Frizz-Busting Part II: Flat Iron Finesse

• you look at your flat iron, and beg it not to fry your hair
  
• it looks back at you and says, "try me"

It's time to tame the beast.

Flat ironing can truly damage hair. Too hot, too many times, and hair won't grow. In my salon, I have seen this many times. Burnt ends, split ends, breakage, dryness, and even - dare I say it - FRIZZ - caused by flat ironing incorrectly.

We're here to change that.

First thing first: get yourself a good heat protectant. Product is sooo important! Flat ironing hair without a heat protectant is like parachuting without a parachute. Use it every single time. And don't worry, there are plenty of great products to choose from. I don't care if you get it from a drug store; just use it.

Next, you have to find a temperature setting that will be effective but kind to your hair. If your flat iron does not have a temperature setting, get yourself one that does. Period. No arguments. You need to be in control of the temperature, because you may not need full heat each and every time, and lower heat saves your hair.

How can you tell what temperature setting is correct? Start low. Hair that has undergone any kind of chemical process (color, perm, relaxer, bleach, etc) and/or fine hair should start around 200 degrees, and go up.  Coarse, wiry hair, even with color, can start around 300 degrees.

This is important: come each section of hair first. What you pass through the iron is what you get on the other side. Tangles will be flat tangles. Not a pretty look.

Pass the iron over a 1 inch section of hair, using even pressure, until the ends fall from the iron. Is it smooth? No? Go up 20 degrees. Each time get a new section of hair, and each time only go up 20 degrees until the hair is perfect in one pass. Voila! You found your temperature setting.

Then, section the hair. Start from the bottom of the ear and go across to the bottom of the other. Pin the rest up with a clip. Flat iron that small section at the nape. Then section from the top of the ear to the top of the ear. Pin the rest up. Now flat iron that section in one pass, leaving the stuff out you already ironed on the bottom. Don't worry about not being able to see it. Your hair will tell you. The smooth stuff will pretty much separate itself from the frizz. From there, section temple to temple. Repeat.  Finally, divide the top into 3 or 4 equal sections, and finish. Tackle flyaways with a little Argan Oil (Moroccan Oil is a great product) and you're done! Sleek, smooth, shiny, frizz-free and fabulous!

Next week: Become a Guru of Shampoo