Straight hair never goes out of style, and almost all of us are crazy about those perfectly beautiful glossy straights. However, to get that exact finish, you need something else apart from a good flat iron. You have to choose the right hair straightening products for your hair.
The right products protect your hair from damage, improve its natural shine, and make it smooth and soft. Now, let’s see how you can make a good decision for your hair.
Understanding Your Hair Type
In order to start looking for healthy hair straightening products, you should take a guess first of your hair type. Is it fine, thick, wavy, or curly? If you don’t get the right product for the right type, hair could suffer. Fine hair needs the lightest products to avoid oiling it down. If you have thick hair, you may need more moisture and healthier hair straightening products.
Key Ingredients to Look For
While selecting a hair straightening product, always check the ingredients list. Choose products with better ingredients, which means they are proteins and oils enriched. Keratin, Argan oil, and Shea butter are all protective and repair for the hair. They form a cover over your hair shaft to make it smooth and shiny. But on the other hand, other ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and alcohol harm your hair. They do work but temporarily and slowly after making your hair lose its shine.
Keratin: The Hair Savior
Keratin is a protein that contributes to the hair shafts. It will make your hair stronger, prevent frizz, and calm the hair. It coats the hair shaft with a thin layer of protein, which makes the hair reflective and shinier.
Argan Oil: Liquid Gold for Hair
Argan oil is a must-have ingredient in hair straightening products. Popularly known as liquid gold, it is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E. It is used for hair because this oil hydrates hair as well as adds shine to it.
Shea Butter: The Moisture Boost
Shea butter is the perfect ingredient for hydration. It has a lot of moisture-retaining properties. If you have curly or thick hair, you should go for a product with shea butter. It will basically seal the shaft and will not allow the moisture to escape.
Heat Protectants Are a Must
You can never ignore this. The heat protectant is important to protect your hair from the high temperature of a flat iron or blow dryer. This product creates a sheath on each hair strand, which will maintain the quality and shine of your hair.
Consider the Heat Level
If you have thin hair, you have to heat it at a lower temperature. The higher the temperature, the more the hair tends to get destroyed. The thinner hair strands tend to get destroyed faster. Thick and curly hairs need a slightly higher temperature than thin hair. But always use the least possible heat to protect your hair from heat damage.
Choosing the Right Formula
Buying a hair straightening product? A wide product range is available for every hair type and style. From serums and creams to sprays and gels, buy cream or gel products for thick hair straightening products as they have more holding power than a serum. A serum is perfect for lightweight hair.
Look for Multifunctional Products
Hair straightening products also come in a 2-in-1 combo pack. This means that they don’t just help straighten your hair. Some of the new products come with one or a few more things, like heat protectants, along with an anti-frizz formula and volume booster. Such products that help in more than one thing can be your best friend because they simplify your morning hair care routine and reduce the risks of using too many products, which can ultimately make your roots greasy.
Patch Test New Products
If you’re using a hair-strengthening product for the first time, do a patch test. Most of the hair straightening products have an activating agent in it. You don’t know what you are applying to your scalp and body. You have to check all the ingredients before adding them to your regimens.
To do a patch test - apply the product in a small amount on the back of your scalp or arm. Wait for 24-48 hrs. If you see no allergic reaction or any other side effect, then there’s no problem, and you can use that product in your regimens.
Storage and Shelf Life
How do you store hair straightening products? Ideally, store them in a cool, dry place, and they should be kept away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. Also, you have to close it after each use and dispose of the product once it expires. You may be tempted to use the two-year-old bottle of gel lying back on the shelf, but expired products may be less effective or possibly contaminated and can irritate your hair.
Environmental Considerations
First of all, if the planet is something that matters to you, then choose a greener alternative next time you head out to restock on these bad hair day solutions. There are more brands today that buy hair products only from companies that have excelled at meeting their environmental responsibilities.
This is because their products are packaged in natural packaging and are sourced from ethically sourced ingredients. Look out for certifications like fair trade, cruelty-free, vegan, and more.
Understanding Labels and Claims
Look out for pretentious advertisements with marketing buzzwords like organic, natural, or chemical-free without any proof. Read the ingredient list on the back of the product. Companies are required to declare the ingredients of any product by the regulating authorities that permit the product to be sold to you.
The Role of pH Balance
The pH of anything you put onto your hair (or skin!) can have a big effect on its overall health. Using products that have a pH close to your hair’s natural one (likely around 4.5-5.5) can help to do what they’re meant to by helping to maintain the cuticle layer, making your hair less prone to frizz and more prone to shine.
Check the labels to find out the pH of what you’ll be using so you’re not overly using an alkaline substance, which can dry out and even break your strained strands.
Choosing the Right Brand
Look for brands that care about more than just the actual quality and variety of hair products, and that they are actually safe products. For example, brands like Amika offer a range of professional plus non-toxic products and even have options for hair straightening.
This line has a little bit of something for everyone since it uses everything that you need for your hair to be healthy and strong. For instance, Amika’s heat protectant spray is super light and adds instant shine as it protects your hair from hot tools.
Before You Straighten Your Hair
Proper Application Technique
It might be easy to apply products for your straight hair, but if you’re not doing so properly, you probably aren’t reaping all the benefits. After washing, you have to ensure that every part of your hair is evenly coated. Be sure to really get it into the ends where the split ends originate from. Use a comb (or your fingers) to evenly apply your product before using heat.
Post-Straightening Care
After straightening your hair, you’re going to have to put in even more effort to preserve it. Apply a lightweight shine-enhancing oil or serum in some spots for added shine and some frizz-fighting before the straightening style settles. Also, do not wash your hair for the next 24 hours after straightening.
Regular Deep Conditioning
Using direct heat styling on your hair to straighten it can easily damage it. That means you’re going to have to put in the work to balance it out by doing some form of deep conditioning. Try a deep conditioning product packed with strength- and moisture-enhancing ingredients. The best deep conditioners, like coconut oil, avocado oil, and honey, contain these properties.
Monitoring Hair Health
Look at and assess your hair each day and week because using heat styling products regularly can have a massive effect on the future of its condition. Look for signs of increased dryness, trouble with breakage, and other forms of damage — and take whatever action you decide is necessary with great caution. In most cases, simply giving your hair a break and using a softer, less stressful solution will bring it back to life.
Regular Haircuts
Healthy hair care is a must. Flat iron hair regularly, and you expose your hair to serious heat. Over time, that heat starts to add up. This means that you have major breakage and split ends, and those themselves will start to work their way up your hair shaft and cause even more damage. It’s important to get regular trims and cut your split ends off.
Know When to Give Your Hair a Break
One of the most important things to remember when trying to get beautiful, sleek, and styled tresses is that it’s always easy. But simply knowing how to straighten hair isn’t enough. You must also know that it’s in your best interest - go several days a week without styling your hair, allow your hair to go natural once or twice a week, and remember there are plenty of ways to straighten hair without heat. You can wrap it, roller set it, or pin curl it using heatless methods!
Consult a Professional
Your hair type has a big impact on the perfect hair straightening products for you. But, if you aren’t sure what type you have, you might want to take the time to talk to a professional stylist.
Getting advice from someone who knows the hair industry can help you figure out the best products for you and the best plan of attack. You might not need to use quite as much heat as you think, and a pro can help you learn these tricks directly.
Making the Right Choice
All good hair routines require using healthy hair straightening products to keep your locks feeling and looking gorgeous. Further, combine your hair straightening products along with the tips outlined here to ensure your hair remains in a crisp condition while you enjoy your stylish look.
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