Hair straightening

An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available. The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. One of the great joys of having textured hair (from the slightest beachy wave to beautiful kinks) is versatility. No matter how curly your hair, sleek strands are just one styling session away. But the question isn't if waves can be straighten, but how. How to straighten your hair? How to use a flat iron? Is there a way to straighten natural hair without heat? We asked hair stylist and Hair Rules creator Anthony Dickey for the answers to those questions and more. Step 1: Shampoo and Condition That said, all great straight styling begins in the shower. "The thicker, curlier and kinkier your hair is, the more you want to avoid shampoos with suds," says Dickey. "Use cream shampoos that are sulfate-free, wh...

There are many 3 Fantastic Chemical Hair Straightening Treatments Want to achieve smoother, straight strands that are more permanent than just using a flat iron? Learn more about three of the best salon straightening treatments. 1. Japanese Rebonding Japanese rebonding is the longest-lasting of all hair straightening treatments. Photo credit: Dvora Also known as thermal reconditioning, Similar to relaxing hair, this method works on most hair types. However, The curlier the hair, the more touchups you’ll need. Note: if the hair has been subject to many dyeing or heat-related treatments, strands may already be weakened, and the results might not be as effective. It’s best to do this treatment in a salon with a professional. If the straightening solution is left on for too long, it can leave hair thin and brittle. The process takes approximately three to four hours or longer, depending on the condition of your hair. Expect to visit the salon every four to six months for maintenance. 2. Brazilian Keratin Treatments Straighten shorter hair to prevent frizz and flyaways. Photo credit: Dvora A more common method, Brazilian treatments are first and foremost a Brazilian keratin sessions are less risky than their Japanese counterpart; however, they can still damage hair through the chemical formaldehyde added during the process. This is the best hair straightening treatment for those with color-processed hair or dry and damaged locks. The keratin protein helps fill in porous hair ce...

Fact: Using a subpar hair straightener can destroy your hair. Take it from me, someone who straightens their max. I thought it didn’t matter that my crusty ol’ flat iron had a bad habit of getting too hot, snagging my hair, and randomly turning off. As long as it gets the job done, right? But nope— a bad straightener can lead to excessive damage, breakage, and split ends. That doesn't mean you need to spend $$$, but a good hair straightener should be tailored to your And those are just the basics. You've also got the choice between auto shut-off features, wide or thin builds, and ceramic or titanium plates (fyi, ceramic = softer heat that’s better for finer, straighter hair; titanium = stronger heat that’s better for curlier, coarser hair). I know it sounds overwhelming, so to make it easier for you, I tried and tested a handful of the top flat irons of the year, then rounded up the best hair straighteners of 2022 according to reviews from real testers. But first, a sneak peek: ✔️ P.S., This is new, up-to-date info, bb. We updated this article in October 2022 to add new flat irons the internet won't stop talking about, delete outdated oldies, and check in with new experts for the latest in hair straighteners, just for you. Our top hair-straightener picks of 2022 Show more Now keep reading for the full breakdown of my favorite hair straighteners— from drugstore-priced straighteners to flat irons for curly hair and more—along with explanations on how to minimize heat damage,...

Having The key to unlocking textured strands' supernatural ability is simply a matter of TLC. Watching your heat temperatures, having the right tools on hand, and a heavy reliance on hydrating shampoos and moisturizing conditioners are all a part of the equation when it comes to morphing those textured tresses into a straightened, smoothed out 'do. To unlock this potential on your own, keep reading for tips and a step-by-step guide on how to safely straighten curly hair, straight from hair experts Brendnetta Ashley and Carolyn Aronson. • • Carolyn Aronson is a licensed stylist. She is the founder and CEO of Here's What You'll Need: • Hydrating shampoo • Moisturizing conditioner • Conditioning mask and/or leave-in conditioning spray • Heat protectant • Clips for sectioning • Blow-dryer with nozzle attachment • Straightening brush • Heat-resistant comb • 1/2 or 1-inch flat iron • 1/4-inch "pencil" flat iron* (optional) BRENDNETTA ASHLEY One of the many perks of natural texture is the minimized need to If your texture falls more on the side of coily than curly, Ashley recommends washing the hair at least two times. For any amount of texture, she suggests a shampoo that's both hydrating and moisturizing for your curls, like Schwarzkopf's BlondMe All Rich Shampoo. BRENDNETTA ASHLEY The manual for having curly hair calls for a lot of conditioning. "Textured hair actually has a different structure to it and is usually dry," says Aronson. Without proper conditioning, the hair is p...

Winter is a great time to explore heat styles, be they flat-ironed looks or voluminous While hairstylist Mickiela Smith of “When it comes to hot tools, preserving the integrity of your hair should be your top priority,” says editorial hairstylist What To Look For In A Hair Straightener So with this in mind, what do the pros look for in a hair straightener, amongst other hair care products like “When I shop for a new flat iron, I am looking for how hot the iron gets, if there is a dial so that I may adjust the heat to my desired temperature, the number of passes it takes for the hair to be straightened, and whether I can use it on all hair types,” explains celebrity and editorial hairstylist Ceramic Versus Titanium Hair Straighteners As you begin your search for your next flat iron, you’ll notice that there are several plate materials available—ultimately impacting how fast the iron heats up and how the tool works to straighten each strand. “Ceramic irons take longer to heat up and they heat the hair from the inside, [while] titanium heats up immediately and heats the hair on the surface,” explains Parker. “Straightening hair from the inside is better than heating the hair shaft.” According to her, which option you should choose is based on your hair type and desired look. “If your hair is soft, smooth, and easy to flat iron, use ceramic, but if you have more stubborn, coarse hair, use titanium.” Essentially, titanium plates will heat faster and require fewer passes to achi...

