How to Straighten Fine Hair with a Flat Iron?

Fine hair is very delicate and straightening it the wrong way can easily damage it or burn it. With the new technologies like flat irons designed for fine hair, you can safely straighten your fine hair and keep it smooth and shiny.

How to Straighten Fine Hair Safely

Wash Your Hair with the Right Products

With fine hair, you need to use volumizing shampoos and conditioners that strengthen and boost your hair volume. Wash your hair gently to remove all impurities and dirt.

Dry Your Hair

Your hair is weakest when it is wet. Using a flat iron on wet hair leads to heat damage. To prevent this, dry your hair gently using a microfiber towel. If you have time, it’s better to wait for your hair to dry completely through the air-drying method. If you are in a hurry use a blow dryer to quicken the process.

Comb Your Hair

Fine hair is very fragile, and straightening it with tangles can lead to breakage. Comb your hair to clear all tangles and knots on your hair for a smooth straightening experience and avoid breakage.

Apply Heat Protectant

Before using your flat iron, you need to use a heat protectant on your hair. This creates a barrier between your hair and the heat styling tool to protect it from heat damage.

Some of the benefits of using heat protectant spray on hair before straightening it include:

  • It acts as a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss caused during heating the hair
  • It protects your hair from heat damage
  • It helps to quicken the drying process thus less time straightening your hair
  • It smoothes your hair follicles thus, reducing frizz
  • It detangles your hair and makes it easily manageable

Use the Right Flat Iron

Flat irons come in various plates and different size plates and shapes. With fine hair, you should use a flat iron with a 1-inch plate or less. Also, ceramic flat irons are great for fine hair because you don’t need high heat.

Separate Your Hair into Small Sections

Before you start straightening your hair, separating it into small sections will make the process easier. It will also prevent you from styling the same section over and over, which can lead to heat damage.

Use the Lower Heat Setting

With fine hair, you should use the lowest heat setting on your flat iron. Fine hair doesn’t need much heat to be straightened fully or, you will risk burning it.

Pass the flat iron Quickly and Smoothly

Start with a section of hair and make quick passes evenly and smoothly with your flat iron. Don’t let your flat iron plate rest on one area for more than a second or two.

This reduces the time your hair is exposed to heat thus, reducing the risk of heat damage. Smooth even passes create a sleek and shiny finish.

By following these steps, you can straighten fine hair with a flat iron safely.