How to Use a Flat Iron to Style Hair

If you enjoy wearing your hair in a variety of ways but you can only invest in one hairstyling tool at the moment, consider purchasing a flat iron. Although a flat iron is also known as a "hair straightener," you can do so much more with it than just iron your tresses. Whether you want to add body to your locks, or create waves or curls, you can do it with a flat iron. If you're hesitant to try it as you've never used thermal styling tools on your hair before, take your time following the precautions outlined here. You just might find that flat irons are safer than you originally thought.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flat iron
• Comb
• Thermal styling protectant
• Hairspray

1. Turn on your flat iron and allow it to heat up. The best kind to invest in for styling flexibility if your hair is bob-length or longer is a mid size one, which can both straighten and curl hair. A large paddle-type flat iron is meant for straightening very long or very thick hair, while a mini flat iron is better suited to styling very short hair.

2. Comb your hair to loosen any snarls or tangles that will interfere with creating a flawless hairstyle. Spray your hair thoroughly with thermal styling protectant to shield it from the heat of your flat iron. The ends of your hair are older than the other parts, so make particularly sure they get coated with the protectant to help prevent breaking and splitting.

3. Straighten your hair by taking a fine section--about 1/4 of an inch thick and no wider than your flat iron--and clamping down on it as close as you can to the scalp with the flat iron. You especially need to get close to the scalp if your hair is frizzy so you can eliminate all signs of frizz. Be careful not to burn your scalp. Slide the flat iron down the section of hair in one fluid motion, repeating twice or thrice to your satisfaction. Repeat Step 3 for your entire head of hair.

4. Make your hair wavy or curly by following Step 3, except instead of simply sliding the flat iron down the section of hair, twist your wrist inwards towards your head when you clamp down on the lock of hair. Maintain this position as you glide the flat iron all the way down your hair. The longer it takes you to slide the flat iron down the lock of hair, the tighter the resulting curl. For looser waves or body, glide the flat iron more quickly down your hair.

5. Create an old-fashioned flip hairstyle out of shoulder-length or slightly shorter hair by following Step 3, but when you get to the end of each section of hair, flick your wrist upwards. This results in a flyaway hairstyle with the ends flipped upwards.

6. Style your hair with your fingers if you used the flat iron to make it wavy or curly. Use a comb only if you straightened your hair, as running a comb or brush through curls will break them down or make your hair full of static. Finish by lightly misting hairspray all over your hair to help it retain the style for the day.

Tips & Warnings

• If it helps, put your hair up with salon clips when using the flat iron, leaving only the section you are currently straightening or curling. Start styling the hair at the nape of your neck, moving upwards in sections. Once you are done styling a lock of hair, you don't have to clip it back up with the rest.
• Keep hair damage to a minimum by using a ceramic or tourmaline flat iron, especially if you will be using thermal styling tools on a regular basis. Stay away from metal or copper-plated flat irons, which cause the most damage to hair.

Resources

• Videos on styling hair with a flat iron

[halloweenlover]

on 11/12/2009 This is a very good article. Using a hot iron to straighten hair can be an exercise in futility. I bought a hot iron called the In Styler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener. It's not the typical flat iron. Check out this blog about the InStyler to see how it works:

http://in-styler-hot-iron.blogspot.com/