Straightening Your Hair

[MyHorseBiggs]

This is a little weird but...

When I straighten my hair it doesn't get straight it gets frizy/puffy (sp), and I'm really sick of it!! I know its just me and that I dont know how to straighten my hair because when my friend does it it with the same straightener she gets it perfectly straight. And I've asked my mom she has no idea because she's never had long enough hair to straighten.. So how do you straighten hair??

[Mercury]

What type of hair do you have? Curly, wavy, thick, fine...? Are you using a straightner or a curling iron? Have you tried a smoothing gel or mouse? Sometimes those help. My favorite is After Party by Bedhead. It's spendy though so I alway ask for it for christmas ;)

[Whitedresswind]

Use some straightening product, or frizz control.

[MyHorseBiggs]

I have THICK hair. And I a straightener. Don't use mouse or anything because I wouldn't know what to get... I get frizz control but it doesn't work that well, but does take out some frizz.

[Whitedresswind]

Well, here is what I do, but I have really thin hair, and its extremely easy to straighten.
First make sure your hair is completely brushed out. Then Take a strand (clip up the rest)comb it down with a comb, and slowly pull the straightener down, then spray your hair with the straightening stuff or frizz control, or even hair spray (not too much) Then repeat untill all your hair is done, then spritz once all around with the product you chose. :)

[cloedoll]

I have thick hair, too (as I mentioned on another thread, whenever it is being dyed, the average person requires 4oz of hair dye, mine takes 28oz...you can imagine =P). What temperature do you have the flat iron set at? Do you do your hair in layers when straightening it? How many times do you go over one piece? What's your weather like? Do you use any products before/after straightening your hair? Lots of questions, but they all contribute to issues. =P

[Blue]

I have THICK WAVY unmanageable hair. Haha. I started using Herbal Essense's Dangerously Straight shampoo and it actually works! I don't usually have to straighten my hair anymore. :)

[RackinRudy]

i LOOOOOOOOOOOVE my SuperStar Hair Straightener.
Nothing has EVER worked like it.

Here is a link to one - http://www.hair-straightener.net/sup_cer_hai__106_review.html
I can't remember where I got mine??? I think ebay a couple years ago.

I honestly ... never have a bad hair day. I have long hair like you ... and it's curly underneath .... i can straighten it no prob! Also since it's only an inch wide, you can make great smooth curls too (which I do alot).

I was recommended to me by my hair stylist ... thats what he used on my hair and I just had to take the plunge and buy one. The link I gave you is expensive ... but look around. I think I got mine for $120.

[shynbvs]

how do you use the flat iron? you have to do it in sections and make sure that it is perfectly straight before moving on. It's REALLY hard to do your own, takes practice ;)

[Cat]

The hotter the iron, the faster you can go down the strand of hair. The lower the setting on the iron, the slower you need to go down each strand of hair. I know with my hair I had to lower the temp a bit and just go down the strands much slower to get the nice straight look without the static friz. Play around with the temp settings and how fast you work down one lock of hair and find out the best mixture.

[vicklynn]

My hair likes to do its own thing. When I straighten it, I use leave in, spray on, conditioner.
I have to go very very very very, breath, very very very very slowly down the shafts, and I can only do a small, very small area at a time. If I hurry it, it goes poof. Time is the key I think.

[luv2show]

I agree with everything that's been said. What kind of iron do you have? How long does it take you?

[AUEquine]

I have curly wavey long hair! I straigthen mine pretty easily. Few rules:
-you must dry your hair straight... don't let it air dry, it's imposible to get out natures curls once their in.
-use a phemolient(sp?) on your wet hair before you dry it. This stuff really helps your hair straighten and stay straight
-use a ceramic flat iron... metal is worthless! and get a hot one, doesn't have to be expensive, I bought mine at walmart, it's a conaire. It gets just as hot and does just as good a job as all of my friends CHI straighteners
-straighten in layers/sections. I divide my head into four quadrants and do each quadrant 1 layer at a time. The thinner the layers the straighter you can get it.
-you can also use a straightening spray (or plain hair spray) on each section before you straighten it.
-Either before or after you straighten apply a moisturizer. I like the john freida step 5 cream, but really just plain lotion works. Just use a pea size, rub it all over your hands and then rub your hands through your hair. If you use too much you're hair looks oily and loses straightness.
-I usually have to hit mine with the straightener again after about 30 minutes or so, once my hair has cooled. Also a few more spritzes or hairspray to help seal the deal!

