| Most women with curly or wavy hair have at | | | | ceramic coating as the former will last much |
| some point coveted straight hair. If you are one | | | | longer. |
| of them and wish to try this, you should know | | | | - How heavy is it? A lightweight one will be easier |
| that there are several great options these days | | | | on your arms and make you task much more |
| and none of them involves a clothes iron. New | | | | bearable. |
| methods, using state of the art technology, are | | | | - Does it have a swivel power cord? This feature |
| safer and less harmful to your hair. You can opt | | | | can make your task go much quicker. |
| for the chemical process to permanently | | | | - There are now several cordless models on the |
| straighten your hair and achieve a smooth, shiny, | | | | market. If you are going to use it for quick touch |
| straight mane for anywhere from six to nine | | | | ups or for travel; this option is great. |
| months. Or you can temporarily sport a straight | | | | - Look for a straightening iron with a protective |
| hairstyle for special occasions. You may want to | | | | heat resistant case so when you are done you |
| try this before you commit to a permanent | | | | can move on without worrying about it cooling |
| change. | | | | down. |
| If you have the time and patience you can just | | | | - Get a smaller plate iron for short hair and a |
| use a good hair dryer and styling brush to blow | | | | wider one for longer hair. |
| dry your hair straight or you can try a | | | | Tips |
| straightening irons. There are several different | | | | - Make sure your hair is totally dry before using a |
| types of straighteners available, from the older, | | | | heated iron. Hair is most fragile and prone to |
| most commonly used chrome-plated metal irons | | | | breakage when it is wet and the straightening iron |
| to gold-plated ones and of course the newest | | | | on damp hair will open the cuticle and damage the |
| technology, ceramic. If you are short on cash try | | | | cortex. If possible, allow your hair to dry naturally |
| the regular metal or the gold-plated ones; gold is | | | | instead of blow drying as this will reduce the |
| easier on your hair. If you can afford to splurge, | | | | amount of heat your hair has to endure at one |
| purchase a ceramic straightening iron and your | | | | time. |
| hair will thank you. The ceramic heats up more | | | | - Use a product like serum or protein treatment |
| evenly and is gentler to your hair by helping | | | | before straightening - specially on the ends. This |
| preserve the natural moisture. It also results in | | | | will further help protect your hair and leave it |
| shinier, smoother, healthier looking hair as it tends | | | | shinier. |
| to glide through better. Ceramic is known to | | | | - If you are looking for pin straight hair, part hair |
| eliminate frizz and minimize static. | | | | into small sections and do a couple of passes with |
| Things to look for in a straightening iron: | | | | the iron on each section. |
| - Does it have adjustable and several heat | | | | - If you are in a rush or are looking for just a |
| settings? You will have to experiment with it to | | | | smooth, polished finish; straighten just the top |
| find your ideal temperature. Although a high heat | | | | layer of your hair. No one will see the bottom |
| setting will get hair straighter quicker, try to follow | | | | layers anyway. |
| the general rule of using lower settings for fine | | | | - Do not wrap the cord around the iron as it may |
| hair and higher setting for thick or coarse hair | | | | fray or damage cord causing a hazard and giving |
| - Look for solid ceramic plates instead of a | | | | your investment a shorter life. |