Looking at the same you, each day in the mirror, must become mundane. Every once in a while altering that image and dressing up surely helps. And what better way than updating your hairstyle, as it often makes or breaks any look. Hence, it’s essential to know how to use a hair straightener.
For first timers – Don’t let the name fool you as you can do a lot more with it than just straighten out those tresses. Yes you can flip them out and even curl! So let go of any inhibitions and read on to use this simple but effective gadget like a pro.
What you need
- Clean and dry hair
- A wide tooth comb
- Hair pins
- Leave in conditioner
- Anti frizz hair spray
- Heat protective spray (Optional)
Get started
- A pre requisite here is having freshly washed and conditioned hair.
- Use a leave in conditioner and run a wide tooth comb through your hair to detangle your hair. If you have extremely curly hair, you could add an anti-frizz serum too.
- The hair should be towel dried. I do not recommend using a hair dryer right before straightening them, especially for frizzy hair and humid conditions as they are both heat treatments.
- Next, section your hair. Tie a high bun for the top half of your hair. Secure with pins. The layer near the nape of your neck should be dealt with first. This lower layer has to be further sub divided into 2” sections for regular to wavy hair and 1” sections for curly hair.
- You would require to run the straightener twice or thrice on each section in some cases. To reduce that for curly hair, as it causes frizz, smaller sections are suggested.
- If worried about damaging your tresses, use a heat protective spray at this point. This can be skipped though, if you do not use a hair straightener very frequently.
- All steps above should be followed irrespective of your hair quality and whether you are using the tool for straightening, curling or flipping out ends.
Tip – Keep in mind that the temperature of the straightener will be directly proportional to the amount of waves or curls you have.
Straighten using a hair straightener
- Hold the first section firmly at the end either with your fingers, or use a comb to hold them in place. Next clamp this section between the heating plates of the straightener and tightly slide it towards the end.
- You should start as close to the roots as you could be comfortable with.
- While at the end, do not remove the straightener with a jerk. Be smooth and end with your hair ends vertical to the ground, the way would want the resulting position of hair to be.
- Repeat the same for the same section if required. Or else move onto the next.
- When the whole bottom layer is done, take out one 2” layer from the top bun at one time and repeat the procedure.
Straighten with flipped ends using a hair straightener
- For flipping the ends inwards or outwards the only difference would lie in how you finish the action.
- Instead of the smooth vertical motion explained above, change it to a flipping motion after reaching midway of each 2” layer. Choose flipping in or out and follow the same for all layers.
Curl using a hair straightener
- Clamp a section of hair between the hot plates of the straightener, while holding the strand from the end. Wrap the hair section on the straightener by pulling the hair from under and then over.
- Let go of your hand and rotate the straightener a 360° i.e. if the mouth was towards you, it should be away from you now. Now pull the entire length of this section through the plates.
- Repeat for other sections and just remember using opposite direction for the left and right side of your hair.
Tip: For effective curling via this method you would need at least shoulder length hair.
Finishing touch
- Check front and back in a mirror. Fix any portions that seem out of place.
- When satisfied, use an anti-frizz hair spray.
Don’ts – Keep away from water (even sweating)
Applying mousse is also not the best idea as the water content will damage your heat treated look.
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