Hair straightener irons: what you need to know

Hair straightener devices include hot combs, professional tongs, blow dryer and flat iron. Of all these heat appliances, use of flat iron is most popular as a hair straightener. Heat breaks and rearranges hydrogen bonds required for temporary hair straightening.

The effect is only temporary, as the hair revert back to their natural state on sweating or getting wet.

When using heat styling devices on your hair, it is very important to take some precautions to protect your hair from damage. Even with the use of highest quality professional flat irons, there can be a damaging effect on your hair if used incorrectly or too frequently, or if your hair is not adequately protected.

Heat damage is very hard to repair, and most often you have to get a haircut to get rid of damage.

Heat styling causes two type of damage to your hair depending on whether your hair is wet or dry.

• Improper heat styling on dry hair causes damage or cracking of the outer cuticle layer. This makes your hair weaker, and can lead to breakage, chipping and split ends. Damaged cuticle gives a dry lifeless appearance to hair.
• As compared to dry hair, wet hair are more susceptible to heat damage. Heat styling on damp hair causes steam formation and bursting of your hair as a bubbling effect. Hair becomes weaker and dry, and breaks easily.

• Use only when required. It should not be used on a a regular basis. Use should be limited to as less as once or twice a week.
• Moisturise your hair. Before you style, wash your hair with shampoo and use a good conditioner that restores moisture to the hair shaft. You can also use a leave-in conditioner for added moisture and protection.
• Keep the temperature settings to low-medium. High temperature can permanently damage cuticle and denature hair proteins. Do not raise temperature beyond 325 ºF (163 ºC). 
• Never apply flat iron on wet hair. Wet hair and heat are not a good combination because your hair is weaker when it is wet and it can be damaged more easily.
• Use a hair protectant. Your hair should be well protected before applying flat iron. Hair protectant can be creams, oils, sprays that give your hair an extra defense against the heat and add a layer of protection between your hair and the flat iron. They also make your hair more manageable and shiny.
• Type of hot iron to be used: while purchasing a flat iron, make sure to get an iron with ceramic plates. Ceramic plates distribute heat evenly on your hair without leaving “hot or warm spots”. This decreases the time taken to style your hair. By evenly flattening you hair evenly, it prevents use of hot iron on the same spot more than one time. The plates should be smooth so that the hair runs easily between them without tearing or snipping.