Many women complain about how the flat iron they just bought didn't straighten their hair and what a waste of money it was. Worse still, some report on how the tool damaged their hair. However, most problems are not caused by the straightener but its incorrect use. So, before you throw yours in the trash, here are some tips of the correct way to use a flat iron.
First off, don't expect to get it perfect first time you try using your new styler. Each appliance is different and will take some getting used to. Also, you should have bought one that had ceramic plates; if you didn't you're going to find it more difficult to get perfect results. Also, when looking to buy, look for one with 100% ceramic plates; cheap models are usually only coated with ceramic.
Good brands include the Solia flat iron and the T3 flat iron.
Before using the appliance, read the manufacturer's instructions. Pay careful attention to the care and maintenance of it.
Practice using it without turning it on. That way you'll get used to how it feels and you can practice placing you hair in the plates and how to section off your hair.
Before using it, you should have washed and thoroughly dried it. It really is worth spending extra on good shampoo and conditioner, especially those that help protect damaged or dry hair.
Without using a good anti-frizz spray, lotion, or smoothing serum, the heat applied during straightening will cause split ends. Again, buy a good quality product like Redken AntiSnap Leavin to guard against split ends and Kenra Straightening Serum or Frederic Fekkai Straight Away Straightening Balm to help straighten hair and give your hair a beautiful sheen.
You need to set the appliance to the temperature that best suits your hair. There is no hard and fast rule and you'll just have to experiment with the setting. Start with a lower one and gradually work you way up to the temperature that you think works best.
Lift your hair up about half way and pin up the top layers so they are out of the way; you should always straighten the bottom layers of your hair first.
Draw a thin strip of hair - about 1" - through the plates. You don't need to press the plates together and you should never stop mid-way through. You can use sectioning clips if you need to.
Straightening the back hair can be a little tricky at first. One technique that can make things easier is by placing another mirror diagonally away from the front mirror so that you can see the back of your head. Now you can begin to take clipped sections of hair out one by one, starting at the bottom of your head (the nape/neck area) and gradually work your way to the crown of your head. The more you use your straigthener the easier this will become.
Things to remember in order to avoid damaging your hair are to always use a good conditioner; never stop moving the plates but keep your hair moving through them at a slow, even speed; have non-straight-hair-days to allow your hair to recover.
Follow the links for the
best flat iron reviews on leading brands like the
Solia flat iron and the
T3 flat iron as many more.
