Things You'll Need:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Towel
- Thermal heat spray
- Brush or comb
- Blow dryer
- Hair clips
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Step 1
Choose a ceramic flat iron that is the right size for your hair. For short- or medium-length hair, choose a flat iron with plates 1.5 inches or smaller. Those with longer or exceptionally curly hair should look for a flat iron with plates larger than 2 inches.
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Step 2
Wash and condition your hair in the shower. Towel dry your hair until it is damp, and spray a thermal heat product throughout your hair, focusing on the ends. It is important to only use a ceramic flat iron on clean hair because styling products or oil can damage the ceramic plates and reduce its effectiveness.
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Step 3
Comb your hair gently until it is untangled and the thermal spray is evenly distributed.
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Step 4
Blow dry your hair until it is completely dry. You should never use a ceramic flat iron on wet or damp hair, as doing so can cause severe hair damage.
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Step 5
Plug in your iron and choose your desired heat setting. People with thin hair should start with the lowest heat setting possible, while those with normal hair will want to choose a medium heat setting; usually around 250 to 300 degrees. If you have very curly or thick hair, choose a higher heat setting over 300 degrees but do not exceed 350 degrees. Most irons will turn on automatically when they are plugged in. If your iron does not, hit the "On" button now.
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Step 6
Gather the top half of your hair and pin it to the top of your head with a hair clip. Separate the bottom half of your hair into small sections about an inch or two wide. The smaller the section, the easier it will be to iron your hair.
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Step 7
Grab a section and position the flat iron around the hair, starting about half an inch from your scalp.
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Step 8
Press down firmly on the iron's handles while you pull the iron down the first section of your hair. Move at a moderate pace so that the iron does not stop on any part of your hair. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until you have ironed each section in the bottom half of your hair.
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Step 9
Unpin the top half of your hair and repeat steps 7 and 8 until you have straightened all of your hair. Unplug your ceramic flat iron when you are done using it.
