The handy hair straightener is a hair styling tool that is a must-have if you love sleek, well-styled hair. It can quickly transform the unruly hair into straight and smooth locks. 

How Do Hair Straighteners Work?

They use heat to break down the hydrogen bonds in the keratin structure. This lets the hair to be reshaped temporarily. The hair goes back to the original shape and texture when it comes in contact with humidity.

When used with chemical hair products, permanent hair straightening breaks down the strong bonds in the hair structure. This helps restructuring the hair, and they hold their new shape almost permanently. 

Gone are the days that hair straighteners, had only a maximum heat setting to shape the hair. The heat was damaging to the hair. The modern hairstyling tools come with different heat settings and plate types and widths to suit different hair types. 

  • Ceramic hair straighteners give an even heat distribution and have the minimum heat damage. They are most suitable for styling fine to medium hair, as they prevent hot spots, saving the hair from uneven texture. 
  • Titanium hair straighteners: The most lightweight and durable of all, this styling product heats up quickly and can maintain a set high heat level till the time you want. Most suited for coarse or thick hair. 
  • Tourmaline hair straighteners: Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone which is grinded to infuse in the flat iron.  They are excellent for reducing frizz and sealing the hair cuticle. They help style the frizzy, unruly hair with minimum damage. 
  • Steam hair straighteners: They cause the minimum heat damage because they use steam to straighten the hair. They are used to temporarily style dry or damaged hair, although the results are very short-lived. 

Importance Of Understanding The Heat Settings On The Straightener 

Knowing the best heat setting for your hair type and then using the corresponding tool is the way to get glossy straight hair that you desire without damaging the hair. The first step is to use the right hair product, such as heat protectant, before using the tool. And then come the heat settings. 

Wrong heat settings, like too high, can damage the hair, leading to breakage, split ends, and uneven texture. Let’s be honest, the style is only good when it is done in the right manner. Using an optimal temperature means that your hair cuticle is safe and there is no tugging at the scalp. 

Heat Setting For Your Hair Type

Fine Hair Or Thin Hair 

Fine hair is fragile and has a small diameter, which means it needs less heat to straighten. The safest temperature is between 150 °C to 195 °C. Anything hotter than this will only cause damage, and don’t forget to use heat-protectant hair products. Remember, the lower the temperature, the better it is for thin hair. 

For Thick Or Coarse Hair

Coarse hairs have more protein and are resistant to styling. They need higher temperatures for styling, and the good news is that they can tolerate the high heat. The best temperature range is between 200°C – 235°C. The trick to getting the right style is to start with the low temperature and then increase it if your hair is not holding the style well. The aim is to get the sleek style and not scorch the strands. 

For Curly Or Textured Hair

Curls are difficult to straighten, especially for the tightly coiled hair. To use a flat iron on the curly hair stick to temperatures between 150°C – 210°C. Remember curly hair are very delicate, so be easy with heat. If the curls are very tight, then you might increase the heat till you get the desired look. Use a good-quality hair straightener and heat protectant to get the smoothest results even at moderate temperatures. 

For naturally normal hair

Lowest heat settings are best to quickly style or straighten the normal hair. 150°C – 179°C should be enough. Don’t forget to condition and detangle the strands before applying heat protection gel or spray and starting using the hot flat iron. 

Tips To Get The Best Out Of The Hair Straightener

  • Just because the straightener has the settings does not mean you should turn the heat all the way up, even if you are in a hurry. 
  • Clean the plates after every use.
  • Limit heat styling to once or twice a week. 
  • Start styling when the hair is completely dry. Heat on wet hair can cause permanent damage. 
  • Create sections of your hair and don’t move over the sections again and again. 
  • Always detangle the hair. 
  • Use good hair products to maintain your hair’s health with regular trims, hair masks, and deep conditioning.