You just have to experiement with which products work for you and your hair type! Everyone is different! Go to a salon and get them to do it, then ask them which products they used!

[Stellaluna]

-use a ceramic flat iron... metal is worthless! and get a hot one, doesn't have to be expensive, I bought mine at walmart, it's a conaire. It gets just as hot and does just as good a job as all of my friends CHI straighteners
-straighten in layers/sections. I divide my head into four quadrants and do each quadrant 1 layer at a time. The thinner the layers the straighter you can get it.
-you can also use a straightening spray (or plain hair spray) on each section before you straighten it.
-I usually have to hit mine with the straightener again after about 30 minutes or so, once my hair has cooled. Also a few more spritzes or hairspray to help seal the deal!


Well said! I do all those things, too. Mine is pretty curly, but it isn't super thick, though (or long) and I can straighten it pretty easily from it's natural state. It's definitely all about experimenting with different techniques/products to find what works best with your hair type. :)

[MyHorseBiggs]

I have thick hair, too (as I mentioned on another thread, whenever it is being dyed, the average person requires 4oz of hair dye, mine takes 28oz...you can imagine =P). What temperature do you have the flat iron set at? Do you do your hair in layers when straightening it? How many times do you go over one piece? What's your weather like? Do you use any products before/after straightening your hair? Lots of questions, but they all contribute to issues. =P

Haha mine would take 28oz too! :D

I don't know what temp it's at it has different settings but it's one of the higher ones. Yup I try to do it in layers. I go over one piece 1 or 2 times. The weather is usually humid. And I don't know what product to use I do have some styling cream but don't exacly know how to use it. :/

[MyHorseBiggs]

The hotter the iron, the faster you can go down the strand of hair. The lower the setting on the iron, the slower you need to go down each strand of hair. I know with my hair I had to lower the temp a bit and just go down the strands much slower to get the nice straight look without the static friz. Play around with the temp settings and how fast you work down one lock of hair and find out the best mixture.


I don't want to burn my hair so I try to keep it a little lower though.

[MyHorseBiggs]

I'm going to go try to straighten my hair and let you know what happens. :p

[quest]

My hair is thick, super curly, and frizzy, there is also a lot of it but I have learned how to straighten it and it can get very straight. You have to be patient. It takes about a half hour to do an alright job straightening my hair. The key is to do use small strands at a time, don't take a big chunk. brush your hair so the tangles are out and be prepared to go over the same strands many times. Also, there is several products that will help make straightening easier.

[SedonaThunder]

All great advice... I too have a LOT of LONG hair - it's thin but there's a ton of it and it's naturally curly and tangly. It takes me about an hour to straighten my hair but I wanted to re-emphasize products - dimethicone to be exact. It is a complete waste of my time to straighten my hair if I don't add an anti-frizz product to keep the moistue out - if I don't all I have to do is walk outside and it starts to wave back up.

[painthorse72]

I have long thick wavy hair I use straightening shampoo, blow dry it staight then use flat iron with frizzez

[FatSpottedAppy]

I straighten my hair every single school day, and for me it really depends on the shampoo I'm using. There is this one product that i absolutely adore, its a spray and its all Aquage "Beyond Shine". It's specifically for straightening, it keepps everything flat and it also makes your hair shiny at the same time. :)

[cloedoll]

Morgan -- I have that same stuff! Aquage is one of my favorite products, but I have so many, heh. :o

[MyHorseBiggs]

I straightened my hair last night and it worked fairly well I heard somone say put a little hair spray on your hair and I did and it worked pretty well! I was happy but should I spray my hair with some water so it gets a little wet? I'm going to try again today. :D

