How To Press Hair With Flat Iron

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Flat irons can be a useful beauty tool for achieving direct or even wavy hair. This look tin be a great way to mix up your style. Unfortunately, flat irons tin cause severe rut harm, especially to natural hair. But if you have a few extra precautions, you tin straighten your natural hair without ruining information technology. To minimize the adventure of harm, prepare your hair for the heat with workout treatments and heat protectors. And so advisedly use the heat to your dry out hair in sections. Finally, be certain not to overexpose your hair to flat ironing.

i
Wash your pilus. The all-time time to apartment atomic number 26 natural pilus is right later on you have done and conditioned your locks. If you flat iron pilus that contains whatever hair products or dirt, then your hair will likely look stiff, instead of appearing flowy.^[1]
- While you can (and should) prepare your pilus for apartment ironing with estrus protectant products, you don't want to leave other routine hair care products (like hairspray) in your hair before you flat iron it.
ii

Condition your hair daily. Conditioner strengthens and moisturizes your hair, keeping information technology healthy and lush. Although using this production should exist part of your daily routine, it's especially of import to condition prior to applying heat through flat ironing. On the day you plan to straighten your hair, utilise and then rinse out a daily-use moisturizing conditioner when you shower.^[two]

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3
Use a heat protectant before yous blow dry and flat iron. Heat protectants are a great way to mitigate the impairment caused past estrus. These products oft contain silicon, which coats and protects the hair from the heat of the dryer and flat atomic number 26. Spray your hair twice if y'all're accident drying and then following upwardly with a straightener.^[3]
- Almost of these products can be applied to wet or dry hair.
4
Allow fine or thin hair air dry to minimize damage. Later you've washed and conditioned your pilus, fully dry out it before you get-go straightening. If yous have sparse strands of hair prone to breakage, the texture of your hair is what's known every bit "fine" or "thin."^[4] This texture is especially at gamble for heat damage, so information technology'due south all-time to permit information technology air dry overnight before flat ironing.^[5]
- Any moisture left in your pilus will bubble up during the heating process and damage your hair further.
5
Blow dry out hair with a thicker or coarse texture. If your strands are a bit thicker and generally don't break, you lot're safety to add a fiddling heat with the blow dryer.^[6] Allow your pilus partially air dry out for well-nigh 20 minutes before blow drying it. Then, stick to low or medium heat to fully dry it out.^[vii]
- If yous don't have time to let your hair air dry at all, y'all can blow dry it right away. However, be aware that this increases your risk of dissentious your hair over time. Endeavor to limit your apply of the accident dryer as much as you lot tin can.
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1
Decide on a temperature based on your hair's texture and thickness. Straightening your pilus can cause damage if your iron is likewise hot or if you make multiple passes over the aforementioned section of pilus with it. To keep your hair as healthy as possible, set your iron to a temperature that's hot enough to straighten a section with 1-2 passes, only no hotter.
- Gear up your fe to near 150 °F (66 °C) if you have thin, fine hair.
- Ready your flat iron to about 350 °F (177 °C) if you take thick, coarse pilus.
- Set you flat iron to about 250 °F (121 °C) if your hair is thick and fine or coarse and thin.
2
Dissever your hair into sections. Before you lot begin using the flat iron, split up your hair into sections. Use clips to pull upward the bulk of your hair, and then allow down a thin layer of hair at the base of your head. As y'all straighten each section, let out a scrap more hair from your clip.^[8]
- You should not straighten a section of pilus that is wider or thicker than ane inch (2.v cm) at a fourth dimension.
- If you try to straighten a section that is too thick, it won't straighten properly.
- You lot may need multiple big and small-scale clips to hold your pilus in place. You can find these online or at your local chemist's shop.
three

Brush each section earlier straightening. This volition help smoothen out the hair and give y'all sleek locks. This is especially of import for natural hair that may tangle hands.^[9] Use a paddle brush or a broad-toothed rummage to avert pulling your hair or breaking the strands.^[10]
4

