Flat ironing hair

[girl_geek]

I am so sick of my hair not doing what I want with a blowdryer (and it was just getting worse as I'm growing out my hair!), I finally broke down and bought my first flat iron yesterday! It's Conair's Wet/Dry flat iron -- I was hoping this would go faster since I don't want to take the time to shower, blowdry, and flat iron in the morning, along with everything else I have to do! (mu, breakfast, etc!) I want to try it out tomorrow...

Has anyone used this or another wet/dry iron before? Does your hair dry very quickly with this or should I give it a quick blast with the blow-dryer first to get it half dry?

Any general tips for flat ironing hair? I have never done this before and I am scared I am going to accidently burn myself trying to get the short hair in the back! lol (The bottom layers above my neck are only about 4" long, but they curl a lot at the end so I want to try to flat iron them!) I do already have Straight Sexy Hair's straightening balm which can be used with a flat iron, so hopefully I won't have to buy any new products!

Thanks!

 

[Laura]

oooh jennifer.. is that one of those ones that you use while your hair is still wet? Remington had one of those out in Ireland last year and it was a disaster. Lots of girls sent them back because it burnt all their hair. I'd definitely blow dry my hair first as dry as i can get it & then flat-iron. I love flat-ironing my hair & do it almost twice a week!

 

[Becky]

I've never used the Conair Flat Iron but here are a few things to help from my experience w/ my flat iron.

*If your using on wet hair, blow dry or air dry your root areas first. Sometimes it can "steam" as the water is evaporating. Blow/air drying your roots will keep the steam away from your scalp.

*Start near the roots. Higher temperature setting for very wet an thick hair; lower settings for thinner or less wet hair.

*As a first time user, I started with a lower heat setting and gradually raised the temperature (based on hair type).

*I find better results when I style my hair in sections and work from the bottom of my head and working to the top.

*Make sure you don't have styling product on your hands so you can keep a good grip on the iron.

Its really good to have a product to help protect your hair. I use Matrix Sleek.Look Iron Smoother

• Protects against heat damage – up to 450°F

• Style memory locks in the sleek look

• Seals in a hi-shine finish

HTH! Let us know how it turns out and how you like it!

 

[**Jen**]

I always heard that flat ironing wet hair was not good, although flat ironing is bad altogether. But I dry my hair 100% before I use my Chi ceramic flat iron. I use paul mitchell's spray that protects your hair from heat (forgot the name) Supposedly the ceramic flat iron's are the best. But, again - no hot styling is good for your hair.

 

[TheOpenRoad]

This is my first reply/post... I am new to this site, so I'd just firstly like to say hello to everyone!

I have a Remington Wet/Dry flat iron, and also a Conair ceramic flat iron... I recently got a straight perm to get rid of the AWFUL perm I had gotten months ago... so I don't really need to use the Wet/Dry anymore, since blow-drying will get my hair verrrrry straight anyway.

While my hair was curly, however, I was impressed by the seeming "immediate" drying and straightening result of the Wet/Dry, but after the first use it was no longer as impressive, and didn't really dry my hair or straighten it as well as blow-drying and then flat-ironing would. (My hair was also damaged at the time so perhaps it was retaining water because it was more porous)

Anyway, my advice is to use the Wet/Dry while your hair is towel-dried to get most of the water out (by steam), and then go in with the blowdryer and a round brush to dry and give your hair some shape. If you feel the need to do a once-over with the straightener (I used to do this with my regular straightener after using the Wet/Dry and a blow-dryer... because the Wet/Dry didn't really get it "as straight" as the ceramic did) again after blow-drying just to get it as straight as possible.

Hope I helped!!!

 

[girl_geek]

Thanks for the advice girls!

The directions say to use a lower heat setting on wet hair (I guess not to damage your hair) and then you can increase the heat for dry hair. I probably will get it at least mostly dry with the blowdryer (that should only take about 5 minutes since I won't bother styling it with the round brush and all!) and then flat iron it to get it straighter! I'll just play around the next few days and see what happens!

Now the one I got was a ceramic iron so hopefully that will work well! I am sick of blowdrying with a brush because I can never get my hair straight enough (and cannot get the ends even close to being straight, they flip out all over the place and I can never make them look good) and I was always told that flat irons get your hair much straighter so we'll see how this works!

 

[greeneyedangel]

You can Flat Iron while your hair is wet. BUT I WOULDN"T DO IT EVER! I don't care what the package says, that is so bad for your hair!

