Recently, lots of our readers have asked me to share a secret: “what is the best flat iron for thick hair?”
I know your pain! Doing anything with a full head of thick hair can seem like an impossible challenge. Every style seems to take hours. And it never looks quite like it does on Pinterest!
But, there really is no secret. All you need to do is find the right flat iron for your hair type. And this post is here to help.
What Should You Look for in a Flat Iron for Thick Hair?
If you’re only looking to straighten your hair, then going for wider blades is a great way to ensure that you can straighten thick hair more quickly and effectively. But, if you want to be able to curl and wave your hair, you’re better off with 1″ or 1 1/2″ plates. There are flat irons out there which are designed for hair just like yours! Read on to find out more about how to find the best flat iron for thick hair and a few sneaky style tips to make you the envy of every woman you pass.
The Best Professional Flat Iron for Thick Hair
If you’ve got the money to spend and want to splash out on a really good set of professional straighteners, you can’t go past the Croc Flat Iron. It has nice thick 1 1/2 inch plates with nanosilver infused plates for super effective straightening, even on super thick hair. It also has a few other handy features, such as 25 precision heat settings so that you can find exactly the right temperature for your hair.
To read more about why Crocs are the best flat iron for thick hair, click here.
The Best Cheap Flat Iron for Thick Hair
If you don’t have the money to splash out on a set of professional flat irons, there are cheaper models which will work for thick hair. The best that I’ve found is the HSI Flat Iron. It features tourmaline coated ceramic plates and a range of heat settings on a handy LCD display. There are also quite often hot deals where you can get a free styling product or carry case when you purchase your flat iron.
To read more about why HSI is the best cheap flat iron for thick hair, click here.
BUY HSI Professional FLAT IRON-AMAZON-
Tips for Styling Thick Hair With Your Flat Iron
As well as finding the right tools for the job, there are a few little tricks which can help you get the styling results you desire, even if your hair is super thick! Here are a few you can try.
For the Perfect Straighten:
- Choose shampoos and conditioners which are targeted to thick hair.
- Make sure your hair is thoroughly dry before you attempt to straighten it. Even the slightest bit of moisture can turn thick hair into a frizz disaster zone!
- Don’t be tempted to rush it and try and straighten your hair in one pass. It may look okay at first but a hurried straighten on thick hair is doomed to frizz by lunchtime!
- Use a relaxing gel or spray product. Apply the product sparingly to each section before straightening.
- Use a comb to section your hair into half-inch sections and pin hair you’re not working with on top of your head.
- Start with a lower heat setting (about 310 degrees). Work your way up until you find a setting which straightens a half-inch section in 2 -3 passes.
- Work from the nape up – taking care that each section is fully straight before you comb out and work with the next section.
- Use a strong setting spray to keep your style in place.
- If you touch up your style during the day, use a wide-toothed comb, rather than a bristle brush which can cause frizz or fly-aways. Some clever women also keep a mini flat iron in their dest draw for those after lunch touch-ups!
For Salon-Worthy Waves or Curls:
Make sure you’ve got plenty of time on your hands – curling a thick head of hair can often take an hour or so!- Work hair in half or quarter inch sections – it seems painstaking but will actually save you time and help you achieve better results.
- If you have time, give the hair a quick straighten before you wave it – this will give you smoother waves or curls.
- Use a curl enhancing mist for thick hair.
- Don’t start your curl right at the roots (unless you’re heading to an eighties party!). Start about three inches down the strand.
- Hold your flat iron downwards, clasp the section, and then flip your wrist around so that the hair wraps around the housing. The flat iron should now be in the normal position. Then simply pass your flat iron down to the bottom of the section. This should be done in one fluid motion. You do not need to hold the curl as you would with a set of curling tongs.
- If you’re finding it hard to master this curling technique, practice it with the flat iron turned off first. You don’t want to char your hair while you’re trying to perfect your technique!
Make sure you’ve got plenty of time on your hands – curling a thick head of hair can often take an hour or so!If you have a tip for taming thick locks which we haven’t mentioned, feel free to share it with our readers in the comments section.
Conclusion: Lots of Women are Jealous of Your Thick Hair – Flaunt it!
Thick hair can be difficult to care for and it can take ages to style. But, just remember, lots of women with fine or delicate hair are probably envious of your thick, glossy locks! And styling thick hair really isn’t that hard. All you need is the right tools and the right styling skills.
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