Sleek Straight Hair

Hair a little frizzy? Too wavy or curly? Just wanting to have silky smooth straight hair? This Alpha is going to reveal her method for straight luscious hair. All you need is a clip and a hair straightener.

1. Clean, Dry Hair Please! 

Never try to use a straightener or any iron to wet hair. If you think that your killing two birds with one stone (drying and straightening) you're actually doing a lot of damage to your hair. Basically, you're frying your hair which causes the end of the hairs to get frizzy and ugly! So first wait until 80% of your hair is dry, then use a blow dryer to finish the hair. This helps to not damage your hair. Also, I'd recommend getting a spray that protects your hair from heat. In Japan the hair product company Lux makes a nice spray and in America I would go with Dove. Lightly spray your hair before drying your hair with a blow dryer. Make sure your hair is all dry and then proceed to the straightener.

2. Layers are Key.

Plug your straightener in, and set it to a temperature you're comfortable with. Don't set it too hot or you're hair will be extremely hot and will need time to cool until you can touch it and if you set it too low you'll have a hard time actually straightening it. While your iron is heating, pin up the majority of your top layers of hair. Leave the bottom hairs down - it should be a thin layer. **The thinner the layers the easier to straighten** Okay, sure these bottom layers aren't really seen but they do need to be straightened! (Or I guess you could keep them a little wavy if you want more volume in your hair). So, basically place hair near the top of your scalp into the iron and sweep the iron (like you're combing your hair). Do this for all hairs. If you want your hair to flip out a certain way, use to the iron to make it flip! so if you want your hair to flip out, comb your hair with the iron and at the end of the hair curl out. (Opposite if you want your hair to flip in). Once this layer is complete (you'll know when your satisfied with what you end up with). Release another layer of hair from the clip and repeat! Basically you straighten your hair by layers, this way you don't miss any hairs and bam! Straight hair!

After finishing with one layer (left)
let down more hair to straighten the next layer (right),
this way you don't miss any hair!

3. What to do with Bangs!
Depending on what kind of bangs you have, you must straighten accordingly. I have frontal bangs, like straight across bangs. So, to work with them I change between straightening them flat and curling them with the iron. I work on them until I'm fine with what I have. For side- swept bangs, its basically the same but I straighten them more than curl. For other types of bangs, play between straightening and curling - it usually does the trick!

My Front Bangs - straight but curls in a little

4. How to Choose a Straightener.
Straighteners come in various prices. The supposedly amazing hair straighteners start at around $80 and go up from there. Check out the reviews of most straighteners here. I happen to like hair irons from Vidal Sassoon, but my current hair straightener (a gift) is from Ed Hardy - it's cute because it has a geisha girl design on it, and I absolutely adore it!

My Hair Straightener!

**TIP! If you over straighten your hair it may make your hair oily. Try not to use hot iron products too much on your hair or it will really, severely damage your hair. Use damage care hair products to protect your hair!**

Finished Look

Love,
ALPHA