[cloedoll]

No, do not spray your hair with water. You are straightening your hair because you don't like the way it looks after it dries, correct? So, getting it wet, would make it not straight and how it is after you get out of the shower. If that makes sense...? xD

[MyHorseBiggs]

Kinda.... :p

Oh and btw I use treseme (sp) shampoo. :D Anything I can get at target my mom is fine with. :)

[MyHorseBiggs]

Ok I'm going to go try straightening my hair again... Oh wait Caitlin can I chat with you on gabbly for a bit since you seem to know a lot. :D

[Whitedresswind]

Another quick thing, don't straighten your hair when it is wet, it damages the hair shafts, and also you should get pictures of the before and after :D

[Kaitlyn]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread..but my hair is so straight, it won't hold curl or even waves. I swear I can have curls for 5 minutes and then it's flat again.

Caitlin? Morgan? Any tips ladies? lol

[cloedoll]

Kzeiger -- My sister has the same problem you do and some hair types just don't like to curl! Hah. I'll PM you later today with 'tips' hehe. I'm busy right now and shouldn't be on the forum, lmbo. =P

[Kaitlyn]

Haha, thanks!

[Whitedresswind]

My sister too has that problem, lol. I suggest you curl, then spray with lots of hairspray. Perhaps tease the layers of your hair to make is fuller at the top as less at the bottom, and curl the bottom, and again hairspray, haha. What is your hair type?

[jeezitsjacki]

my hair is really hard to straighten too .. very annoying. but I get it chemically straightened every 6-12 months or so and it helps soo much. with that it only takes me 20-30 minutes to straighten my hair instead of the hour plus it used to take!

[MyHorseBiggs]

Lol! I need to take a shower and wash my hair then I'll try blow drying and then I'll straighten. xD

[MyHorseBiggs]

I'll take pictures of the before and after and I'll take some inbetween too :D

[Jump The Moon]

I have frizzy, weirdly wavey hair naturally.
It's also a very mousey brown, could it get any worse lol.

I use a frizz control and shine enhancing shampoo and that seems to help the colour too!
I have GHD wide straighteners and they seem to work great for me apart from on really cold days if I brush it after straightening it goes static, hehe, I noticed that the other week (it's been freezing here lately, lol)

[MyHorseBiggs]

Just got out of the shower and I'm going to straighten my hair :D

[Kaitlyn]

WDW: If you're addressing me, which I think you are..lol..I have pretty thick hair but it's not OVERLY thick, if that makes sense.

[KittySawrus]

I have GHD wide straighteners and they seem to work great for me apart from on really cold days if I brush it after straightening it goes static, hehe, I noticed that the other week (it's been freezing here lately, lol)

Ditto to the static stuff!

I suggest GHD Salon Stylers...they're wider, and heat up slightly hotter, I think - they're for Afro-Carribean type hair, and normal thin ones don't work half as well as these do. They leave my hair perfect when I do a thorough job ;).

[Pinky]

Don't straighten your hair after using hairspray, it'll burn :).

Also, speaking as someone who has backcombed her hair more often than not, straighten it before you try and do anything with it :D

[Horserider]

:p I have the exact same problem! When I straighten my hair it puffs out though it is still straight. It actually depends on the strength of the straightener. My best friend has one that she used on my hair that can get it perfectly straight in about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, but mine I can get it decently straight. Now I've found that the best strategy for me is to straighten my hair while it's still damp (my straightener can do this though you may want to check yours first). If I wait for it to dry out (I prefer to let my hair air dry since it gets even more frizzy if I blow dry it) then it's a lot harder to get it properly straight. That's just my hair. You may want to try other things to see what works best for yours.

My hair is naturally think and very curly. I'd show you, but I don't have any good pictures of myself that I can upload.

[ItsPrimeTime]

I have this amazing straightener. I recommend using a thermal product whenever you use heat on your hair.. It really does work and protects!!!!!