How to Flat Iron & Style African American Hair

African-American hair can be styled and straightened impeccably with a flat iron

If you want sleek, smooth tresses but do not want potent chemicals anywhere near your hair, one of the alternatives is to straighten your hair with a flat iron. A flat iron is safe to use even on African-American hair, which is prone to being dry and brittle. However, African-American hair that gets subjected to thermal hairstyling needs extra care and attention to avoid or considerably lessen potential breakage and split ends. Outlined here are the steps to incorporate into your hairstyling regimen if you will be using a flat iron frequently.

Things You'll Need

• Thermal styling protectant Mid-size ceramic flat iron Hair clips Serum especially for African-American hair Shampoo and conditioner for African-American hair

Instructions

1. Prep hair by spraying it with a thermal protectant. African-American hair is delicate, so always remember to shield it from heat before allowing it to come into contact with a flat iron.

2. Turn on your flat iron and allow it to heat up. There is a professional recommendation to put the flat iron's settings on 380-410 degrees (see Resources for details) for coarse, curly and ethnic hair types, but you can experiment to find what works for you personally. If you can straighten your hair effectively with a little less heat, do this instead as it is better for maintaining healthier tresses.

3. Take a fine section of hair - about 1/8-inch thick and obviously not wider than the plates of the flat iron - and clamp the flat iron as close as you can to the roots. This eliminates all traces of a crimped or curly appearance. Slide the flat iron down the section of hair in a smooth, fluid motion. You may have to repeat this one to three times for each section for the most efficient straightening job. If your hair is very thick, give yourself easier access to the sections you are currently straightening by clipping the hair you are not working on off to one side.

4. Repeat Step 3 for your entire head of hair. When you are finished, squirt a pinch of serum especially formulated for African-American hair into your palm. Briskly rub your hands together before wiping your palms on your hair to evenly distribute the styling product. This should make your hair manageable for combing, as well as give it a glossy effect. Part your hair as you please or pull it back into a ponytail or a half-up, half-down style to show off your straightened tresses. Avoid any more thermal hairstyling for at least two to three days.

5. Maintain the health of your hair when it is time to wash it by using a shampoo and a conditioner meant for African-American hair. You may even want to look for a deep-conditioning treatment to give your hair extra moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a ceramic or tourmaline flat iron instead of a copper-plated one to minimize hair trauma.

• Do not use a flat iron on wet or damp hair as this causes damage. African-American hair is generally coarser than other hair types, but this does not make it any less vulnerable to breakage and split ends.

Resources

• Choosing the correct flat iron and heat settings for your hair type
• Hair-care products especially for African-American hair