Trick 4: Straightening 101 , 7 Hairstyling Tricks Every Woman Should Know

7 Hairstyling Tricks Every Woman Should Know

The expert techniques you need to get beautiful hair every time you style

July 9, 2010 | by Anna Jimenez | 63 COMMENTS

Trick 4: Straightening 101

If you have naturally curly or wavy hair you shouldn't feel stuck in a ringlet rut. Being weary of straightening iron damage is normal, but with the right product prep and responsible use, a flat iron can be your secret weapon for beautiful, shiny hair.

Tip 1: Choose a flat iron with ceramic plates as they produce gentle and infrared ionic heat that won't destroy your hair. Try CHI Turbo Ceramic Hairstyling Iron 1, $97.50.

Tip 2: Before adding serious heat to your strands from a flat iron, prep hair with products that will start the straightening process and protect your hair from thermal damage. Wash hair with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner like Sunsilk Straight to Perfection Shampoo, $4.99 and Conditioner, $4.99. Then spray hair with a thermal heat protectant like Shu Uemura Iron Design, $28.

Next: See how the pros straighten hair

SEE NEXT PAGE: Pro tips for straightening

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products mentioned

Vidal Sassoon VS547 1875 Watt Professional Full-Size...

7.9

T3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer

8.7

Spornette Prix

0.0

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum

8.9

Nexxus Sleek Style Calming Smoothing Creme

8.4

Conair 1-1/4

9.1

Hair Rules Wavy Mousse

10.0

Garnier Fructis Style Control Flexible Control...

8.1

CHI Turbo Digital Microchip Ceramic Hairstyling Iron

9.1

Sunsilk Straight to Perfection Shampoo

0.0

Sunsilk Straight to Perfection Conditioner

5.5

Shu Uemura Iron Design

0.0

Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears

9.2

Herbal Essences Body Envy Weightless Volumizing Gel

7.4

Sebastian Shaper Root Raise Lifting Spray

10.0

Conair Instant Heat Travel Hairsetter Jumbo-Sized...

0.0

Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream Moisture-rich...

10.0

Davines MOMO Fluid

9.3

Citre Shine Shine Mist Anti-Frizz Spray Laminator

8.5

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great tips! thanks!

by camigirl Monday, April 22, 2013 at 12:38PM Report as inappropriate

Good tip for bangs

by Mollysunshine Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 01:49AM Report as inappropriate

Good tips, I have thick coarse hair, and I always towel dry, BUT not anymore...

by MissPurple Friday, January 25, 2013 at 12:41PM Report as inappropriate

I'll definitely use the tips for cutting bangs and texturizing them. My bangs get long quickly after a haircut.

by inthemiddles Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 07:14PM Report as inappropriate

I use the blow dry your hair... Coarse or curly hair. And it really works... Especially if you can get a straightening brush... Your hair will practically straighten. Good advice here!

by Glam101 Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 09:54AM Report as inappropriate

what was with the hair type test? according to this really nobody's hair would be thick, because who can only get the elastic around their hair only once?

by Chris213 Monday, December 3, 2012 at 08:17PM Report as inappropriate

These are good tips for teenagers but I feel most adults would already know these "tips"

by BeautyBoss Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 12:19PM Report as inappropriate

I like the hair type test

by LittleBunny Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 03:20PM Report as inappropriate

Nice! :) I didnt even know these!

by MissAmy00 Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 08:58AM Report as inappropriate

Ehhh

by T_rod93 Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 03:27AM Report as inappropriate

Good information.

by flirtygirl214 Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 12:30PM Report as inappropriate

Some good products mentioned. Also some others included that I would like to try. The only caveat is cutting ones own hair, even the bangs. Does not seem wise even to save some cash.

by robyne00 Monday, April 9, 2012 at 06:17PM Report as inappropriate

(Buckett likes Spornette Prix, $19.99), lift hair at the roots and pull taught to stretch the sectioned hair. I'm available to proofread :-)

by sallie_des_biens Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 12:21AM Report as inappropriate

These are pretty good tips.

