#Trend Alert!
The Colder the Air, the Straighter the Hair: It’s #SilkPressSZN
The Colder the Air, the Straighter the Hair: It’s #SilkPressSZN
Fall and winter have been labeled the perfect seasons for straight hair because it will last a lot longer than in the warmer months, the humid air won’t let you be great, working against all the effort you put into straightening your hair. Natural hair tends to revert back to your natural curls or texture when exposed to humid conditions. Curly roots and straight ends, that’s definitely not the look.
The key to keeping your hair healthy during and afterward is to properly moisturize your hair and to use a heat protectant. Heat protectants work as a barrier to protect against heat damage; fried, dyed, and laid to the side is not what we want. Now the question is, should you try to tackle this on your own or stick with a professional?
Salon vs. DIY
Salon
We go to salons to be pampered and to not have to do the work ourselves, not to mention to enlist the trusted and knowledgeable help of a professional. Going to get your hair straightened in the salon is also the perfect time to get a trim or hair cut. Those are very bold tasks that we generally need to reserve for the classically trained.
So if you feel like your ends could use a light dusting, or if you want to rock a new haircut, maybe opt to go to the salon to get your hair done professionally. Just be sure to arm yourself with your mask before your appointment. If you're still uneasy with the current pandemic, then stay tuned to learn and see what tips and tools can help you do this hairstyle.
DIY
If you can’t make it to a salon or you don’t want to risk the rona for straight hair take a look at these tips and tools that you can use to make the most out of your DIY hair straightening. Be cautious about using heat tools at home. Be sure to always use a heat protectant when straightening your hair to keep your strands healthy.
Tools
So many choices and variations...which to choose? Which to choose? Well, Don’t worry about it too much, because we got you covered. Hot comb or flat iron, which works best for you?
Hot Comb vs. Flat Iron
The hot comb has been revamped, we now have hot combs that are electric, which is excellent news for you and your curls. The hot combs in the past were hard to manage the heat. With an electric hot comb, you have more control, which leads to less heat damage on your hair. According to the Natty Natural blog, 450 degrees is the temperature that usually results in heat damage and burned hair. Besides that, the hot comb has other uses that could make your straight hair last longer.
Madame Noire's blog presented a different idea for the hot comb. Instead of using it all over your head, use it for upkeep and finishing touches. This technique is awesome if you want straight hair that lasts without subjecting your hair to heat damage by using intense heat on your hair over and over again. Just straighten your hair as usual and use a hot comb around the perimeter of your hair for that extra smooth and sleek look. The Annie: Electric Straightening Comb with Medium Double Sided Teeth could do a great job at this. It can get up to 500 degrees, which is great for thick, coarse hair that tends to be more heat resistant.
Flat ironing your hair is good to cover more ground on your head with little to no effort than a hot comb. The Red by Kiss: Ultrasonic Ceramic Styler Mist 1 1/4" Flat Iron
is a great choice because the highest temperature it can reach is 430, which makes it great for your hair's health since it is less likely to cause heat damage on your hair. When the flat iron reaches that temperature, it automatically turns off. The mist technology on this flat iron helps seal in the moisture to your hair strands as well, which adds shine to your hair and prevents hair breakage.
Titanium vs Ceramic
Now let’s talk about the different types of flat irons that you can purchase. There are ceramic and titanium flat irons. Many folks argue and debate about which is better, but the truth is that it’s relative. You know what your personal needs and wants are for your hair, so with the facts, you can make an informed decision on which will work best for you and your hair type.
Ceramic is the most used flat iron type, and that's because it works great. According to Beyond the Beauty, the material works to smooth out the hair between the two heated plates, giving you the sleek and smooth hair that you desire. It's simple, and that's why it works so well.
Titanium, however, is not for the faint at heart. This type of iron works best for
thick and coarse hair types. It can get extremely hot which can be a good or bad thing, depending on who you ask. If you have the right hair type and the right heat protectant, this flat iron may be a dream tool for you. If your hair is finer or thinner, you can still use a titanium flat iron, but you will just need to turn down the heat. Here are a few titanium flat iron if you would prefer those over the ceramic ones:
- Red Pro Titanium 460 degrees 1inch Flat Iron is available upon request $59.99USD
- Tyche Titanium Heat
Blow Dryer: To cut out on some of the extra work, many decide to blow dry their hair first before straightening. Blow drying will stretch your hair and keep it free of tangles. The most important element needed to blow dry your hair is to use the right attachment. Paying attention to the attachments and/or brushes can lead to fewer tangles and tension on your hair, which could damage to your hair strands.
The RED by Kiss: 2000 Detangler Ceramic Hair Dryer comes with both a comb attachment and a concentrator nozzle; the comb detangles as you dry so that your only using one tool, while the concentrator allows for targeted drying and is perfect for stretching the hair, especially when used with a detangling brush.