I always blowdry and then Flat Iron-- i know its a pain in the butt but it will keep your hair healthy.. and on your head

 

[NYAngel98]

I have the Remington's... honestly I don't use them often enough to really give you good advice, but I've done it with my hair damp, and it does dry & straighten. I really don't like the way the angles around my face look poker straight, and irons will give me that look. So I just use a blow dryer & touch up spots w/ the iron later on in the day if I need to. I think as long as you follow the directions and make sure your hair is at least somewhat dry, you should be ok. Just use a protectant first... if you want something inexpensive try the new ones out by VO5 or L'Oreal

 

[girl_geek]

Originally Posted by NYAngel98 I have the Remington's... honestly I don't use them often enough to really give you good advice, but I've done it with my hair damp, and it does dry & straighten. I really don't like the way the angles around my face look poker straight, and irons will give me that look. So I just use a blow dryer & touch up spots w/ the iron later on in the day if I need to. I think as long as you follow the directions and make sure your hair is at least somewhat dry, you should be ok. Just use a protectant first... if you want something inexpensive try the new ones out by VO5 or L'Oreal

So does the Sexy Straight Hair balm not protect your hair, does it just help straighten it? All it says on the tube is "apply to wet hair and blowdry or flat iron straight!" If so, I'll look into those products this weekend

 

[Laura]

Originally Posted by girl_geek Now the one I got was a ceramic iron so hopefully that will work well! Ceramic's ROCK girl_geek!

 

[NYAngel98]

Originally Posted by girl_geek So does the Sexy Straight Hair balm not protect your hair, does it just help straighten it? All it says on the tube is "apply to wet hair and blowdry or flat iron straight!" If so, I'll look into those products this weekend

Well it coats the hair, so it will add some protection, but you should always put a spray on there first (on wet hair) whether you iron or blowdry --- before you add your styling products. It's never a bad idea to be too careful

 

[KathrynNicole]

I have a Chi, too! It's Chi #3. I think.

I've gone through so many.

I've used it a few times, while my hair was damp, and I'll never do it again.

 

[girl_geek]

So I tried my flatiron today, and WOW, I have never seen my hair this straight and shiny! Why didn't I buy one of these years ago?? lol

I ended up drying it about 90% of the way with a blowdryer, then flatironing it on a medium setting (the highest setting safe for damp hair, according to the directions).

With a blowdryer, my hair was usually still slightly wavy in sections, and the ends flipped a lot and were really uncontrollable.... now the length of my hair is totally straight, and the ends just barely flip out when they hit my shoulders -- they look like they're actually supposed to flip out that way, rather than looking like I just rolled out of bed like it usually does! lol

The only drawback is that it took me about 30 minutes for the whole process.... and I thought the 20 minutes I used to spend blowdrying was too long ... hubby is going to be even more annoyed with how long it takes me to get ready now! lol

And hopefully as my hair grows out more, it will look better with the just the blowdryer, because I don't want to flatiron it every day for the rest of my life!

 

[Marisol]

Glad it worked out for you. When I use my flatiron, I do not wash my hair the next day. I just run the iron for quick touch up. The more you use it, the faster you will accomplish straight, shiny hair.

 

[girl_geek]

Originally Posted by Marisol Glad it worked out for you. When I use my flatiron, I do not wash my hair the next day. I just run the iron for quick touch up. The more you use it, the faster you will accomplish straight, shiny hair. Yeah, I figured it would get faster with practice! But my hair's too oily not to wash it every day!

 

[KathrynNicole]

Originally Posted by girl_geek The only drawback is that it took me about 30 minutes for the whole process.... and I thought the 20 minutes I used to spend blowdrying was too long ... hubby is going to be even more annoyed with how long it takes me to get ready now! lol Maybe you could involve him in the process.

My hubby does the back of my hair for me. He must like doing it, too, because he has yet to complain.

Happy flat ironing to you & possibly yours!

 

[**Jen**]

Jennifer,

You can put baby powder in your hair to soak up the oils. put your head over the bathtub and put some babypowder in your hand and just put it all over your head and shake it through. You'll get great volume the next day.

Originally Posted by girl_geek Yeah, I figured it would get faster with practice! But my hair's too oily not to wash it every day!

 

[girl_geek]

Cool, thanks for the tip!

 

[KathrynNicole]

Originally Posted by Charmaine Aw Katie, that is so cute of your dh...

 

[girl_geek]

Janelle, thank you for recommending the L'Oreal heat protecting cream (Hot Straight by their Studio Line)! It was only $3.50 and works much better than the $13 Straight Sexy Hair balm I had previously used with my flat iron! (I just reviewed it if anyone wants to read more!)

I am so in love with my flat iron, I haven't been this happy with my hair in years :icon_love I just wish I could blowdry and flat iron in under 30 minutes! lol