Now that you know how to style your curly locks, double check and make sure you aren't guilty of any of the following mistakes.
Your straightener has no temperature control
If you're wondering if you need a special straightener for curly or natural hair - not true. That said, if your straightener has an on/off switch but no dial to adjust the temperature, it's time to get a new one. Everyone's hair texture is different, so while a universal temperature can work well on someone else's hair, it could be too high or too low for your hair. Look for a straightener that has multiple heat settings and use the lowest degree of heat you can, while only having to run the straightener once over each strand of hair. This helps limit the damage the heat does to your hair.
You are using too many products for styling
You don't want your hair to get too greasy after you style it, do you? To avoid that situation, make sure you don't put too much product in your hair before you start. The only thing you need to use beforehand is a heat protectant, which you have to apply to your hair strand by strand before using a straightener.
Your picks are too big
If you find that your hair doesn't seem to be getting as straight as you'd like no matter how many times you run the straightener over your hair, consider the size of the strands you're working with. While you may think that larger strands will shorten your styling time, believe us and separate your hair into smaller 1 inch strands. With this technique you can straighten each strand much faster and you can even lower the temperature on your straightener.
You are blow drying in the wrong direction
There's a reason stylists pull your hair up when they blow-dry it in the salon. The upward movement can help create volume at the base. We know it's difficult, if not impossible, to do a professional blowout at home. Instead of trying everything over again, just focus on blowing your roots upwards. After you've dried your roots, you can then blow-dry the rest of your locks in a downward motion to create a straight sweep towards your shoulders.
You apply too many products after styling
After you've finished blow-drying and styling, you may be tempted to apply a lot of styling products to maintain your look and add a little shine. But when it comes to styling products, a little certainly goes a long way. If you want to use a serum, apply a dime-sized amount to the ends. Do not apply anything to your carrots as they can easily look greasy and unclean - definitely not what you want! In addition, applying the product to your roots risks weighing them down and undoing all the effort you put into increasing volume at the roots.
You put your hair up immediately after styling
We love updos and braids, but they can undo all your hair styling efforts. While pulling your hair back won't bring your curls back in an instant, it can cause kinks in your hair that are definitely not meant to be part of your straight haircut. So let your hair hang straight after styling until it's completely right. Then if you absolutely want to get your hair out of your face, use a soft hair tie (not a tight elastic!) to put your hair in a low ponytail.
You are not sleeping the right way
You know how your hairstyle looks so smooth the day you do it, but then you go to sleep and it's all messed up in the morning? Yes, we all know it. Well, if you put a lot of time and effort into blow-drying or straightening curly hair, your work won't stop when you put down your straightener. Even how you sleep should be matched to your straight locks! The way you sleep on your hair can help preserve or destroy your style, depending on what you're doing. So, before you jump into bed, make sure you wrap your hair in a silk scarf. Pillowcases can often be rough, which can ruin your straight hair, while silk is much softer.