The Diane: No Knot Detangler Brush is great for that, whether your hair is drippy wet from right out of the shower or dry. The bristles on this brush are flexible as well, making it excellent for different ranges of hair thickness.
For added volume use a round brush to give your hair some shape while stretching it. The Annie: #2043 Thermal Brush works to smooth the hair with the material in between the bristles. It holds heat to make your hair silkier and reduces your drying time. There’s also the Diane: Ceramic Straightening Brush #D9705. This brush is a great companion for flat irons,it’s perfect for the brush chase method. The base of the brush is made from tourmaline ceramic, which holds the heat on your hair and gives you smoother results.
Serums
Heat protectants and serums are the most critical thing that you need to make sure that you’re keeping your hair healthy while using heat. Heat protectants and serums provide a barrier between your hair and the heat to minimize the damage the heat can cause on your hair.
BioSilk is a weightless serum that works to give moisture and shine to your hair. This serum also works to combat environmental factors, like UV rays and humidity, that could make your hair revert quicker than you’d like. BioSilk also works well with color-treated hair on top of protecting your hair from heat damage.
Chi is a well known product that protects your hair against intense heat. It works similarly to the BioSilk heat serum, fighting against environmental factors as well as strengthening and providing your hair with the smooth, silky look that you crave. The only difference is that Chi does not claim to work well with color-treated hair like BioSilk claims.
Best Products to Maintain Your Curls
Many love the silky straight look, but there are plenty of us that also don’t want to compromise curlfriends to get it. These products work best to provide your hair moisturizing and protection necessary for a healthy blowout. They will extend the life of your press n’ curl and reduce the risk of heat damage.
To start, there’s the Chi hair care line. All of their products are known to be high-quality products that protect and style your hair without jeopardizing your hair’s health. They have everything from styling tools, like flat irons and dryer, to hair sprays, heat protectants, shampoo, conditioner, and other hair treatments. Take a look and experiment with a peace of mind that you are purchasing quality products for your hair styling needs.
The Mizani Thermasmooth line is a haircare collection that keeps the longevity of your straightened hairstyles in mind. The collection carries a shampoo, conditioner, heat protectant serum, anti-frizz cream, and finishing spray. All of these products are designed to make the most out of your blowout. They are infused with coconut and almond oil, which are both known to promote health and shiny hair.
Deep Conditioning and Moisturizing Masks
Before you straighten your hair, you should always deep conditioner or put some type of conditioning treatment onto your hair strands. Not only will this improve the health of your hair, it can also make your hairstyle last longer.
When it's time to welcome back curls, you’ll need to take extra precautions to ensure your hair’s health. The TGIN Miracle Repairx line can help bring the strength and moisture back into your hair after you have straightened it. The haircare line is packed full of all the good and emollient oils that you can think of, like coconut, olive, argan, jojoba, and peach kernel oil. All of these oils and nourishing ingredients provides your hair with the moisturizing properties it needs.
Trend on the Rise: 1960s Undone Glamour
Diana Ross, the Queen Motown was not just known for her singing. She was also known for her style. Either with The Supremes or solo, the hair motto was the “bigger the better,” and their hairstyles were nothing short of that. In today’s time, the voluminous, effortless looking curls and high crowns are making a comeback. Of course, in a more modernized way, inspired by the looks of Black women entertainers in the 1960s.
Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes were also known for their loved-up, big hair looks that excites trendsetters today.
Get the Look!
The Fringe bang is back. The key to these hairstyles is big bangs and the VOLUME. Lots and lots of volume. To achieve this look, teasing combs and pics are very much needed to get the big hair that you desire. To get the tousled curls just right, you will need a Curling Iron, rollers to maintain the hairstyle, and texture spray. Get the modern or classic 60s look, add a winged eyeliner and bold eyelashes.
How to Get the Look with Natural Hair
Natural hair would look great with this hairstyle as well. The natural texture to your hair gives the volume one would need for this hairstyle with a lot less work. The texture also allows for the hair to hold the curl better. Follow these easy and steps to get the glamourous full curls pictured above.
First, blow dry your hair straight or stretch your hair.Skip the flat iron, because it will take the volume that we need to achieve this look out of your hair.
Next, set your hair with setting lotion, mousse, or twist and defining cream and apply rollers.Then dry your hair under a hooded dryer or let air dry overnight.
In the morning, separate the curls the same way you would a twist out and use a dry oil mist to smooth flyaways and add shine.
If you do not have the length for this hairstyle or you want to switch up your protective style, you can use crochet braids.
Crochet Marley hair or Cuban twist into your own hair. This hair works best because it matches your natural textures. You can also use any braiding or crocheting hair that can be set with hot water. Here are a few hair brands and products that you can use:
Mayde Beauty Softest Twist Braid
to maintain your hairstyle as well. You can also use large cold wave rollers to set your curls into place.
Kiara Wright