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When you buy a flat iron, check the label. Only purchase one that reads "100% ceramic." While these products cost more, the ceramic coating won't wear off over time. This coating helps protect your hair against the heat, so you definitely don't want to buy a cheap flat iron with a coating that'll wear out after a few uses. Basic ceramic flat irons shouldn't cost much more than $20-$40 USD. Professional-grade straighteners, however, can cost as much as $80-$100 USD. Purchase a deep conditioner from your local pharmacy or make your own. Deep condition at least once a week if you're flat ironing your hair. If you can do it every 3 or 4 days, that's even better! Heat the conditioner up by placing it in a hot water bath before applying. Then, leave the conditioner in for about 15-30 minutes under a shower cap. Finally, rinse it out in the shower. Homemade deep conditioner recipes usually contain bananas, avocados, honey, and olive or coconut oil. These natural products will work as well as the purchased version, but they can be messy to create and store. To make a hot water bath for your deep conditioner, boil water in a saucepan. Once the water's boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat and place your deep conditioner in the pot. Use tongs to remove the conditioner after 5 to 10 minutes. To amp up your treatment, add steam! Heat up a damp towel for about 2 minutes in the microwave and place it on your head in between 2 layers of shower caps. The heat will help the conditioner really get into your hair and do its great work! If you rush through the straightening process and try to straighten big chunks of hair, you may need to apply the flat iron to the same section of hair multiple times to get your desired look. This increased heat exposure can damage your hair. Make sure to take your time and complete only one pass with the flat iron over each small section of hair. Go for a wavy look instead by flat ironing each section once without trying to make your hair completely straight. Once you're done, run your fingers through your hair. This will give you added volume while also causing less heat damage. If you'd like, you can even put a product in your hair that's designed to make waves. Usually, these serums are meant to be applied right after you finish flat ironing. Use a silk or satin wrap to keep your hair straight overnight. These materials should minimize any nighttime frizziness as well. In the morning, just take off the wrap and shake out your hair. You may even get a little natural wave -- embrace it! Heat will slowly but surely cause your natural hair to dry out and become brittle. It can also ruin your curl pattern, making it difficult to get your curls to bounce back. The most effective way to protect your hair over the long term is to limit your hair's exposure to heat. There are lots of signs you can watch out for to keep tabs on your hair's health. If you're damaging your hair, you may need to adjust your styling habits. It's possible that your hair can only handle being straightened a few times per year (rather than once or twice each month). Look out for the following: Frizzy hair that's become more difficult to untangle. Split ends. Locks that have lost their curl. Strands that feel bumpy to the touch.
Choose a high-quality ceramic flat iron. Deep condition your hair weekly. Don't flat iron the same section multiple times. Avoid going bone straight if you have very curly hair. Wrap your straightened hair at night to avoid morning touch-ups. Don't straighten natural hair more than a few times a month. Cut back on straightening if you see heat damage.