To get a sleek head of hair, you only need one tool: a flat iron. But before you clamp two hot plates between your locks, take note of these six tips to avoid damaging your tresses.
1. Make sure your hair is dry.
And we mean completely* dry. Seeing steam is not a good indicator that your flat iron is functioning well—it only means that it's frying your hair! Remove excess water by blasting a hairdryer on your locks.
TRY: BaByliss 3Q Hair Dryer, P10,450, Rustan's The Beauty Source
2. Apply a heat protectant.
Never ever forget this step! Heat styling can damage your locks. Prevent your stands from breaking by spritzing a protecting mist or applying a drop of serum all over your hair.
TRY: Vitress Cuticle Coat Heat Protect, P75, Watsons
3. Get rid of buhol first.
Doing this before ironing it will shorten your styling routine and will ensure that your locks will be properly straightened. Detangle your hair gently to avoid split ends and breakage.
TRY: Denman Handbag Styling Brush, P598, Rustan's The Beauty Source
4. Know the right temperature to work with.
If your flat iron has different heat settings, we suggest that you try the lowest one first and work your way up. Normally, the thicker or more curly the hair is, the higher the temperature it needs to properly straighten out the bends and waves.
TRY: Eva NYC Healthy Heat Ceramic Styling Iron Electric, P2,950, Beauty Bar
5. Work in small sections.
This will guarantee that every strand will receive enough heat to get straightened properly.
6. Clean your straightener.
All the oil and residue from your hair will build upon your tool, which can prevent it from properly working. So don't forget to clean it at least once a week!
BONUS: Use a hair mask once or twice a week.
Soft, smooth locks are easier to style, so using a revitalizing hair mask every week is key!
TRY: TRESemme Keratin Smooth Mask, P230, Robinsons Department Store
This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
