How to Iron and Take Care of Your Hair if it is Very Coarse and Frizzy

If you have hair that is hard to manage, frizzy, naturally curly, but uncontrollable there are plenty of options to make your style look great. Read on to learn how to iron and take care of your hair if it is very coarse and frizzy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Smoothing shampoo and conditioner with extra moisture if available
• Flat iron
• Vented brush
• Hair pick (wide teeth)
• Oil leave-in therapy
• Leave-in smoothing crème (non-wax smoothing crème)
• Finishing spray

1. Wet your hair thoroughly and squeeze excess water out of your hair.

2. Shampoo your hair, being sure to scrub your cuticles and hair follicles. Don’t be afraid to scrub as this helps the hair grow, and releases your natural oils which makes your hair look healthier, softer and smoother.

3. Make sure all shampoo is rinsed in warm or hot water. Squeeze excess water out of your hair, if you towel dry before conditioning, it’s even better.

4. Massage smoothing conditioner into your hair and scalp. The conditioner will help soften and moisturize your curls should you choose not to iron.

5. Turn your shower to as cool of water as you can handle, and rinse your hair thoroughly. The cool water closes the cuticle of the hair follicle, leaving the moisture and smoothing conditioner where you need it--in your hair.

6. You can turn the water back to warm, but do not warm your head if at all possible.

7. Once you are dried off and ready to begin on your towel-dried hair start with the oil leave-in therapy, by massaging six to 10 pumps (depending on hair length and thickness) into your hair and scalp. This is the next step in moisture being kept in your hair. Pay close attention to the driest parts of your hair. If necessary, use more oil so you can feel the difference in your hair.

8. Put about a quarter size of the leave-in smoothing crème into your palm, and massage throughout your hair, paying closer attention to the driest parts of your hair. A good smoothing crème will leave curls soft and manageable, but will also allow for excellent ironing should you choose once your hair is dry.

9. If you are looking to keep your curls, style your hair at this point and finish with the finishing spray. Your curls will be softer and bouncier, with more control than frizz. If you are going to iron your hair, dry your hair first. The best way to do this is to air dry. Do not add extra heat to your hair than necessary.

10. If ironing your hair begin by putting hair in a ponytail or clip in sections easiest for you to manage. The easiest way for one person to iron is a ponytail. Starting at the base of the neck, work your way around each layer of hair until you get to the top. If you start at the top first, you’ll be battling with keeping the straight hairs out of the curly ones.

11. When getting sections of hair to iron, do not grab big sections. If you work in small sections at a time, you will have less time that the heat is on each hair, as it is distributed more evenly with less hair involved, and therefore needs less time in the iron.

12. If you are able, use a comb with each section of hair you are ironing, follow the comb with the iron through the section. This will help also in the distribution of the heat to the hair.

13. To finish off your style, use a curling iron or hot air brush-iron that is vented. It doesn’t put the burn on your hair like the iron, and the vented helps keep the moisture in your hair, not fried out. Spray with finishing spray to keep your style and softness.

Tips & Warnings

• Your ironed hair should last two to three days if taken care of correctly.
• Don’t re-wash your hair. Just add oil if necessary to achieve calmness, and help keep your moisture in for your touch-up ironing.
• If your hair is in a healing process, be careful when combing and brushing. Start at the ends of your hair, and work your way to your scalp. You could do more damage by starting at the root, especially with breakage.
• Be very careful when ironing. Do not leave iron in one spot for too long because you will fry your hair.

[grouch]

on 12/9/2007 Thanks I really needed this it will come in handy now that the winter months are here.