Do you use a hair straightener if your hair is already straight? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Do you use a hair straightener if your hair is already straight?

anne

Veteran

A hairdresser used one on my hair once and it kept in place for ages. Have been wondering if it's worth getting one myself.
Thoughts?

General

37 replies

Latest reply was from dominicanhorse

abc

Veteran

My hair is not straight. You've seen the pics

My thought is this. It could possibly make it more smooth and you could go longer between washes. However I have never been able to get the same results as the hair stylist. Just can't do it the same as they do - so my results aren't as good and don't last like a salon blow out or flat iron service.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Me neither. I have no idea what the hair salon magic is, but I don't have it.

One thing I have noticed: if I straighten my hair, it gets greasy quicker. I think this is because the more I muck with it, the more it stimulates the oil-producing glands in my scalp. Sort of like when you go out in the wind, and the wind stimulates your scalp for you -- and you end up with a greasy head. (Or is this just me? Does anyone else get greasy hair from the wind?).

Colette

Veteran

I very, very occasionally flat iron my hair when I want a really sleek look. I blow out my hair with a round brush first and then use my flat iron. Even though my hair is straight from the blow out, the flat iron does make a noticeable difference. I agree with abc that I can never duplicate the results as my hair stylist even though I use the same tools. But, when I take the extra time to blow out my hair properly I find it does last longer. I don't really know if the flat iron helps it last though. If you think you will use it, go for it.

anne

Veteran

Hmm. No, I don't think I get greasy hair from wind but I see your reasoning ☺

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes. Every day. But my hair is wavy.

Sara L.

Veteran

When my hair was long, I occasionally used a straightener. My hair is a mix of straight and wavy so it smoothed it all out. I loved the way it looked when straightened - so glossy and smooth. I bought my straightener at my salon (better quality than the drugstore) and I always had good results.

Joy

Veteran

If you mean a flat iron, yes. My hair is very straight with no wave at all but the flatiron can be used to lift and give more volume as well as smooth little surface hairs.

old chic

Like Angie, I use a flatiron every time. My hair is cowlick-y and wavy in some spots, but I like it as close to pin-straight as I can get it. Can't duplicate stylist's perfection, though.

Meow

Veteran

Be VERY careful when using a straighter/flat iron. I really damaged my hair and am still growing out the fried pieces. You have to make sure your hair is completely dry. If at all damp you will essentially boil the water in the hair shaft and it explodes....fried hair. Also use a heat protectant product. I like miracle 10 leave in product. And get a good flat iron..I used a Chi which I thought was good but still. ...

Never say never but I no longer will use a flat iron and gave mine away. A round brush in different sizes,a good blow dryer and hair product looks just as good if not better.

Marilyn

Veteran

I love my flat iron! My hair is already straight but I love the pin straight and sleek look I can get with a flat iron. I only iron the bottom half. It takes just a minute and is dead simple to achieve. Use a styling product with heat protection.

This one was recommended in store. I was told everyone raves about it.
http://www.sallybeauty.com/per.....38;prefn1=...

Anonymous

I used one for awhile, but it resulted in damaged hair, probably because I was already using a blow dryer and getting it chemically lightened. It was just too much abuse, I guess, and the results were never that great for me.

Lisa

Veteran

Yes, it keeps the flyaways down and makes the hair stay straighter longer.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I use one. My hair is very wavy to curly and very prone to fuzz. I use it after every hair wash (every second to third day) and find it lasts as I long as I keep my hair dry. I agree with others about avoiding incorrect use eg never use on damp hair.

Marley

Veteran

I can't imagine not having a flat iron. I use one everyday, regardless of how I am wearing my hair. The iron will completely straighten it if that is what you want, or it will simply give your hair added volume if you use it at the roots, or it will give your hair loose waves if you are going for a wavier look. I have learned from experience that the better quality of flat iron that you use, the better your results and the smaller the chance of damaging your hair. Also, be sure to purchase one that has a temperature control button - that way you can control the temperature of the iron.

Helen11

Veteran

I have a cheap one, and don't get good results. I get fried hair too, even if it's dry to start. Do you have a teenage friend who could let you try hers out?

Keix

Veteran

I have stick-straight Asian hair and I usually get it cut at Asian beauty salons in Chinatown. Every time they finish cutting my hair, they always blow dry it AND straighten it. Looks amazing at the end, super soft and lasts for days.

Of course, in real life I'm willing to put in about 1% of that much time and effort. I'm a wash and go (with wet hair left to air dry in the car) kind of person.

anne

Veteran

Hmmm. very mixed thoughts here. I DO have a teenage friend who might let me try hers.

I am thinking of putting this on my "christmas present suggestion list" rather than actually buying on at this stage. I will specific "temperature control" and anything else you guys suggest. DH has a weakness for electrical presents as gifts (he gave me a new alarm clock for my 40th! (and a shawl)) so I thought I might as well suggest one I'd like. I'd kind of like a fitbit too but really think it isn't necessary - I have a GPS running watch and I know I walk a fair bit.

