Straighten Curly Hair

By Helen Wang

If today's women were to learn the trouble their mothers went through trying to straighten curly hair in the 50s, 60s and 70s, they would certainly laugh. Women with curly hair have envied straight haired beauties for ages.

With no appliances available at the time to straighten curly hair, women were forced to use things like a clothing iron to get the look they desired.

Although an iron is dangerous and can really damage hair, women of the past didn't know how to straighten their curly hair and saw no other option.

Today there are all kinds of appliances and products that women can use to turn their curly hair into a different look.

How To Straighten Curly Hair

If your hair is extremely curly, getting straight hair is not always an easy task. However hair straightening is attainable. If your curly hair is thick, or long, then it could even take hours to get the look you desire.

So, bear in mind that this is not a quick style change to try before a first date. Bear in mind that before you even pick up any hair straightening appliances; to make the whole process a lot smoother, there are a few steps you can take.

Washing and conditioning your hair

Begin by washing and conditioning your hair. If you plan straighten curly hair, then you should use a deep conditioner.

Sometimes hair straightening processes can leave it dry and damaged, so by deep conditioning before hand you are making sure your hair will be shiny and silky.

Towel-dry your hair and apply a straightening gel. The gel will help prepare your hair for the process. Air dry your hair a bit and then bring out your hair dryer.

Next, pin the top portions of your hair up on top of your head. You will allow you to work on one section of your hair at a time.

After pinning, use a round brush or flat paddle brush if you prefer, to pull a small section of your hair straight while drying it with your hair dryer.

Repeat this process, section by section, until all of your hair is dry. It is likely you will experience a bit of frizz if your hair is really curly. But don't worry; this will not exist after the process is complete.

The best tool to use for hair straightening is an appliance called a flat iron. These appliances come in several different widths.

Although you may be tempted to purchase a wider flat iron, it is best to stick with the flat irons that are approximately 1 - 1? inches wide. This is true even if you have really long hair.

The smaller versions are easier to work with and just do a better overall job than their larger counterparts.

Flat iron is available at most general merchandise stores or beauty stores. Your stylist can also provide you with information on brands they like best.

If you have stubborn curly hair that is difficult to straighten, you will want to look for ceramic versions. You can even get a flat iron that allows you to straighten your hair while it is wet.

However, this is something that may not work as well if you have difficult curly hair. So beware of these combos if you think you may have hair that is tough to deal with.

Most good flat irons also come with different temperature settings. You will find detailed settings in a booklet that comes with your appliance.

You should always use the lowest setting that works for your hair. If you have fine hair, begin with the lowest setting and work your way up in temperature until you get the results you desired.

It is always better to start too low, rather than start too high and singe your hair. Different types of hair respond differently to heat so you will need to go with your instinct on the initial setting.

In case you are unfamiliar with flat irons then you will probably be shocked that most cost between $30 and $200 each.

However, don't be tempted to splurge on the most expensive flat iron, unless you have tried everything else first. Sometimes the cheaper versions work just as well.

Remembering to prep your hair well before you begin hair straightening is the most important key to straightening success.

If your hair is prepped well, then any reputable flat iron should work to get you the frizz-free an smooth look you desire.