Tool time

Ready to start combating those curly tresses and taming them into sleek, smooth strands? Your first step is to gather the necessary tools. You’ll need:

• A large, round brush. Choose a brush that can grip your hair well, pulling it taut so you can use heat to smooth.
• Blow-dryer. Throw out your old blow-dryer and opt for a newer model that has different heat settings; many have a cool shot button, which is great for setting your style once it’s dry. Look for a blow-dryer that comes with an attachable tip that helps to concentrate the hot air to a smaller section of hair to make the process as efficient as possible. Also, a blow-dryer with ceramic or ionic technology helps to minimize damage.
• Straightening iron. If you have long or thick hair, you’ll want a wider straightening iron, so go with a 1.5 inch or 2 inch plates; look for a high-watt iron to decrease straightening time. Shorter or fine hair will do better with a 1 inch model, used at a lower heat setting. If you’re just straightening your bangs, try a mini-iron.
• Styling products. Any stylist will attest that you can’t perfect a straightening treatment — or keep hair healthy — without the proper products.
  • Straightening product: Apply before using any tools to smooth the cuticle and prevent static and frizz while protecting your hair. Try Oscar Blandi Raffinata Straightening Balm .
  • Hair Mask: Use a hair mask weekly to repair damage from straightening. Try Alterna Hemp Repair Weekly Treatment.
  • Finishing spray: For soft, shiny hair after you’ve straightened your tresses, try Alterna Hemp Spray Shine.

Reduce the damage

Blasting your hair with high heat on a daily basis will eventually lead to fried, brittle strands that won’t look smooth no matter how many products you apply. Here are some solutions to minimize the damage caused by heat styling tools.

• Always use the lowest heat setting that you can manage for your particular hair type.
• Before touching any heat styling tool to your hair, use a heat protectant balm or spray.
• Unless your hair is particularly unruly, pick your poison: Choose between blow-drying and straightening to cut the damage in half. If you’re short on time, use just the blow-dryer on your hair, and finish with a dollop of hair serum to get a shiny, smooth look. If you can’t do without your straightener and have the time, let your hair air-dry and then use your straightening iron to style, instead of the blow-dryer.

Straight up: The rules

• Before you begin:
  
  • Never heat-style sopping wet hair. Always blot excess water from your hair with a towel. Styling damp hair will minimize damage and save time and effort once you start straightening.
  • Avoid brushing your hair right before straightening, because the chance for scalp irritation increases.
  • Run mousse, gel or balm through your strands to protect them and help your style last throughout the day, especially when humidity is high.
• During the process:
  • If your hair is thick, use large clips to separate the hair into sections so you can concentrate on one part at a time. Pin the top layers of hair to your crown and focus on the underneath sections. Once smooth, unpin one section at a time.
  • Using your round brush, pull a small section of hair away from your head, keeping it taut. Make sure to keep the blow-dryer at least a few inches from your hair to decrease damage. As you slowly pull the brush through your hair, keep the blow-dryer pointed downward to smooth the cuticle and prevent frizzies.
  • If your blow-dryer has a cool shot button, blast the hair with a shot of cold air to set the style before moving on to the next section.
• The finishing touch:
  • Use a straight iron to get your strands perfectly sleek and smooth. Run the iron from root to tip just as you did with the blow-dryer.
  • You can use the iron on all of your hair or just on the top layers.
  • Apply a finishing spray.

Professionals only: Chemical straightening

Don’t want to spend time and energy straightening your hair every day? Then, you might want to try a professional chemical treatment. With any of these options, make sure you see a licensed, experienced and reputable stylist.

• Relaxers use thick conditioner combined with ammonia and other chemicals to tone down curl. They’re great for Caucasian or African American hair that hasn’t been colored or chemically treated. The process takes an hour, and the results can last from "three to six months," writes Jennifer Tung, author of InStyle Getting Gorgeous. Typically, relaxers cost several hundred dollars. They also pose potential concerns like skin irritation and hair damage, including breakage and dryness.
• Thermal reconditioning, also known as Japanese straightening, involves a combination of chemicals and heated irons. The process affects hair cuticles, making hair straight and shiny. Though chemicals remain on the hair for about 20 to 25 minutes, thermal reconditioning takes four hours from start to finish. That’s because the stylist irons your hair in tiny sections (a quarter of an inch at a time). After the process, hair can stay straight for six to 10 months.

  Thermal reconditioning poses several safety risks. Specifically, some women who've had this treatment suffered hair damage or even hair loss, according to ABC News. African American women or those with dyed hair shouldn’t have this treatment.

  If you opt for thermal reconditioning, be prepared to shell out big bucks. Hairfinder reports that prices range from $300 to $1,000, based on how long your hair is and the time it takes.

• Brazilian Hair Treatment — whose brand names include Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Brazilian Blowout and Brazilian Hair Straightening — is a newer straightening technique that’s become very popular, because it works well with many hair types. This treatment takes one and a half to four hours and costs $150 to $600 depending on hair length and thickness, according to the New York Times. But it hasn’t been without controversy: Because the formula uses formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen, some are concerned over its safety.

See also:

Antioxidants: The Power Plants of Youthful Skin

Milk: Creamy Care for Your Skin

6 Ways to Fight Frizzies