How to straighten hair with an iron?

One of the most popular ways to straighten hair at home is to use an iron (straightener, styler, tongs). However, not everyone is familiar with the intricacies of working with him. The consequence of this may be over-dried strands, their untidy appearance, and insufficient efficiency of use of the device. Negative consequences can be avoided by choosing the right iron and following the recommendations for its use.

Choosing a straightener is the main step towards a beautiful smooth hairstyle. It will depend on him:

1. the effectiveness of this straightening method;
2. the health of the hair;
3. ease of use;
4. the ability to choose the optimal temperature;
5. safety of use of the device.

This is the most budget option. Moreover, it is dangerous to the health of the hair. Metal plates in the device have uneven thermal conductivity. The result will be overdried, damaged strands. It is quite impossible to minimize the negative impact of such an ironing.

These are metal plates coated with teflon. It provides easier gliding along strands. They do not stick to such material and have a healthier appearance after the procedure. Unlike metal plates, Teflon neutralize statics and lead to a more effective result. A significant drawback of these irons is a short service life, on average 1 year.

Here you need to distinguish between ceramic coated plates and all-ceramic. The first option is comparable with Teflon-coated plates in terms of properties and service life. The second option has become very common in terms of price - quality.

Ceramic rectifiers are always equipped with a thermostat. They may have various useful functions, for example, ionization or steam supply. Such devices will last a long time, depending on the quality of the ceramics and assembly.

These plates are made of ceramic with tourmaline spraying, which significantly improves the quality of irons. They do not need an ionization function, because tourmaline emits negatively charged particles when heated. This allows you to remove static.

The surface of tourmaline rectifiers is smooth and provides easy gliding. Stacking products do not stick to it. Featuring a gentle action, these irons are suitable for weakened and dyed hair. Their cost is higher than ceramic, but a long service life justifies the cost.

Titanium is the lightest and most durable metal. Plates made of this material heat up quickly and evenly. They also neutralize static electricity. These irons do not have a detrimental effect and are effective in use.

These plates include titanium-tourmaline, ceramic-marble and other types of irons. Combined plates combine the best properties of various materials to achieve wear resistance and improve straightening quality.

When choosing, it is necessary to take into account the presence of a temperature regulator, the absence of sharp angles on the plates, the mobility, smoothness and width of the plates, depending on the length and structure of the hair. The longer the length, the wider the plates can be. For stiff hair it is better to choose narrower plates for better processing. To straighten the bangs and multilevel hairstyles, you also need to choose a straightener with narrow plates so that creases do not form during stretching.

Rinse hair thoroughly, paying particular attention to the basal area, and then apply conditioner. It is better if it has a smoothing property to facilitate further work. All products must be washed off well in warm water to smooth the scales. After that, the hair should be slightly wrung out with a towel and combed using a brush for wet hair.

You can dry your head naturally or with a hairdryer. It is better to refuse any styling products before straightening. When exposed to high temperature, they begin to bake on the hair, damaging them.

An exception is the thermal spray. It glues hair plates and prolongs the effect of straightening. It is better to apply spray on wet hair before using the hair dryer. So it is easier to distribute.

The main thing is not to dry your head at this stage. If you use a straightener on absolutely dry hair, then during the procedure he will begin to use the vital moisture from their structure. However, carrying out the procedure on raw hair is also not worth it, otherwise the exposure of the device to them will be too long.

Hair should be wet after a hair dryer by about 5%. This percentage is tactfully difficult to determine. During drying, humidity must be controlled by hand. At that moment, when moisture ceases to be felt on the treated area, you need to stop the effects of the hair dryer.The residual excess water will be preserved and will not only minimize the effect on the health of the hair, but also help the ironer to cope well with its task.

The entire preparatory phase should be reduced to ensure that the ironing glides easily and has a short effect on the strands. Therefore, hair should be well prepared for straightening. Especially if you have to straighten curly locks. In this case, it is better to stretch them while drying with a hairdryer using brushing.

The procedure can easily be performed at home itself. It’s enough not to rush, step by step performing all the actions.

First of all, the hair must be properly fixed. If they are short, then you can collect them in two tails: on the back of the head and on the top of the head. If the hair is long, you can make one tail taller. The tail should be weak so that the strands can be easily pulled out. After this, you should proceed to the main stage.

Straightening begins with the lowest strands near the neck. First you need to move horizontally until the bottom row ends, then go up a row above. The thickness of one strand is on average 3-4 cm. The straightener is held from the roots with a slight indentation so as not to burn the scalp and damage the hair follicles to the ends. And so each row of strands is processed from bottom to top.

After using the styler on the basal area, the hair subsequently gets dirty more quickly. Therefore, if the hair is straight by nature, and the styler is used to give it additional smoothness, then you can start straightening not from the very roots, but slightly lower.

