Setting Your Straightener to the Right Temperature

Just because your straightener can heat up to 450°, does not mean you should set it that high. Each individual has her or his own hair texture and thickness, meaning you need to find the right temperature for YOU. If the temperature is too high for your hair, you run the risk of damaging your hair by scalding it.

Ask your stylist to help you define your hair type!

Due to the importance of finding your individual heat setting, it is important to have a flat iron that gives you heating options other than On and Off. Many straighteners offer Low, Medium, and High settings. However, a straightener that has direct temperature settings will give you the best results. The U-Smooth has a digital read-out of exactly what temperature you want making setting your temperature very easy.

Here is a basic chart of where you want to set your temperature according to your hair type:

Hair Type	Thick/Coarse/Curly	Normal/Medium/Wavy	Thin/Fine
Temperature (in °F)	390-450	360-390	Below 360

Note that it is possible to have 2 or 3 different textures throughout your hair. Different settings may be needed for different parts of your hair.

You may have to test it out to find the right temperature for your hair, but your hair will thank you in the end!

How to Straighten Your Hair with a Flat Iron

#1 – Towel Dry

After washing, wrap your hair in a towel and let it towel dry for around 10 minutes. Towel drying your hair before blow drying will decrease the amount of time needed to blow dry and save your hair from unnecessary heat damage.

#2 – Protect Your Hair

Once the hair has towel dried for a bit, apply a thermal spray or heat protectant to damp hair (one of our favorites is Young.Again by Kevin Murphy). A heat protecting spray, cream, or serum will protect the hair against heat damage and breakage as well as extend the longevity of a style. 

#3 – Blow Dry

Next, thoroughly blow dry your hair. Make sure that hair is completely dry before applying your straightener. (It is much safer for hair to be flat ironed while dry. Ensuring hair is dry before straightening will ensure healthier hair in the future as well.)

#4 – Iron by Layers

In order to make sure you do not miss any sections while flat ironing, straighten your hair by layers. Using a styling clip or hair tie, collect ¾ of your hair and tie up leaving the bottom layer down. Straighten the bottom section root to tip. Suggestion: use a hand mirror periodically to check the back. Lightly spray this layer. After bottom layer is straight, let down another ¼ section of your hair, straighten and spray. Finish the top two layers the same way.

#5 – Finish

Brush (we suggest the Paul Mitchell 413 Sculpting Brush), touch up any missed sections, spray and go! Your hair should keep its new, smooth look until the next wash!