How to Straighten Hair

Switching up your hairstyle can give you an invigorating boost of self esteem and the feeling of a whole new 'do without you having to chop off a single inch. Chemical treatments are harsh and require a trip to the stylist to ensure they are done properly. However, if you have a flat iron, you can straighten your own hair at home, with no long-term commitment necessary.

What You'll Need

• Microfiber towel
• Leave-in heat protecting spray
• Large-toothed comb and round brush
• Large plastic clips
• Blow dryer with nozzle attachment
• Ceramic flat iron
• Silicone shine serum

Prepping Your Hair

Start with freshly shampooed, conditioned hair. Blot your hair with a microfiber towel. Avoid rubbing it, since this can rough up the cuticle and lead to tangles, static, and ultimately, breakage. Apply a leave-in treatment, gently massaging it into the driest parts of your hair first, and then combing it down through the length. Comb gently, working out any tangles from the bottom up. Part your hair wherever it ordinarily falls naturally.

Blow-Drying

Separate your hair into three sections, as if you were going to braid it. Clip off all but one section. This will reduce dry time and ease the straightening process later on. Use your blow dryer with its attachment and your round bristled brush to dry the first section, keeping the dryer angled down and close to your hair to seal the cuticle shut and increase shine. You should always start drying your hair at the top and work your way down to avoid damaging potentially-fragile ends. Finish drying the remaining sections.

Straightening

When your hair is dry, you will need to divide it again, clipping all the top hair out of the way. The bottom hair should be only about one-half an inch thick. Grab a one inch section of hair, and spritz it again with your heat protective spray. Clamp the flat iron over it, and glide it down the length of your hair as you run the comb through behind it.

As you straighten your hair, use a smooth gliding movement from the roots to the ends of your hair, moving from the base of your head to your crown. When all your hair is straight, rub a pea-sized bit of shine serum between your palms to warm and liquefy it, and then smooth it down the length of your hair for a gorgeous mirror-like shine.

You can straighten your own hair at home, with no long-term commitment

by Andrea Asa, Health & Beauty writer