If you’re continually on a quest for ultra-smooth, ultra-sleek hair, you probably have an arsenal of styling tools to help you achieve the look. No matter how naturally straight your hair is, a blow dryer is a must to get it perfectly smooth. A flat iron is probably involved, too, especially if your natural texture is thick or curly. Hot tools are a necessity for straight hair but don’t forget another part of the equation: styling products. In addition to a smoothing shampoo and conditioner, you’ll want a straightening product—whether a cream, spray, or serum—within arm’s reach too. “A Not only do the latest and greatest formulas smooth and straighten, but they also offer a host of other benefits too. That’s why we narrowed down the best of the best hair straightening products, which will also protect your luscious locks against heat, lock in moisture, and fight the effects of humidity too. What We Don't Like • Strong smell No matter your natural texture, a few spritzes of this formula sprayed evenly over dry hair will help smooth it out—and fast. You’ll especially want to add this to your hair routine if you constantly battle humidity since it tames weather-induced frizz. When paired with the accompanying shampoo and conditioner, it can leave hair up to five times smoother too. This spray also helps protect your hair from temps up to 450 degrees, so you can feel a little less guilt about heat styling too. Plus, it contains shea butter to infuse your locks with plenty of m...

We updated this article in May 2023 to add more information about each featured product, plus added new picks selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. News flash: while H air straightening brushes work as a flat iron and a brush in one to help streamline the smoothing process, detangling as they style. These tools are essentially hot Quick tip: Unlike hair dryer brushes, you should use a hair straightening brush on completely dry hair, and make sure to apply a We put many of these tools to the test at the Our top picks: Boasting a perfect performance score in the Lab along with being the fastest tool to heat up, this brush from ghd styled hair quickly and effectively. "I loved pretty much everything," shares one tester with thick, curly hair. "It effectively tamed my thick hair and left it with body." The brush contains bristles specifically designed to help detangle and smooth, and has anti-static technology which claims to help prevent frizz after styling. The one downside: there is only one temperature setting and no digital temperature display. Ceramic coating and detangling bristles help ensure your hair is as smooth as possible. "I love this straightener," works so well on my thick hair without having to use such a high heat setting." While we didn't test this one in the Lab, we love that this budget-friendly option features a larger brush head than many of the other picks, making it ideal for thicker or longer hair. The one reviewer complaint that pop...

Whether your a good hair-straightening product before you go in with your refuses to hold a curl—I've spent my whole life experimenting, failing, and finally mastering the hair-straightening game (cue the movie montage of all my bad hair days ever). Now I’m ready to pass on my wisdom—and the wisdom of two expert hairstylists, Rubenstein and hair-straightening products, like creams, serums, and sprays that'll smooth flyaways and make achieving Ariana Grande and Kim K-level hair much, much easier. Let’s get into it, but first, here's a sneak peek. Our top hair-straightening product picks of 2022 Have naturally curly hair? This hair-straightening product is for you. All you have to do is massage it into damp hair, blow dry section by section, and then finish it off with a flat iron. The end result? Pin-straight hair à la THE REVIEW: "This stuff is liquid gold. It definitely cuts down the amount of time it takes to blow dry my hair. But the real plus is it makes my thick hair sleek and silky just-got-a-blowout feeling after I straighten it with a flatiron," one review reads. You don’t need to ball out to get a hair-straightening product that actually works. This drugstore spray from John Frieda only costs $12 and will 100 percent make your hair look super straight, smooth, and shiny. THE REVIEW: "When I first saw this in the store, I had to try it. I am so glad that I did. It really helps curly hair become straight using a hair dryer, then a flat iron. It also lasts for three ...

My journey began two months ago, when I volunteered as tribute to undergo Goldwell's Kerasilk Control Keratin Treatment, a hair straightening process that doesn't contain formaldehyde, unlike so many other options out there. I won't lie: The idea of saying goodbye to my 3A curls for three to five months tugged at my heart, but the appeal of getting a long-term, lower maintenance hairstyle without the sketchy ingredients was too appealing to pass up. In the past, the only time I Princess Diaries back in 2001 — and even Carrie Bradshaw wore her hair straight every now and again. Not to mention, just because I would undergo a chemical process to straighten my curls didn't mean they would be gone forever. I was assured multiple times they would (eventually) grow back post-treatment. But before I got started, I had some questions. Luckily, my stylist, • Works on all hair types: The treatment will still eliminate the frizz/flyaways and stray • Has restorative properties: According to O'Connor, the Kerasailk Control Smoothing Service can actually improve the texture and condition of color-treated hair to some extent. Virgin hair — like mine — works best, as it’s able to absorb more of the keratin. • Formaldehyde-free: Unlike a not — use formaldehyde. That said, is this completely chemical-free? No. The keratin formula does have other chemicals in it, though not the kind used to preserve dead animals. • Double shampoo and blow-dry: The process begins with a double shampoo to compl...