Tips on Straightening your Hair
From Adviceopedia
Tips on Straightening Your Hair
Use Temporary Straightening Products
You can get temporary results with styling products designed for straightening your hair. Begin with clean hair. You should use shampoos designed to smooth your hair and light conditioners. Then apply a straightening balm or silicone serum to your hair. Next, using a flat or round brush with natural bristles, blow dry one section of your hair at a time. Be sure each section is completely dry before moving on to the next section. Then, set your style with a shot of cool air and spray with a light hair spray to hold your new style.
Use a Flat Iron
Begin with a good flat iron with ceramic plates. Prepare your clean, completely dry hair with a thermal protection spray to prevent heat damage. With the flat iron, style one section of your hair at a time. If your hair is not completely dry, you will create steam. Steam is humidity, and you know what humidity does to curly or frizzy hair.
Start with Clean Hair
One of the best tips on straightening your hair with a flat iron is to have clean hair. Using a flat iron on dirty hair can damage your hair and prevent you from getting the best results. When you purchase your flat iron it will usually come with a booklet of other tips on straightening your hair and styles that you can try.
Try Chemical Straightening
Chemical straightening is best done by a professional. Schedule a consultation with a stylist who specializes in hair straightening. She will be able to give you tips on straightening your hair with as little damage as possible.
Tips on Straightening Your Hair with Chemical Methods
There are three common chemicals that are used for straightening hair.
- Sodium hydroxide is the strongest and can cause the most damage. This chemical softens your hair and causes it to swell.
- Guanidine hydroxide is less damaging to your hair.
- Ammonium thioglycolate is the mildest of the chemicals used.
Care for Your Hair after Straightening
You will need a good conditioner to restore shine to your newly straightened hair. Your stylist will be able to help you find the products that will be the best for your hair type.
Touch Up New Growth
You probably spend several hours and a good chunk of change getting your hair professionally straightened. Ask your stylist if she has any tips on straightening your hair as it grows out. There are several products that allow you to do this at home. Just be careful not to overlap chemicals onto hair that has already been treated or you will risk damage and breakage.
Don’t Color
Because the chemical process of straightening causes damage, one of the best tips for straightening your hair is to avoid additional damage from coloring your hair. If you must color your hair, wait at least two to four weeks after straightening. Ask your stylist for some hair coloring tips to prevent further damage.
Try Japanese Hair Straightening
Japanese straightening is the latest trend in hair straightening. Other names for this method are thermal hair straightening or re-texturizing. It takes several hours and is more expensive than chemical straightening, but it is also less damaging to your hair. First you will have a consultation to determine the condition of your hair. When you have the process done, it will be in three steps.
- First your hair will be washed, conditioned and treated with a re-texturizer to soften your hair.
- Next, your hair will be thermally reconstructed with a hot, ceramic flat iron.
- Finally a chemical neutralizer will be used to lock in your new style.
Tips to Care for Your Re-texturized Hair
Wait seven to ten days before coloring hair that has been re-texturized. Also, be sure you do not wash your hair or get it wet for 72 hours to allow your hair to adjust to its new style. Likewise, do not use crimpers, clips or elastics in your hair. This may cause your hair to break or make creases in newly re-texturized hair.
