As much as we love wavy, voluminous hair, many women–even those blessed with gorgeous, natural curls–straighten their hair on a regular basis in order to achieve smooth, silky, frizz-free locks. The good news is that our styling options, which include heat protectants, blow-out styling creams, and top-notch straightening irons, have become far more advanced over the years and aid in helping to keep straightened hair healthy and glossy. The bad news? Some women are continuing to commit four cardinal hair straightening sins, which Joe Anthony Pena, Global Board Artist for
Farouk Systems (CHI and BioSilk) notices far too often.
Before you reach for your flat iron again, make sure you avoid these common mistakes.
1. They don’t prep their hair. Before you allow a blow-dryer or flat iron to touch your delicate, fragile hair, Pena says it’s crucial to use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner But don’t to stop there–other products are important to use as a barrier between your strands and heat. “Before using a hot flat iron, my personal favorite products are CHI Silk Infusion or the amazing CHI Touch 2 Touch Screen Blow-dryer and ideal temperature setting and choosing the wrong one can leave your style frizzy or permanently burn your hair, Pena says. Generally speaking, women with thin, fine hair should keep temps below 360 degrees; those with medium, wavy hair should stick within the range of 360-380 degrees; women with thick, course, curly hair can handle between 380 and 410 degrees. Flat irons that offer temperature control include
HSI Professional 1″ Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron and Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray, which protect from heat temperatures up to 428 degrees.
For more beauty tips, check out
the absolute worst alcoholic beverages for your skin and
what your go-to nail polish color says about you.
[Photo: Imaxtree]
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straight hair