How to straighten and care for damaged hair

Content

Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Get everything you need ready.

It is very important to have a quality hair iron. Unfortunately, this is just the case when the more expensive the better. Of course, this does not mean that you only need to buy special professional equipment, but at least you should make sure that your iron has a ceramic coating. Narrower irons are better than wide irons because they are easier to use.
You will need a wide plastic comb and a round brush with plastic and natural fibers. In addition, a narrow plastic comb with a long pointed handle is also useful - it is convenient to part with such a comb. Buy some metal clips to help separate the strands when styling. Any makeup store usually has a wide selection of hairpins and clips. Do not forget about thin hair ties, but try to buy only one-piece elastic bands, no iron clips, because non-one-piece elastic bands break easily.
Buy a good dry hair shampoo and conditioner. Shampoos for dry and damaged hair are available from both premium brands and very simple brands. Instead of conditioner, which needs to be applied to damp hair and rinsed off, you can buy a leave-in conditioner.

2 Shampoo your hair twice. Massage the shampoo into the base of your hair with light massaging strokes, but never rub your hair too hard. Pay special attention to the areas along the hairline (especially around the ears), because this is where the hair gets dirty the most. Then distribute the shampoo all over the hair, but remember that you shouldn't lather the remaining hair too much, especially if it is dry and damaged. Rinse your hair well, as even the smallest shampoo residue can increase dryness. Rinse your hair for at least four minutes.

3 Apply conditioner. Don't squeeze out too much - the conditioner should cover your hair in a thin layer. Do not apply conditioner to the roots - this will cause your hair to get dirty much faster than usual. First, use a regular conditioner and rinse it off, then apply another - a special conditioner to deeply moisturize your hair. Leave it on your hair for 10 minutes, then rinse off with cool water. This will give your hair deep nourishment. Remember to rinse your hair very thoroughly, as leave-in conditioner makes your hair look dull and heavy.

4 To make combing easier, you can spray conditioner on damp hair. Such air conditioners are available from Gliss Kur, Nivea, Bonacure. Do not apply too much, even if the texture of the spray seems to be very light. Comb your hair with a wide comb.

5 Apply serum or special hair cream to the very ends. This product should not be oily or too thick. And remember that such means in no case should it be applied to the roots! Warm a small amount of the cream in your palms before use.

6 Parse with a fine comb. It is best to do this before the hair is completely dry.

7 Wrap your hair in a towel like a turban. It is usually recommended to keep the towel on your head for 20-25 minutes, but you yourself will feel more comfortable.

8 Plug in the iron and let it warm up. After the hair is dry, collect it with a crab or an elastic band at the back of your head, leaving only the lower strands. Start straightening these strands by pulling them tight and pulling them to the side. They don't have to be perfectly straight at this point, so don't put too much effort. Remember that you can only straighten dry hair: if you try to straighten wet hair, it will dry out and break off from a sharp temperature drop.

9 After straightening the bottom strands, move on to the rest. Always straighten your hair in small sections, pull the strands tight and pull them away from your face. Do not hold the iron on your hair for more than two seconds. The beauty of narrow irons lies in their versatility: you can make the strand straight along the entire length, or you can twist the ends up or in. Even if you want to achieve a perfectly sleek hairstyle, the curled ends always look very natural. Everyone chooses the most suitable styling method, so exercise.

10 Now iron it again on the areas that don't look quite smooth. Remember that the smaller the strand, the better it will straighten. Pay special attention to the bangs and hair at the back of the head - they are usually the most difficult to straighten completely, because holding the iron from the back is uncomfortable.

11 To keep your hair straight the next day, style it in a special way before going to bed. Comb all the hair forward and lock lock by lock with invisible ones. Hair should lie without kinks - after all, it's not for nothing that you tried so hard to straighten it! Do not throw them on their side, fasten them with invisible ones in a circle. Then tie a silk scarf or kerchief on top, and you can go to bed in peace.

12 Ready!

Tips

Wipe down the working surfaces of the iron regularly. If you straightened your dirty hair (which you can't do, because your hair literally burns out due to grease, and the smell is terrible), traces of hair grease may remain on the iron. Wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth from time to time.
Straighten your hair in front of the mirror. And if you place another mirror behind your back, it will be much easier for you to straighten the hair at the back of your head.
If you use a gloss spray, do not overuse it. When applying, first spray onto hands and then massage into hair.
Try to wash your hair as little as possible. Usually the hair is washed every other day, but if you can go through more, then this will only benefit. But remember that dirty hair smells bad.
Wash your hair and style your hair at night, and wrap your head with a scarf before going to bed. Thanks to this, you do not have to spend a lot of time styling in the morning, and your hair will look smooth and well-groomed.
If your hair is slightly stale, you can mask it with baby powder. Rub the powder into the roots as if you were shampooing and comb through your hair to distribute it evenly.
If your hair becomes electrified, use a special anti-static agent. Apply it to a comb, let it dry slightly and comb through your hair. The result will amaze you.
Use a deep nourishing conditioner once a week. Instead of an industrially made air conditioner, you can use sesame oil - it can work wonders, but any other oil-based product will do: mayonnaise, mustard, burdock oil.Leave the conditioner on your hair for as long as possible, but remember to rinse your hair thoroughly after this treatment.
Split ends look messy, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice length. Try special protein masks, products with coconut oil, coconut milk, honey.
Straight hair of the same length is boring. Try different haircuts: cascading, semicircle, ladder. No matter how your hair splits, remember that you can always cut damaged hair and it will grow back smoother and healthier.
If you have very unruly hair, consider chemical straightening - you won't have to use an iron as often. This service is now presented in many salons.
If you are not using a kerchief or silk scarf to secure your hair at night, at least pin up your bangs. In a dream, a person sweats, and the hair gets dirty from this faster. If you are hot to sleep, leave the fan running overnight.

Warnings

Remember to turn off the iron as soon as you finish straightening your hair. Leaving the iron on can lead not only to overheating, but also to a fire.
Some haircuts do not imply perfectly straight hair, and in such cases blow-drying your hair and then straightening it is not at all necessary. Do not get too carried away with pulling your hair, because it can turn into an obsession. Of course, sometimes you can spend two hours getting your hair done, but only if you are not going to take out the trash.
Humidity is your worst enemy! In the summer, try to pull your hair up. In rainy weather, wear hoodies and an umbrella. Any kind of headgear will also do the trick. The better your iron, the less susceptible to moisture your hair will be.
Do not place the iron on wood or painted surfaces - it may lighten or discolor the surface. Instead, place the flat iron on a towel, pillow, or old hat.
Do not use strong fixing foams and varnishes. Dull hair that sticks together looks extremely repulsive, especially if it was straightened before applying these products. Learn to use the iron correctly and you won't need any additional fixation.
Be careful when using the iron.