How to Straighten My Hair to Make It Look Emo

Emo, short for "emotional," first described a type of music--sort of punk rock but with more "emotional" lyrics. Now, the term also describes the trendy fashion that the youth wear who enjoy this music. The fashion tends to include very dark eye makeup, thick eyeliner, skinny jeans and very black, blonde and/or colorful hair. Another aspect of the hair fashion is super straight hair parted on the side with side-swept bangs. Getting this look is easy if you have the right hair cut and styling tools.

Things You'll Need

• Heat protection spray
• Hair clips
• Flat iron
• Rat tail comb
• Hairspray

Instructions

1. Go to your stylist and ask for a different hair cut--if you haven't already. Most teens are wearing their hair in shaggy layers, and it's normally kept long. Keep your bangs long, so they fall slightly past your eyes.

2. Spritz your hair with a heat-protection spray before flat ironing it. Flat irons can get very hot, and the heat spray will help protect your hair from damage.

3. Part your hair to the side, then split your hair into three sections--top, middle and bottom. The top and middle sections should be held on top of your head with hair clips to keep them out of the way.

4. Separate one portion of hair from the bottom section. The small portion of hair should be about 2 inches in width.

5. Close the flat iron's plates around the first portion of hair. Pull the flat iron straight down to straighten the first portion. Repeat this with the rest of the bottom section.

6. Release the clip from the middle section of your hair. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the middle section to get it perfectly straight, as well. Then do the same with the top section.

7. Keep your bangs swept to the side. For unruly bangs, clip them to side with a bobby pin. Add a little hairspray to the bangs and leave the pin in for about 20 minutes. Remove the pin to have perfectly side-swept bangs.

8. Rat the back of your hair to add some height. Start with a small (about 4 inches in width) section of hair at the crown of your head. Pick the section straight up and push the rat tail comb through the hair from top to bottom. Doing so will create a "nest" of hair at the base of the section. Do this with several more sections below the crown of your head. Allow the hair to lay flat and comb it gently to remove visible knots.

9. Hairspray your entire head to keep your look all day long.

References

• Hair Finder: Flat Iron Styling
• Hairstyles: How to Create the Perfect Emo Hairstyle
• Emo Hairstyles: Emo Girls' Hairstyles