Hair Straightening Products and Reviews
Introduction
Whether you go to a salon to have your hair styled and straightened, or primarily style and straighten your hair at home, it’s important to know the ins and outs of hair styling and what products are best for straightening hair.
If you hair is curly, wavy or frizzy, there are specific products to consider using if you choose to straighten your hair.
In between salon visits, it’s important to know how to style your hair, add product to your hair, and straighten your hair.
In this article, I have listed a variety of products that I have tried at home to style and straighten hair. I have also included a review and rating of each product.
Salon or Home Straightening – What is Better?
The most expensive methods for hair straightening are through use of chemical hair straightening perms and treatments. This may include thermal reconditioning, keratin treatments and relaxing perms. These types of treatments should only be done by a licensed professional, and can be quite expensive.
Another option is going to a salon where a licensed professional blow dries your hair, and then straightens your hair by using a straightening iron, along with professional products to enhance your hair’s texture and shine.
In between salon styling, the other option is to style and straighten your hair at home using a variety of hair products and one or more straightening irons.
Which is best? The answer depends on your budget, the person styling your hair, and the products used.
If you are considering a new hair style, or just want to learn more about hair straightening, consider the following:
- If you are considering going to a salon, research and find a salon with licensed professionals where you can see pictures of straight hair styles they have created. If possible, read reviews about the salon, or talk to others who have had their hair styled at the salon you are considering.
- Ask your hair stylist a lot of questions about hair straightening to learn from a professional.
- Watch your hair styles as he or she straightens your hair and take note of the techniques used so you can do the same at home.
- Read reviews on hair straightening products and remember that what works on one person’s hair may not work the same on your hair.
- Watch online videos to learn the best techniques for straightening hair.
At-Home vs. Salon Hair Poll
This is the same person's hair straightened and styled at home, and at a salon. Do you think hair turns out better at home, or at the salon?
Styling Brushes and Combs
Type of Brush or Comb
| Effect
|
|---|---|
Round brush
| Creates volume and curl (the bigger the brush, the straighter the look)
|
Ceramic barrel brush
| Dries hair faster due to holes through the barrel
|
Tourmaline brush
| Prevents static
|
Vented brush
| Creates volume
|
Wide tooth comb
| Detangles and smooths hair
|
Fine tooth comb
| Smooths (and can also be used for teasing hair)
|
Are you using the right styles brushes and combs?
Which brush is right for you? You probably need more than one type of brush to achieve the best result.
When drying my hair, I like to use a vent brush to do some preliminary drying. Then when styling my hair, I used 2 size round brushes, including a large round brush for longer hair and a smaller round brush for bangs or shorter hair. I used wide tooth comb after styling to smooth hair before spraying with hair spray.
Hair Product Reviews
Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray – spray this on damp, towel-dry hair to reduce frizz and protect your hair from heat when blow drying
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco (pictured above) – the instructions say to use this on damp hair, but I hair also used it on clean, dry, styled hair; it protects your hair from heat, smooths it out and helps to straighten your hair.
Caution: use a very small thumb size amount of this penetrating oil; place very small amount in hand and work through the ends of your hair; do not apply too much and do not apply to crown of hair because this will make your hair greasy
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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CHI Iron Guard (or Generic Brand) - spray this lightly on sections of dry, styled hair to protect your hair from the heat of the flat iron, keep it smooth and help to straighten the hair.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Fructis Style Sleek and Shine Flat Iron Perfector and Straightening Mist – spray this lightly on sections of dry, styled hair to protect your hair from the heat of the flat iron, keep it smooth and help to straighten the hair.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Goldwell Volume Style Big Finish – The best hair spray I have ever used, which I purchased at my salon. It creates volume and also keeps hair in place. Excellent product.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Other Hair Products That I Use When Styling
Static Guard – I have been using Static Guard for many years; I spray it on my brushes and combs before styling, especially right before applying hair spray, to reduce fly away hair and static
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Pantene Hair Spray #3 Hold – I use this hair spray on hard-to-hold areas of my hair; it works well to keep hair in place on windy days
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Straightening Irons / Flat Irons / In Styler
I used 2 flat irons when straightening my hair. I also use the In Styler, which you may have seen on Infomercials.
Remington Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron - After spraying hair with heat protective product (as mentioned above), I like to use the Remington wide flat iron for longer areas of my hair. You can use this product on damp hair too.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Ceramic Tools Flat Iron – After spraying hair with heat protective product (as mentioned above), I like to use this thinner flat icon on shorter areas of my hair. I also use this product on the crown of my head, holding it in place a little longer to create fullness at the top.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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In Styler – I love this product! The brush section rotates and is heated while it straightens and polishes your hair. You have probably seen this product on Infomercials. It is approximately $100, but I think it is well worth it. It does require that you take a bit more time when styling and it’s best if you watch the video that comes with the product so you can learn how to style and straighten hair properly. Again, remember to lightly spray section of hair before using this styling tool.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Easy Steps to Drying, Styling, and Straightening Hair
- First, be sure to use a shampoo and conditioner designed for your type of hair. I recommended the Eufora product line which is available at salons (not available in stores), although you might be able to find some of the Eufora products online. If you hair is highlighted or colored, a professional shampoo and conditioner will help to retain the color of your hair longer, and you will notice a difference in the texture of your hair.
- Apply a heat protective product to damp hair such as one of the products listed above.
- Blow dry, using one or more brushes depending on your hair texture and length.
- After styling, lightly spray sections of hair with a heat protective product before using a flat iron (apply to each section of hair before straightening).
- Use a wide tooth comb or hair pick (which I spray with Static Guard) to smooth out and make the finishing touches to your hair style.
- Apply hair spray as needed. I usually use Pantene hair spray for the top of my hair, then I use the Big Finish hair spray which I listed above to give the bottom of my hair a little more volume. I use my fingers to fix up hair and reapply hair spray as needed.
I Recommend All Eurfora Products
Note: This is #11 of 30 of my 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge.
