If you want straighten hair first is select your hair straightener carefully. Never attempt to straighten wet hair, as this may damage your hair. Starting as close to the roots as possible, run your straightener down your hair. Straighten your hair as much as you can with your dryer to prepare your hair for straightening. When using the hairdryer, always dry downwards, as this will ensure that all your hair cuticles are lying flat, which helps to increase the shine. Wash and condition hair. Run your hair under cold water. Squeeze out the excess water and apply serum to your hair. Apply to the ends of your hair, not to the roots, so that they don't get oily. You might want to add some gel for extra hold. Apply a heat protectant product to your hair, paying special attention to the ends. Place a quarter-size dollop of straightening balm in your palm. Rub your palms together to distribute the product over your hands, then massage it evenly through hair. Comb through your hair with your fingers while gently blow-drying it on a low setting. Detangle any knots using a wide-toothed comb.

This removes excess water. Select a small portion of the hair from the unclipped section to straighten. Sun, cold temperatures plus the use of your hair dryer can be hard on your hair. Gather up hair into several sections and secure or clip hair on top of your head. You will be drying the bottom layers first. Follow the brush (with your dryer) down the sections of hair as you straighten each section and be sure to keep the dryer moving. Take down a new section of hair and procede as directed above. Different types of hair require different types of care. A hair straightener with narrow plates will be more effective on short hair, while hair straighteners with larger plates are better suited to long hair. Straighteners with ceramic plates are kinder to your hair than straighteners with metal plates. Using a thick, round brush and beginning at the roots, gently pull the brush through the hair to the ends while blow-drying it. Once that portion of hair is straightened, continue selecting and blow-drying small portions until that section is dry and straight.

Straighten Hair Tips

1. Don't rely solely on straightening irons - blow-dry hair smooth first.

2. Always use a styling spray before heat straightening - this acts as a barrier between hair and heat.

3. Steam straighteners add moisture to the hair, allowing for glossy, silky results.

4. Don't try to straighten too much hair at once - keeping the sections small will avoid ridges forming at the roots.

5. Blow dry or air dry, apply hair moisturizer, oil, or hair grease and style as usual.

6. Sun, cold temperatures plus the use of your hair dryer can be hard on your hair.

7. Apply a heat protectant product to your hair, paying special attention to the ends.

8. Always point the dryer down as you blow-dry hair; blowing hair upward can cause frizzies.