- As compared to the effect you get when straightening your hair with a blow dryer, you hair appears flawlessly smoother when you use a flat iron. This makes hair straightening effortless for fans of celebrity styles. On TV, in magazines and on the red carpet, when a celebrity chooses to wear her hair straight, it more than likely appears immaculate instead of limp or stringy. Without a straightening iron at home, you would have to book an appointment at a salon to benefit from the services of a professional in the same way that many actresses and models do to get hair that straight and shiny.
- Straightening irons are used to temporarily keep curly, wavy or disheveled hair flat. The hair's structure is altered from curly or wavy to straight until re-exposed to moisture. The process of using a straightening iron is not to be confused with hair relaxing, a chemical treatment performed in salons also with the purpose of straightening hair. In the 1960s, women who wanted the stick-straight hairstyle opted to use clothes irons to achieve the effect. The invention of contemporary flat irons makes hair straightening more effortless. You only have to position your tresses in between the tong-like device and slide.
- Straightening irons can damage your hair. The chances of this are smaller if you take preventive measures. However, if you are careless with your hair care practices, you can expect to see your strands get drier, frizzier and more fragile with the use of a straightening iron. For instance, if your hair is permed or color-treated, it would be unkind to subject it to regular usage of the iron. You should also not use the iron on wet or damp hair, nor should you slide the iron upwards. The cuticle on your hair shaft should be smoothed downwards, as this is what gives hair that shiny look so popular with celebrities and A-listers, as well as students, housewives and career women.
- When you notice your hair starting to get scraggly, instead of using a straightening iron as a quick fix, consider getting the ends of your hair trimmed. This helps keep your mane attractive without your having to use a flat iron on such a frequent and regular basis. When you do reach for the flat iron, make it a habit to spray on a hair care product that protects against heat exposure prior to letting the iron anywhere near your tresses. It would also benefit you to invest in a quality straightening iron if you haven't yet done so, but intend to continue using one.
- To do minimal damage to your hair, educate yourself on the appropriate flat iron heat settings for your hair type and select the iron size that best suits your needs. See the Resources section for a link. Look for the labels "tourmaline" or "ceramic" when purchasing your straightening iron as these materials are less likely to cause irreversible hair damage if used with care. Through all this, think about your goals for your hair in the long run. If you want strong, healthy hair many years from now, rethink your regular usage of straightening irons. Experiment with hairdos that do not require thermal styling tools, and know that with creativity anyone can appear attractive even when foregoing a straight hairstyle.