Starting time at the root of your hair and run down to the tips. In order to get the best results with your flat atomic number 26, start at the roots of your hair, press down with the flat iron, and so slowly movement the flat iron downwards the hair to the tip. Make certain that you maintain pressure the entire fourth dimension.^[11]
5
Flat atomic number 26 each section until your look is complete. Depending on how thick your hair is, it may take a while to flat iron every department. Exist patient and don't try to blitz the process. If you demand to, take a break for 20 minutes and get-go up again after you've rested.
- Generally, information technology will take about a half hour to an hour to stop flat ironing. If you take a lot of pilus, it could take longer.
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one
Choose a high-quality ceramic flat iron. When you purchase a apartment iron, check the label. Only purchase one that reads "100% ceramic." While these products cost more, the ceramic blanket won't wear off over fourth dimension. This coating helps protect your pilus against the heat, then you lot definitely don't want to buy a cheap flat iron with a coating that'll article of clothing out after a few uses.^[12]
- Basic ceramic flat irons shouldn't price much more $20-$40 USD. Professional person-grade straighteners, however, can cost as much every bit $80-$100 USD.
ii
Deep condition your pilus weekly. Purchase a deep conditioner from your local chemist's or make your own. Deep condition at least in one case a week if y'all're flat ironing your pilus. If you tin practice it every three or four days, that's fifty-fifty better! Estrus the conditioner up by placing it in a hot water bathroom before applying. Then, leave the conditioner in for about 15-thirty minutes nether a shower cap. Finally, rinse it out in the shower.^[13]
- Homemade deep conditioner recipes usually contain bananas, avocados, love, and olive or coconut oil. These natural products will work too as the purchased version, but they can exist messy to create and store.^[fourteen]
- To make a hot water bath for your deep conditioner, eddy water in a bucket. Once the water's humid, remove the saucepan from the heat and identify your deep conditioner in the pot. Use tongs to remove the conditioner after v to 10 minutes.
- To amp upwards your treatment, add steam! Heat up a clammy towel for about 2 minutes in the microwave and place it on your head in between two layers of shower caps. The heat will assist the conditioner really get into your hair and practice its great work!^[15]
three
Don't apartment iron the aforementioned section multiple times. If you rush through the straightening process and endeavor to straighten large chunks of hair, you may need to apply the flat iron to the aforementioned department of hair multiple times to go your desired wait. This increased rut exposure can damage your pilus.^[16]
- Make sure to accept your time and complete simply one laissez passer with the flat iron over each small-scale section of hair.
iv
Avoid going os straight if y'all have very curly hair. Go for a wavy look instead by flat ironing each department once without trying to make your hair completely straight. Once you're done, run your fingers through your pilus. This will give you added volume while also causing less heat damage.^[17]
- If y'all'd like, yous can even put a product in your hair that's designed to brand waves. Commonly, these serums are meant to exist practical right after y'all terminate flat ironing.
5

Wrap your straightened hair at night to avoid morn touch-ups. Use a silk or satin wrap to keep your hair directly overnight. These materials should minimize any nighttime frizziness too. In the morning, only take off the wrap and shake out your hair. You may fifty-fifty become a lilliputian natural wave -- cover it!^[eighteen]
6

Don't straighten natural hair more than a few times a month. Oestrus will slowly but surely cause your natural pilus to dry out out and go breakable. It can also ruin your curl blueprint, making it difficult to get your curls to bounce back. The most effective manner to protect your hair over the long term is to limit your hair's exposure to estrus.^[19]
7
Cut back on straightening if you see heat damage. There are lots of signs you can watch out for to keep tabs on your hair's health. If you're damaging your pilus, you may need to conform your styling habits. Information technology'due south possible that your hair can just handle being straightened a few times per twelvemonth (rather than once or twice each calendar month).^[20] Look out for the following:
- Frizzy hair that's go more difficult to untangle.^[21]
- Split ends.
- Locks that have lost their curl.^[22]
- Strands that feel bumpy to the touch on.^[23]
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Question

Is it OK to apartment fe natural pilus?

Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Licensed Cosmetologist

Good Respond

Yous can utilize a straightening fe on naturally curly or straight hair. Always apply a thermal protectant get-go and brand sure the pilus is completely dry.
Question

What exercise y'all need for a silk press?

Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

For a silk press, you volition demand a flat iron and a hair dryer. You should also employ a deep conditioner, a thermal protector, and a styling serum.
Question

What temperature should I set my flat iron to for relaxed hair?

Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology instructor since 2013.

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Relaxed hair should already be fairly directly then the iron tin exist on a lower setting. Between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit is best; aim for the lower cease and make sure to use a thermal protector.
Question

I blow and iron my pilus for special occasions and the holidays. My pilus is very curly, though. How can I brand the process safer?

Lesley Ochiora

Customs Answer

Make sure that the hair is prepped for straightening, to minimize the damage don't straighten frequently. Utilize a depression-temperature setting to avert major damage.

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Things You'll Need

Daily-use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner
Deep conditioner (DIY or store bought)
Saucepan and hot water
Clammy towel
Several shower caps
Heat protectant spray
Blow dryer
Ceramic flat iron
Large and small hair clips
Paddle brush or wide-toothed comb
Silk or satin pilus wrap

About This Article

Article Summary 10

To flat iron natural hair, start by using a oestrus protectant spray on it so it doesn't go frizzy or damaged. Then, divide your hair into one-inch sections, and brush out each section before straightening information technology with a apartment iron. Try to only go over each department one time with the apartment iron so you don't damage your hair. Also, limit yourself to straightening your pilus a few times a month if possible since regular exposure to estrus may make your hair dry out and breakable. For more tips from our Cosmetology co-author, like how to wash and dry your hair before straightening it, read on!

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