A good set of hair straighteners is a must-have tool in anyone’s beauty kit, but are you making the most out of yours? Our professional stylists have a few clever tricks up their sleeves to achieve smoother, shinier, and longer-lasting styles – and now you can too. Whether you’re chasing sleek, pin-straight locks or effortless waves, our nine hair straightening hacks will instantly level up your styling game.
1. Always use a heat protectant
First and foremost, before you even start straightening your hair, always use a heat protectant. High heat can damage your hair, causing dryness, split ends, and dullness. A heat protectant acts like a barrier, reducing the risk of damage and the negative appearance that comes with it.
Spritz a lightweight, silicone-free protectant on damp hair before blow-drying and straightening your hair.
2. Adjust the temperature for your hair type
Too much heat can dry hair out, especially when dealing with fine or fragile strands. Our experts recommend using no more than 185 degrees of heat on your hair, which we’ve found to be the safest heat for all layers of hair. Anything higher than that risks damaging the core of the hair, while lower temperatures can damage the outer layer.
Always practice caution when it comes to marketing, as straighteners that offer higher heats will likely cause more damage without improved styling time.
3. Section your hair for even results
Straightening large chunks of hair at once will lead to the outer layer getting all the heat while the inner layer won’t get any. This will lead to uneven results, which will require you to make more passes over the hair, increasing heat exposure and styling time.
Our stylists recommend dividing the hair into four to six sections, securing each with clips. Work from the bottom layers for a smooth, finished look with minimal heat exposure.
4. Use a fine-toothed comb as you straighten
A fine-toothed comb helps to detangle strands of hair gently between passes of the straightener, preventing kinks. This will also help to evenly distribute heat, resulting in a sleeker, longer-lasting style that’ll last you all day.
Hold your comb in front of your straightener as you glide the plates down each section to achieve flawless results.
5. Flip your wrist for quick waves
Why stop at just one style? When straighteners have a rounded barrel, you can achieve effortless curls with just a quick flick of the wrist. Clamp your hair near the root, twist your straightener away from your face, and slowly glide it down. Repeat all over your head for soft, elegant curls and get twice the amount of fun from one hair styler.
6. Avoid straightening your hair while it’s damp
We’ve all been there – you’re already running late, and you want to straighten your hair before rushing out the door. What’s the harm in blow-drying your hair to damp and using the straightener to dry the last remaining moisture away?
Actually, applying direct heat to damp hair can cause severe damage, creating steam that weakens strands from the inside out. So, always make sure your hair is completely dry before using a straightener!
7. Clean your straighteners regularly
You might not notice it, but product can build up on the plates of your hair straighteners over time, causing uneven heat distribution and snagging on the hair. This can cause preventable damage and breakage. Our stylists recommend cleaning the plates of your straighteners once a week with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. Make sure the tool is completely cool and unplugged before doing this.
8. Quick touch-ups vs. whole-head straightening
Instead of straightening your entire head when you find a wry wave or a couple of flyaways, consider using your hair straightener for touch-ups instead. This not only saves plenty of time, but it also saves the rest of your hair from being overexposed to heat. It might be tempting to straighten the rest of your hair while you’re at it, but there’s no need – just touching up the few imperfections is much healthier than redoing your entire head.
9. Cool your hair before getting on with your day
Heat temporarily changes the shape of your hair’s bonds, but don’t panic – they’ll reset as the hair cools. Lock in your style by letting your hair cool before touching it or brushing with a paddle brush, as this might urge it to cool wavy or with kinks.
The best way to do this is by holding each section for a few seconds after straightening it. This will let it cool in your hands naturally, securing the straightness. Once your entire head is cool, lock in the style with a lightweight serum.
Find your new best friend styling tool today!
Hair straighteners are more versatile than you might think. With a few pro-approved techniques, you can get salon-worthy results at home while keeping your hair healthier and reducing styling time. If you’re looking for a new set of hair straighteners to protect your hair as they style, check out ghd’s collection. They use an optimal styling temperature of 185 degrees to style hair without damaging its integrity, and they have a selection for every hair type. Give them a gio today – trust us, you won’t regret it!