by SummerOrchid Friday, March 30, 2012 at 11:04AM Report as inappropriate

Wearing too much hair care and styling products can be counterproductive. If you need to style your hair everyday, you must deep condition your hair (with a specific product tailored to your hair type), at least two times a week, otherwise, no matter how much stuff you spray on, it's just going to get damaged.

by hananoire Monday, March 26, 2012 at 04:58AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips, love the last, Fighting Frizz, tip. Seems I can never get rid of my frizz. Will definitely try some of these tips!

by mrselliott08 Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 03:29PM Report as inappropriate

Good info. I can see many women learning at least one thing...The no suds shampoos are really a different experience. I have had a special towel for drying for about 10 years. I think it came from the body shop, maybe or bath and body. Great towel. It soaks up alot more moisture than a regular towel. It cost $18.00 but like I say 10 years later and there is no wear and I have used it every time I have shampooed. NOOOOOO....it is not a micro fiber, eck!

by ShanthiDevi Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 01:14PM Report as inappropriate

Very helpful tip , i would not mind try this new product to see how well is work

by nikkiq Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 10:02AM Report as inappropriate

here's a tip that i guarantee will help your hair no matter your type. never ever let a towel touch your hair. after shampooing, blot your hair with a t-shirt. the cotton is so much gentler on your hair and you'll get much smoother hair.

by eydie_sanders Friday, March 23, 2012 at 08:44PM Report as inappropriate

I didn't really learn anything new in this story ... and apparently women with curly/wavy hair should fight mother nature and blow dry their hair straight instead of wearing their hair the way nature intended. No tips for how to make your non-straight hair look its best? Also, these tips aren't anything new.

by gretchkal Friday, March 23, 2012 at 04:59PM Report as inappropriate

The elastic trick to determine hair type is bad advice. First of all, hair elastics vary in size. Second, how many times you need to wrap the elastic depends not only on thickness, but also on how MUCH hair you have. I have fine hair, but a lot of it.

by cbphila Friday, March 23, 2012 at 12:18PM Report as inappropriate

I'm going to try a blow-out one of these days.... Excellent article!

by WiccanLady Friday, March 23, 2012 at 11:23AM Report as inappropriate

I really like the blow out instructions. I hadn't been able to get it right yet!

by powerwoman033 Monday, March 12, 2012 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

some common sense tips but also some new suggestions i want to try...thanks!

by jenstar313 Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:59AM Report as inappropriate

Good tips! I agree with the other commenters about the elastic trick though - I'm a 3 wrap girl, but my hair texture is actually fine, as every hair dresser I've ever worked with has told me.

by elph37 Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 11:49AM Report as inappropriate

Very helpful

by Breton Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:41PM Report as inappropriate

really good tips on bang cutting!

by sportimonki13 Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:36PM Report as inappropriate

Loved the tips!

by ladyboarder9669 Friday, February 17, 2012 at 02:54PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips for cutting bangs!

by WiccanLady Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:00PM Report as inappropriate

Great tips for the days that I want to fight my natural curls, which is only about once a month! Great tips anyway!

by queeniemeanie Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:22AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips!!!

by arimshh Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 04:40PM Report as inappropriate

I really like the volume tricks!

by sportimonki13 Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 03:00PM Report as inappropriate

Some tips seem so obvious (like we've all been doing them for years) and some seem so out of reach (the perfect blowout at home!) but I'm willing to try!

by CinnaBlaze Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 06:12AM Report as inappropriate

Amazing tips

by MysticMeercat Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 09:45PM Report as inappropriate

Be careful with the hair elastic trick. I'm definitely a one-wrap girl but I have fine hair-- I just have a LOT of it! I always assumed I had thick hair until a stylist commented on how fine it was. The thickness of the strands (and how much heat they can deal with) is different from how much you have on your head. My stylist thins my hair out with special scizzors now and it is SO much better - not nearly as puffy!

by Jrsgirl Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 09:52PM Report as inappropriate

I'm between a T3 & GHD flat iron. Thanks for the tips!

by DTalksAll Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

great tips!

by stephgal Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 09:05PM Report as inappropriate

Fantastic pointers - need to try these out.

by Breton Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 04:12AM Report as inappropriate

awesome tips!

