How to Straighten Hair with a Blow-dryer

Want to calm the frizzies or straighten your curls for a day? It's really not that hard to do. All you need is a round brush, a blow dryer, some hair products, about 30 minutes and that's it!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Straightening Balm
• Blow Dryers
• Heat Protectant Sprays
• Anti-frizz Hair Serums
• Towels
• Shampoo
• Deep Conditioner
• Ceramic hair flat-iron

1. To straighten hair, begin by shampooing, conditioning and towel-drying hair.

2. Apply a heat protectant product to your hair, paying special attention to the ends.

3. Place a quarter-size dollop of straightening balm in your palm. Rub your palms together to distribute the product over your hands, then massage it evenly through hair.

4. Comb through your hair with your fingers while gently blow-drying it on a low setting. This removes excess water.

5. Pull your hair into three sections, two at the sides and one at the back. Clip the two sides up.

6. Select a small portion of the hair from the unclipped section to straighten.

7. Using a thick, round brush and beginning at the roots, gently pull the brush through the hair to the ends while blow-drying it. Pull the hair away from your head, stretching and straightening it as you go.

8. First pull the brush through the underside of your hair so that you expose it directly to the heat of the dryer. Once that area is mostly dry, switch to the top of the hair.

9. Keep the tension consistent and evenly distribute heat over the section of hair you're working on. This ensures uniform hair texture and prevents overdrying of certain areas.

10. Once that portion of hair is straightened, continue selecting and blow-drying small portions until that section is dry and straight.

11. Repeat the process on the two other sections to straighten your entire head of hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Always point the dryer down as you blow-dry hair; blowing hair upward can cause frizzies.
• Tame flyaway hair with an anti frizz serum or pomade. Place a few drops in your hand, rub gently to distribute it, then apply it your hair according to the product instructions.
• To achieve flat hair, finish styling with a ceramic flat-iron designed for hair after following the steps above. Choose the heat setting for your hair type, and allow flat-iron to warm before using. Select portions of hair, as per blow-drying directions, and slide heated flat-iron along hair, beginning close to the roots and going past the ends of hair, repeating if needed to fully flatten hair.
• As with all electrical devices, be cautious when using blow-dryers and flat-irons around water and/or children. Unplug blow-dryer and flat-iron after use, and keep the flat-iron out of reach until cooled to prevent burns.

Who Can Help:

• Are you tired of cakey makeup? Try RawMinerals Free.

[terrimayhue]

on 6/19/2009 Are you one of those who are always watching celebrities to get some tips for a new hairdo Do you want your hair style to be trendy? This site gives you all you need to know about your hair.Visit www.StyleByAnastasia.com to find anything you need to know about hair.

[beaudawn]

on 9/27/2008 Excellent article. I tried this as I have long thick hair and it works very well. I have given up on using hair irons as they cause too much damage. Thanks for the tips as my sisters have tried it as well and love the results.

[ladyshannon]

on 8/19/2007 Just a note about flat ironing . . . it does not and cannot prevent split ends, whether you are using a ceramic iron or not. Ceramic irons are better because they encourage even heat distribution so you don't get what stylists call "hot spots." This doesn't mean they're good for your hair. You hair will seem shinier because using a flat iron seals the hair cuticle temporarily. Key word here is temporarily. You're still damaging your hair whenever you apply heat and it's best to use the flat iron sparingly.

[JEBBX]

on 5/21/2007 I have fairly short coarse curly hair. When I dry my hair and try to pull the curl out, I am left with waves which I HATE! I don't like straightening irons. How can I avoid making waves???

[finchy1]

on 2/22/2007 put a hat on after you dry your hair with a towl...then take it off in 30 minutes and you should have pretty flat hair..then brush again