The same recommendation is suitable for those who want to get a hairstyle with volume in the end. In this case, owners of curly hair can not affect the basal area on the inner strands of the hair. And straighten the upper strands from the roots with a safe minimum indentation.

To make the hairstyle perfectly straight and smooth, you need to carry out ironing exactly in a straight line, without turning around its axis. The stiffer the structure, the thinner the strand should be. You need to move slowly, without stopping in one place for more than two seconds. On one strand, it is advisable to hold the styler no more than once. The ends of the hair can be slightly twisted - the hairstyle will look natural.

In general, such styling is performed quite quickly, and the effect is very noticeable. But you need to remember that this effect will quickly disappear in a humid environment. Rain, snowfall and even styling or hair care products can quickly ruin your hair. Especially if by nature the hair is curly.

Each hair type has its own temperature range. For thin, weakened or dyed, a heating temperature of 130 ° C to 160 ° C is suitable. Normal hair can be straightened at temperatures from 160 ° C to 175 ° C. For strong, rigid, you can set the temperature from 175 ° C to 200 ° C.

Having chosen your range in structure, you need to start straightening along its lower boundary. If, for example, a strand of thin hair at 130 ° C is effectively smoothed, a further increase in temperature is not required. If the result is insufficient, it is worth adding temperature by one step of the thermostat. And so you can move in your range until the most acceptable mark is selected.

Choosing the safest temperature for the hair, knowing the technique of working with the styler, it is important not to forget about the safety precautions when using it.

The operating rules for ironing include both general requirements for electrical appliances and individual recommendations to minimize its negative effect on the hair. The list includes a number of items.

1. Do not allow water to get on the iron.
2. It is necessary to protect it from children.
3. You can not touch its hot parts. If necessary, you can use a heat-protective glove.
4. The appliance can only be placed on a heat-resistant surface.
5. The switched-on rectifier must not be left unattended.
6. It is not recommended to use the iron at maximum temperature.
7. After each use, it must first be wiped with a damp cloth and then with a soft dry cloth.
8. Do not wrap the cord around the appliance. It is necessary to periodically check its serviceability.
9. It is undesirable to use a rectifier often. It is recommended to straighten their hair no more than once a week.

After exposure to hair at high temperatures, they inevitably lose vitality, become more vulnerable. Therefore, you need to protect them from additional negative external influences. Among them, the following have a harmful effect:

1. direct sunlight;
2. chlorinated water;
3. aggressive substances in hair care products;
4. metal brushes and hairpins;
5. tight hairstyles;
6. aggressive styling;
7. diet
8. procedures for changing the appearance of hair, for example, dyeing, lamination.

A wide selection of hair restoration products is available on the market. It must be remembered that many of them only mask the problem, but do not have a beneficial effect on the hair. In order not to aggravate the situation, it is necessary to get acquainted with their composition. Among various products, masks and oils have worked well.

Masks can be mixed from natural products at home. This is an economical hair care option. Among the ingredients most often used are egg white or yolk, honey, decoctions of herbs (chamomile, calendula, burdock and others), kefir, cognac, tincture of capsicum. Capsules with vitamins A and E, which in the amount of two drops are added to the selected mixture, have proven themselves well.

The most effective for hair are several types of oils.

This oil is designed to restore hair after curling, straightening. It nourishes the hair with antioxidants, restoring their healthy appearance. In addition, it has a strengthening effect and prevents the formation of dandruff.

Due to the content of vitamins and phenols, olive oil has a nourishing and regenerating effect on the hair structure. It is recommended for dry, brittle hair. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on dry scalp.

Oil is able to penetrate deep into the hair, nourishing and restoring it from the inside. This action is possible due to the content of fatty acids in its composition. A distinctive feature of castor oil is the ability to enhance hair growth.

Burdock oil has a pronounced moisturizing effect.It smoothes naughty locks and protects hair from adverse external influences.

This firming oil can not only improve the appearance of hair, but also contribute to their growth, elasticity and shine. It slows down the aging of cells and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the scalp.

The oil is intended primarily for dry and lifeless hair. It gives them shine and strength. In addition, it has an antimicrobial effect, relieving inflammation and itching on the scalp.

Moisturizing and nourishing oil is rich in vitamins. It is suitable for all types of hair, strengthens its structure and stimulates growth. It can often be seen in various cosmetics.

Oil is known for cleansing and firming effects on split and damaged hair. It prevents their loss and is often used in combination with other oils.

With constant care and gentle handling, you can keep your hair in good condition even with weekly use of the styler. And although the strict geometry of the lines in the hairdo is in fashion, and women are increasingly resorting to the help of styling devices, first of all, you need to remember about hair grooming. Any hairstyle is variable. Always up-to-date and beloved by many squares, for example, looks beautiful both in a smoothed and wavy, slightly messy look.

For how to straighten your hair with an iron, see the video below.