Straighten Fine Hair

Woman who is using a flat iron on her fine hair
Photo: Lana K./Shutterstock
Q: Is it ok to straighten fine hair with a flat iron? My best friend would let me use her ceramic straightener, but I'm afraid it will damage my hair. Are there any special precautions to take since my hair is much weaker than my friend's thick hair?
 
A: Yes, absolutely. You can feel confident about straightening your hair, as long as you adjust the technique for your specific hair type. Because your hair is fine, it will actually straighten much more easily than your friend's, but it also requires extra defense to stay healthy.
 
First, you must use a quality heat protective product before the iron ever touches your hair. Look for a protectant containing ingredients like silicones or hydrolyzed proteins, which slow down heat transfer and shield the hair cuticle. Apply it according to the package directions, making sure the product is distributed evenly from the mid-lengths to the ends, where damage tends to occur most often.
 
Second, you will want to use much lower heat settings on the iron than your friend does. Because fine hair has a smaller diameter, you don't need intense heat to penetrate and change its shape. If your friend’s iron has adjustable heat, always start at the absolute lowest setting and only increase it slightly if necessary. Using her high setting will risk instantly burning and thinning your hair.
 
Before you begin, ensure your hair is 100% dry. Never use a flat iron on damp or wet hair. When water trapped inside the hair cortex is exposed to high heat, it instantly boils and turns to steam. This causes a phenomenon where the expanding steam bursts through the hair shaft, leaving it permanently weak and prone to breakage.
 
To get the sleekest results with the least amount of damage, divide your hair into small, manageable sections. It might seem like more work, but ironing thin sections allows the heat to distribute evenly on the first try. This means you won't need to go over the same piece of hair multiple times. Fewer passes mean less cumulative heat exposure.
 
Finally, glide the iron through your hair in single, smooth, relatively quick passes. Never let the heating plates rest on one spot for more than a second or two. By passing the iron through with gentle, even tension, you will easily smooth away waves and create a beautiful, shiny finish.
 
If you decide to style your hair like this regularly, try to avoid doing it every single day. Giving your fine hair occasional breaks helps preserve its natural moisture and strength.
 
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See also:
 
How to treat fine hair
 
How often you can use hair straighteners
 
How badly will straightening damage my hair?
 
How often should I use heat protectant when I flat iron my hair?