Styling your hair is an action that some people love, and some people despise. Whichever camp you are in, you will agree that saving time whilst keeping your hair healthy is the goal.
Straightening your hair may have been a styling decision you have been making since you were a teenager, and sometimes it can show in your hair. The technology involved in making hair straighteners has come a long way and there are ways to achieve silky, smooth locks without damage. Let’s find out how.
Choose the right temperature for your hair
As you style your hair more, you will know what type of hair you have. As with products, different hair types require different temperature settings to prevent heat damage.
Generally speaking, thicker, coarser hair will need higher heat to straighten it than fine or damaged hair. With all hair types, start on a low heat and you can always work your way up if needed.
Damaged or fine hair should typically use heat between 120 – 150 Celsius whereas curly or thick hair needs between 180 and 210 Celsius. If your hair is considered a normal texture, aim for the middle of these two ranges. Professional straighteners will have adjustable heat settings so you can be confident you are using a safe temperature.
Always apply a heat protectant before you start
There are plenty of different products on the market which are designed to protect your hair from the intense heat of straighteners.
Heat protection comes in different forms, so it is up to you which you prefer. Spray-on solutions are probably the easiest to use, but there is the risk that some of your hair may be missed or not adequately coated. However, this comes with practice and many sprays are incredibly popular on social media.
Straighten hair in small sections
By working in small, even sections, you can help the heat to distribute efficiently. This means that you don’t need to keep going over the same hair strands repeatedly and exposing them to more heat.
Start at the bottom and clip the rest of your hair out of the way. Take small sections and work from one side of your hair to the other. Work your way up to the top of your head, sectioning as you go.
Use straighteners with ceramic or tourmaline plates
If you are in the market for a new pair of straighteners then look for items with ceramic or tourmaline plates.
These materials help your hair to glide between them smoothly, preventing snagging and damage. They also help to distribute the heat evenly over your sections, minimising damage.
Tourmaline in particular uses negative ions to seal each strand of hair as it passes over it. The result is long-lasting, frizz-free, sleek hair.
