How to to Straignten your hair with a Flat Iron

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By Gardengates
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to Straignten your hair with a Flat Iron

Lots of women are straightening their hair with flat irons today. It sure beats trying to iron hair on an ironing board the way women used to do. But there are guidelines on how to best use a flat iron for the best results. Here are some tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Buy a good quality flat iron with a temperature control. The better ones are being made with ceramic plates. Curly and coarse hair will need higher heat settings. Color and treated hair usually needs a bit less heat. Experiment with your own hair by starting with the cooler temperatures.
Step 2

Use a liquid, cream or gel thermal protector on your hair before heating it. It will help avoid damage.
Step 3

Make sure your hair is dry before straightening with a flat iron. Blow dry your hair first, straightening it initially with a round brush as it dries.
Step 4

Heat press small quantities of hair -- no more than an inch or two of thickness at a time -- clipping rest of the surrounding hair onto the top of the head.
Step 5

There are several techniques to drawing the hair through the hot iron itself. Some experts prefer you brush your hair first then simply draw the iron smoothly down the strands until reaching the bottom.

Another technique that makes it less likely to burn hair is to take little bites -- opening and closing the tongs slightly -- as the flat iron is drawn down the hair rather than clamping and sliding all in one motion.

A third technique is to set a comb into the hair and the flat iron just behind the comb drawing both together down the hair.
Step 6

The more frequently you straighten your hair with a flat iron the more important it is that you use a better quality iron with adjustable heat settings.
Step 7

You will always start close to the head. Keep in mind that the new growth near the scalp will need the most heat: the ends will need the least. Get as close to the scalp as you can without burning your head. It may seem a bit tricky at first, but you'll get better with practice! Before long you will be able to straighten your hair with a flat iron like a pro!