Constantly fighting with your flat iron to keep your hair smooth? Extremely thick hair that never stays flat? Can't recreate the look your stylist does while even using the same tools? All of these problems can stem from one very simple and easy to fix mistake; you are not correctly flat ironing your hair. Sure you may have gotten the results before but today, for some reason, your hair is out of control. Here are step by step directions to make your hair straightening life easier to handle and get you the salon results you are seeking.

1) Apply a small amount of straightening cream, balm or gel and comb through

2) Make sure your hair is completely dried before you start.

3) Beginning at the bottom of your head near your neck, section off the hair that falls on your back from the hair farther up on top of your head

with either a ponytail or clip (larger sections will take more time to flat iron and more passes over the hair to make it straight)

4) Spray a thermal protectant to keep your hair from being damaged and to add shine while improving the performance of your iron

5) Starting near your scalp, hold your hair taught and slide the iron firmly(but not pulling) down to the ends of your hair (You may need to repeat this step if you have extremely curly hair or a low temperature flat iron)

6) Keep working up, through all your hair to the top of your head , by repeating the sectioning and straightening as needed

7) Once you have ironed all your hair, you may part your hair and adjust the curl on your ends if so desired so that they frame your face

*To make your ends frame your face just curl the ends of your hair towards your face while you are flat ironing

There you have it! These seven simple steps should help to remedy any hair mistakes you may be making while flat ironing.

Tabitha is a beauty professional at Salon Destino located in Strongsville, Ohio www.beautykazoo.com