I bet my daughters would want to borrow a flat iron/ hair straightener.

I do have a curling wand but this is something different right?

Deborah

Veteran

I use my each day. My hair is naturally wavy though! I blow out my hair and then I run the straighteners through it. Not sure I could survive without them.

Staysfit

Veteran

I just read this to see what effort people with straight hair go through! Obviously my hair is very thick and wavy when short, curly when long, and I have never ever straightened it! I believe in almost zero effort hair, wash, put in a small amount of product to keep down frizz, and let it air dry. How much extra time does a straightening iron take in the morning?

Cococat

Veteran

I use mine daily as well. I have coloured hair and I blowdry then straighten in 3 layers. Sometimes I use it to make soft waves, particularly when it's in need of a trim.
I use a GHD which apparently (so my stylist tells me) is one of the better ones for protecting your hair. My hair seems fine despite the torture it goes through.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Staysfit, you're lucky! Products are no match for my Einsteinian cowlick halo. I have frizzy straight and slightly wavy hair, own a flat iron, but rarely use it. Part of it is the hassle, because I needed to ensure my hair is bone dry, and I don't have time to blow dry my hair after my morning showers. I'm also concerned about hair damage, although if your hair is short, then you can trim and grow out the hair before the damage shows.

viva

Veteran

I've tried to very mixed results, but reading the tips here makes me want to try again. #1: use protective product. #2: completely dry hair first. #3: watch temp of straightener. I probably didn't follow any of those steps when I did it before.

Susie

Veteran

I had totally straight hair when I was young but I think it turned wavy after I was pregnant, many years ago! And I have a lot of hair. I straighten it almost daily because it looks much more polished with the volume and waviness toned down. I do a fairly simple drying, not a true blowout section by section or anything so that doesn't take very long. And the straightening really adds just a few minutes so it's worth it to me.

K. Period.

Veteran

I also have slightly wavy hair that I often use a straighter on. It flips up at the ends into a crazy swoop--I'd have been one happy girl in the '50s and '60s. I've been straightening mine consistently for a year. Oddly, it has actually made me happier with my wavy hair on the random days that I choose not to curl it. For me, I cannot imagine not using one.

What do I recommend? Well, you are going to get the best results and keep your hair in the best condition by buying a really good (ghd, for example, or HAI) iron that gets to the proper temperature and maintains it. Too hot and you fry your hair. Too cool and you wind up going over it twice and...frying your hair. Even with thermal protectants, the wrong iron or the wrong temperature will fry your hair. I think the most challenging thing is figuring out how to try a really nice one without paying a zillion dollars. I actually started by buying a really inexpensive mini one from Sephora for $20 to just try it out, then quickly upgrading it to a better one. It looks like you have fine hair, like mine, so I think you might be able to get by with a cheapie to try out too. But if you find yourself using it often, you'll want to upgrade. If an upgrade isn't in the budget, then I don't know if I'd even start down that path.

rizamei

I'm Asian, and I have a lot of thick hair that is mostly straight. It will wave unevenly if air dried. I've never been able to straighten it to salon blowout standards at home with a straight iron. (That is, I did the whole shebang - blow dried, straight ironed, appropriate product. It took forever when my hair was long, and I only got ho-hum results for my troubles.)

What has actually worked is getting a straight perm at an Asian salon. When my hair has been straight permed well, a simple blow dry will make it look salon perfect. However, I found the quality of the perms varied, and some were harder on my hair than others. But getting a straight perm is a commitment! The growout period isn't that bad if your hair is mostly straight (it's very noticeable if you have a strong natural curl), but you lose the flexibility to switch between wavy and straight styles.

I now have a much shorter cut. My stylist uses the straight iron, so I always look fantastic and sharp on the day of the cut, but I also like the polished but slight more relaxed look that I can create at home just by blow drying without needing my straight iron. I really appreciate having a much lower maintenance 'do!

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I use a flat iron daily and my hair is pretty straight and very thick. I generally rough dry it with a hair dryer and then style it as I wish with the flat iron - like Marley, sometimes wavy, sometimes straight and classic bob, sometimes flicked out. Couldn't do without mine!

anne

Veteran

Thanks so much everyone for your input. Like some of you, my straight hair is on the thin end of the spectrum. I'm not very good at getting it bone dry either so I will take all those warnings to heart.

ashleysummer

I have stick straight hair, and yes, I use to straighten it every day anyways.

I love straightened hair, it looks so shiny and it reduces tangles almost to 0%. I want to replae my old hair straightener with the

Best Steam Flat Iron to reduce damage

cindysmith

Veteran

Yes. When I want to look really polished I use the chi iron. My hair is mostly straight, and the longer it gets the straighter is gets (so thick, weighs so stinking much). The iron does seem to help it hold better in those places where it tends to get waves the easiest.

12