12 Hair Straightening Tips for Better Straighter Hair

Do you have straight hair envy? Do you struggle with how to straighten your hair? Below are 12 great hair straightening tips to try at home.

Straightening Your Hair Naturally

Straightening hair at home is not as hard or dangerous as it seems if you know how to do it right. The great thing about it is that it can last 3-6 days depending on how quickly your scalp produces oil.

It is very important to straighten hair in the least damaging manner to keep your locks healthy! The following is our list of hair straightening tips – 12 quick and easy steps for straightening your hair!

Hair Straightening Tips 101:

*How to have straight hair (tips):

1.  The biggest mistake people make when attempting to straighten their hair is pointing the blow-dryer in a direction other than down along the hair shaft.  So, tip #1 is when blow-drying, be sure your hairdryer is pointing down from root to tip along the hair shaft.

2.  Prior to starting your blow-drying, use a heat protection spray to keep your hair safe from the heat you will be applying in the straightening process.

3.  Make sure you dry your hair with the blow-dryer completely.  Leaving areas damp, even just a little damp, will result in your hair frizzing, waving, or curling.

4.  Instead of moving your straightening iron slowly over the hair, run it over the hair faster. This will definitely reduce heat damage on your hair shaft even if you have to do it more than once – more than once faster is less damaging than running it through your hair once but slowly.

5.  A great way to get your hair pin straight is to apply hairspray, or preferably a straightening hairspray, to a section of hair and then immediately use your flat iron on it.  Note: you may hear a sizzling sound, but that’s the hairspray, not your hair.

6. Do NOT straighten your hair with a straightening iron when your hair is wet or damp. A straightening iron is meant to be used on dry hair.  It just won’t work on wet or damp hair. (Note, there are a few models specifically designed for damp or wet hair, but in most part, straightening irons are for dry hair.)

7.  If your hair is fragile or fine or thin, use a lower setting on the iron. If your hair is thick or course, use a higher setting. When in doubt, use a low setting and work your way up to what works best.  This will be the least damaging for your hair.

8.  Use an ionic or wet to dry straightener. Instead of using two heated plates, it acts as a blow-dryer, and in some cases, can cause less damage and less frizz.

9.  For thick and/or coarse hair, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.  This will help the hair to be less frizzy.

10.  Do not clamp too hard with the flat iron. This will help avoid unneccesary breakage.

11.  Use a paddle brush when drying your hair prior to using the straightening iron. Paddle brush first, straightening iron last.

12.  When drying and using your iron, section hair into small, manageable groups.  This will make the process work better.

Use these hair straightening tips at all times for better, healthier, straighter hair.