What’s Different about Black Hair? What’s the Best Way to Style it?
African American hair is genetically different to other hair. It tends to be thicker and coarser and is much more likely to be curly – usually tight little corkscrew curls. Consequently, it can be harder to straighten than other hair. However, it is easy to straighten African American hair without chemical treatments, provided you have the right tools and take the time needed for a lasting result. So what is the best flat iron for black hair? And how is it best to style it? Read on for our expert advice.
What to Look for in a Flat Iron for Black Hair:
The most important thing you need if you want to avoid expensive and damaging chemical treatments and straighten your hair temporarily is a really good set of straighteners. Here are the features you should be looking for:
- Higher heat settings (up to 450 degrees is ideal) to penetrate the thicker hair follicle.
- Bevelled or floating plate design to prevent catching or snagging.
- Curved casings to allow for styling versatility.
- Ionic or Far Infrared technology to reduce static and keep your hair smoother for longer.
- Ergonomic structure – you’re likely to be working with your flat iron for a long time and want to be comfortable!
Expert Styling Tips for Black Hair:
I’m actually really jealous of anyone with gorgeous, tight corkscrew curls. But I get that everyone needs a little bit of a change sometimes. Here are a few styling tips to help you get a perfectly smooth and shiny result:
- Use a curl relaxing shampoo and conditioning product for a couple of days before you want to temporarily straighten your hair.
- ALWAYS make sure your hair is completely dry before you attempt to straighten it.
- Comb a generous amount of curl relaxing serum through your hair with an afro comb before you straighten it.
- Separate your hair into quarter-inch sections and work with only one section at a time. Yes, it will feel like it takes forever but your result will be much smoother and long-lasting.
- Start with a temperature of about 350 degrees and turn it up slowly until you find a setting that will straighten a quarter-inch section of hair in two or three passes. This is your ideal working temperature.
- Work from the nape up and straighten one section at a time. Clamp hair firmly as close to the roots as you can and then draw the flat iron slowly and smoothly down the section.
The Best Professional Flat Iron for Black Hair:
I highly recommend investing in a high-quality set of professional straighteners if you want the best possible results. Working in the salon, my first choice for African American hair was always the Solano Sleekheat 450 Professional Flat Iron. It usually retails for around $200 but occasionally you can get it a bit cheaper if you look out for a sale. In my opinion, it is the very best flat iron for black hair because it features:
Read complete product description by clicking here.
- High heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 1 1/4 inch ceramic tourmaline plates.
- Ionic technology to reduce static and flyaways.
- A comfortable hold for longer styling sessions.
- Overwhelmingly positive reviews from women with all hair types..
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The Best Cheap(ish) Flat Iron for Black Hair:
If you want a great result, it really doesn’t pay to go too cheap! But there are flat irons in the mid range which work well with typical African American hair. I recommend the Solia Super Hot Professional flat iron. It generally retails for around $100. It is an effective flat iron for black hair because it features:
- High heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 1 inch titanium plates.
- Negative ion technology to help fight frizz and keep your hair smoother for longer.
- Non-slip grip for more comfortable styling.
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Conclusion: You Can have Versatility with Beautiful Black Hair:
Those tight corkscrew curls are gorgeous but everyone needs a bit of a change sometimes. It’s much better to be able to keep your hair curly sometimes and straighten it sometimes than to get a permanent chemical treatment. It is possible to tame even the most stubborn curls into a sleek and shiny straight style – all you need is the right tools and plenty of patience. If you’ve got the money, it pays to invest in a really good professional flat iron with extra high heat and to use a curl relaxing serum every time you straighten. Good luck!
Why Not Check Out Some of Our Other Articles and Reviews While You’re Here?
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