Costly hair straightening tool mistakes that you need to avoid at all costs
The flat iron used for hair straightening is one of the most versatile tools that one can have in her/his beauty arsenal. It can be used to refresh the blowout for a fresh look, straightening curly strands or even make those “beachy” looking waves and bangs. But the truth is it can also be a dangerous weapon in the hands of a rookie. And you will surely be damaging your hair if used incorrectly. You need to remember that flat irons can heat up to 450°C which is a lot more than hair can handle.
To review the best pieces of flat iron and hair straightening gear check out http://evolutionofhair.com/best-flat-irons-use-wet-hair/. Here is what you need to know to avoid that very scary fizzing sound when you apply the flatiron to your hair to straighten it.
Let’s have a look!
Ignoring the type of flat iron
When you are out shopping for a flat iron you primarily need to consider your hair type and the flat iron type you should ideally go for. A general rule of thumb to follow is that in case you have thin hair you need a flat iron which is smaller and has lower heat ratings. The contrary is true for individuals with thick and strong hair, who would require a flat iron with higher heat settings and a broader base to make the straightening affair less time-consuming.
After you have taken into account the type of hair, you have you need to look at the tin describing your product. There are varieties available including the ceramic, titanium and tourmaline. Ceramic plates give you that even look because the plates get heated evenly and quite fast. It is ideal for individuals with thinner hair. Tourmaline and titanium both are smoother and it’s easier to guide them along the hair when you have a lot of it. These emit negative ions when heated, so it effectively seals the moisture in the hair giving it a glossy and finished look.
A flat iron without temperature settings
The most common mistake one can end up doing is going for a flat iron which has no temperature settings. As stated before the one-size-fits-all-rule doesn’t apply in case of hair straighteners since the quality of the hair varies from individual to individual. Going for a digital hair straightener which has different temperature settings so that you can heat the ironing plate exactly to your requirements is ideal. Stay away from the hottest heat settings as a temperature of around 450 °C can potentially damage your hair permanently. Look for a flat iron with well-rounded edges to use it for curling purposes and ideally go for one with a one year warranty. This is the only way to make sure that your investment is long term. It’s no good if you have to look for a new flat iron every six months or so.
Using a flat iron on damp hair
This is a rookie mistake to make. You need to blow dry your damp hair first to make it absolutely moisture free. This will ensure there is no sizzling sound and the flat iron will glide smoother over the hair. It’s quite similar to ironing a damp t-shirt! Wouldn’t you do it right? The same applies to hair as well.
The heat protectant is necessary
Many individuals while straightening their hair at home do not use the hair protectant and end up damaging their hair permanently. A heat protectant is ideally for protecting your hair texture and health when you apply heat to it. Every professional stylist and make-up artist swears by hair protectants. Always invest in a good quality hair protectant to avoid a split and damaged ends.
Too much hairspray before the heat
At times you can see a lot of smoke when you apply the flat iron to your hair. It is due to the fact that you have applied too much hair product. A little bit of hairspray is perfect for the moisture and the sleek look, but it is never a great idea to go overboard with it.
Bleached strands and a hot iron is a no-no
The rules change completely when you have bleached hair strands. With bleached strands, your choice of shampoo and conditioner changes; so makes the rules of applying heat to your hair. You cannot use the heat iron at higher heat settings when you have colored strands as it will cause the additive to rinse out faster than you would like!
Going over the same area
When you have to go over the same area of the hair while straightening it chances are your flat iron is of not a high grade, it might have been damaged, or it doesn’t have a good amount of tension. A perfect flat iron is efficient enough that a single brushing will give you the desired results.
Big sections and sleek look
Our experts advise that when you are trying to take care of frizzy hair, you should ideally take two-inch sections and apply heat using the flat iron. Smaller sections offer you better solutions to frizz and rough hair. Yes, it takes a long amount of time, but you avoid going through the same section over and over again. Repeated heating of the same area can damage your hair, so don’t grab big sections for that sleek look.
Thinking that the flat iron is not versatile
Most of us don’t go for a flat iron because there is a general misconception that all a flat iron does is straightening the hair. If truth be told there are various uses of flat iron and not just for straightening purposes. A flat iron can be used for curling, getting the wavy beach look or even for the bangs and spikes should you need one.
Not cleaning the flat iron
Your flat iron needs regular cleaning and maintenance. Since you will be using it on your hair chances are burnt hair edges and dust will settle in at the edges of the iron. The periodic cleaning of the tool is highly essential to allow the ease of usage of the flat iron on your hair. Always clean your flat iron with a damp cloth after it has cooled down.
These are some of the common mistakes that you must absolutely avoid while using a flat iron to straighten your hair.
