How To Use Your Styling Iron

Still can't live without your styling iron? Once you've learned to achieve that smooth sleek look,it's hard to give up. Even if you're using a quality, professional grade styling iron such as Paul Mitchell's Express Style or CHI's smoothing iron you can still cause damage to your hair with over use or inappropriate use.


Here are 10 tips to help you and your flat iron work together without damaging your hair.

1. Keep your flat iron clean. It will last longer and do less damage to your hair if you keep the plates clean and smooth preventing snagging and sticking.

2. Use a styling aid to prevent frizz before you blow dry. Light weight silicone based products are available in most professional salons. These products are designed to place a barrier between you hair and the heat and they also help seal in moisture. Be wary of drugstore styling products as most of the less expensive brands use industrial silicone which actually adds to damage over time.

3. Practice. Use you styling iron at lower temps to brands control. It's a lot easier to take 10 minutes here and there than it is to regrow burned hair.

4. Use a comb or brush to lead the iron through the hair. This will prevent sealing tangles and creating rough spots in the hair. You can also follow behind the iron through your hair in order to add an extra level of shine.

5. Use products designed for the task at hand. Most salon products are very versatile and can be used with heat but you don't want to use a volumizing product on your hair if you are trying to straighten it.Ask you stylist to show you some products that will produce your desired results.

6. Use small sections. The smaller the section the flatter and more weightless your hair will be.

7. Use even pressure while stroking your flat iron from the root to the end without stopping on any part of the sectioned hair.This will prevent press marks and will also prevent burning the hair.

8. Use a wide bristle brush on your hair while brushing your desired shape into place.

9. Use a lightweight serum to smooth any frizz left over. Ideally you can use a spray that you can run your hands over to get that those last little "fuzzies"


10. Let your iron cool; clean its surface with a cloth so you'll be ready to use it again tomorrow. Again, a clean iron will move smoothly through the hair thus preventing snags and burns.