How To Flat Iron Natural Black Hair – 5 Easy Steps!
As a natural, there may come a time when you’ll want to flat iron your natural hair. You may be interested in checking your hair length or simply just for the versatility that straight hair offers. If you’re anything like most naturals you are also likely to have concerns about heat damage. This article will provide tips on how to flat iron natural black hair for prevention of heat damage and it will provide a simple routine to make the process easy.
How To Flat Iron Natural Black Hair
Step One: Start with Well-Conditioned Hair
Naturals should only consider flat ironing their natural hair if it’s recently shampooed. Ask yourself the following: is my hair clean, moisturized and very well conditioned? If not, then turn that flat iron off and follow your shampoo and conditioning regimen.
Do your part in ensuring that you’re only using heat when your hair is in a state with the least chance of incurring damage. To that regard, only flat iron hair that has been regularly cared for and conditioned; or else, applying heat to brittle dry hair is only summoning the predictable, heat damage.
Step Two: Detangle Your Hair
Now that your hair is clean and well conditioned, separate your hair into four sections making sure to detangle each section. While you may feel inclined to rush through this process, take time and care as this will greatly affect your final results and it will also decrease drying and flat ironing time.
Step Three: Choose Whether You Will Air Dry Or Blow Dry
Once your hair is clean and well conditioned, decide how you’re going to dry your hair. Where possible choose to air dry as it minimizes your exposure to an additional heat element. If you choose to blow dry, remember to use the lowest setting possible for your hair type.
Step Four: Use A Heat Protectant
It’s imperative that you use a heat protectant before blow drying or flat ironing your natural hair. Carefully apply a heat protectant to every section of your head and apply the protectant from root to tip. While a heat protectant does provide a barrier, even the top brands won’t sustain heat that’s too high.
Step Five: How To Flat Iron Natural Black Hair
Now that your hair is clean, conditioned, detangled, dry, and protected its time to learn how to flat iron natural black hair.
Choose a flat iron that has a temperature setting and ceramic plates. Try to avoid flat irons that merely have an on/off switch, or plates that can cause your hair to catch in between. Instead choose flat irons that have rounded plates and temperature that you can control.
Every flat iron is different so choose a low temperature to start. Test a small section in the back to determine the temperature your hair can withstand. While we don’t recommend a specific setting, (because all flat irons heat differently), we do recommend that you choose the lowest temperature possible to start.
Once you are comfortable with your heat setting, part your hair in very small sections. Ideally you should have sections small enough that you can run your flat iron through with one pass through (two at the most). Continue this until you’ve completed your entire head. If you are looking for a curly style or a little bounce and movement, you can also use your flat iron to add a curl.
How To Flat Iron Natural Black Hair – Tips And Suggestions
- While you may be tempted to do touch-ups throughout the week, refrain. If you want to revert back to your natural curls, flat ironing should not be an everyday routine. As a matter of fact, try to keep flat ironing to a minimum as the more you add heat the greater your risk of damage.
- While sleeping, wrap your hair using the wrap method (also known as the doobie method). You can also pin curl your hair to maintain your curls and provide some bounce.
- Always wear a satin scarf to bed or use a satin pillowcase.
- If you choose to add oils or other products, remember that it may weigh your hair down and for some naturals, shorten the life of the style.
- Once flat ironed, consider trimming your ends.
- If you’re interested in length, make note of the length of your hair to assess your hair goals.
Do you additional question about how to flat iron natural black hair? Please contact us at Good Hair Coaching (727) 304-HAIR or Schedule a FREE Consultation Today!!