keep your locks in the best shape!
