Flat Iron Do’s & Don'ts

While flat irons save us from our frizzy-haired woes, there’s certainly a right and wrong way to use them. At the end of the day, hairstyling is as much a science as it is an art, and there are things to be cautious about. Before you grab the iron, take a look at our Do’s & Don’ts of flat ironing to make sure that your styling methods aren’t falling flat (the bad kind of flat!).

Do use a heat-protectant

This is crucial for maintaining hair health. At first, you might not spot the damage you’re creating by going without a great heat-protectant; however, in time, your hair will become brittle and break. Use a protecting hair care solution when using any thermal product. Our Stylus products protect hair and style in one go!

Don’t straighten your hair while it is wet

This seems like a pretty well-known rule; however, sometimes, when we’re in a rush, we aren’t thinking clearly. That’s why people have tried to straighten wet hair in the past, and have subsequently burned the hair. The iron you are using gets to temperatures that are so hot (beyond boiling point) causing the hair follicle to expand and burst once heat is applied!

Do straighten your hair in sections

Straightening your hair in sections will help you in many ways. For one, it will ensure that you are not going over the same hair more than once and decrease your rate of damage. Conversely, it will ensure that you don’t miss any strands while you are styling, yielding a perfect styling result!

Don’t use a hot tool every single day

Your hair is fragile and can only handle so much heat. Keeping that in mind, it’s important to avoid straightening or styling your hair every single day. This can be hard for people who absolutely love their hair tools, and we completely understand. We suggest using dry shampoo or baby powder to maximize the amount of days you can go with a particular style rather than styling daily!

Do adjust the temp so that it’s right for your hair

Great flat irons have adjustable heat temperatures, which is meant to cater to your hair type and the style you are going for. If you have finer hair, use a cooler temperature than if you have coarse or thick hair. The cooler temperature will get the job done while still styling your hair. On the other hand, if you’ve got thicker locks, you might need a higher temperature in order to achieve your desired styling result.

Don’t forget to clean your straightener

Because you’re going to be smart and protect your hair with a heat protectant, you are going to want to make sure to also clean your flat iron. This is something that so many people forget to do, because flat irons rarely look as dirty as they are. Cleaning the iron is going to prevent wear and tear, protect your hair, and allow your iron to style at its max potential without letting build-up get in the way!

Do pay attention to the straightener’s materials

Depending on how you’d classify your hair, you are going to want to stick to certain materials. We’ve already discussed how important it is to buy a professional-grade flat iron because they’ll use materials which protect your hair; however, you can get even more specific. For fine-medium hair, you’ll want to use a ceramic styler. For thicker hair types, you’ll want to go with titanium because it heats up faster! Most ceramic FHI Heat products are also infused with tourmaline, which protects damaged hair.

Don’t forget to use a brush

Never flat iron your hair without a brush handy. Not brushing through your hair as you are styling is inefficient and can produce more damage when you inevitably need to go over sections multiple times in a row. Always come prepared to your styling session with a brush!