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 01:45AM Report as inappropriate

Great info, thanks!

by MissPurple Monday, July 18, 2011 at 11:48AM Report as inappropriate

I've never heard that tip to decide if your hair is thick, medium, or thin. Very cool

by bukiyounahito Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 08:38AM Report as inappropriate

Great Tips.

by ebbsandtides Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 01:55PM Report as inappropriate

great tips, awesome article

by RoleModel Monday, May 9, 2011 at 10:57PM Report as inappropriate

I'm going to go try these tips right now! I have slightly wavy hair and would LOVE to have some curl :)

by LipglossandSpandex Monday, April 18, 2011 at 08:39PM Report as inappropriate

I am having a great hair day thanks to these tips!

by LittleBunny Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 11:20AM Report as inappropriate

awesome!

by yckitsmary Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 07:36PM Report as inappropriate

Some really good ideas in here. I have to have some more patience with my hair and try to go along with its natural flow.

by pynkNymphette Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 05:44AM Report as inappropriate

@xmandy_candyx: I also love Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum and I don't know if you have a Sally's Beauty Supply near where you live but if you do they have a generic version that is LITERALLY the EXACT same thing as Super Skinny. It says on the bottle that it is compared to the Super Skinny and I did a side by side comparison to see if the ingredients really were the same and they are. It is only $7 and some change I believe and is sooooo worth it!!! Plus it's a little bit bigger of a bottle so you get more bang for your buck!! Just a helpful hint so you can go back to using the Super Skinny and save some money!! =)

by lisa2683 Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 12:49AM Report as inappropriate

Helpul post, thanks

by debjosh Friday, April 1, 2011 at 02:58AM Report as inappropriate

I have really long hair and I dye it. It's always really difficult taming hair like mine. My hair is straight but super thick and so it holds a lot of moisture. Because of this I have to use a flat iron and serum (not conditioner or cream) to keep my hair from being frizzy. I really like paul mitchell super skinny serum, but it got really expensive so I switched to Organix Coconut Milk anti-breakage serum and it works just as well, if not better than the Paul Mitchell. I also use the Solia 1 1/4 inch tourmaline flat iron. I swear by my flat iron. I had never heard of the brand but read review after review on Folica's website and decided I was gonna try it. I'm glad I did.

by xmandy_candyx Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 11:36PM Report as inappropriate

Good tips!

by volta Monday, March 28, 2011 at 02:46PM Report as inappropriate

extremely helpful

by brendag20127 Friday, March 18, 2011 at 02:20PM Report as inappropriate

Helpful tips. I will keep a few of these in mind for my hair type.

by missiongirl87 Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 01:52PM Report as inappropriate

Good tips. They recommended a leave in conditioner prior to straightening kinky hair, but I think all curly hair needs it.

by Mysterylady Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 09:13PM Report as inappropriate

Good sound, basic advice.

by Organic_skin_rocks Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 12:32PM Report as inappropriate

awesome thanks!!!

by Bon_Bon Monday, February 21, 2011 at 03:53PM Report as inappropriate

excellent article

by judyangel101 Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 07:23PM Report as inappropriate

Very in depth and helpful info

by LittleBunny Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 05:35PM Report as inappropriate

this was a really good article with a lot of good info :)

by kellabella Monday, January 31, 2011 at 12:56PM Report as inappropriate

Great artilce...loved the tips about cutting bangs.

by nani Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 03:11PM Report as inappropriate

some good info in this article

by BrenBren Friday, January 28, 2011 at 12:01PM Report as inappropriate

LOL smartipants2. i have seen a lot of typos on this website too. but all joking aside, these steps are good because i forget some of them sometimes.

by kenya Monday, November 22, 2010 at 08:28AM Report as inappropriate

Whoever wrote this should know that hair is "coarse," which is a texture, not "course," which could be a path traveled. I thought these were written by experts, but maybe not.

by smartipants2 Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 07:50AM Report as inappropriate

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