Using flat irons on your hair can be tricky sometimes for making hair styles of course not Mohawk Hairstyles but other. There are some basic points like what type of flat irons to use, how to prepare your hair just before using flat iron, how to actually use the flat iron and what to use and do after flattening your hair. So just relax and go through the following four steps who knows you may learn a new thing flat ironing natural hair.

1. Buy a right flat iron: This step is the most important one as the flat iron you are using is going to have long lasting effects on your hair. So select the best flat iron for your hair type which will cause minimum damage to your hair. I have already written a ton about it on my website so you can look around to decide the best flat iron for black hair, natural hair, African American hair, frizzy hair, thin hair, curly hair etc.

2. Prepare your hair before using hair iron: Before you start flat ironing natural hair just ensure that your hair are clean. For this you may use some good hair shampoo and conditioners readily available in the market generally marketed as hair straightening products.

After washing your hair remove water from your hair with the help of a towel and by squeezing your hair so that excessive frizz is prevented from occurring.

Apply some best heat protection spray or serum on your hair ensure the serum is spread around your hair properly. Then use a wide toothed comb for combing after applying the serum. You can use Argon oil, extra virgin coconut oil, Moroccan oil and products with silicone which will be of great help.

Perfectly dried hair provides for the best results when using flat irons. You can blow dry your hair before straightening. Use hair dryer on the lowest heat setting particularly if you have frizzy hair.

3.Proper use of Flat Iron: After you switch on your flat iron first and foremost thing is to select the suitable heat settings. Heat setting is very important because different types of hair need different heat settings on a flat iron. This very important step in flat ironing natural hair.

If you have fine and damaged hair then it should be ironed at below 300 degree Fahrenheit, normal hair can be ironed at 300-380 and thick, coarse and curly hair needs to use heat settings at around 350 to 400 degree Fahrenheit for producing best results.

Now you divide your hair into different sections depending on the thickness of your hair. You can make sections of one to two inches thick so that flat iron easily passes through the hair. Use clips for each section except the one when you are using the flat iron.

Then start using flat iron just at about a distance of 1-2 inches from your scalp, be careful you don’t damage yourself. While clamping flat iron ensure you do not clamp too firmly as this will create a ridge and folds on the hair section. Also do not hold the flat iron on the same spot at the section of your hair for too long as this will damage your hair.

Glide the flat iron steadily and smoothly from the roots to the end of hair sections. You may need to run the flat iron through your hair depending upon the type of your hair and heat settings of flat iron. At lower heat settings you may have to use flat iron more than once.

There may be some steam coming out while using flat iron due to hot plates coming into contact with moisture in your hair. But be careful while flat ironing natural hair, if you have a burning smell, you can lower heat settings in that case. So this way you can straighten all sections of your hair one by one.

4. Keeping your hair straight after using flat iron:  After flattening your hair with flat iron you must follow this simple step to keep your hair straight properly and for longer duration. Blow dry your hair by keeping  dryer at the cold lowest air flow setting for a minute for setting your hair.

Apply some hair spray or a setting spray after flattening your hair to keep hair straight for longer duration. Anti-frizz serum containing silicone is  effective for keeping hair straight after flat ironing. Avoid touching your hair with fingers as these produce lot of oil which is not good.

Your Thoughts Please:

I hope you have learned at least something about flat ironing natural hair or you might added to your existing knowledge. If you want to share your experience please write in the following comments. Please share this post if you liked it.