There are a few common errors that happen during hair straightening with a flat iron. They are:

Not protecting strands from high heat
Straightening the same strands multiple times
Improperly shaping the ends
Not sectioning the hair correctly

Follow these simple tips, and you’ll be able to avoid these mistakes and get the best possible straight hair.

1. Start with a heat protectant spray

This is super crucial. Before literally crushing your precious hair between two scorching hot plates, give them a fighting chance against damage. Use a heat protectant spray all over your hair but especially on the fragile ends.

2. Section hair out before you go or as you go

There are two methods to sectioning your hair for proper straightening, and either are acceptable. You can either use multiple clips to section your hair from top to bottom, or just use one clip to section as you go. You need to give yourself small enough sections of hair so that you only need to run the flat iron over them once. Multiple passes of the iron can cause serious damage.

3. Use a comb or brush

Guide the straightener down the strands using a fine-tooth comb or brush. This holds the strands straight as the flat iron passes over them to avoid crushing crooking pieces and causing them to break.

4. Think about the desired end result

If you want your hair stick straight, keep the flat iron perpendicular to your head from root to tip. If you want your hair to flip out at the end, turn the flat iron as you near the ends. The direction you turn it will determine whether the ends flip straight out, away from your face, or toward your face, so be mindful.

5. Try to get close to the root

If your hair is naturally very curly, kinks at the root are a telltale sign that you straightened your hair, and they can look messy. Take very thin horizontal sections and try to get the flat iron as close to your scalp as possible without burning yourself.

6. Finish with hairspray